Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? 1 Corinthians 6:19
Friend, do you eat in response to stress? Does a Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia call your name as you walk pass the ice cream cooler at the grocery store? When feeling stress due to a deadline do you find yourself drinking an Iced Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino rationalizing that you earned this drink because you are working hard to meet the deadline. Prior to 2011, I responded to stress by eating.
Some of the stress events, my first son’s wedding, working with migraine headaches, changing jobs, resigning as a supervisor, menopause, my second son’s wedding at our house, becoming a grandparent, struggling with knee pain, starting a new job, losing our house due to financial crisis, and an empty nest. Did I mention dieting during these events.
Because I ate whether glad, sad or mad and struggling with health related issues I was weighing 233 pounds, my eating when stressed did not help trying to lose weight. After three attempts at fast weight loss in October 2011, feeling a failure I was diagnosed with Morbid Obesity. My body mass index was 40. A healthy BMI is 24-29.
At the end of my rope, I decided to see if I qualified for bariatric weight loss surgery. Part of the requirements for surgery was to attend classes for six months from October 2011 to March 2012 to prepare for surgery. You see, I admitted that food was my go to when stressing and my idol. During this time, I humbly acknowledged that I loved food more than God and I repented from poor choice facing the fact I needed to change.
July 23, 2012 was a life changing day. I had a gastric sleeve where two-thirds of my stomach was removed. Surgery went well and I made a promise to God to never eat past full again or to relieve my stress. Learning to go to God instead of food when I am stressing is one of my strategies. Celebrating three years, I am still on a journey with God to honor Him with the healing He has given me in this area of my life. I have lost 103 pounds during this long journey. I wore a size 20 and now I am a 6. My BMI is 24 and I am at a normal weight. You see, food is no longer a stress band-aide, however; most importantly food no longer an idol for me. I eat to live but I no longer live to eat. I want only to be a temple of the Holy Spirit. Today I am sharing my testimony that turning to God is better than any doughnut or Caramel Macchiato.
Beloved, what can you do today to begin treating your body as God’s temple?
What step can you take to stop the cycle of eating as a result of stress?
Feel free to leave your name or comment if you struggle with overeating and stress eating so I can pray for you today.
22 Comments
Barbie
September 16, 2015 at 6:41 pmOh yes, I am a stress eater. I know I need to get a handle on my unhealthy ways, but I’m just too tired!
Diana
September 18, 2015 at 5:43 pmDear Barbie, One day at a time. I love you my friend, Diana
Kimberly
September 17, 2015 at 12:26 amThank you! I am an everything eater and half the time am distracted as I take a bite here or there.. I hadn’t looked at food as an idol before.
Diana
September 18, 2015 at 5:42 pmKimberly, it is rather sobering to think of food as an idol. Blessings Diana
Nicole Davis
September 17, 2015 at 12:52 amWhat a wonderful testimony. I, too, am a stress eater and weighing in at 230. I have a stressful job as a felony probation officer which requires the physical ability to do several parts of my job. I am in terrible shape, and by the grace of God, I have not been injured. The Lord provided me with this job, and instead of thanking Him by doing the best I can, I have shrugged my shoulders, said thanks, and starting eating to try to “help” my stress. I am at the end of my rope. I want to give control back to the Lord, and treat this body as I should, His dwelling place. I need to eat healthy foods, when He says it’s time to eat, not when stress tells me it’s time to eat. I need to get this body moving, and allow my mind and body time to truly rest. I try to get enough sleep, but my poor eating choices keep me awake, which then deprives me a needed sleep, starting the spiral again for the next day. Thank you for your testimony and the awesome reminder that this body is not my own, but the Lord’s and it requires the best care I can give it.
Diana
September 18, 2015 at 5:45 pmDear Nicole, at some point we have to get off th merry-go-round. I am so encouraged by your courage. You can do this. Blessings Diana
Paige E
September 17, 2015 at 2:13 amI struggle with overeating, stress eating and using food to dull pain. This has plagued me since 7th grade. I’m now 36 years old. When will I ever be free?
Diana
September 18, 2015 at 5:48 pmDear Paige, you have to take one day at a time. Sometimes one meal at a time. We all know how to do it but the want to sometimes is dull and we need it to be more like a hot poker, motivating us every moment to be conscious of what we are eating and if we are hungry or not. Blessings Diana
Marjorie
September 17, 2015 at 3:20 amPlease share more of how you lost the weight…struggling with this issue!
Diana
September 18, 2015 at 5:52 pmDear Marjorie, I did have six months of classes and they taught me food journaling, that you have to burn 500 calories every day of the week either by eating less or exercising just to lose one pound a week. So the food journal is an honest way of figuring out how many calories you are eating, then betwee exercise and less food you make a 500 calorie deficit. One has to have some patience because you did not gain the weight in one night, it is a sow pocess. Be kind to your self. Make healthy goals. You can do this. Blessings Diana
Lisa
September 17, 2015 at 7:42 amI’m a menopausal, emotional, stress eater too! Actually going today to see if I can get guidance on a better way of eating. Pray that I can do this. I do not have the self-control to do what you have done.
Diana
September 18, 2015 at 5:53 pmDear Lisa, you can do all things through Jesus you gives you strength. Glad you have taken the first step. Blessings Diana
Hattie Jones
September 17, 2015 at 8:52 amI have been overweight for a long time but now it is out of control. My husband died in 2012, son went to prison, 2013, sister died, 2014, I retired 2014, because I could bearly walk, at the age of 58. I will be 60 in 2016 and weigh, 315. Both my legs and knees hurt, they just found blood clot in left leg, oh I live alone for the first time in over 40 years. Eating is whatever, I just don’t eat right, I eat whatever I want. I was up to 345 pounds, but I stopped drinking soda and then I lost. God has done amazing things in my spiritual walk with him but now my body needs help, please pray.
Diana
September 18, 2015 at 5:58 pmDear Hattie, I am praying. God is good. If you can give up soda you can do this thing called losing weight. Congratulations on the 30 pound weight loss. God is who we need to revere and He is able to help us. Crave God not food. Remember to write down what you eat nd see how many calories you are eating then make a 500 calorie cut between exercise and food. You will lose a pound a week if you are at a deficit of 500 calories per day. Blessings Diana
Charlsie
September 17, 2015 at 10:56 amYes, I am a stress eater and I love eating all the wrong things. However, I’m a work in progress. After dealing with some health concerns over the past number of months, I am currently trying to increase my activity (joined Curves this fall) and giving more attention to my nutrition choices. It is that same old “sin” problem. I know the right that I should do, but I don’t do it. I do believe that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” My “exercise” program needs to include more FAITH — belief + ACTION!!! Always grateful for prayer. Thanks for your encouragement!
Diana
September 18, 2015 at 6:01 pmDear Charlsie, Admitting you are a stress eater is half the battle. I love that you have joined Curves, I am praying for you. Blessings Diana
Shannan Williams
September 17, 2015 at 10:01 pmThank you so much for sharing your story with us my friend. Yes I am a stress eater too but I find myself just not buying snack type stuff anymore
Diana
September 18, 2015 at 6:03 pmDear Shannan, it we don’t buy it then we don’t have to pass it up. It was like soda, once I didn’t drnk it any more I craved the water. Blessings my friend. Diana
Sharon C.
September 18, 2015 at 11:42 amWow Diana, I can now see why I felt a kindred spirit with you. I don’t have a blog so I thought I’d write on your. We have gone through so many thing alike. I think you survived better than I did. I’m definitely a stress eater. I have always wanted to belong or fit in as I said on Facebook. Even after being saved I always at doubts that God could love me. It seemed like no one else did. If your Earthly parents can’t love you how can you believe God can. I attended every bible study I could to find that missing link. It was there I just couldn’t see it. I never had the discipline or obedience to put the work in for the studies. It seemed over my head. I didn’t realize I was trying to work and God was there to love me unconditionally without all the stress. Sometimes I just ask God if I could sit in His lap and he hold me. Sounds crazy, I know. I was a pretty sick child with allergies as a baby. I was even given to the University of SF Hospital for treatment. No one likes a fat child. I made my own clothes. My younger sister got more expensive clothes from shop in town. She was popular and could do everything I wanted to do. Had lots of friends. Went to a snobby school in Jr. High and High School that treated my older sister and me as outcast. Anyway I fought obesity until I had the gastric surgery in 2002. I almost died so many times. I was put in a coma the night of the surgery then on life support. I will continue to have complications. Besides the complications from that surgery I’ve had 9 nose surgeries and my nose is caving in. It looks like someone took a bat to my nose and hit it. I’m trying to get over all this and concentrate on making the Lord the delight of my life. Being with Him and caring for Him is what I want from now on. He’s number one on my list. I have to rid myself of my past and stop struggling with the stress. Again I worry that I’ve wrote the wrong things or to much. I see such a kind hard heart in you, Tracie and the other leaders in this study. Pray that I can free myself from the burden I’ve put myself in. God Bless.
Diana
September 18, 2015 at 6:09 pmDearest Sharon, I am a nurse and I have seen many of these surgies have problems. I am so sorry that you have had so many health related problems. I do know that God knows where you are and how much you love him. I wish that we lived closer so I could hug your neck. Please do not worry about writing the wrong thing. I am here for you. My email is blessingsrockwell@gmail.com Blessings Dian
Jeanie
September 18, 2015 at 1:35 pmI too struggle with stress eating. It seems like whenever I start doing good with eating and healthy habits a stressful situation will pop up and I am back to my old habits again.
Diana
September 18, 2015 at 6:11 pmDear Jeanie, I understand, it is like two steps forward and three steps back. One day at a time. Blessings Diana