Body Image

Today, I've been thinking about body image.  For a long time, I've struggled with not being proud of the person I had am. After my first year in college, I felt very ashamed the way I looked.  I felt like I didn't fit in anywhere.  I let my body image affect too many parts of my life. If you get down to the nitty gritty of it, I guess it was because I was not treating my body in a way that honored my Savior but also, as weird as this sounds I had ego problems when I was overweight.  I believe when we pay too much attention to what we think others are thinking of us...whether we are overweight or fit that can lead to being self absorbed.  God does not want that.  

Romans 12:3
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Even as my physical body has changed, it was hard to accept the new me.  I still look in the mirror and don't see what I see in pictures of me.  I think as a girl or women, we have expectations, albeit, unreal expectations, of what we should look like.

Seriously, it took me a year to post before and after pictures because I was so ashamed of what I had done to my body and I still wasn't quite confident in the new me.  Could that really be me in the photos? 

I had these crazy thoughts such as: I might not keep this weight off so why would I be proud of what was accomplished in me.  Sometimes we can be so self-destructive.  It wasn't until I started this blog that I was released from the prison I put myself in.  I would share my before and after photos with a few friends, here and there...but the whole world...no way!

There is also the balance in how my physical body has changed and dressing modestly.  I work very hard teaching my girls about modesty.  As a Christian, it is so important that we not distract others with our physical nature but always point people to Christ.  So it is a delicate balance of being proud of my accomplishments yet, humble enough to know that it wasn't in my own strength that I am where I am today. 

I teach my girls that we should dress modestly.  So, I have to set an example in what is appropriate.  They learn by seeing what I do, not in what I tell them to do.  In my teenage years, I dressed quite inappropriately!  I didn't realize what it did to the opposite sex.  I just liked the attention.  I want it to be different for my girls.  I want them to know the power they possess with their bodies.  God gave them a gift to share but with only one man and that would be their husband. I want it to be a gift they can give to their husband.

Why am I sharing all this with you?  Because in the fitness world it is easy to get caught up in what is popular and showing off your new body.  But, you can be strong, be proud of your body without being inappropriate. We can be fashionable without being obsessive. Does that make sense?

I  had to totally revamp my wardrobe when I went from a size 16 to a size 8.  I didn't  know how to dress myself.  If I hadn't had God guiding me, I could have easily chosen a road of showing off my new body.  But, He thinks I worth MORE than that.  This new body is to be cherished because I am HIS temple. I try to always check with my hubby or the girls to make sure I am not wearing something that will detract from what I am here to do. They hold me to a standard and I am glad!

It really all comes down to what we are focused on in this life.  Is it just about me or is it about a change inside that prepares us for what Christ has for us to do in this life?

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16