Hi Friends!
I’m reposting today…one, because today’s the last day of Fat Talk Free Week – but mostly because I need to remember the commitment I’ve made to myself to live Fat Talk Free.
It seems like with the constant bombardment of Diet ads/commercials and weight loss books and more… I’m wrestling with reminding myself that my value is not based on the size of my pants.
Freedom. Victory. Overcoming. Whole Living. Loving God. Loving Others. Serving. TRUTH. More of Jesus. Joy. And more Love.
Oh Lord, may this be the cry of my heart… Not trying to get into colorful skinny jeans….
Ok friends, I’ll be honest.
I’ve been in a funk this week. Ok, maybe this whole month.
I lost my joy. My peace. Even my sparkle. 🙁
First, some history….
As many of you know, my weight has been a life long issue for me. For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt not thin enough. Or pretty enough. I believed the lie no one would ever find me beautiful. (Recap here)
My weight struggle came to an all-time high when I was pregnant with my eldest son Jake. I was alone. Soon-to-be a single mom. And I ate my stress, pain, fear, and shame (and anything else someone would feed me!).
Here is a picture of me on July 15, 1994 ~ the day Jake was born.
By Jake’s 2nd birthday, I lost all the weight, and more. See pic below…
Even at the weight I was above (wearing a size 4 dress), I still felt not thin enough. Or pretty enough. Or that I could ever be beautiful.
As I spent time praying later that evening, I rememembered something I learned in a Bible Study that was eye opening for me. Kelly Minter, in her book No other gods shares, “Satan will tell us what’s true, but he never tells us the TRUTH“.
Remembering that simple statement was like an “AHA” light bulb moment for me!!
- Yes, it is true, I am not a size 4 (or an 8 anymore).
- Yes, it is true, my body has given birth to 4 children.
- Yes, it is true, I do not look like the women on the magazines.
- Yes, those things are true.
But the TRUTH is that I am beautiful and accepted by God….just the way that I am!!
- The TRUTH is that God delights in me!!
- The TRUTH is that I am secure, significant, set apart in Christ!
- The TRUTH is that I am dearly loved by the Lord God Almighty! Woo Hoo!!
“Satan will tell us what’s true, but he never tells us the TRUTH“.
My greatest desire is to be a voice of TRUTH in my own life, and the lives of every single person I come in contact with (my friends, family, neighborhood, community, on-line, and more!).
- I will not allow the comments of others to make me have “crazy head”.
- I will not return to an eating disorder.
- I will not allow my words to others feed into the lies we receive from the media and the world, about where TRUE BEAUTY and WORTH comes from ~ so help me God!!
That’s why I’m declaring my life to be a Fat Talk Free Zone! I recently came across the Reflections Body Image Program. I love what they are doing to teach women to pursue health, well-being, and true beauty!
In case you are wondering “what is fat talk, anyway?” Here’s how the Reflections Program describes it…
Fat Talk describes all of the statements made in everyday conversation that reinforce the thin ideal and contribute to women’s dissatisfaction with their bodies.
Examples of fat talk may include: “I’m so fat,” “Do I look fat in this?” “I need to lose 10 pounds” and “She’s too fat to be wearing that swimsuit.”
Statements that are considered fat talk don’t necessarily have to be negative; they can seem positive yet also reinforce the need to be thin – “You look great! Have you lost weight?”
Sorry, Satan, you may try your sly and subtle tricks with me ~ BUT NO MORE! I will live and stand and walk in TRUTH!
What a great post! I love the writing and encouragement on the scale. It is hard to be a woman in today’s day and age. People judge so quickly based on how you look or what you wear. I have been a size 2 and I have been a size 8. People are nicer, kinder and overall will do more for you when you are a smaller size. You get more stares and looks.
But…that is not what living our lives here on earth should be about. Thank you for the reminder!
Great reminder of WHO we are is not grounded in a number on the scale or the size of our jeans! 😉 needed to read this and be reminded of how amazing and special I AM !!
I appreciate this post so much. The truths you share here are life giving in many ways. As winter approaches, I have this “ugh” feeling in the back of my mind because I struggle with my weight and eating more in the winter. It’s the learned behavior I internally battle after years of being both anorexic and bulimic, though it was a long time ago. Every winter as my choices for activity wane and the temptation to eat increases on cold, dark nights when I sit down, the silent battle begins. Thank you for the self talk reminders. You are beautiful.