I had written this entire post during a car trip and it flowed so well! Unfortunately I can’t remember it all as I sit here now. Hate when that happens, I don’t know if this will be as inspiring as the first version written in my mind but I’ll still give it a go because this is worth  talking about.

If you use food to comfort, we’re on the same page. There is something about a carton of Macdonald’s fries that eases a stressful day, or a coffee treat from Starbucks that allows me to buy a little happy.  I love cheesy hashbrown casserole in the fall, or a nice chocolate bar that accompanies a good book.  Are you with me?

I’ve shared with you about binge eating and if you missed that you can read it here.  I believe quite a few of us ladies have been at that pointe.  Maybe it was anorexia? Either way at some point you may have found yourself struggling with weight/your image.  We’ve all heard it is rooted from insecurity and that’s a post for another day.  Today we’re looking at this differently.

It’s been enlightening to see how fast I will reach for food after a long day over bowing before God where the real source of comfort is. I say to people how God comforts but in reality that’s not how I lived.  It’s easier to fix an issue on my own instead of laying aside ‘Laura’ and asking God for help. Even though He always does help.

Psalm 121:1
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?

I had an unhealthy relationship with food.  It wasn’t about keeping my body fueled, it was what I used to ease stress or make me happy.   I was living life defeated.  My mind was wrapped around the extra weight and how people thought of me.  I spoke on this before but this was leading me to withdraw from the crowd.  I clung to food and then switched back to a crazy regime of dieting and counting calories.  Oh the bondage! I cringe thinking about it.

I had to break up with food.  But isn’t that tricky when we need food to survive?  I had a women recently ask me if there was hope in this area? I could hear that painful guilt and shame she was carrying around with the weight she wanted to lose.
Being able to step fully into a hope found ONLY in God is incredible my friend.
We don’t have to kill ourselves in the gym, think about food from the time we get up until sunset.  We don’t have to become slaves to health either.
That’s why you and I are chasing freedom together.  This is me coming alongside of you saying, ‘i’m with you and we’re going to be free from this thing’.
Satan has kept us defeated but God has come to our rescue and when we trust him, he will lead us through this season.

I had to break up with food.  But maybe you have to break up with an image of what you want to look like?  We don’t need any more ‘thin-spiration’ pictures on pinterest to look at.  It’s time we learn to be the best you and I possible.
We’re created different then the next girl and that’s okay!  We have to dig deep today and understand the void we’re trying to fill up can only be filled by a relationship with God…where he meets those desires and secures us.
Binge eating, weight loss, anorexia, etc won’t fill that void for long.  I know Jesus didn’t come so that I’d be dying on the inside but he came to bring life to the full for you and I.
You have to understand what a fresh start really means when you come to the Lord.
It means those past choices aren’t who you are but simply where you’ve been.
Not more dwelling on the past.
We can learn to eat in moderation (together!) and add some type of exercise into our weeks.
What do you love to do?
walking, riding a bike, swimming, running? Well pick one or two and add them in.  Grab a friend if possible!
We have to move if we’re going to stay healthy.  It’s part of the deal.

Also we’re going to need to re-learn moderation when it comes to food.  Not so many trips through the drive thru, or heaping plate fulls, or as much of the junk.  But lets not be deprived either.  I love a coffee treat or occasional carton of french fries! But it can’t be all the time.
If you find yourself obsessing over meals and counting calories you’ve went too far friend.  If you want to start out counting calories as a tool to see how much is in the food you’re eating okay, but try to wean yourself off of that eventually.  I hear from a lot of people saying it became too much for them so they gave up completely.
I love to indulge in food and not think about it, so re-learning how to have better portion sizes was difficult!
There is a combination of filling up with God, getting some exercise, and eating better.
I do believe that God sends help when we ask, so if you don’t remember much from this, remember this.
Ask God for help!
Don’t read another article on weight loss, bow before God and confess to him what’s going on and seek his help.
He wants to see you and I living in freedom.
I still have some weight to lose but I trust when I follow the simple rules of eating right and getting some exercise my body will thank me by shedding the weight.

Can I tell you what made me want to chase freedom? You.  Because a few of you sent emails sharing your story.  I wanted you to know you weren’t alone and that in God all things are possible.   This is more than losing weight to me, this is accepting God’s word and trusting him.
I’m thinking of you today and hoping you’re taking steps towards freedom with me.

~Laura