What we have to GAIN

Today our trainer said, you can look at what you have to give up or what you have to gain... wow! Isn't that the truth? As a fitness coach I talk to people all the time who worry about giving up sugar or time watching TV instead of looking at what 30 minutes of movement or an apple would do for their life.

For years I said, I'd rather be fat than give up beer and chicken wings... and I can tell you that I've lived 100 pounds overweight and I've lived healthy and no cupcake or bag of cheddar and sour cream chips make me feel as good as I feel today. And I can promise you that I LOVE both of those things and have eaten MORE than my fair share of both... and I still treat myself on occasion, but it's just that, a treat...on occasion. I don't look at having to give up food or my comfort because if we're really, TRULY honest with ourselves, it is FAR harder to look at the mirror and not like what we see and how we feel than it is to pass up the occasional cupcake.

What do you have to GAIN by learning to live life in balance? What do you truly give up if you don't? Confidence, health, self love, appreciate for the times you do treat yourself... let's face it, it's not a treat if you do it daily, that's a habit and is it really one you want to pass down to your kids? Let's talk about your kids for a second, what habits are you teaching them? What are you teaching them about cooking, self-image, fast food? What are you showing them when you look in the mirror and talk trash to your reflection. First of all, you break God's heart when you talk shit to His creation, He made us in His image ya know.

I don't want to look at what I have to lose by living healthy and in balance, I want to look at what I have to gain; discipline, consistency, self-love, kindness, peace, patience, love for others...isn't this far better than what we're giving up? Relying on food for comfort...

As someone who was obese I constantly looked at fit people with disdain, oh, I bet she never eats a cookie or has any fun, were thoughts that often crossed my mind. But I know I was wrong, I was taking my insecurities out on someone who worked her ass off to look good, feel confident, and hopefully enjoy the occasional cookie without self-deprecating, which is what I used to do. Cause let's face it, cookies are delish and we want to be able to enjoy the occasional treat, right? So what do we need to give up so we can live that life in balance, relying on only God to fill our need? We need to pray for peace to give up fear, we need to pray for strength to give up doubt, we need to pray for patience as our body learns and adapts to a new thing. Not a diet, not counting all the calories or working out for hours...no, balance in ALL things.

What you have to gain is peace, patience, love, joy, kindness, gentleness, self-control, discipline, and all the fruits of the Spirit we're meant to enjoy. Don't focus on what you have to lose, you have EVERYTHING to gain when you give your struggles to God and let Him do a work through you. Listen, I struggle too, I'm not here to tell you I don't. I just know what it feels like to be depressed, anxious, self-loathing and unworthy... This life, this working on putting my faith above ALL things is helping me to learn balance in EVERY area of my life.

Our mercies are new every morning, so if you suck today, whatever, try again at 4 o'clock and if you suck again, try at 5, and every hour you get after that. You can, just remember all you have to gain and remember who's watching.