Being heavier than most of my friends has never been fun. I was twelve years old when I started paying attention to a scale, not that it did me much good as the numbers increased significantly over the years.
I feel like I’ve been trying to lose weight my entire life. Sometimes I’m successful and the other 99% of the time I hate myself.
Sometimes, it’s just as miserable losing weight as it is seeing yourself gain.
Rant over. I’m not saying this out of self-pity (okay, maybe a little) and it’s not a cry for sympathy.
The point I’m trying to make is you can’t be happy and heavy at the same time.
That’s right. Reread that last line. But before I lose you, I want to tell you what you can be:
Heavy and content.
Heavy and joyful.
Heavy and thriving.
You see, being happy is an emotion only dependent on outside circumstances. “If I have a good job, if I’m with the love of my life, if I look good, then I’ll be happy.” But as soon as our outside circumstances are negative, then it’s harder to find that happiness.
But being content is about being at peace in the moment. It means loving yourself if you’re 10 pounds overweight or 100. Losing 20, 30, 40 pounds will never be enough. Learn to celebrate your imperfections now, knowing that you will always have something you want to change. The reality is, a mess of even more flaws is heading our way. It’s called getting older.
Our relationship with God and with people define us more than the numbers on the scale.
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Being joyful is a heart condition. You can change the outside all you want, but the real change in your life comes from a change of heart. Jesus warns those of us who are focused on cleaning the outside of the cup while the inside is still full of junk (Luke 11:39). Our relationship with God and with people define us more than the numbers on the scale.
Finally, you can still thrive as a plus-sized individual. Don’t let the negative perspective on double chins, belly rolls, and love handles determine what you can and cannot do or what you can and cannot have. You can still find a significant other who thinks you’re sexy, you can still be successful in your pursuits, and you can still be used by God.
Am I saying you should give up on trying to obtain that beach body? Or reach your goal weight? No, because I’m not going to give up. We should always strive to be healthier because we’re God’s temple and we want to serve Him to the best of our ability.
Remember what’s important, don’t be ruled by the fat stigma or the scale digits, and don’t let the doubts about your value steal what’s true. God’s mirror reflects His perfect child. His love is the reason we have an identity in the first place. Enough of the world will be against you, no need to be against you too.
Join me as I look in the mirror and step on the scale remembering:
To celebrate the parts of my body I wish were different.
To clean the nasty parts of my heart.
To never give up on my goals.
So go out, my friends, live life, and let the weight just be something you carry along for the ride.
Leah Jordan Meahl 