Just returned from the RE:CREATE 2011 Caribbean cruise with @randyelrod, @michaelhyatt, @pwilson and @kendavislive. I found new learnings on creativity and spiritual growth that I’ll be blogging about in future posts.
I also found three pounds. These are the same three pounds that I had lost since Christmas when I found six pounds.
On the cruise, Ken Davis discussed discipline and shared his story of losing 42 pounds in the past few years because he finally got what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20- Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
One of my insecurities was always my appearance, particularly my weight. I tried diet after diet to gain the perfect female body: thin and tanned. In college I dated a guy that liked this beautiful, thin girl, so I dieted to compete.
Just like Ken, I’ve lost exactly 42 pounds since I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. I started caring for my body because it is God’s temple, rather than thinking I needed to be thin in order to be attractive to the world. Exercise and a low-fat diet make a huge difference in reducing breast cancer recurrence and I need to do my part to care for the body that God gave me and made in His image.
Eating and exercise for me are now all about glorifying God. I’m at goal weight and when I gain more than three pounds, I go back on my “diet” and ramp up my exercise.
My diet is simple. Fresh fruits and vegetables, lots of fish, and desserts reserved for special occasions. I don’t eat any deep fat fried foods, just a nibble to honor the cook. Otherwise I eat normally and drink an occasional red wine. When I am diligent and exercise 3 hours per week, I lose 2 pounds per week until I’m back at goal weight.
What about you? Do you treat your body as a temple or do you worship it as a false God, using your outward appearance as a measuring stick of your worth?
I’ll keep you posted on my weight loss. Three pounds to get to the top of the range, six pounds to get to ideal weight again. Thanks to Ken Davis for reminding me that God expects me to take care of His temple.
Blessings,
Agatha