I totally fell off the healthy eating wagon this weekend! I do so well during the week, staying focused on how to eat to fuel my body and then the weekends come along and I can’t seem to control myself in splurging on unhealthy foods that I KNOW are not good for me!
I’m right there with you! Weekends can be full of food temptations. I helped myself to a “healthy” slice of cake this weekend at a friend’s birthday party. And then some of the leftovers seemed to magically jump in the car to come home with me! ?
Haha! I know that story well ?! I’m totally beating myself up because of my lack of self-control!
I know what you mean — when I do something I’m not proud of, I feel like I just hear the negative self-talk reverberating in my mind…
Yes! And then those bad feelings about myself impact my day and how I interact with my kids. It’s a vicious cycle.
I hear you on that! One day last week, I thought I was doing well with my eating and exercising, so I decided to weigh myself only to discover that the scale didn’t agree. My whole demeanor fell into discouragement. I try not to talk to the boys about my weight because I don’t want them to think about themselves negatively like I sometimes do about myself, but I still see a huge difference in my treatment of them and my husband when I feel cruddy about myself. It’s bad enough I let the scale dictate to me who I was, but then I let it affect my family.
You’re right on because when I am hearing lies about myself, I feel defeated and discouraged and that spreads into how I respond to everyone!
I know…It’s like I tumbled off that wagon and I’m laying on the side of the road watching it take off without me!
Is it just me, or does the wagon reference make anyone else think of the countless hours we spent as children playing Oregon Trail? ? Sorry to digress!
Haha! Well, now you have me thinking about it! Wasn’t it super hard to make it to the end of that game? Everyone always died of cholera and dysentery. Oregon seemed to be this elusive place that no one really made it to.
Maybe the wagon reference isn’t too far off!
You’re probably right! Saying “I fell off the wagon” makes it sound like I’m on a path to some elusive place of victory. Really I just made some bad choices. I took my eyes off of my focus on honoring God with my body.
Like how Peter took his eyes off Jesus while walking on water.
Wow, yes! And then Peter began to sink, very much like me!
But in that story of the Bible, Peter calls out to Jesus and Jesus rescues him. I think you need to give yourself some grace and ask God to help you re-start in this moment. He cares too much about you to let what happened over the weekend affect His relationship with you!
I also think in these situations that play right into some of my lies about myself, I am learning to talk to God about it before it happens. Like – Okay, God, you know my weakness and weekends are hard for me to stay committed in healthy eating choices. Would you help me when I’m tempted? And when I fall off the wagon, will you help me to accept your grace and begin again? Sometimes I think I lean too heavily on my willpower instead of remembering that God’s power will give me all I need.
And when we do mess up, it isn’t like the wagon is totally lost and our whole family destroyed along with it and we’ll never make it to Oregon… He is with us, mending our brokenness. We don’t even have to wait to trade with Him for a new axle or another ox or whatever! He just has everything we need! Including how to transform our own thinking about our “defeat.”
You’re right. God doesn’t want me to wallow in the choices I have already made. God gives me grace and wipes my slate clean each moment. And when I accept His grace, I feel empowered to make more positive choices starting now. ? ?
I’m not on a path towards victory, I’m taking steps with God in victory.
What a great concept to model for our kids. They are all going to face struggles with making choices (how many times have I said, “that wasn’t the best choice” or “try again!”). If we know we can walk in His victory and grace regardless of our choices, then we can show them how to do the same. And I don’t know about you, but I would love to see my kids walk through life with that kind of grace!
Soaking in the Truth
Scripture to encourage you:
- Matthew 14:28-33 (MSG) Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come ahead.” Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!” Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?” The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!”
- Hebrews 12: 1-2 (NLT) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Music to inspire you:
- “Courageous” by Casting Crowns
Readings to come alongside of you:
- “We are only one good choice away from being back on the path of perseverance.” – Lysa TerKeurst, Made to Crave
- Why Falling Off the Wagon Isn’t Fatal by Maia Szalavitz
- Environment is Stronger Than Willpower by Arlene Pellicane
- “I haven’t often prayed to a God who says, ‘We’ve got this; we’ll do it together. Your failure doesn’t rattle me. Your limitations don’t bother me.’ But I do now, little by little. Because now when I step out of that boat, I’m starting to see a man with love in his eyes, a man who will rescue and rescue and rescue , and then bring me to safety, despite my faithlessness, despite my failure.” Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist
Living Out the Truth
Ideas to try:
- Come up with some measurements of success for yourself that don’t involve the number on the scale or the number on your clothing tags. Think of how God would want you to measure your success. Some examples may be, “Have I eaten only out of physical hunger today?” or “Have I asked God to be present and help me be mindful during meals today?”
- If you’re like me and struggle with your relationship with food, I wrote an 8-week Bible study called “Shedding the Weight” that I would LOVE to share with you! Subscribe to our email list above on the right side of the page under “Connect with Us” to receive your FREE copy of this study. The link will go out in our weekly subscriber email.
(These suggestions are ideas from novice moms. Sometimes our life situations need more. In that case, seeking out professional help is the right call.)