“I have come that they may have life,
and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10b
God not only wants us to have life, but to have it abundantly. He created us to enjoy life. And not just a life of fullness, but a life of overflowing. It’s all too easy to get so knee-deep in the “stuff” of everyday life that we lose sight of all that God has for us. Is your life rich, abounding, ample, spilling over? How about bountiful, lavish, flourishing, more than enough? I envision a cup that is not only full to the brim, but running over. That’s what God wants for our lives. His purpose for us is not just to get through this life – to merely survive it; no, His purpose for us is to be unstoppable and to do great things for Him – to thrive in this life.
Because of this, God does not want us to become bogged down with trivial issues such as food and eating and weight. We can’t truly enjoy life to beyond the fullest if we’re always worried about such things – what I can and cannot eat, if this piece of cake will cause me to gain ten pounds, if my backside looks “fat” in these jeans.
The phrase I relay to my clients – and everyone I know – is: “Fad diets are bad diets.” Even so, I undoubtedly hear from my friend in aerobics class or my dear aunt at our family reunion about the latest lose-weight-quick diet she is following. The truth about fad diets is that they never, ever work – at least not in the long-run. Under no circumstances do I recommend them to clients, and I strongly try to dissuade all individuals from following any type of “diet” or weight-loss scheme. Sure, a person may be able to adhere to a strict dietary regimen for a month, maybe even as long as a year, and will probably experience weight loss as a result. But eventually, that individual is going to want – or need – to stop following that restrictive, abnormal eating pattern. And as soon as she does so, the pounds are inevitably going to pile back on. Bringing with them feelings of guilt, inadequacy, low self-esteem, and poor body-image. If this is a second or third “failed” attempt, the frustration, despair, and self-hatred can be extremely damaging.
This, of course, is unless the former dieter has truly changed her way of living; unless she has learned how to eat healthfully and enjoy being physically active. Unfortunately, fad diets – and even quick-fix exercise regimens – do not teach these healthy habits. Although there are a number of reasons I advise against fad diets and lose-weight-quick schemes, there are three main reasons: they are deceptive, they are usually not healthy and may even be harmful, and as previously mentioned, they are impossible to follow long-term, so weight loss is only temporary.
First of all, results from fad diets can be misleading, especially early-on. Although many people appear to achieve dramatic weight loss, much of the initial weight lost is water, not true weight. So when your best friend tells you that she lost five pounds in two days as a member of the fad-diet-of-the-month club, you can rest assured that her thighs are not any slimmer than yours; she’s just lost water, which is not necessarily beneficial. Over time, a person may experience true weight loss on a fad diet. Yet, it’s not because there’s something unique or special about the diet. The underlying factor is that all fad diets are low-calorie diets (sometimes very low), so of course they will aid in weight loss. However, these low-calorie diets are not without risk, as will be discussed shortly. What may be even more compelling is the fact that low-calorie diets can cause your metabolism to slow down by putting your body into starvation mode. Yes, ironically, fad diets can actually achieve the opposite of a dieter’s goal.
Secondly, fad diets are usually not healthful, and sometimes not even safe. Because they are restrictive, diets often lack essential nutrients such as fiber, vitamins such as folate and vitamin C, minerals such as calcium or iron, phytochemicals and antioxidants, protein, and healthy fats. If a particular diet regimen recommends that a vitamin or mineral supplement be taken, that is a red flag; if an eating plan is healthy and well-rounded, no supplement should be necessary. Diets that are severely restrictive can, in fact, be harmful to your body and health, whether by inducing a dangerous metabolic state or increasing the risk of certain health conditions. It is advised that those following a low-calorie diet do so only under medical supervision due to health risks such as fainting due to low blood pressure, fatigue, gallstones, or gastrointestinal changes. Additionally, rapid weight loss – losing a significant amount of weight over a short period of time – is considered unsafe.
And last, fad diets are not balanced, thus they are impossible to maintain for a lifetime. The average diet lasts one to two months. True, you occasionally hear of someone who is able to stick to a diet for a year or so, but that is much longer than normal. If being on a strict diet is the only way an individual knows how to lose and maintain weight, it makes sense that when she goes off the diet and reverts back to her previous eating habits, the weight will quickly return. This is what I see happen time and time again. Thus, if weight loss is achieved on a fad diet, it is temporary at best. In addition, when we severely limit our intake by eliminating certain foods or food groups – or even worse, by “starving” ourselves – at some point, it will spiral out of our control and result in overeating and binge eating. Obviously, this not only sabotages our diet and weight loss plans, but it causes severe guilt, shame, and depression.
The key to weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight is the development of healthy habits. There’s no quick solution for weight loss. Whether it’s ten or 110 pounds, we didn’t gain our excess weight overnight – even though it sometimes feels that way. And we won’t lose it overnight, at least not healthfully, safely, and permanently.
Most of us are well-aware that the term “healthy habits” includes healthful eating and regular physical activity. When it comes to eating, remember, there are no “good” or “bad” foods; it’s all about balance, moderation, and variety. Paying attention to our feelings of hunger and fullness – biological cues given to us by God – is of great importance. We must eat only when we feel hungry, and stop eating as soon as we are satisfied. As for exercise, we need to learn to enjoy being active rather than dreading it; if we are merely forcing ourselves to do it, it will not become a lifelong habit. That means doing what you enjoy. If you abhor walking on the treadmill, don’t make yourself to walk on it every day – find an activity you like to do so you can stick with it for longer than a month or two.
Women often overlook a critical component to the development of healthy habits: self-acceptance. No matter what size or shape we may be, we have to see – and be convinced of – our value and worth in God’s eyes. Only then can we approach the daunting task of losing and managing our weight in a wholesome, sound, and lasting manner – the way in which God intends. God’s concern, which should be our concern, is our health and well-being – not what size jeans we wear. We may never get down to that size eight, or even 12, but we can develop beneficial habits to last a lifetime, and we will become more healthy and well as a result.
A book that I recommend to those struggling with weight issues is The Weigh Down Diet by fellow Registered Dietitian, Gwen Shamblin. Although the word “diet” is in the title, it actually isn’t a diet at all. It’s a way of life that requires dependence upon God. Through the book, Gwen teaches us how to cut our ties to food, how to break free from the bondage of dieting, how to shift our focus from eating to God. God doesn’t want us to be enslaved to anything, and that includes our weight, food, and exercise. True, He wants us to lead healthy, balanced lives, but He doesn’t want us to be in bondage. When we obsess about our weight or follow fad diets or quick-fix exercise regimens, we are not experiencing the freedom and abundant life that God wants us to possess.
My hope and prayer for every woman is that she will escape from the bondage of food and weight and realize that quick-fix fad diets or exercise regimens are never the answer; that God will enable her to accept herself right where she is, but also empower her to become more vibrant and alive through the development of healthy habits; and that she will experience – to the greatest extent possible – the meaningful, abundant life God has for her. As with anything we face in life, we can only successfully improve our health and manage our weight with the grace, strength, and power of God; we simply cannot do it on our own. Let us rely upon the truth found in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”
Copyright © 2009 Keeley Drotz, RD, CD – TGBG Nutrition. All rights reserved.
