Getting weary on the weight loss journey

Weight loss and getting in good physical shape is a journey. It can be a very difficult journey for some of us. For example, I work full time and I am also currently going to school. To be honest, I’ve let some things slip, including my exercise routine and my healthy eating habits. I could easily beat myself up because as a personal trainer and sports nutritionist, I know better.

But to be honest, I don’t think anyone has a perfect life. We all struggle in some area. I used to believe that everyone else had it all together, except for me. One of the bad things about social media is the illusion that people have picture perfect lives because they are showing only the good moments. I have nothing against that. In fact, I would prefer not to see someone else’s drama plastered all over my social media feed. However, this situation does make it easier to fall into the trap of comparing our lives overall to the snapshots posted on someone else’s account. It is easy to forget that other people have issues as well.

But I digress.

Galatians 6:9 states “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” This verse was featured on my Bible app today, and it reminded me of my own journey to fitness (as well as journeys in other areas). Living a disciplined life is hard. With school, work, and family obligations, I have let some things slip. It’s hard to get up early and work out when I work late. When I get home, all I want to do is relax. That in itself is not an issue, but I’ve fallen into the trap of getting a snack and sitting on my phone for too long after work instead of getting ready for bed. This causes me to stay up later than I should, and therefore I don’t get the sleep I need to get up and do my workout the next day. Then I’m tired, don’t make good choices throughout the day, and the cycle continues.

Under those circumstances, it’s easy to forget that I was bought with a price, and I have an obligation to take care of my body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

This is not something that I can do on my own. I know – I’ve tried. (I’m sure you have tried, too.) However, I have help, if I remember to look for it. Hebrews 12:1-2 says “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I also want to build a community of believers who will support each other and cheer each other on. I want to celebrate your victories with you, whether it is a weight loss, a new personal record, or resisting a bad habit. I want to support you through the trying times. I want to obey the Scripture and “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

As I said before, living a disciplined life is hard. However, I have found out that 1) It is easier to live a disciplined life that prevents issues than to deal with the ramifications that come from the bad choices of an undisciplined life, 2) It is easier to stay with it when you have support, and 3) most importantly, God is with us.