Embracing the Sweat

As of today, I have lost 62 pounds of body weight that I declare...I  promise...I hope...will never return to my body. I still have another 14 pounds to go before my handy little app says I'm "healthy," but surprisingly, I've discovered a few things along the journey.

1) I am bow-legged. Who knew? I have numerous family members with the trait, but for 32.9% of my life, I thought I wasn't one of them. I was born chubby, was a chubby kid (although I was unaware), and have spent the entire part of my teenage/adult years overweight and obese. Now that I'm a lower weight than I've ever been for my current height, I am indeed bow-legged! I'm kind of excited! I always  thought those curvy legs were kind of cute. Now I'm one of them!

2) I was not created to have a double-chin. I have never, not once in my life not had a double chin! I don't know how long it's been gone, but yesterday, I discovered that my second appendage to my face has moved away!

3) I am a 33 year old, homeschooling mother, part-time mortgage worker, keeper-of-the-house wife, and I AM AN ATHLETE. Who knew that either? I suffer from an eye birth defect that doesn't give me much hope for depth perception or any sport that involves a ball flying. As a child and teenager, that's all the sports there were, and I was incredibly clumsy because of my rotundness and my lack of knowing when the ball was flying at my head. Now I realize that athletes come in all forms, and I on my little Trek bike, affectionately named Silvia, am indeed an athlete. Not only that, I CAN RUN! I always figured that I looked like a dork running, but I saw myself in the mirror running on a treadmill the other day, and much to my surprise, I look like any other sweaty 33 year old woman running on a treadmill. Who knew?


I started this weight loss thing because simply...I was fat. I thought my problem was merely physical. If I could just lose weight, I'd feel more confident, I'd feel loved more by my husband, I'd feel more energetic, and I'd feel well....more spiritual. I know, I know....but a girl can dream, right?

After 62 pounds gone, I have indeed seen a boost in energy. It's still crazy to me and makes absolutely no sense that if I work myself into a sweat and a heart-beat that's almost to the point of a heart attack for over an hour a day, I can have more energy?!?! It's true. One assumption I made 7 months ago was correct...I do have more energy. The rest of the assumptions? huh!

4) I like to sweat. In previous years, I had to mentally and physically prepare myself to sweat. I would wear special clothes, put up my hair, preferably take a shower first, and meditate on the fact that I was indeed going to perspire. I still like to wear certain clothes when I'm sweating, because quite frankly, polyester and sweat just do not mix. Ewww.... Sweating now means that my body is working the way it should.

5) I'm still self-conscious. I keep telling myself that if I just lose these last 14 pounds, I will be more confident. I now realize that this just may not be the case. How can I reverse 33 years of self-doubt? I must look elsewhere for my value.

6) My husband loved me just as much fat as he does now that I'm not. Should I want to be attractive for my husband? Sure. And I'm loving that I'm more attractive to myself. But he married me 20 pounds heavier than I am now. Should I weigh less that my husband, due to the simple fact that he's 5" taller than me? Absolutely. But I have to understand that his family is made up of small people. Mine is not.

7) No person and no thing defines my identity besides Christ Himself. The last thing I discovered was not quite a shock to me at all, although I did need a reminder. The weight-loss shows all tell us that if you just lose weight, you'll feel more confident. The main stream media tells us that if we can lose 75 pounds, you can do anything! You can take on the world! Friends, I'm here to tell you that you can take on the world if you're fat. Our identity is found in Christ, not our dress size.

John 1:12-13
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

Galatians 4:6-7
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:3-4
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

This whole journey has been a life-style change for my entire family. We have never allowed our children to drink soda or gorge themselves on junk food, but it's even been a change for them. There are stark differences in the contents of our cupboard and fridge. There are drastic differences in our choices of recreation, and surprisingly, we're all happy about it. We've found that other healthy habits have also formed. Family prayer time happens now when we're all wide awake and happy to be there. There's less arguing, and less freaking out when we're dirty and sweaty. Yes, it took me a while to get there, but I have embraced the sweat.