The Big 3: Don't Let These Make You Quit! Part 2

fitness Nov 17, 2020

The Big 3: Don't Let These Make You Quit! Coaching Session 2

(Press play above or read the blog version below.)

This is for you if you’ve ever wondered:

How long it takes to see results with fitness goals and why it’s so hard not to quit?
Why you’re so “all or nothing” when it comes to dieting and working out?
Why you’re not alone if you’ve ever felt shame about your weight or how you look?

If you read any of these and thought, “WOW! That sounds just like me.” It’s because these questions came from a fit sister-in-Christ, just like us!

Sweet friend, God never intended for us to do life without Him. Fitness, food, and body image are places where the struggle is real, Amen?!

Today’s GOAL is to take away the power any of these areas have had over us with WORD-based solutions!

God’s got us! Get free and on track today with these scriptures and strategies.

Before I dive in, I want to share something special. I’m launching a brand new devotional Jan 1. It’s a faith and fitness devotional and you’re going to love it! I took the top issues we face on our journey to fitness through faith, and through prayer, God brought the words. All the glory goes to Him, and I just can’t even wait to share it with you.

I had planned on launching it in April, but the timing just felt off with the coronavirus. God’s timing is perfect though. I will be sending out a message to my insiders, so please make sure you’re signed up to be the first to know. HERE

Here are 3 of the Top Reasons We Quit Our Fitness Goals and What to Do About it!

1. Lisa asks, "Why am I so all in or all out when it comes to fitness? I’m so frustrated. Help me?"

Lisa, you are not alone! All or nothing is extreme thinking. Here’s our biblical foundation for extremes:

– 1 Peter 5:18 tells us...

Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

All or nothing thinking is extreme and God gives us a clear warning about extremes.

In order to stop all or nothing thinking, you have to intentionally take the option to quit off the table, and find space between the extremes. Most of life is in the middle.
Start trading extremes for doing the best you can - today! Just do today.
Think of it like this, fitness without God is typically an extreme all consuming mindset to achieve a look for a moment in time. This is not sustainable or healthy or of God. Recognizing that some days will be off and some will be good, you’ll find a sweet spot of balance.

In podcast/blog 44, I talked about viewing your approach to fitness as a dial, some days you’re a 10, you’re all in and things are going great, and others days you’re a two, but you’re still doing something.

Remember it’s not all or nothing, it’s always something.

All or nothing is a black and white, and it's a Perfectionism trap, it sounds like this:

I ate perfectly today, I’m a success.
I cheated on my diet, I’m a failure might as well eat what I want the rest of the day.
I would never eat that.
I always work out.
I never stick to a diet. I’m a failure.

See how these thoughts are extreme?

Find middle ground, and avoid using words like: never, always, ruined, and can’t; these words offer no grey area, and life isn’t black and white.

Practice catching yourself:

Remember this rule, no back to back crap, don’t let that door swing wide open. One buttery roll at lunch doesn't need to turn into... I already blew it so, I’m going to take the rest of today off and get back on track tomorrow.

Don’t turn a slip into a slide….LOL

2. Amy asks, Why do I feel so much shame about what I weigh and how I look?

This is a lie from the enemy to keep you trapped in thinking you’re not good enough so you never shine your beautiful light for Christ!

I’m about to go deep here, but it’s SOUL good!

Have you heard about the parable of the sower? (A parable is just a short lesson.) When you hear sowing and seeds think of Jesus and the Word of God. Jesus is using a farming story to show what happens with the Word in our lives.

In Matthew 13 Jesus spoke in parables, saying: “, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.

But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.

But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But (THIS IS US SISTERS!) he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Here’s an example, your Bible tells you that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, but when you look in the mirror, do you see that?

When you’re working toward your fitness goals, do you embrace that?! If not, make today the day you do. Let’s set our minds on God’s word and receive it so that it bears fruit in our lives.

Here’s an important takeaway: the devil immediately comes to kill, steal and destroy you in places like you’d never think….so let the Word take root in you so deeply that nothing can take it away.

Have you considered why we have such a negative inner conversation?
Why do we beat ourselves up, self-sabotage, focus on our flaws?

The answer is that parable and beautiful said in this quote by Holley Gerth:

The enemy tricks us into believing we’re not good enough, because he knows if we discover the truth we’ll be UNSTOPPABLE!

Have you ever noticed how the enemy always talks to you about the same stuff?

The same things that keep you trapped in shame, fear, discouragement and hopelessness.

Look for the things you nurse and rehearse. They are not from God. Write them down and replace them with the truth of who God says you are.

Another important thing I’ll add is this, regardless of what you weigh, you should never feel shame over numbers and God doesn’t make mistakes!

See yourself as a whole person not just numbers or any single defining characteristic. FIT is a look that looks different on every body. Embrace your body.

You’re so much more than what you look like or what you weigh,

I pray the Word of God grows so deep and strong in you, that you get free!

3. Shonda - How long does it take to see results and why is it so hard not to quit?

This question is top of mind for every newbie and for those of us who still believe there’s a magic pill.

As I share this, think of your attempts at getting fit. Fitness the world’s way goes something like this: ( I’ve heard this from 1000s of women.)

Week 1 You’re totally motivated, you see initial water weight loss, you feel great, energetic, and happy. You’re really active on social media sharing selfies and feeling full of confidence.

Week 2 You’re still pretty motivated but it’s starting to fade, You’re feeling sore, and you’re starting to wonder if it’s working. You’re hungrier and you’re not noticing the big changes you want. People are asking you how it’s going and you’re trying to stay pumped!

Week 3 The scale stopped moving! You’re hungry and your motivation is fading. You're wondering if you picked the right workout or food plan. You don’t see the results you thought you would. You start skipping workouts, and eating unhealthy food. You scroll through your social feed and you’re starting to compare and feel like a failure...

Week 4 You’re starting to skip more and more workouts. You feel down like it works for everyone else but you. You weigh yourself and don't’ see any changes or maybe you’ve gained weight, so you decide to binge eat the foods you’ve missed, promising that you’ll try harder next time or find a better plan, or maybe it’s just your genetics...you’ve isolated yourself a bit and you've lost motivation.

THERE IS A LASTING ANSWER THOUGH

If you’ve felt like Shonda, I want to encourage you to listen/read to Podcast/blog 20, there is a lasting answer to fitness there, and I want to help you get fit God’s way. It’s time to get off this crazy train!

I believe and teach getting ourselves fit is for God’s calling - to carry out His kingdom purposes in your life. He is our lasting motivation.

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank you so much for Lisa, Amy, and Shonda, and for all of my sweet sisters listening or reading this.

Father, trying to get fit can be really hard and a place of painful frustration for so many of us.

I pray that my sisters would be filled with clarity that your Word would be sewn so deeply and powerfully in their hearts that they would clearly see Your path before them, and the truth of who you say they are and be able to spot the lies of the enemy in their thoughts.

When our motivation isn’t godly, show us, when we feel insecure, build us up, when we crave anything more than you, take the taste for it away. We put you on the throne of our fitness goals, and surrender them to you.

Jesus, help make our fitness goals more about serving you and less about what we look like.

In your mighty name we pray, amen!

Faith Fuel

Psalm 119: 73 says, Your hands have made me and fashioned me.

WHOA! God made you friend. He chose your eye color, skin color, height, weight, and frame and He doesn’t make mistakes. That scripture is like a big hug from God saying, I designed you! Just WOW!

Power Up Challenge!

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