Weight Loss

I started losing weight in September of 2006, right after I became a Christian. I believe that God inspired me to become more healthy and gave me the strength to do so.

In January of this year, my mom also started losing weight. We both believe that it was a command from God for her to do so, and she's in the process of losing 115 pounds. She's already lost over fifty, and I believe that it's been because of the Lord's help that she's come as far as she has.

So I just wanted to know: How has God helped you in your weight loss goal?

Original Post by floggingsully:

If god does exist, I'm sure she has more important things to worry about than helping people lose weight.

At least in terms of what Christians believe, God cares deeply about us and tells us to cast all our worries onto Him. He wants to hear all of our concerns, even the small things. His love for us exceeds our wildest imaginations-- it surpasses any love on earth we will ever know, even the kind of amazing love we get from parents. 

And well, even if you don't believe it, if you think about the concept and idea behind the kind of love Christians believe in, it's astounding and incredibly life-changing. Can you imagine, how different would life be (including tackling every day problems like weight loss) knowing and loving your creator and having your creator love you enough to be there with you and guide you through all of your life? It's kind of mind blowing I think.

Original Post by jhardy07:

Original Post by purpleorchid89:

I think it's difficult for non-Christians to understand how deeply God affects every single part of the Christian life-- yes, it can deeply affect dieting as well. I can understand what you are asking, and I would say yes. I feel like a lot of times I binge eat and get fat out of GREED and FEAR. Greed because I am not respecting my body, and I eat until I make myself sick. Fear out of being hungry before my next meal. Or fear/stress when I'm trying not to deal with problems in my life. Using food as an escape is no answer, and I try to remember to turn to God first before I stuff everything in sight into my mouth.

Not to be rude, but I disagree with this statement. It honestly has nothing to do with being "non-Christian"... It doesn't matter what religion you are... I'm Wiccan and the Gods and Goddesses I feel are closest to my heart affect my life as a practicing Wiccan. Nature deeply affects my life. My religion is a part of my life to the fullest extent... and although there is a small part religion plays in my physical shape if I choose it to be so... Religion doesn't choose what I put in my mouth every day. I can't honestly sit there and say, "I'm eating this apple, or this banana, or this whatever because of fear, greed, or feeling like a glutton."

The only thing I can say religion does do for me as far as my weight loss goals are concerned is that it helps keep me motivated. And that's what religion should do for anyone, not matter what religion they are... It should keep them happy, keep them motivated, and help them feel closer to their own nirvana or "peaceful place."

Everything you do in life is because either consciously, or subconsciously, you made a choice to do so. You may feel spiritually compelled to do something, and that is fine, but ultimately, that choice came from somewhere, whether through God or whoever, but it starts with you. You choose to wake up every day and function about your daily duties. You choose to do things that are specific to religion to make you feel closer to your deity of choosing. And so, you choose to make the decision to eat the foods you do and continue on with your weight loss goals. May it be faith inspired, I believe, is totally your own personal decision.

Good luck to you in your weight loss journey!

Hi there! Don't worry, I'm not offended at all, just a little confused. I think you're saying that other religions also can affect/help people in losing weight as well? Not sure... Anyway, if so, I would agree. I automatically spoke in a Christian viewpoint because that's what I am and that happens to be what the starter of this thread is too.

Original Post by purpleorchid89:

Original Post by floggingsully:

If god does exist, I'm sure she has more important things to worry about than helping people lose weight.

At least in terms of what Christians believe, God cares deeply about us and tells us to cast all our worries onto Him. He wants to hear all of our concerns, even the small things. His love for us is beyond our wildest imaginations-- it surpasses any love on earth we will ever know, even the kind of amazing love we get from parents.

And well, even if you don't believe it, if you think about the concept and idea behind the kind of love Christians believe in, it's astounding and incredibly life-changing. Can you imagine, how different would life be (including tackling every day problems like weight loss) knowing and loving your creator and having your creator love you enough to be there with you and guide you through all of your life? It's kind of mind blowing I think.

Sure is a hell of a lot of suffering for him to care so damn much,

ROFL!!!

Ohh sry didnt mean to prove your whole lifestyle wrong.

ROFL!!!

Ohh sry didnt mean to prove your whole lifestyle wrong.

Original Post by disc:

Original Post by aasil:

but praying for someone who isn't "close to god" isn't being respectful of their beliefs either. 

 If the praying is done within earshot of the atheist person, than I can see how it can be disrespectful of the atheist person's beliefs - er, lack of beliefs I guess you meant.

But how on earth can it be disrespectful to pray for someone silently? Are we as "tolerant" as to be critical about and irritated by the mental activities, thoughts, and quiet prayers of others?? I call that very narrow minded and aggressive, far more aggressive than a prayer uttered quietly and with good intentions for a fellow human being.

I'm glad we're having a good discussion here with lots of different beliefs here-- even though it is getting off topic. I just wanted to say, I do agree with you. I feel like sometimes this whole tolerance idea is very one-sided, especially in college-- being a Christian where I am going to college is something of a ridiculous novelty, and me and other Christians I know feel persecuted at times. Atheism still does rule the U.S. (and the world too I guess) in terms of almost everything that is taught. I'm not someone who advocates prayer in public schools or anything like that (in fact I would describe myself as politically moderate), but I have noticed that it seems to be pretty much politically correct to assume there is no God. And if I do express some belief in a God, it's surprising the kind of reactions I have gotten. People truly feel offended, and it can be frustrating, and it saddens me. I think this has to do with a sort of bad image Christians have gotten (well, in the U.S.) for certain things like trying to "force their beliefs onto other people" or maybe for judging others... like I remember before I became a Christian I felt uncomfortable around Christians, because I always felt like, man-- they think they're a better person than me, just because they "know" God and all that!

So yeah, I can understand the other side, as I am a fairly new Christian. I can understand how it can make non-Christians uncomfortable to have Christians pray over them. I guess the thing is, there's really no way to stop anyone from praying over you. I hope people who feel uncomfortable about this can... feel more comfortable about it. If they can think about the good intentions of people who are sincerely praying out of love for them, it might help. I think this whole notion of REALLY caring about EVERYONE (strangers, homeless people, random people, neighbors, etc.) is such a strange idea in our world today that it's kind of hard to imagine that some people really do. Not to say all Christians do or that non-Christians don't or anything. I don't believe this to be divided clearly along lines of religion. But I do want to just say that Christians believe that God united us all as one body, and that we are not individually connected to God, but that God called us to get together and love everyone around us.

Anyway, I just wrote all that hoping to better explain why some Christians on this forum are saying the things they do, and I think this is all really good that we are learning about each other. I don't know nearly enough about other religions as I want to, and I do want to learn. Hopefully we are all more knowledgeable about different beliefs, and good luck to everyone on losing weight/living healthily!

I am curious, christians who pray for people who may not be a Christian -

Would you be offended if I prayed to Odin or Frigga for you? Or if I did spellwork for you? To me spellwork is similar to a prayer.

Because a great deal of christians I have encountered  are VERY threatened by this idea, enough that non-christians are shunned from inter-faith organizations, including the National Day of Prayer.

I wouldn't feel personally offended or threatened.

To be completely honest, I would probably feel kind of weird-- if I knew about it that is.

But if you were praying out of genuine care for me, I would be very touched.

Original Post by liliren:

I am curious, christians who pray for people who may not be a Christian -

Would you be offended if I prayed to Odin or Frigga for you? Or if I did spellwork for you? To me spellwork is similar to a prayer.

Because a great deal of christians I have encountered are VERY threatened by this idea, enough that non-christians are shunned from inter-faith organizations, including the National Day of Prayer.

I hope its OK to jump in here...

As a Christian I wouldn't find it offensive, I would be flattered by your good intentions.  No offense but since I think your whole religion is false there's nothing to be threatened by in your spellwork, know what I mean?

i have always had god in my life but i think he worked through my mom to get me healthy.  My mother passed several years ago from diabetes, and i was borderline diabetic heading in the same diection.  It wasn't until last year though i decided i was going to make a change and i needed both of thier help.  Everytime i wanted to get off that treadmill i would ask her to give me all the strength to get through another  mile.  Little by little i started doing better.  I attribute all the greatness in my life to god who has always pulled me out of trouble.  My mother gave me the strenght to keep going,  Just because she passed didn't mean she was out of my life i felt her pumpmg though me everytime i went running. 

I worship the restafarian god, the flying spahgetti monster. He hasn't really helped me, I just want to eat pasta all the time.

Original Post by gibblerfan83:

I thought this may be a good place to ask -- Does anyone else sometimes gets a strong urge to pray for overweight people they pass by in public? I like to say a quick little prayer for them. Asking God to help them lose weight and also develop a close relationship with Him if they have not already done so.

Not that I don't empathize with very overweight people - I've been there myself, but I have to say, if I was the praying type (and I'm decidedly not), and I had a limited amount of time for prayers, I don't think I'd be using them to pray for the obese when there are a billion or more people STARVING on earth RIGHT NOW.

Original Post by w545439:

I worship the restafarian god, the flying spahgetti monster. He hasn't really helped me, I just want to eat pasta all the time.

Isn't that Pastafarian?

I <3 FSM! You have been touched by his noodly appendage!

Original Post by w545439:

I worship the restafarian god, the flying spahgetti monster. He hasn't really helped me, I just want to eat pasta all the time.

I find this comment funny.  While I am Christian, sometimes it just gets old arguing over the ends and outs of religion with people.  My personal favorite are the Aliens of the Dark Star who visit Earth when their planet passes.  Perhaps Christ ascending into heaven wasn't by spirit but gravity beam. 

Now about Prayer and what not. I believe  that in the bible Christ said Not to cast pearls to pigs. To me that's saying don't pray for people who don't want to be prayed for.  Its a waste of time. Now if someone asks for prayers then yes I will pray for them.   I realize that there are sects with Christianity that hold prayer to a very high level, especially in terms of praying people into the Body of Christ.  This may be a Spiritual Gift that I do not possess and thus do not understand.  

I do not think God is helping me lose weight, but I am fairly certain that he is the one that caused me to gain all this weight.

Original Post by purpleorchid89:

I wouldn't feel personally offended or threatened.

To be completely honest, I would probably feel kind of weird-- if I knew about it that is.

But if you were praying out of genuine care for me, I would be very touched.

I like how every religion thinks its god is the real one and every1 else needs to convert or goto hell.  This is the primary reason countless wars have been fought in the past.   It is still the reason we goto war.

More ppl have died in the name of their god then all natural causes put together.  He obviously cares SOO much.

Ohh and its been awhile since I heard the brainwashing of christians, but I am fairly certain that gluttony is a sin.

Original Post by mysticjbyrd:

I like how every religion thinks its god is the real one and every1 else needs to convert or goto hell.  This is the primary reason countless wars have been fought in the past.   It is still the reason we goto war.

 

First of all, not every religion believes others need to convert or they will go to hell - try talking to a Bhuddist or a Shintoist sometime.  And while I agree that many wars have been fought over religion and conversion, to say that it's still the reason we go to war is overly simplistic.  Despite the professions of W and saying he was "called by God", and the obvious influences of religion, we're in Iraq for many more reasons that have nothing to do with it.

Second of all - why do you feel the need to post something like this here?  This is not a thread for arguing against or for religion, and while I do admit getting off track earlier myself, at least I was trying to be respectful.

Original Post by santonacci:

Original Post by mysticjbyrd:

I like how every religion thinks its god is the real one and every1 else needs to convert or goto hell. This is the primary reason countless wars have been fought in the past. It is still the reason we goto war.

First of all, not every religion believes others need to convert or they will go to hell - try talking to a Bhuddist or a Shintoist sometime. And while I agree that many wars have been fought over religion and conversion, to say that it's still the reason we go to war is overly simplistic. Despite the professions of W and saying he was "called by God", and the obvious influences of religion, we're in Iraq for many more reasons that have nothing to do with it.

Second of all - why do you feel the need to post something like this here? This is not a thread for arguing against or for religion, and while I do admit getting off track earlier myself, at least I was trying to be respectful.

Cuss I have bible pushers.  I cant stand ppl running around trying to show off their god and I consider them disrespectful.  They are one the primary reasons our govt is so screwed up right now.

And if you don't think religion plays a huge role in the iraq war then you are just plain ignorant.

Well well.....still trying to insult folk mystic......that one didn't work....hope all the other folk take a leaf out of PGs book and just not react.