I am fat. This is not one of those woman things where you say that and hope someone will affirm you by saying, “Oh no! Of course you aren’t! You look great!” Nope. It is an honest statement which I have really been thinking about over the last week.
The reason why I am fat is obvious. I overeat and often eat way too much sugar… especially anything involving chocolate or “frozen dairy product,” which is code for “ice cream” between me and Bill, but I will not bore you with those details. Instead, I want to tell you what I have been thinking… about the cost of obesity.
Have you thought about all the different ways being over-weight can drain you? As I have meditated on this over the last week, all the ways that obesity costs us really shocked me.
I will warn you… there is brutal honesty ahead…
- Plus-sized clothes cost more that average sizes. Manufacturing these items requires more fabric and more thread. The cost flows out to the consumer and lands right across my hips.
- You cannot fit as many plus-sized clothes into a washing machine or dryer as you can average-sized clothing. This occurred to me as I was stretching to dig hundreds of baby onesies out of our high-capacity washer. Goodness! That thing can fit a lot of tots clothes but not near as many items from my side of the closet. So, I spend more on detergent, softener, water and electricity to wash my 2x clothing.
- Speaking of soap, the square inches of my proportions require more suds than a smaller size. More soap for the plump curves, more shaving cream for those chunky thighs, more makeup over the chubby cheeks, more water to wash it all away. More money down the drain.
- In order to maintain my obesity or, perchance, gain more weight, I have to eat larger portions of food or snack away on unhealthy, over-priced foods. Better yet, I can go out to eat where I cannot control how my food is cooked and have to guess at the caloric content of the entrees… which is not going to happen while balancing a baby on my knee and trying to keep Ruble from disappearing under the table. Overeating causes a direct impact on our grocery budget as I have to buy more food and the food does not go as far.
- I am creating a very unhealthy body and as I age, that will result in medical expenses. God forbid there ever be anything life-threatening but the statistics are real and I am sure that if I continue this way, I will eventually face something that will require a co-pay.
- The emotional cost is difficult too. I don’t like being overweight. I don’t like feeling fat rolls rub together. As I walk past the mirror, I don’t like catching a glimpse of dimples where they are not supposed to be. I hate thinking about what my kids will realize about my size as they get older and become more aware of what people look like. This disapproval adds to my stress, directly affecting expense #5.
- Thinking again about health-care, my obesity will cost others too since their tax dollars might end up paying for my problems many years from now. That isn’t very fair to my skinny neighbors.
- The fat pressing in on my organs makes it hard for me to breathe. Hard for me to move. Hard for me to play in the floor with my kids. Hard for me to run around the yard and chase them. Hard for me to jump on the trampoline. Yeah, it costs me a lot of fun.
- Obesity costs me by stealing my time too. I spend time thinking about food, eating food, buying food, storing food, cooking food, planning food…
- Food is costing me an intimate relationship with God. I believe that even if I am addicted to food, putting anything before God in my life is sin and continuing to be gluttonous despite that awareness puts a wall between me and God.
There are a ton of excuses I could give for being obese but that is not the point of this post. The point is… I am costing my family money and that is not something I can tolerate. So, I commit to change my habits and conquer my addiction to food in order to honor God, my family, and myself.
Once a week, I plan to give myself a goal and I will share that goal with you. I could try to go cold turkey but in a sleep-deprived, over-worked, stressed-out frenzy, I would fail. So, I want to take baby steps.
This week, my goal is to eat a healthy breakfast before 8 AM each day.
This is something I have been giving serious thought to as well! Between the unhealthy example my husband and I are setting for our children and the stronghold that food has over me, I want a change! I am going to try to get back into the gym, at least three times a week.
Tiffany, one of the best resources available for breaking the stronghold food has in your life is at the Setting Captives Free website. They have an online Bible study called, The Lords Table, where you can even choose to have a mentor. The mentors will email you after you have completed each lesson and are available to pray with you or answer any questions you have along the way. I would not realize that my issues with food are sin without this course.
The study is also available in book form through Christian Book Distributors.
http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/courses/lords-table/
My prayers are with you as I understand how difficult this battle can be.
My prayers are with both of you ladies. As someone who has struggled with the opposite side of this: bulimia/anorexia, I do understand the emotional roller coaster that you’re going thru. My “disease” was costing me money, my emotions, my future. Thankfully, by the grace of God (5 years recovered), I try to live the best life possible. Like you said, baby steps, one day at a time. God is there waiting with open arms! Your first step was admitting it, and you’ve done so, and you’ve given God the glory in seeking help with overcoming this!! You can do this!!!
Thank you for your kind words, Lindsey. I truly appreciate the encouragement. Praise God for what you have overcome by His grace and may He keep your feet from slipping on the path He places before you.
Hey,
I think the honesty is needed. I watched Sick, Fat and nearly dead on Sunday and it changed my life forever. I haven’t had a soda in 2 days and an never turning back. I was addicted to sugar. You have to see this movie. It scared me to death and I am buying a jucier this week.
Thank you, Jeff. I am going to see if that is available on Netflix. I think I am addicted to sugar too. High Fructose Corn Syrup is in so much of what we eat and I know it damages our ability to determine true hunger. Jillian Michaels wrote about it in her book, Mastering Your Metabolism.
I guess the hardest thing to do is to start. I always appreciate your support.
Very well said. I’m glad you are wanting to get healthier for yourself and not others. Baby steps are the best way to that goal, and they last longer. I look forward to your posts about your goals and accomplishments. You can do it. Good luck and God bless, Dee <3
Thank you, Dee. I saw on Facebook that you plan to follow along in your own way. I appreciate that support and will be continuing to pray for you in these last few days of your pregnancy. May God bless you, friend, with an easy labor! Looking forward to hearing that your little blessing has arrived.
Oh Penny!! I cannot possibly express how proud I am of you! The first step in battling obesity is taking responsibility for the problem, as you are doing here. It’s not easy. I had a hard and ugly “come to Jesus” meeting with myself about 13 months ago. I could not continue to live the way I was living, setting the example that I was setting for my children. In the meantime, I’ve made a lot of small changes which have become huge lifestyle changes over the last year. You can do this! You are a strong, beautiful, amazing woman and I am so proud of you and excited to see where this journey toward health takes you. God bless you!
Thank you, Tracie. It is definitely easier to talk about than to do so please be praying for me. 🙂
I know I haven’t talked about it a lot, Penny, but I was in a similar situation a year ago when I was faced with either buying a bigger size or getting serious about my health. A year later, I’m so glad that I made the very difficult decision to get serious. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth it. Baby steps and a lifestyle change is the only way to get there. I’m praying for strength and will be here to support you along the road to health.
Thank you for sharing a bit of your story, Tracie. It is always an encouragement knowing that someone has traveled this path successfully. 🙂
I absolutely love your honesty and can relate. There are so many intricate ways in which obesity effects our lives and sometimes people don’t stop to really count the cost. Instead we focus on how “hard” it is to exercise and how “expensive” it is to eat right. The truth: the return on investment for doing these things is so much more than the alternative.
I thank you for sharing your story and invite you to read mine at http://www.jlawal01.blogspot.com “The Fat to Fit Chronicles.”
Very true, Jenita. It really is a matter of investment. 🙂
Brutal honesty is sometimes needed in order to make a change, and I applaud you for that. I too need to take a long hard look at myself and change my eating and exercise habits. Thank you.
Change is never easy but I think the baby steps will help. I hope you will follow along with me and check in often.
This was a brave post – kudos to you! I turned 40 this year but I noticed big changes in my body after my son was born 2 1/2 years ago. I have piles of DVDs, an elliptical, a Total Gym and a newly purchased P90X and still, I sit here 20 pounds heavier than I’d like to be. I gain weight from head to toe, so I can’t even focus on one “bad” area – sheesh! I love that you’re holding yourself accountable. I started a blog on the side addressing my health and lifestyle but it fizzled out quickly. I have used all the excuses in the book. I don’t know what my problem is? Why can’t I commit to exercising? Perhaps I need accountability too…so I’ll be dropping by weekly 🙂
It definitely is difficult to find the time to commit and to stay committed as a mother. I am like you and have gained weight everywhere. I know it will not be easy, but it needs to be done. We can do it. 🙂
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