We are continuing with our check points for progress:

Checkpoint #9 – Nutritional decisions

No matter how committed you are in the gym, it is imperative that you watch what you eat, especially when weight loss is your goal. It truly takes a commitment to better nutrition to help your body burn excess fat. I don’t believe you should give up your favorite foods, but I do believe you should decrease the number of times you have them. Moderation is the key both to weight loss and weight maintenance.

Some say calories count; some say they don’t. While you are deciding which “theory” to believe, your body is counting calories. Just as our heartbeat is an involuntary action, so is our body’s ability to calculate calorie expenditure versus calorie intake. As tired as we get of hearing it, we must use more energy than we eat to burn stored fat. No, I am not recommending that you count every calorie. I am simply encouraging you to stay aware that your body does.

I so want you to achieve your goals and not experience the frustration that a hidden roadblock can cause. I have seen so many people who worked out hard in the gym, yet because of their refusal to temporarily give up certain foods, they thwarted their own progress. I have struggled long and hard with this myself. Suffice it to say that a combined effort of good nutrition and smart exercise is invaluable to our progress.

While a few extra pounds may not cheat us from many of the health benefits of exercise, if we have a past dealing with low self-esteem or poor body image, an extra 10 or 15 pounds can play havoc with our emotions. If we remain emotionally frustrated over a long enough period of time, it can be devastating to our goals and detrimental to our health. It is at this very point that we must decide to either change our strategy or to quit. I used to quit, take a break, and start the weight-loss cycle all over again. My idea of changing strategies was to find a new diet. Sometimes I would reach my goal weight and sometimes I wouldn’t. When I did, it was “but for a moment,” and then I would revert to my old habits and gain the weight again. I finally discovered the spiritual, mental, and physical balance required to defeat this issue once and for all.

As I focused on spiritual growth and thinking about what God’s Word says about me, I became so empowered spiritually and emotionally that I gained control over my eating and exercise habits. I was then equipped to successfully achieve my goals. I soon realized that an important part of enjoying a healthy lifestyle includes feeling good about who you are—spirit, soul, and body.

 Next week I’ll finish with the final check point #10, The Power of Agreement.