Why weight?

I could begin to solve my problem only when I saw the spiritual center

Like many Americans, I have a weight problem. I started my first diet 37 years ago at the age of 8 but have never attained a healthy weight for my body. I’ve tried every sort of diet, embarked on countless exercise programs and fruitlessly spent many dollars. In a life brimming with blessings and rewards, bathroom scales have plagued me.

Sarah Mitchell runs to maintain the healthy body God gave her, even when she feels like giving up. “I remind myself of my spiritual obligation to keep going,” she says.

My incentive to lose weight has mostly been centered on my appearance. Not surprisingly, this superficial reason triggered a lifelong problem with doing just that. Caught in an inexplicable cycle of gaining and losing, I became easily discouraged if the weight didn’t come off fast enough. The slightest disappointment sent me into a tailspin of eating.

I’m a foodie. I love everything that food represents. I like cooking and trying new recipes. I like kitchen gadgets and cookware. I appreciate the nurturing qualities of food and the social aspects it presents. I’ve always rewarded and comforted myself with food. I eat when I’m happy and when I’m sad. I eat when I’m bored or depressed or sick or under stress. I eat to celebrate, and I eat to grieve. I don’t think I’ve ever lost my appetite.

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