DIETING: Millions of women are on a diet now. Is dieting wrong in God’s eyes? Is it (gulp) a sin?
Diets. Gotta love them, gotta hate them.
We women love them because losing weight helps us look better and feel energetic. We hate them because we may feel deprived, grouchy, and fearful that we’ll gain back the pounds we worked hard to lose.
I have a crazy Weight Watchers story. It begins what I was age 10. You can read part of my crazy story here in the intro of my eBook, Fit for Life.
Back to the BIG question:
So Is Dieting Sinful?
The quick answer: no. In itself dieting isn’t bad. In fact, caring for yourself by eating right is good. But dieting can turn bad. It depends on your attitude. What’s your attitude regarding food and self image? Do you hate how your jeans fit? Do you call yourself awful names if you go off your diet?
Are you more concerned with what people think than what God says? Click & Tweet!
If you fear that eating certain favorite treats like ice cream, chips or cookies will prompt you to binge or if you believe that eating your favorite treat is “wrong” (even if the Bible doesn’t teach that it is), then you must not eat it, says Elyse Fitzpatrick, a leading biblical counselor and author of several books including Love to Eat, Hate to Eat.
The bible says that if you compromise your conscience, you sin.
He who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23)
This passage primarily speaks to food offered to idols (which was a problem when the apostle Paul wrote this epistle), yet the biblical principle holds true: anything that compromises your faith is sin, including faithless eating.
The upshot: If you believe dieting or cheating on your diet is a sin, then it is sin for you. If not, then feel free to choose a weight-loss plan.
Listen to Paul’s words on sin and grace.
For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14)
If you choose to lose weight by dieting, select one focused on lifestyle changes and teaches healthy habits to keep you Fit for Life.
What About Gluttony?
Derived from the Latin gluttire meaning to gulp down or swallow, “gluttony” means over-indulgence of food or drink to the point of extravagance or waste, gluttony has a spot on the infamous list of the seven deadly sins. While I’ve never heard a sermon on gluttony, the Bible speaks against it. (Check out Proverbs 23:20,21.)
In a strange twist, under-indulgence of food is also gluttonous because it is an extreme use of food. For some, the problem is anorexia nervosa, which troubled a food disordered counselee, who eventually found healing as she determined to put God first and to bring glory to him in everything she did. We also kept in regular contact with her medical doctor and nutritionist.
She learned to enjoy eating food, a gift of God. Indeed. Paul declared,
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:4,5)
4 Quick Self-Care Food Tips
1. Cut out or reduce sugary drinks like soda. (When my husband corked the a while back, he lost 15 pounds in three months and feels more energetic, especially in the afternoon.)
2. Drink a glass of water before a meal or when you feel hungry between meals. Drinking water makes you feel fuller, helping you to reduce portions easily. Hycration also helps you think better.
3. Eat colorfully. Have lots of veggies and fruit on hand, washed and ready to eat. You’re less likely to crunch a cookie when you’ve set out baby carrots, snap peas, bananas, and apples.
4. Decide NOT to diet. A diet is an eating plan you go on and off, typically regaining the weight you lost. Instead, listen to advice from MayoClinic.com:
Combining a healthier diet and more activity is the best way to lose weight and keep it off for the long term. Take your weight loss and weight maintenance one day at a time and surround yourself with supportive resources to help ensure your success.
This is exactly the approach of my ebook Fit for Life, with a strong biblical emphasis. God created you to shine.
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
Counseling hope to your precious heart,
These are all great tips, Lucy. Thanks for sharing! It’s important to remember that God cares about our physical health because it directly affects our spiritual health. 🙂
I’d love for you to consider becoming a contributor to FaithVillage.com. It’s a new social network for faith experiences. You’d move in, set up a profile, connect your blog through an RSS feed, and we’d promote your content through our site and other social streams. I can send you all the details if you’re interested. Just let me know!
Blessings,
Amber
@amberdobecka
@faithvillage
Amber, thanks for the opportunity. I’ll take a peek at FaithVillage.com and please send me the details. My email is Lucy@LucyAnnMoll.com. Love and blessings, Lucy
This confirms what I think I’m finally beginning to let God teach me. I’ve struggled with eating disorders since I was 13, in the forms of extreme dieting & extreme activity, which I believe contributed to a recent sports injury that has forced me to “be still” whether I want to or not, at least for a season. God wants me close to Him no matter how “skinny” I am. If obsession with weight, exercise etc. hinders our relationship with Him, it’s got to go.
blessings.
Jodi, God wants you to know he loves you, whatever you weigh. Have you received help for for eating disorder? It is wise to see your medical doctor and to get biblical counseling. I’m glad my post helped you.
Blessings,
Lucy
Lucy,
Thank you for these encouraging clarifying words. I had never thought of my “diet” in my relationship with God. I so agree that I should have an eating lifestyle, not a diet.
Thank you
Rebecca, I am glad the post helped. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. May our wonderful God continue to bless you. Eph. 3:1
Blessings, Lucy
My body is a temple….It’s where the Holy Spirit Dwells. My eating habits are something I can control….and every time I look at a hamburger I think “What is this going to do to the inside of my temple where the Holy Spirit Dwells. Will it become like trash and garbage or will it allow my body to be healthy and flourish?” If we are sick, we can’t carry out the work God has for us!!!
Well said, Darci. I like how you put your godly attitude in practical terms. Now if I could only do this with every aspect of my life! Such as, will these words from my mouth bring glory to God? Always a work in progress.
Blessings, Lucy
Great post. I love the book, “Love to Eat, Hate to Eat.” It was imperative and essential in my recovery from my eating disorder. The scriptural references are great. Both over restriction and gluttony are sinful, so it is so important to find a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced meal plan…this is something I am learning 🙂 I appreciate your post, as always! God bless you, Lucy!
I couldn’t agree more, Becca. I’m glad you sought recovery for your eating disorder. This takes courage. Blessings, Lucy
Recovering from anything, but speaking from experience an eating disorder, the most incredible experience is to surrender it to Him, repent the sin that is mine, and to look forward…seeking help was something I could have never done apart from Him, but because of the power of Christ, and the love and encouragement of Godly women in my life. The “cure” to how I ate, was asking myself in everything I eat (and do even), “is this glorifying or edifying to Him?” If I can’t answer yes, then I know I need to make a different choice. Thank you again for your post, and for all of you for your responses 🙂 God bless, Becca
I love that question — is this glorifying to God? — and can be applied to all aspects of life: relationships, work, ministry, and so on. God bless you, Becca.