The following posts are from a recent tmcyouth.com discussion. These selected comments are not republished with the Sentinel's intent to endorse particular views, but to give a snapshot of current issues young people are thinking and praying about in today's world.

In response to a question about the battle to lose weight.

testdrive

At times I have had to overcome the feeling that I would rather be a couch potato than do something active. My excuses have been varied and include—I have too much reading to do or I just feel cozy staying in. But I know those thoughts are not always from God. Science and Health tells us: "Mind's infinite ideas run and disport themselves. In humility they climb the heights of holiness" (p. 514). I love the concept of Mind's ideas being active, and that helps me shake off couch potato mentality—to get up and do something. To express strength and vitality.

I hope these are helpful ideas. They help me change my thinking and ask myself to look at thoughts about food and activity from God's point of view. It gets my thought moving first, and then I get moving.

mainegirl

I heard a really cool testimony once about weight loss. The person realized that instead of focusing on "losing" something (weight, pounds, etc.), she needed to be "gaining" a clearer picture of her identity as God's creation—already perfect, complete, whole, and not hindered by this or any material baggage. This seemingly reverse way of thinking helped her achieve more balance in her daily life, and she shed the pounds naturally within months.

Just like with any other physical problem or suggestion, we should focus on the perfect man/woman, and start our prayer from that basis of perfection rather than trying to fix a struggling, flawed human body. Also, I love the idea that RIGHT NOW you have everything you need to handle this, and with humble listening, God will direct your way.

Belle99

I think it's really important to focus on why we exercise. For example if you wake up on Saturday and choose to do Yoga, well that's all fine and well, but why are you doing it? Are we doing it because we want our material bodies to lose weight, or are we doing it because we enjoy it? I've read many articles in the Sentinel where people lost weight doing things they enjoyed doing. They were having so much fun playing tennis or going for walks that they didn't even think about their material bodies.

Rather than focusing on losing calories, try to focus instead on how God is seeing you right at this very moment. It might not be a bad idea to even pray while you're working out. I've often had issues that I'm dealing with, and I think about God while I'm working out. It gets rid of stress, and instead of focusing on something negative, I'm focusing on God. Too often I think our problems become the sole focus/worry of our life. God should actually be what we're centered on. The more we do that, the happier we will be.

ipodGal

I was about 60 lbs. overweight in January 2007. I was pretty happy with the way I looked and felt, but then I saw a photo of myself making a dessert, and my body took up half the photo.

I realized I wasn't honoring God with an appearance like that. I sat down and just really had this strong desire to get my thoughts in line about expressing God's beauty, grace, design, outline, expression, joy, activity, style....

I read on spirituality.com an article called "Took it off and kept it off." This woman talked about getting rid of negative aspects of her personality. I didn't really relate to the things she had to get rid of in personality, but I did take stock of myself. I realized I had to get rid of gluttony, anger, judgment, impatience.... I worked on these a LOT.

I drove by a church near me, and for several weeks it said, "If you are busy judging, you are not busy loving." I took that to heart and kept it sort of as a mantra for quite a while.

I have come a looong way. I've lost about 50 lbs. And I feel like I am honoring God in new ways that I never thought I would ever be able to do! My goals have changed now too—they are getting more fun. Instead of just trying to lose weight, now I'm pushing my own limits physically and trying to express MORE of God's unlimited capabilities....

I got on the treadmill recently and ran 2 miles in 28 minutes. This is the farthest I've run in my whole life—and definitely faster than I've ever done it! I was even on the track team in high school. Many people may think, "That's not very fast," but for me it was quite an accomplishment.

PS: I forgot to mention ...

A mega-marathon Christian Science friend and I have talks about how when he's running (for hours at a time!), that it is a time when he can be with God. I think that is very astute. It's a holy time to exercise.

I have found the same thing. When I'm at the gym, I put on my iPod and I listen to the Bible Lesson, and then a spirituality.com chat. Or I listen to the spirituality.com chat followed by a tmcyouth.com pod-cast. It's a lot of fun! I really enjoy this time to just listen to everyone talking about their own spiritual journevs and what they've learned.

We don't exercise to GET healthy. We exercise because we ARE healthy. css

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