Hi I am feeling a bit down because I put on a couple of stone in weight. I know it may seem silly, as there are much worse problem's going on, that I know. It's just I was always a size 10, even after four children. Weight was never an issue with me. I was always thin as a child and food was not an issue. In fact I didn't eat that much........ I have been a christian for nearly 14 years and finally managed to stop smoking three years ago. I then put on the weight. I can not stick to a diet, it felt like torture. I am thinking about smoking again to get the weight off! I can't do too much exercise as I have sciatica! and bad back pain......... I feel really stuck in this problem that I have never had to deal with before.I am now even having dreams about being weighed. In real life I am about 10 and a half stone. I was always about 8 and a half stone. In the dream I was 13 stone!!!Regard's Julie.

ugh ,,smoking isa appitite suppreser,, ,,this happens 2 most ppl ,,,its wieghing heavy on ur mind,, i think thers anxiety combined wiv it,, ,,r u prone 2 deppression?? ,,,D,,

I have suffered with depression and feel depressed now! But I am fighting it.

ugh ok ,,that just makes things even tuffa, ,,um ive been set free frm depression,,its an incedable feeling of releif,, ..it happened in a meetg,,yaay god,a genral prayer ova alotta ppl ,,farther 2day i pray 4 mi sista that joy will flood her rite wher she is,,i thank u lord that u can read this an move on her ,,setting tha captive free,,in2 the liberty that u ordained 4 her,,b4 the foundations of tha world,,be loosed!!frm deppression,,sorrow,,anxity,,julie ,,in the name of jeshua hummashia,, may a rushing wind move thru ur house,, D

Thank you.x

D

Juewls -

God Bless You - it's not frivolous. Our bodies are the Lord's temples, right? (1 Cor 6:19). But the same thing goes for smoking, too.

When I quit smoking I gained 15 pounds - I started smoking again exactly because I had gained this weight and instead gained 10 more! When I quit smoking again (the last time) - I gained another 15 pounds!

Please don't bank on smoking as an appetite suppressant.

I don't remember how many pounds a stone is - but I will never forget the feeling of that kind of weight gain! It can attack you on all fronts - physically, socially, emotionally, spiritually, romantically - I probably don't need to go on.

It's another opportunity for Satan to mess with us and make us think - how much of this is the sin of pride and how much is a healthy level of self-care?

I had a really tough time losing that weight and tried everything, and I remember feeling a little abandoned by the Lord. After all - isn't quitting smoking a Christ-like decision and very difficult to do - and this is the reward? I remember feeling like I'd rather be a smoker than be overweight. I would give in to food-thoughts or rationalize that it wasn't enough food to gain, or I'll exercise it off later, etc - and feel even worse about my standing as a Christian because I couldn't stay strong. I pray those thoughts leave you if you are experiencing them!

Remember these are the typical traps Satan uses with weight gain - particularly with women, particularly in today's world, and particularly as we... ahem, move forward on the age spectrum.

Please avoid these pitfalls and don't let Satan play with your head, heart and faith.

Find out from your doctor what exercise is appropriate for your health conditions, (maybe swimming?), get the doc's approval on an eating plan, and see if the doc has any advice or options for you. I checked my metabolism rate, and did a peri-menapause test (early onset - that's how I found out I was in early onset at 36)!

The biggest thing is don't let your weight consume your every thoughts!! Make your (wise) choices and then STOP your brain from wandering & try to put yourself on auto weight-loss pilot.

Pray for your special way to lose to be revealed.

My way (as I learned - FINALLY) was not to talk about it or think about it too much, or buy every book and plan, but just do it, and focus on something else while my body burned the fat. For me - I ate basically the same thing every day with one day a week eating what I wanted within reason. I didn't tell anyone and when people started noticing, I played it down as long as I could so not to overbuild it up in my mind. I walked - eventually for a couple hours a day when I could.

My sister needed a buddy and accountability partner. They talked about it frequently, exchange recipes and joined a program together, exercised together. She let everyone know what she is doing and her kids learned to cook meals several nights a week to help her stay strong.

But she stopped letting it consume her every thought, too.

A friend did what my sister did, but by herself.

I would like to pray for you:

Lord, please show Juewl that she is a beautiful jewel in your crown. All are different colors, shapes and ages and all are precious to You. All are strong and can do with You whatever You set in front of them to be done. And have success. Give her realistic goals and lots of small successes to help her reach a weight where she feels comfortable without being excessive in either direction. Reveal to her the way that will work for her. Move Satan behind her in this endeavour, Lord.

In Jesus' name - Amen

God bless you and chin(s) up! This is temporary and you can do it!

But please don't be hard on yourself - the world will be hard enough on you!

Perhaps you should take it one step at a time. Instead of just doing a full diet when you are eating a regular meal reduce your portion a little and add a vegetable to your meal. Make little changes here, little changes there. Don't worry if sometimes you slip back, that happens to all of us, just keep trying and don't give up.

Thank you Christina for spending all that time on me.xxxxxxxx That is really touching and encouraging. I will read again and again without becoming obsessed of course! I will get there, just never had to face this one before.xxxxx and thank you butterfly I will take one step at a time and I will pray Christina for the Lord's way! Strangly enough I didn't think of that! Der.xxxx

Just a wee thought BOUT EXERCISE. I have really severe arthritis in 16 joints including mys pine, and my body mass index is about 28. Now, to you I'm fat but to me I'm doing really well1 you can excercise with sciatica, you just need to get a good physio to advise you. have you tried swimming?

The more you obsess about diet the more stressed you get the less it works. I find POSITIVE changed helpful, such as 'eat more fruit' rather than 'don't eat chocolate.'

One more wee health thing - ten and a half stone is not exactly mrobidly obese! Are you actually in an unhealhty weight band, or is this more that you just look different than you used to? Cos if you're healthy, then embrace your curves!