Let's Talk About Obesity & the Church

On this episode of Worship Is My Weapon, Rita sits down with a subject that is not easy to discuss - Obesity and how the Church responds to people struggling with their weight.
Rita shares how shame entered her life at a young age because of her weight and how she learned to identify the voice of the Lord through her battle with self-acceptance and the opinions of others.
Rita hopes this conversation will create a safe space and community for people struggling with weight and body image.
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00:00 Coming Up
01:01 Church, Say It Like It Is
02:56 God Wanted Me to Talk About Obesity in the Church
05:39 Subscribe to Rita’s Newsletter
06:35 God Accepts Us and Doesn’t Judge Our Outer Appearance.
07:42 Obesity Treated With Disdain and Judgment
09:42 Food Addictions and Talking About This in Church
12:10 Food Available in Modern Society
13:36 The Music Industries’ View of Obesity
15:27 Sharing Our Struggle So We Can Help Each Other
17:20 Where Did Shame Walk into Your Life?
23:03 Mentorship Program
25:03 Needing God to Change the Narrative
27:15 The Curse of Genetics and Family Circumstances
29:27 Food Became a Tool for Power and Control
31:16 Let the Lord Carry Your Worth
33:14 The Shame That Came From Growing up in Poverty
35:30 Making Food the Crutch for My Issues
36:48 Wearing Justice
37:05 A Church Driven by Image
38:22 Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
43:26 Taking Personal Responsibility First
44:00 More Confident Overweight Than Thin?
44:53 Body Image Is Always an Inner Struggle
45:42 Our View of Health Biblically and in the Church
47:19 The Narrative in the Church on Obesity
50:15 So Let’s Talk About This
Musicbed ID: MB01JIOST34SCMH

[@RitaSpringer]

Have you struggled with your weight and body image? If so, how has the church responded to you?

[@Tiff-is1qm]

I've wrestled with my weight for as long as I can remember. When I was 12 my grandmother pulled me aside at church one day and told me that she would "pray for me to get skinnier."

[@michellekunselman1912]

I sent you a DM on Instagram but I just want to say here..way👏to👏go! I don’t know you but I’m so proud of you for bringing this into the light! Praying Holy Spirit comforts you in all the discomfort this bold decision brings. You are doing HOLY WORk here!

[@EmJang7]

Shame. I was told I was "just as bad" as all sinners because I'm fat. "All sin is the same" . Even as a child I was taken to weigh down workshop at a church because God really hates obesity.

[@hyacinthp4882]

Struggling with this been giggling Christian based help..groups anything

[@angeleav]

Yes, all my life. As for the church ill reference my perception of the christian attitude, since i rarely attend. The feedback as i interpret it, more often than not makes me feel disrespected and unappreciated at times. But i kno proverbs..every mans judgement cometh from the lord

[@keithdavis7595]

I grew up in a Baptist church in the south where preachers preached that most every substance known to man was bad except for food. They never preached against gluttony because most of them were in the process of eating themselves to death. Gluttony is the most untalked about sin in Christianity.

[@RCGWho]

Gluttony and covetousness/love of $$$.

[@Jesuslovesyou0316]

God loves you so! John 3:16✝️

[@Jesuslovesyou0316]

@@RCGWho God loves you so! John 3:16✝️

[@meldeb3k]

I appreciate that you are talking about this. I think it's a huge issue. 51% of Americans are "obese"! Not a nice word, but it's truth. I think it speaks to the issue of self-control, which is something every believer should be practicing. And we just don't hear about it, in relation to food, in the Church. Which is sad. Food really is a god to many for all the reasons you mentioned. We've got to be able to look at the shame, address it, and then ask the Lord to heal us. Thanks for taking the big step to start the discussion!

[@RCGWho]

@@meldeb3k We started calling ourselves Foodies and don't realize what we're saying.

[@NayLovesJesus]

This is my whole testimony. I’ve been 260 lbs at my heaviest & 145 lbs which for me I was so lean I lost my menstral cycle for 8 months… the church ⛪️ literally ostracized me. Probably judged me because I went from being in a state of self hated and suicidal to pride. I’m gonna write a book on my testimony for young woman to not go through the hell I did… thank you Jesus for delivering me from myself… it’s a longggg story. The hardest person to forgive wasn’t the church, it was myself. I’m free now. Completely free and healthy. Glory to God

[@lindadeichman2649]

My desire is to be healthy and take care of my temple. I don't want food to be an idol in my life. I'm going to walk in freedom and obedience.

[@cherokeepurple4480]

I had bulimia before I became a Christian and cried out to God to love me and heal me at the age of 24 so I wouldn’t have to take my own life. I got my answer from God but I didn’t meet Jesus until 20 years later. To this day, I have zero cravings. I highly recommend inner healing and deliverance for anyone struggling with weight and other issues due to trauma and abuse, as was my case. There were also generational curses at play. The Lord wants to heal every broken part of you so you can be whole. The weight issue is just the symptom. You must get to the root cause to heal.

[@therosalesrodeo6430]

Missionary kid here. My mother was always constantly concerned with my weight and made comments often that no one would support us with my weight being out of control in our pictures on the family newsletter. Every time they struggled with lack of support I internally felt guilt that no one would want to help a family with a fat kid. Many of the other missionary families were obsessed with weight, I can recall TWO separate instances where two different friends fathers (other missionary families) (very thin families I might add) who took out scales in their living rooms and weighed themselves, their daughter and than me and remarked on how large I was. Although homeschooled, In Indian circles whom we were serving, the churches we visited to raise support, our home church, the group of missionaries we were serving with, and worse, my home life was filled with ridicule, shame and name calling all around my weight. Now at 30 years old and two weeks into the 1000th diet I’ve been on, (always starting with a prayer and plea to God to deliver me from obesity and torment over my body) I’m thankful you’re talking about this.

[@ashleighpage9]

Praying for you 🙏🏻🩷

[@PutOnTheNewWineskin]

How sad that this was put on you... God is more interested in us being holy, than in our weight...yes, we are his temple and a healthy temple is good, but obsessing about it isn't from the Lord 🙏 I pray you find healing from any trauma and deliverance from any food addiction 💝🌅🌈✝️

[@happyslp]

Praying for you to be free from shame! Freedom in Christ is shame free...He just. Loves. You!❤

[@rutwibechehofsdegard8457]

Dear Rita I am from Norway, northern Europe. I am quite tall, 1m83cm (not sure what that is in american measurement) and I have a massive bone structure, and as a child I was never obesed, but everytime somebody visited and havent seen me for 6 mnds or so, they commented; "oh, how BIG you have become", so I thougth they ment that I was fat, though they ment that I had grown and besome taller. I became obesed later in life. In 2019-2020 I lost a lot of weight , but it is still a daily struggle, because I use food as comfort. I recognize the church and christian music industries issues. Thank you for being so honest, Rita! It is such a blessing listening to your videos!

[@lisa4berlin]

Dear Rita, I've been a worship leader for almost 37 years--mostly to the nations. I'll be 55 this year. I've been clinically morbidly obese as well as just obese. I had a childhood with a malignant narcissist mother who was abusive and neglectful. I think this is what has drawn me to God and His presence. I went into missions with YWAM at 24 and started to lose the 'morbidly' obese aspect of my life. I have remained overweight/or technicaly obese most of my adult life. I have managed to lead worship all over the world wtih this extra weight and have tried not to focus on my weight even though I have carried a lot of shame. I am home in CA almost a year now--trying to help my parents as my dad has Alzheimer's. Being around my mom again has brought up a lot of that trauma I ran away from for years. I see how her conditional love for me was part of the reason I rebelled about my weight as well and said I didn't care. She used to call me names like 'hippo' when she was angry. But I do care and I'm getting new insights into this issue of my life. I also don't want to get diabetes which runs in my family! So I'm crawling my way over and over again into repentance... asking God for insight that is transformative. THANKS for bringing this up. I've never felt overtly judged over this issue even if it's probably been something that has happened...

[@homeontheranger7025]

I can totally relate to you…..thank you so much for sharing.

[@AmandainChrist88]

The thing is . I have auto immune thyroid . Even in treatment it’s hard to get weight off. It hurts because in my case it’s not from sin . I also have medical conditions that limit my ability for certain things . I think weight is blamed on over eating way too much . Thank you for touching on this . However I’m convicted I could do more this talk helped .

[@rachelmendez5789]

@amandainchrist88 I also think the changes that are being made to our food in the US contribute to people not being able to lose weight. I think weight loss is super complicated in this day and age, with all we are exposed to that is doing damage to metabolic health and even thyroid health, but I did get a lot of food for thought ( no pun intended) from this video. Dealing with the shame of obesity is really our first job, I think. If the weight never changed, living shame-free in the Lord is what I hope for. When someone throws an insult at you about something you're not ashamed of, it doesn't stick. Lord, free us from the shame.

[@AmandainChrist88]

@@rachelmendez5789 wise words sister thank you and God bless you 😊

[@purebride8600]

It’s not how much you’re eating that causes you to gain weight, it’s what you’re eating. Research carnivore diet, and give it a try. You are fully satiated for many hours after eating and the weight naturally falls off.

[@magrietbadenhorst1568]

This is such a good conversation!!! I have been overweight my whole 37 years and heard the word overweight for the first time when I was 8 years old. The last 18 months I lost 30kg and look different BUT I made a lifestyle change because I was desperate to change my mental health. I had extreme post partum anxiety and depression and just wanted to enjoy my son and being a mom. The change was not to loose weight but to safe my life. Honestly I didn’t even recognise the changes in my body, I celebrated every small victory in how much better my mind started feeling. Recently mostly church women started commenting on how good I look. I struggled so much with that knowing they referred to my weight, but they have no idea of the story behind it. They have no relationship with me and have never been a part of the healing process. And this just confronts for me the way women sees other women! And how weight is never about weight it is about our deep personal journeys with God! The journey of weight is always a journey of body, soul and spirit. Let’s rather ask each other about our journey with God and not some shallow comments! This is what I want to be for other women. And adjusting to looking so different has also required a huge transition on how I think about myself. And yet the purpose was always to have a healthy mind, to survive just the next hour, to be restored to joy.

[@purplekeys2opendoorsmov954]

I grew up in as a pastors kid and hated my self image. I was overweight in the eyes of skinny people and had other physical issues that made me a target for bullies. Many church people were very critical and some would flat out say I was fat. As a later teen and young adult I would crash diet, starve myself and exercise like crazy to be as thin as I could possibly get. It’s sad to me that the very people who should have been encouraging me were the ones who were tearing me down and their hurtful comments only made me worse. I thank God that as I’ve gotten older I’ve come into my identity in Christ and He’s healed a lot of those church wounds. I’m grateful you are being real and discussing this issue. It’s something that needs to be talked about in a way that’s not condemning those who are struggling with weight issues, but helps bring light as to why and how God can help us become healthier in mind, body, soul and spirit within the church. Also maybe tackling the questions of how should the church talk about this issue in a way that’s not tearing people down?

[@tambriar2573]

I somewhat disagree with you Rita. Btw, first of all, I love you and have loved your worship music for a really long time and love this podcast! Ok, and I struggle the same way with having been overweight on and off, most of my life. Also when I was much younger, I think junior high school, I somewhere got the message that I was fat and oh my gosh I'd give anything to be that weight now! I think that I was maybe 10 pounds overweight🤷‍♀️ I so understand that whole thing. Yet, I believe it's a reverse bondage when people say foods only supposed to be about nutrition. That's kind of synonymous to saying sex is only supposed to be about procreation! God made both things not just about the obvious thing But he also made them to be a point of pleasure and connection and fellowship! He gave us taste buds and didn't have to. And often people struggle with dieting because so much of it is about punishment and eating things you don't like. Yes, I totally believe that we have to retrain ourselves, and we can have the wrong desires and the wrong connection to the wrong kind of pleasure or pleasure outside of its rightful context! However, the idea that food is only about nutrition is tremendously depressing! I don't know if there is actual food at the marriage supper of the Lamb? However if food linked to pleasure and celebration is wrong why did God even use that in the vision He gave? Just my thoughts!

[@Kinderteacherlady]

This is my struggle since early childhood. I remember back in the 70’s, I was at a theme park here in California. They had a Christian festival every year with Christian Artists performing in different areas of the park. I was sitting at a well-known Christian woman’s set when she began to talk about overweight Christians and how it’s a sin to eat . Problem is I’m sure there were lots of people sitting around me in sin I’m sure, but they don’t wear it on their bodies. It was so humiliating. I wanted to crawl under my chair and die. It was such a shaming experience. It was the issue that almost caused me to kill myself as a 16-year-old, but thankfully Jesus rescued me and remove suicidal ideation from me. I got saved right after that. So happy to hear you talking about this that artist didn’t realize was that as a very young child I was molested by a very significant person in my life. I’m 65 years old and still struggling to overcome. Those around me would say you’re being successful because I’ve lost 100 pounds over a very long period of times so habits have permanently changed but I’m telling you it feels just as desperate as 100 pounds ago. It has not gotten easier.

[@juliewehrkamp70]

I was part of a church that if you weren’t a part of the cross fit gang you were not invited to the table. We even once had a weight loss challenge with prizes. Our meeting revolved around weight topics since food was involved. I have since joined a fellowship for people who struggle and I found the last 3 years to be so healing from childhood words, traumas and the fears that they breed. The problem isn’t the food, it is the solution we go to, and it doesn’t have to be food, it can be extreme dieting or exercising. I am still considered obese and being on a platform takes a whole different surrender to lead worship while people look at you. But I will say this fellowship has made my spiritual walk even more closer with the Lord. Sometimes I have to take one moment at time and not worry about what someone thinks of my plate at the potluck. And I mind my own plate. We all struggle and I found sharing my testimony has helped others who were secretly struggling with the shame.

[@mattgarr57]

I opened KZbin and your video popped up. I need to lose 20lbs. If I look at carbohydrates --> I gain weight. Up and down, up and down. Pants fit, then they don't. God has called me to deliverance ministry so I am getting in deeper and deeper. Coincidentally, I have just become aware of the spirit of gluttony and the spirit of laziness and I have repented and am actively trying to root those suckers out. I hear great things from individuals who successfully do this. Additionally, as of 2 days ago, I went back to intermittent fasting (16/8). I think this is a good path (waging war and fasting). Anywho .... LOVE YOUR MUSIC RITA SPRINGER!

[@ifeifesi]

There are no spirits of gluttony or laziness. These are things we just do as humans. We need to cultivate self control by the Holy Spirit to help us overcome our natural fallen selves.

[@mattgarr57]

⁠​⁠@@ifeifesiso how do you KNOW there is no spirit of Gluttony? Lots and lots of believers think there is. There are countless amounts of different demons that come against us. What makes you so sure?

[@cherokeepurple4480]

Watch Katie Souza and her message on the Spirit of Heaviness. It’s eye opening! I’m called and going into deliverance ministry too. I’ve been rooting out all kinds of suckers in me too. It’s all part of the training!

[@mattgarr57]

@@cherokeepurple4480 Thanks for the message! God bless you!

[@wonderfulpets3828]

In my 20s, I attended a well known Christian college overseas at a church that has been in the media a lot lately for scandals. Two of our teachers were a married couple on staff of the church who often talked about weight in their lessons. They would say things like, "God cannot use your life if you are fat." I was thin at the time, but I knew that what they were saying was not correct. I remember one female student got up and ran out of the room crying. They did not follow her or check on her. After the class, I spoke with a few female students and told them I did not agree with what the teachers said. The students all agreed with these two teachers. I was absolutely shocked and disgusted by the conversation, and I've never forgotten it.

[@ChristineTrimpe]

Ohhh I totally feel your angst about talking about this. After massive weight loss, I’ve been called to speak about obesity and gluttony (commonly tolerated sins) in the church. I fought it-kicking and screaming! But it’s so refreshing to hear someone else sharing this topic!

[@user-ku3el1te3f]

I remember leaving a mega church in my early thirties and attending to a smaller church in the area. Some of the first things i noticed were not things i was not looking for. I soon realized more than a few of the people on stage (speakers, worship, announcers, etc) were "normal" looking. By normal i mean, their outfits didn't always match with the team, the mens shirts were not necessarily tight fitting to highlight their arms. The team didn't have tons of make up on or their hair professionally done. Their outfits were not necessarily the most stylish. And by that, I surely do not mean they looked at all shabby. They simply looked like the majority of people in my life -- normal. These things that spoke so loudly to me. The reason it made such an impression on me was because I only realized all the unspoken expectations AFTER I left. It seemed as if my church valued or highlighted a specific type of person when it came to the stage. Its not a coincidence that everyone on stage was exceptional in terms of outer walls. It was not a coincidence that many of the speakers shared a noticeable amount of illustrations that referenced things that translated as a value -- such as working out, weight lifting, being young, looking young and other outer wall activities, etc. Whenever a larger or even normal range body type makes the stage -- there is usually some reference made at some point. It may be them laughing at themselves before someone else (silently) discounts them. Or speaking as if it doesn't matter or bother them at all. The same is true of the exceptional out wall people -- at some point they give some reference that only further highlights this issue. Another example outside the church but relevant to this discussion: I remember being at my dentist (in my twenties) and him rather proudly telling me that he never hires overweight people to work for him. He said that he wanted his practice to reflect balance and health. Apparently that wasn't possible (in his eyes) if there was a weight issue. However, he didn't seem to value weeding out people that reflected immaturity or struggled with character issues. So, I learned a lot in my early years about the church from just watching and listening to what was not being said.

[@carahunter-lm8eq]

Rita, I’m so deepLy sorry for all the pain you have walked through. With the intimacy you have cultivated with Jesus , this pain was forged into His presence and it formed one of the most beautiful human beings on the planet. What you carry is powerful.

[@tanyalatricestaysonfire3929]

RITA RITA RITA! This podcast is GOLD! You spoke to many of the things I have dealt with as a worship leader! My wieight has fluctuated over the years due to a combination of personal struggles and health issues. Being onstage and on live stream every week is a challenge when you can't hide these changes. THANK YOU for lending your voice and experience to this.

[@luciareinapeinado1345]

I've absolutely struggled with weight/body image...as a very curvy woman, I've felt ashamed of my feminine body. It was almost easier to be heavier to be not seen as "sexy." Another issue is being a single woman in my 50's on the worship platform: I have felt pushed aside/looked over in favor of younger/less curvy/married women. A lot to unpack, I know...childhood SA, as well as abusive alcoholic father and codependent/emotionally absent mother. I can absolutely say that my relationship with Jesus is the reason I am still alive.

[@pmholli54]

I’ve also struggled w/ weight since I was a child. My pediatrician put me on a diet when I was in the 4th grade (8 or 9 years old). I also heard the rhyme about not being able to fit through the bathroom door, but my name is Patti, so the version I heard was Fatty, Patti 2x4 . . . I was the only one in my family with overweight issues . .. my Mom was average and my Dad and brother and some of my daughters struggled w/ the opposite problem of being too thin. In fact my daughters were accused of being anorexic because they were very thin and they were dancers. Because of that perspective, I don’t really think I’ve received a lot of judgment from the church about being overweight. My daughters received much more judgement because they were skinny. They ate a lot to deal w/ that. As adults, only one still needs to eat quite a bit to fight underweight. . . . as a mom of 3, she still wears size 2 or even 0 . . . The others suddenly had the other issue as they became adults and mothers. Because they had to overeat to maintain a healty weigt as children, they had to learn to eat a reasonable amount to maintain a healthy weight as women . . . My observation of the church and judgement is there seems to be 2 sins that are somewhat “acceptable” - gluttony and gossip. Because I struggle w/ gluttony, I almost rebel against the judgement I see towards other “unacceptable” sins. How can I judge people who struggle w/ other addictions or gender identity issues if my sin is gluttony? I feel somewhat guilty for getting a pass for gluttony while other sins are loudly judged. My main judgement seems to come from me. I avoided being in photos unless I was in a place where my weight was in a healthy state. I’m not sure I even noticed until my daughters confronted me about it. They want to have pictures of me w/ them and w/ their children. I still cringe when I get in the photos, but . . .

[@jodipilkey5889]

Thank you. I resonate so much with what you shared. Especially in the area of shame. I am on a journey. I feel the Holy Spirit wooing me to steward this “Temple” that I’ve been gifted. I too grew up in poverty with 6 other siblings. Again, I hear my own story at times listening to yours. Now, having never married at 62 (another area of shame)I’ve realized this has zero to do with food. I am learning to let God heal my heart a day at a time. Can’t wait to hear more.

[@kelly4670]

Skip Heitzig had a wonderful sermon on this! The sin of gluttony.

[@cametolife]

Rita, I would have never guessed that you struggled with weight because I've just always just thought how beautiful you are. I have been larger and less large but never really noticed a problem with it from the church. From societal pressures and from other women (and my own) opening comments being about weight. xx

[@leahvasquez7191]

Taste for Truth by Barb Raveling truly a gift from God. Renew the mind, so far that has how I’ve overcome this problem.

[@carolmartin981]

Just ordered that book, thank you

[@stephanienegroni5965]

Wow. I can’t wait to get into this. Have battled weight issues my whole life. Church hasn’t made me feel any way. I am a glutton and have tried giving this issue to God and maybe it’s time to again.

[@lindadeichman2649]

He is my waymaker and will help me find the path and wisdom to making healthy choices. It's not about how I look it's about me being obedient to what he asks of me. God first!

[@user-ku3el1te3f]

I so appreciate the content of your podcasts. This is a huge topic in the church. So much needs to be processed -- thanks for taking the lead.

[@sarahrivkas8400]

Thank you for talking about this important subject. 💕 it really meant a lot that this was brought up as someone who has struggled with weight since age 7. My husband, who is a great leader, has felt overlooked very often because of his weight and height. God is great through it all, but it is comforting to hear this being talked about. 💕 shalom and God bless you, Rita!

[@vald1607]

I worked in various ministries for 30 years. Youth ministry is tough because appearance is a factor. Being a woman was also a factor. The funny thing that is the common comment I heard as I got older and gained weight is,” I am concerned about your health.” It is used as a justification to say, “ Hey, you gained weight.” I am learning to accept me because God loves me and also to break any stronghold over my adult girls.

[@godsNotDead-bv8bq]

I am so grateful for you! I don't know how to overcome any of this❤❤❤

[@rubyreyes203]

Bravo, hooray and I’m so thankful for you stepping up on this issue dear sister!! Food became my comfort & survival mechanism as I watched my poor momma waste away from cancer in the 1960’s. I’m 62 now, God did help me years back to lose over 100+ pounds but it still can be a daily struggle. The thoughts, the negativity, body image, acceptance, poverty spirit etc. I love that you are being a voice right now. You are a gifted woman of God, but I know the struggle is real in regards to weight, the church and body image. Praying you can have many more podcasts regarding these issues. 🙏🏼❤️☺️

[@linetteruffino9576]

BMI today is similar to the Traditional American Food Pyramid. That part 💫 While we're here for a temporary time, it is truly His seeds that feed, fortify and vitalize us. We have the tendency to complicate everything. Struggling with Nutrition now actually. After thinking I had been as mindful as I could be with food choices; I've been recently diagnosed with Cancer. Now needing to make every decision the soundest one for what is in my own path. Feeding our bodies for what we're particularly going through is just another one of His gifts. Embracing the best parts of the free will we're given. 🕯️

[@Refreshlives]

Pastor would constantly say I gained weight felt uncomfortable and had to tell him. My 15 yr old daughter was diagnosed with Anorexia and it is a test of faith. The church must understand that we all have different body types and we should learn to love ourselves in all shapes and form. While I do believe in healthy lifestyle it’s important to know that the way we communicate can be influenced a life.

[@user-qk5kj4pk2v]

This is alot!

[@javierav8930]

I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone talk about this topic in the Christian perspective and it really is something I’ve struggled with. One time I tried bringing it up and got told to just pray about it and then moved on. So thank you for your wisdom Rita.

[@heatherpant5912]

I’m a Professional Artist in Calgary,AB, also on a worship team at our church. I have related to every part of this podcast!!!! So glad I found you! We have mucho in common! God Bless you my Sister 🙏

[@maryanddon77]

Thank you, Rita! It is so hard to deal with everything you spoke about today. Rejection was part of my life because of my weight. Even in church, I feel the need to prove myself. If I jump through the right hoops, I get the approval clicks. If I gain 10 pounds, I not only feel my own shame, but I feel the looks of others. It is incredibly difficult. I have to work out relentlessly and disappear....Thank you for the words.❤❤❤❤

[@Warnerhut-xh2vw]

Thank you for your honesty. You are absolutely beautiful! I really needed this. I gained 50 pounds in about a year due to kidney failure and broke down crying because I’m going to my mother n law’s house tomorrow for memorial weekend. She will be wearing bikini and I’m dreading putting on a suit because of how I look. I had a meltdown because of the whole situation including the illness. (I’m waiting for a kidney match to have a transplant.) I too had bulimia as a teenager. I never really thought to go to Jesus about my weight. I go to Him about everything but not this. Thank you for the encouragement. Jesus is the only way for me to have peace and security about this and everything else!! ❤️🙏🏼

[@purebride8600]

Sounds like your mother-in-law should not be wearing a bikini! Glorified underwear and very immodest.

[@LoveConquersAllFears]

I’ve struggled with being overweight and also very underweight with an eating disorder. Currently trying to have a better body image postpartum while also trying to be healthier. Thank you for featuring this topic!

[@JessicaCabralMuchow]

That really spoke to me “are you thinking more about how God looks at you than how you’re not measuring up to where you think you should be” and also yes the Lord pushing us to a platform when we are having body image issues wow. I was on the biggest platform i had ever been on consistently when I was at my heaviest weight, right before I got pregnant with my 4th baby. Every time I saw myself on the online feed I would just be so ashamed and horrified that I looked like that. It was sad. I then got pregnant with my 4th and gained even more weight and now I’m 3 months PP and back to that weight I was and I feel like I don’t have that sense of shame anymore. I was taking my body for granted and crushing myself for no reason. I am a persons who eats mindfully and exercises and I just have to continue to come to terms with the fact that my body is not the same as it was before 4 kids in 4 years😂 I’m always praying that the lord would help me grow in this and he continues to be faithful. I used to cry in every dressing room after my first baby and I don’t let the fact that something doesn’t fit me make me cry anymore. I always acknowledge my growth when I just find a bigger size rather than letting it feel like something is wrong with me

[@cjenkins4844]

Whoa! I am loving this topic, definitely my struggle. Something the Lord is working on me. Thank you, thank you for saying yes to this difficult & painful topic. It’s probably exactly what is needed to bring healing. Again, thank you. Praying for you as you move forward, exposing the enemies tactics to allow healing from Jesus. 🫶🏼

[@kittyblue9584]

I've always been big since I was a child and I still struggle with body image issues (I'm 47). When I saw the preview to this podcast on Instagram, I cringed and hesitated because I was scared to watch but I'm glad I did. I definitely remember times in church (and school and family) when others, kids and adults, made me very aware that I wasn't the same or enough because of my weight. Looking forward to the rest of this series and thank you for talking about this.

[@RCGWho]

Covid and menopause had a huge impact on my weight. Trying to get back in the gym. Contemplating keto.

[@purebride8600]

Try carnivore instead. You’re satiated for hours! The weight melts off 💟

[@hannahawori3639]

I really didn't want to listen to this, but then i felt like God wanted me to listen. Thank you ❤

[@dianecurcio182]

Yes!

[@TA-hg8qm]

First time viewer, not ready to share my story but I am grateful God put this in front of me!!! Thank you for sharing your story and doing this series❤

[@krissifaith6709]

THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!

[@eleanorgathright605]

Good for you speaking about this. 👏👏👏👏

[@EvaHancock-bh5jc]

I too have struggled with weight for most of my life. I think that it's such an uncomfortable subject, specifically in the church, because God is love and we should walk in love and a fruit of the spirit is love etc. My experience with it in the church, is it's mostly ignored and not addressed or it's the extreme opposite.

[@kevinpearson8857]

No I need this!!! Thank you!

[@AllthingskingdomAITV]

Some of us have had real life trauma that happened that lead to obesity. I my self was SA as a child that opened a door for a lot of things.

[@paulinestevenson2705]

Hi Rita. What a beautiful podcast today. I love your absolutely honest and heartfelt presentation of this difficult topic. I am so grateful for you. Love to Roxanne too 💗☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️

[@elisabethrutler4129]

I’ll go down this road with you! Please keep sharing! I relate! 😭💚

[@kishab6759]

I was 102 graduating highschool.. 105 when I met my husband. 110 on my wedding day and mind you I'm short..5.1 so 110 for me was kind of pushing it. After 2 years of marriage 125.. after baby #1 160.. baby #2 (1.5 years apart) 170.. when the boys were toddlers I got down to 140.. back up now that my boys and stepdaughter are grown I'm almost 170 again. I was always dieting as a 102 lb teenager. I saw myself as fat. I couldn't stick to a diet for long so I never got fully anorexic but definitely body dismorphic. Now I'm at a place where I'm diabetic (had gestational diabetes with baby 2 who is 22 now) 170 and needing to lose weight. I feel like God's only going to let me lose it if I'm doing it the right way for the right reasons. And I do think besides health reasons looking better in my clothes and in the mirror is a valid reason in balance. It's always said if you want to lose weight for any other reason than health it means you hate yourself.. I feel like I love myself enough to makepositive changes to look abd feel better. It's just finding the balance that's hard.

[@mylifeinanutshell5450]

Amen

[@AngelBayyBee]

This was too too good ❤

[@vald1607]

I love your fashion style.

[@annevea7080]

Dr Michael Brown has a great teaching about this from a spiritual and practical Christian view. Also look up Tony Kemp and his deliverance prayer from obesity! He is a father in the church. I love his insight. I have dealt with hypo-thyroid issues since 12 yrs but since 2020 I have received so much inner healing that resulted in eating better with no bad oils. I started losing so much weight in my waist and legs without a big effort. It’s a lifestyle change but worth it.

[@JessicaCabralMuchow]

What’s crazy is I’ve never looked at you and thought about your weight Rita. I just see a beautiful woman of God who I admire

[@kathyisaacson4075]

Thank you for opening this conversation! I have had the discussion about the issue of gluttony addressed in Scripture with my dear friend, new Believer/follower in Jesus who has from childhood had a same sex attraction. Who now, due to what she understands the Word to say, is choosing a life of celibacy. But, she doesnt understand why divorce and gluttony are ‘glossed’ over in church teaching and apparently more accepted; and same sex relationships have seemed the worst sin. I havent been able to give her an answer. But, i love your personal perspective! My story is that I have never struggled with serious over weightness, until I started having children and I have birthed 7. And now menopause on top of that… it is such a battle. When I have been lots overweight, I have felt some shame, not wanting to go out, not fun to get dressed; like it was lack of self control and maybe using food for comfort.. But, like one commenter, I stumbled upon intermittent fasting and it seems to work for my body, and I am thankful!

[@JudyBird-ht4to]

Yes, sadly this has been a real struggle for me too. Samuel 16:7 New International Version (NIV) But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” If I only allowed the judgments, negative or positive, of others to validate me as a believer, I’d just give up. We all need to look to God for how He sees us and Christ is the reason we are deemed worthy, not my self image or the shallow judgements of others.

[@ssmith5086]

Love your music. Second, my experience in the church is its a poor communicator about addictions/idols. (I come from a shame childhood/background.) Anyone can point out the fact that you’re overweight or have some other type of problem, it’s quite another to WALK WITH YOU THROUGH it. Or know HOW to. When I came to “dying to self/not my will but Yours” it was tough. People with huge platforms quote Galatians 5:16 make it sound easy. If only. . . However, I’ve had 65 yrs of using food as a celebratory OR condemning tool and its inroads into my life are like huge deep ditches. They’ve been dug into my mind and emotions and left their mark. I have NOT given up on ME, AND NEITHER HAS JESUS. The battle rages and some days are better than others. As long as I have breath… Blessings Rita and for all who battle on.

[@abi1569]

Love the realist here

[@allisongetz4841]

Omg I love her

[@dgh5223]

I have hypothyroidism and no metabolism. I don’t over eat, even at a buffet. My adult son and husband are the ones who gets 2 plates of food at buffets because they eat fast. I don’t overfill my plate. I eat slow and don’t drink sodas either. I like sweet tea which has less sugar than sodas. I eat 3 eggs from my hens every morning, 1 cup coffee with sugar and creamer one time a day. Light lunch, snack and home cooked supper (one plate). I’m in my mid 50’s. I have bad back and knees and hard to do much exercise. I do not want to work out either weight because that is painful to me. I’m hurting enough in my body.

[@ThePossumone]

One of the things we have to realise too is that as Christians not many talk about any of their addictions without shame. We are supposed to have everything together arent we? Our Body is just a form, a way for us to move through the world We need to remember its just a form like a temple it can and will be destroyed in time

[@CandaceFriedrichs]

Rita - as always you hit this. I had such a negative self image, not always about weight, but just not being pretty enough to be desirable to a man, blah blah blah. I had red hair as a little girl and freckles and my grandma (not meaning to hurt me) teased me about red hair and freckles. I also experienced sexualizing under the age of 5 and being introduced to images in porn, led to me having a skewed image of what was pleasing to a man ... honestly, I believe all of this plays into identity which is where shame gets born and then plays into my insecurities as a musician. I have a desire to sign up for your one on one to be encouraged to walk forward in my musical gifting. I am definitely in my 4th quarter but I think with God age is not a factor. I have started to sign up many times but I am not "working" at a church. I am currently involved in teaching a prayer class and providing worship in that setting which has been inspired by your spontaneous worship sessions. I have worked in events my whole life as a booking agent for musicians, and realized that my insecurity kept my talent behind the scenes due to feeling I was not as good as those I booked with degrees from Berkley, North Texas, yadayada. If you reply to this and say you would consider a mentorship I will sign up. keep being the light you bring to this world. xo

[@katherinem9512]

I have struggled with weight my whole life. Society says that overweight means less valuable. When the same message is given to you in your own family, it is very difficult to be believe what God says about you. Finding healing and comfort in God is not easy either. It should be, but it is not. It took me a long time and my journey is still not finished. However, when my head knowledge and heart knowledge finally aligned, I was able to love myself. At 59, I am at a healthy weight. Loving yourself no matter what your dress size is, is the most important thing a person can do.

[@abi1569]

❤

[@joyalways1179]

Love your cardi!

[@loribussani4438]

Rita - I would love to connect with you. It has been a long time (good ol Vineyard worship days back in the late 90's). I love our shared love for worship, but I also LOVE your honest sharing about our relationship with food and how we can "worship" God with caring for our body in a whole/healed way. I don't know if you remember, but this is my ministry (along with being a worship percussionist)....I am a Health and Wellness spiritual coach and have been helping people with their relationship with food/their body for over 45 yrs. I would love to chat with you about this. Lori Bussani

[@barbiewolf]

I want to talk about this too!!!

[@ChristineTrimpe]

I’d love to carry on this conversation with you on the podcast.

[@barbergirl105]

I don't understand. I don't see a large, overweight person when I look at you. You are beautiful.

[@kathleendonnelly6077]

What is hard for me is being a person who has to struggle to lose weight while I see so many others getting Ozempic which is a resource but my doctor won’t give it to me. Being shamed for your weight never helps.

[@jenrightnour4236]

I have struggled with bulimia for almost 30 years. I feel like I got the same scriptures that you did and it’s like OK I get that God created me, but how do I receive his love for me except myself? Especially when so many people rejected me and I don’t live up to their standards.

[@pamandrobert102806]

Been obese and in church all my life. NEVER ever felt any kind of anything in regards to my weight from the church. I think it is a personal shame and a personal issue that is the problem.

[@RCGWho]

I mostly don't hear it addressed. Every now and then, I'll hear a remark about gluttony, but not often.

[@hummermama]

I have had weight issues since like 2nd grade. I was never part of the "in" crowd. The teasing started in 4th grade. By junior high I was crying myself to sleep every night. I was always aware that my body wasnt worth looking at whether that was real or not....super ashamed of myself but had no clue that it was a food issue. Ive now had 8 children and always have just struggled because I cant lose weight. Ive never been to my pre baby weight. I havent had much from church specifically but there def isnt any teaching on how to be healthy or have a good view of food. The internet is so confusing about what it good. Ive switched to all whole foods, from scratch cooking, sourdough everything and I am at my highest weight. Ive recently started looking at how many calories are in all the things and Im trying to really lower my portion sizes (I love our food and could eat a lot) but also we have had seasons of really being hungry because of financial issues and so I can not eat but I think our food is so calorie dense that its easy to over eat even if I dont feel like Im eating much during the day....all that to say Im just trying to surrender the need to feel full when I eat out of fear for my serving being enough to satisfy my survival and just learning to enjoy each bite instead of aiming to feel full. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I really need a shift and it def has not come from the church helping, its all just Jesus and his leading.

[@frostyneal4081]

After my hysterectomy I gained weight. It takes time and support but possible to cut weight. Sugar and carbs are not your friends. Walk atleast 10000 steps aday. Choose your food wisely and don't over eat.

[@bigtobacco1098]

Grew up in pentecostal churches and would hear sermons against alcohol and tobacco... meanwhile half the ladies were on nerve pills, sleeping pills on their 3rd husband...

[@Grannycoop]

I'm not vegetarian. I eat meat, low carb vegetables, nuts, seeds and unprocessed oils. I developed diabetes after I had breast cancer a decade ago.

[@Grannycoop]

Trust the enemy to completely twist the issue. The emphasis should being healthy to the best of one's ability. It's about being a good steward of the first thing God gave us no matter how flawed we are. Most Christians are not good steward's of their body. They spend more money on clothes, houses, cars etc. They take care to keep their houses, cars and other posessions. Again I'm not talking about weight or body type. The focus needs to be on quality of food(not extreme food modalities i.e. veganism) but shopping the perimeter of the grocery store. Exercise daily. Using food for nourishment and fellowship(not as a focus, but for conversation and interaction). I'm generally carrying around 20 extra lbs. However, I exercise 3 to 4 times a day and I eat mainly unprocessed foods many of which are high calorie( nuts, avocados, butter, coconut and olive oil). I was raised in the inner city so my early diet was mainly cheap, processed foods i.e. white bread, baloney, lots of candy because a piece of candy was 2 cents and a hot dog was 25 cents so since candy was cheaper that's mostly what I ate, My mother was a single mom of 5 children with a low-paying night job. Most of the time she was too tired to cook, but when she did it was the white flour processed foods that were cheap. I had fruit in the summer and an orange for Christmas. It was dangerous to play in the neighbor and I was a skinny kid and could not fight. So I Stayed inside and red books(PTL). Also we expect the people in Ministry to look a certain way but the congregation at large is UNHEALTHY. Again please let us focus on being good stewards of of our bodies.

[@jessaabraham]

We can justify all we want however our body and mind is the only thing you are given. Everything else including the bad thing you make in your life is with your body and mind. If we don’t take care of the only thing we came with, most all of us will suffer as we get old. In fact we will suffer our care takers more than us. (I don’t think you care in such cases. ) Religion or not. This is a fact. Just because a few make it healthily to 100 do not mean that it is the standard. Look around for the facts and do what is needed to take care of you. If you feel your body and mind is from God then you should be taking care of it more than anything. Anyone preaching anything without taking care of the only gift given to them does not really love God. Now if you are more “obsessed” about what others think of you that’s on you.

[@margies5906]

First off I want to say I love your sweater that is so so pretty I can keep my eye out for something like that It's just lovely😊 what I've gotten most about my person is my height I'm tall for a woman and people go oh my gosh you are so tall, and I go "it's just a matter of a few inches so I don't get it..."🤨 And then they get the lecture 😁 I start saying well have you ever noticed how much people say they oh that person so pretty this person is so handsome this is so blah blah blah and I go yeah but have you noticed that after you've talked to them for 5 minutes you no longer see how they look but you see their persona... You see how that person truly is and a person can be the most gorgeous person in the world but if they've got a stupid ugly personality who puts other people down for how they look kind of type person that's what you see in them.. suddenly you see a very very ugly person.

[@tcorkum965]

The same thing happens to "skinny" people.

[@vernturnquist6729]

Denise Crosby??!! Why u change your name. Why did you leave us after season 1!!

[@nicoletchidester]

If you do decide to talk about drug addiction, Ryan Chidester from S2L Recovery in Woodbury TN would be a great guest to have on!

[@cobra3828]

What song do you sing that you sing more of you and less of me? ❤

[@michellek649]

Can someone explain what obesity has to do with Christianity?

[@GenChanger]

God asks us to present our physical bodies as a living sacrifice to him, treat it with respect, and not destroy it. Being overweight could show disregard or low caring for the temple, could lead to avoidable diseases and/or early death, which then destroy the body. The Bible also warms us to not make anything an idol, including food, and not over indulge in general (gluttony). Other things, not just overeating, can lead to the above. They all cause us to be distracted, preoccupied, mentally stressed or battling illnesses, and slowly take us off track in our Christian walk. You can research more on Bible verses relating to those things.

[@michellek649]

@@GenChanger I agree but every church I go to does nothing but stuff people with food.

[@GenChanger]

@@michellek649 Right. We definitely have a long way to go in practicing the will of God. Churches should teach (and demonstrate) practical application of the Word of God rather than abstract concepts.

[@jeniferhalkola8837]

Gluttony, sloth, intemperance, addiction, idolatry, just for starters.

[@wendyharris2124]

Carnivore diet- it’s a miracle

[@user-ev6xm8vo9n]

Excess weight is trauma; usually sexual trauma from early childhood. It’s not your fault that you have seen true evil and been severely affected by it. I love my body and have compassion for myself,like God does. The Lord is walking with me,showing me how He was there every time I experienced the deep grief of being used as an object to meet a suffering person’s need. It’s demonic and tragic,but it’s nobody’s fault. The abuser is responsible to get help for themselves to find healthy ways to get their needs met,and stop abusing. Sex and Violence Addiction programs really help. But only Jesus can help the individuals involved and affected by this type of violence. We don’t blame cancer victims for being afflicted with an illness. So don’t blame those of us who carry the weight of another person’s sin. I turn it over to Jesus.✝️

[@user-wf1wf4fk5e]

Almost all the women in my Church are fat shoot thin May be in but fats where it's at. I have to lose weight for my health my doctor put me on a strict diet. I say find another church. even my pastor is chubby.

[@jannulik]

This doesn't mean to be a dig but it sounds like you are holding a grudge against those that were insensitive to your physique at church and are looking for affirmation from others in comments section. The truth to be told, wrongdoing against us from the church members hurts the most, but we are called to forgive and move on.

[@hyacinthp4882]

Jesus is a timely Savior indeed