And then it happens. In that very moment of wishing you were in a dream, someone messages you with just a simple suggestion on your dieting journey. Ugh. As you desperately attempt to hold back the tears, you don’t understand how others can be so blind.  For minutes, or hours, you stare blankly at the screen. Speechless.

I’m sure you and I could sit down over a cup of coffee and tell all the stories of unwarranted weight loss advice we’ve been issued. In fact, couldn’t we replace the word weight loss with parenting or basically any other activity?  One of my never-forget stories from years ago is the one where a gentleman, a total stranger, thought it was appropriate to tell me the food on my plate was all very fattening.  I wish he knew how much that one sentence broke me.

We’ve all encountered the times when someone, whether family, friend, or stranger, has offered advice in poor timing or tough circumstances. At this point, we have to choose how to handle the overload. Here are 4 tips on how to handle unwanted advice:

Understand that they don’t know your journey – They don’t know your journey and their words may come from a genuine part of their heart. They don’t know the struggle you just had with jeans not fitting, stupid shirts fitting weird and the scale being dumb. Cut them some slack.

Expect it and prepare your response – When that stranger told me my plate of food was fattening, it broke my spirit. But thankfully, I thought before I spoke. While I might have seemed rude by turning around and walking away, trust me, it was better than what would have been said. Since then, I’ve established a mental plan for handling unwarranted advice {or rude statements} so that I can deal with it graciously. That is how God would want us to deal with it, with grace.

To those of you issuing the advice…please please please please think before you speak. While you might be offering advice from the bottom of your heart, understand that some subjects (weight loss, parenting, etc.) are touchy and feelings are easily hurt. Taste your words before you speak them.

I love my morning quiet time with God. Just this girl and her Father hanging out, enjoying some coffee and some much needed time in His word. It just really starts my day in a great way and points it in the right direction.

This week started an online Bible study that I’m participating in.  It’s on the Made to Crave (M2C) book by Lysa TerKeurst through the Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study.  Yesterday I was doing my morning devotional and all of a sudden God gave me one of those “aha” moments.  I sure am familiar with those, seems He has to talk to this stubborn, thick-headed girl quite often. You know the ones, they leave you sitting there with your mouth gaping open. Those moments that the light bulb clicks in our brain and illuminates what God is doing? Yeah, I kinda love those moments’ huge amounts.

I rely on food more than I rely on God.


What? Are you as shocked as i was? I had to take time to process it and talk through it, out loud of course. Let me say it again, I’ve basically made food an idol. Wow, isn’t that ouchie. Surely that can’t be right. How in the world do you make FOOD more important than God?

Then I remembered something, a past blog post. One where i described food as my boyfriend. Here is a little snippet of it:

Seriously, we’ve always had an intense love affair. It’s always there for you, never lets you down and always makes you feel good. Let’s face it…foods always there to fill you with delicious goodness. If I was sad, food would cheer me up…if I was happy, food would celebrate with me…if I was lonely, food would keep me company.

Now, read that last paragraph and replace the word food with God. And that, my friends, is when it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was true. Food was my golden calf and I worshiped at its feet. Instantly my heart was just sad. Can you imagine how much it grieved God when I would run to food to celebrate instead of Him? Or when I would run to food to soothe my sadness instead of Him? I’ve been breaking God’s heart for years and didn’t even know it.

My soul yearns, even faints,

for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh cry out

for the living God.

Psalm 84:2

Now that I’ve recognized the idolatry in my heart, I need to admit it, repent and ask God for His help.  I am so super thankful we have a God of grace!  Because this slow learner had to sit at His feet and admit she put food higher than Him.  Whew.  I need to choose to be content in Christ alone and not search for happiness or comfort in food. Thankfully this realization came during an amazing Bible study that will be there with me for weeks!  I am going to obey God and trust Him to lead this journey, to lead my actions and thoughts. I’m going to run to Him when I’m happy, sad, stressed, bored and every other emotion you can think of.

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts

1 John 5:21

Losing weight isn’t easy.  Period.  Can I get an Amen?  But with Christ by our side, anything is possible.  How can we resist the cravings and temptations that surround us daily? With truth! Replace the lies you’ve believed about food with thoughts that reflect Biblical truth. Read the Bible and memorize verses that help you see yourself and your relationship to food truthfully. Absorb them into your soul. Store them near your heart so they’ll be there to encourage you when you face temptation. Together let’s look to the Lord and vow to press on toward our weight loss goals.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:13

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24

Cast all your cares on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:18

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
Psalms 31:24