Every year around January 1, most of us go through the ritual of setting New Years resolutions. For many people there is a perpetual goal to lose weight. I know I have struggled with that for years.

Since the year is half over, and since most of us still struggle with that goal, I want to pour out some thoughts on this issue. I have experienced some success in this area, as well as setbacks. But I’m reminded of what Chuck Swindoll talks about concerning accomplishments in general: 3 steps forward, 2 steps backwards. If it’s true that virtually any habit can be made by doing it 21 days in a row, then why not get going now—to start a new lifestyle.

If you’re overweight, please don’t take offense at any of this. Who knows? I may inspire someone to work toward taking off unwanted weight. Who knows? I may be able to add years to someone’s life—and quality to those years.

I have noticed that it is easy to use food as a means of therapy—as a pick-me- up, when dealing with life’s difficulties. But when you eat to feel better, then you get fatter, and then you feel worse because of your girth. As a result, you eat more to soothe your bad feelings, and the vicious cycle repeats. Some people feel discouraged because they have worked hard (but not smart) at losing weight, and their lack of results has discouraged them to the point of giving up.

In the winter of 2002-2003, I did two things that helped me in this area. First, at the gym I go to, I hired a trainer (as part of a group rate). (It’s nowhere near as expensive as I thought it would be—or as it could be, I suppose, in other contexts). Second, I began to participate in runs, .e.g., 5k’s, 10k’s, 5 milers, etc. A friend who works free- lance for Coral Ridge Ministries got me into the serious running—not that I’m fast, but I do it. That friend used to always say of running: “It sure beats the doctor’s bills.”

I know that people who are overweight constantly deal with the fat jokes, which they hate. I remember one time that there was a rather large fellow high up in the air on a cherry-picker type of lift. He was examining something up there, and he kept saying, “It’s a mystery. It’s a mystery.” And someone below (not me) quipped, “What? How so much fat can cling to the human frame?” Slow burn.

I used to joke all the time, “I’m in shape---round is a shape.” But I have been able to lose many pounds and keep them off. However, it is an ongoing struggle. It is not easy.

Through a lot of directed training, I was able to really get a handle on my weight loss. And I think it has improved the quality of my life. If anyone considers getting into exercise, be sure to seek out a physician’s advice before you start—especially if you are over 30. Furthermore, if you choose running as your method of losing weight, make sure you don’t skimp out on getting good shoes. And keep in mind, those good shoes don’t last forever either. If you skimp on this, you may end up hurting your knees, and then you can’t exercise. It defeats the whole purpose.

One of the great keys to weight loss is counter-intuitive: eat often. Don’t be like a camel  and eat a large meal and store it.

Dieting includes the factor of input vs. output. Which is greater? When the input is greater than the output—day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year—is it any wonder we are becoming a nation of overweight people??

One statement in a non-Christian book really bothered me. Sam Harris in his Letter to a Christian Nation, says that Christians are fat. Well, I know many Christians who are disciplined in many ways, but they have let themselves go as far as being overweight. I discussed this once with a friend—about all the fat we find in the body of Christ. He said, “What other sin is left?” We can’t smoke, etc. But we can eat. And do we ever! We often build many functions around food.

In the ancient Church, gluttony was viewed as one of the seven deadly sins. In its own way, it is still deadly, and not only to the body. In modern evangelicalism, it seems that many don’t care about the issue. We just let ourselves go—and go and go and go. We need to remember that self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5).

What a tragedy that so many Christians let themselves go. By the grace of God, we can live longer, and with better quality of life, if we keep in shape.

This problem, of course, is not restricted to ministers, theologians, seminary professors, laypeople. Think of the famous newsman, Tim Russert, who was a terrific interviewer. He was an equal-opportunity journalistic bulldog. But he collapsed and died, though only in his late 50s. I remember when I first heard of his death, one of my first thoughts was: Get thee to the gym, before it’s too late. It was too late for him, but not necessarily too late for you or me.

I know that God is sovereign and He determines our days. But I also know that He who ordains the ends ordains the means. The research that is out there about the deleterious effects of being overweight is so abundant. We don’t need more studies, more research. We need more discipline. We need to live like January 1 on July 1 and August 1, and throughout the year. And whatever we do, we should do it to God’s glory.

Some people have glandular problems; therefore, they are overweight. I have sympathy for them. But this is relatively rare.  Most people who are overweight are overweight because of their behavior.  One of the main points I want to make about dieting is just this—-stick with it, no matter what. Don’t let yourself go.

Think of every time you over-consume, one day you’ll have to work that off.

Every bite you take may require lots of exercise some day. …or at least some exercise.

I think this is a lifetime struggle.

I have learned to try and keep the weight off because it’s so hard to run when carrying so much weight. Imagine running with a five pound bag of sugar in your arms. That’s what it is like having five extra pounds. Put a five pound bag in a knapsack and put it on your back and run with that too. Then add five more pounds, making it ten. Add 3 more bags and that is fifteen pounds. Imagine what a strain that would be, trying to walk or run around with such weight. Yet many of us seem to think nothing of carrying around 20, 25, or 30 pounds.

It seems as if once you get into the right zone, your body will burn fat for you. But you can’t just eat and eat and eat and never exercise and expect good results.

One thing I would recommend as well is to build up to some great goal. When I first started running races in 2003—and again, I’m slow—I learned that I was competing against me, not my neighbor. But my neighbor made me go faster than I would alone. I began with a 5 k (5,000 kilometers—about 3 miles), then built up to a 5-miler, then a 10-k, then eventually a half-marathon, and about two years later, all the way to a full marathon. The training for the marathon was so helpful in my weight loss.

Later, I hurt my left knee in overtraining, so I listened to my body and cut back. Then I discovered spinning classes at the gym. I use earplugs because I can’t vouch for all the music they play, and they play it too loudly.

So which is the best exercise for you? The one you actually do. My wife walks vigorously and keeps off the pounds. At this point, I try to do a half-marathon about two times a year, plus many spinning classes. To keep up with the half-marathons, I usually run 10 miles on a weekend morning at least once a month.

Despite all the running and despite all the spinning, I still struggle with my weight, but nowhere near the level I used to. My friend who got me into all the running points out that when we get back into the season (the Florida winter) when there are so many races, I will start to get a better handle on my weight control.

I hope you’ll join me in striving for your annual New Year’s resolution, only this time in July and throughout the year….as a lifestyle change. But I believe we will never have victory in this area until we see gluttony as a sin. Food is one of God’s greatest gifts, but like all of His gifts, it can be abused.

So it’s time to get out those running shoes, and get thee to the gym.