Before Covid -19 hit, I was eating well, beginning my exercise routine again, and had my metabolism in a good place. I felt healthy, and I was living with healthy habits.

When the lockdown began, and we knew we weren’t going anywhere for a while, the stretch pants season began. There wasn’t any reason to wear anything else, right?!

After about a month, I began noticing a change in myself. I wasn’t feeling healthy anymore. I had gained more weight than I wanted to acknowledge, and somehow I had messed up my body, which always leads to the mind and emotions as well.

What had happened that past month and why didn’t I know it was happening? Share on X

Keeping a healthy lifestyle is not a comfortable way to live sometimes. We eat things we don’t want to eat. We don’t eat when we want to eat. We drink water when we want to drink coffee. We exercise even when it feels like we are dying.

It is work, and when we finish exercising, we shower, and we put on jeans at least :).

However, somewhere along that month, I allowed myself to slip back into habits that were more comfortable and less healthy. One bad choice led to another. I was eating more because I was home, and I was eating the wrong things to comfort myself.  I hadn’t realized it because who can tell when you are wearing stretch pants.

This happens to me spiritually as well, if I am not alert and watchful. Share on X

I can replace time in the Word for a Hallmark binge session. I can replace reaching out to others with mindless social media time. I can put my mind on worries of the day and cares about the future instead of casting them onto the Lord in prayer.

Before long, my mind is full of wrong thoughts and thinking patterns. My heart is full of anxiety, depression, and a lack of trust in God. My attitude towards others begins to go in an unhealthy direction.

By the time I realized what was happening,  I was in an unhealthy place, and I need to make some decisions. Share on X

Once I realized what was happening with my weight and health, I decided to change things and get back to where I was. I am exercising again and being intentional about moving during my day while I am home more. I am drinking more water and less coffee. I am eating healthier and not eating just because I am hungry or sad and emotional.

It takes a lot longer to work our way back than it does to get ourselves in an unhealthy place, but the work is worth it.

Have you found things that have been happening in your body, mind, and heart while you have been living in stretch pants over the last couple of months?

There are healing and freedom that comes with confession.

What steps can you take today to start moving back towards living healthy, both physically and spiritually? Share on X

For me, I am taking those physical steps, but on a spiritual level, I am weeding out all God is asking me to.  Some relationships have needed to change. I am scheduling time on social media, so I don’t get stuck on there. I am spending more time in God’s Word and prayer. I am resting when I need rest.

I am still working towards a steady, healthy lifestyle. I am wearing stretch pants a little less, so I don’t allow myself to get complacent or fall into an unhealthy comfort zone again.

Let’s walk this out together, encouraging one another on with our words, prayers, and actions.

My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
 Do not let them depart from your sight;
Keep them in the midst of your heart.
For they are life to those who find them
And health to all their body.
Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.  Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
 Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:20-27