As a former anorexic, I know how prevalent the topic of health is in our culture. For about two years, I devoted myself to “being healthy” because I thought my body was gross, not good. But rather than becoming satisfied with my body as I lost weight, I developed an eating disorder and have spent the past several years recovering from it. To help you avoid falling into the trap that I fell into, I want to point out two lies you may be believing about health:
Lie #1: Being healthy means following every health trend.
Several months ago, I tried something called “barre”—a trendy form of exercise that combines ballet with Pilates. To be honest, it was difficult and draining. I went to three different barre classes, and I had the same exact thought after each class: I hate this. But in spite of hating it, I was hesitant to quit because I was worried about what people would think of me.
Going to barre makes me feel like a fitness rockstar. If I quit, will my friends think I’m apathetic about my health? I exercise in other ways—and they need to know that! Not doing barre isn’t about me being lazy or weak!
Doing barre is one of many health-related trends I’ve noticed recently. I’ve also noticed that the culture tends to emphasize the benefits of the trends it pushes without revealing the downsides. It frequently fails to deliver what it promises. Here are a few examples of what I mean:
- “If you run instead of walk, you’ll feel happier and more energized.”
- “If you cut sugar from your diet, you’ll lose one pound per week.”
- “If you drink kombucha, you’ll avoid headaches and stomach aches.”
- “If you do planks and sit-ups, you’ll have amazing abs.”
- “If you eat more kale, you’ll have a stronger immune system.”
But when we let the culture pressure us to meet impossible-to-meet expectations like these, we end up feeling disappointed and even ashamed. The pressure-disappointment-shame cycle is vicious—but we can choose to escape this cycle by remembering trendiness doesn’t indicate trueness. Just because a social media influencer or the host of a cooking show or the writer of a magazine article says _____ is healthy, that doesn’t guarantee that _____ is healthy.
Friends, I’m so glad I ended up quitting barre—and I’m sure you’ll feel the same way about refusing to following a health trend that leaves you feeling empty and exhausted.
Lie #2: Being healthy is more important than being holy.
Perhaps you read this lie and thought, “Duh! Of course this is a lie!” It’s great that you’re aware this is a lie—but do your actions align with what you know to be true?
Mine didn’t. When I was a senior in high school—at the most intense point in my eating disorder journey—I was aware of the truth. I knew I was fearfully and wonderfully made, but my addiction to consuming as few calories as possible and burning as many calories as possible proved I didn’t actually believe that truth. I let my body become more important than everything else—including my relationship with God.
If being healthy is more important to you than being holy, it’s an idol. But health—especially the culture’s definition of it—is such a futile thing to worship. Emptiness accompanies the pursuit of trying to meet cultural expectations. There’s no freedom in that; there’s only bondage.
Friends, freedom isn’t found in following fads—it’s found in following Jesus.
I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments. (Psalm 119:45 NLT)
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