Maybe it is time to lose some lockdown kilos or others?
Post covid-lockdown, I enthusiastically met with my parents only to get a blunt rebuke to lose weight. We ate together at a nice café and they saw me and the way I eat!
Now let me set the record straight in this tell all article, I didn’t eat too much at that café. However, the reality is I am probably, though you can’t readily see it from my appearance, perhaps 15 or 20 kilos over my right BMI.
It hurts telling you that. However, I am now experiencing some miracle weight loss and want you to know my secret.
Society is in the grip of an epidemic
Apologies - let me share some tough love.
Firstly, we must remind ourselves of the sorry state of being overweight causing us to readily puff and pant if we exert ourselves.
We all know this right…western society is in the grip of this epidemic due to obesity causing stroke, heart attack, diabetes etc…. Overweight bodies are problematic to function.
Fact: Obesity-related disease kills about 50,000 people a year in Australia.
These are deaths, but how about others who suffer immensely in other ways without dying?
Causes: Poor diet, lack of physical activity and sleep. No doubt, lockdown conditions create a perfect storm for weight gain, compounded by stress.
With these glaring facts, why do we persist in being overweight or have limited will power to change?
Weight loss by faith
I am several weeks into my attempt to lose the obvious kilos I must, to regain my greater dignity, and in the eyes of others.
What got me started, that may help you or your friend, is that I heard the rebuke from my parents and saw my father eat half a salad roll instead a full roll plus, which I ate. I became enlightened.
I felt I needed to change and distinctly so by God’s presence. And I was seeking God as per usual and reflecting. I was reminded by the Spirit of several verses.
Firstly, from 1 Corinthians chapter 9, verse 27, Paul’s words burned in my heart: “I beat my body into submission and make it my slave…so I will not be disqualified for the prize.”
Secondly, 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verse 12, "I will not be mastered by anything”.
Make a start with prayer
Anyway, these verses became meat to my spirit man and soul. I felt a touch from God and new resilience to control myself and eating habits.
And then I heard a sobering word directly from God as I prayed. “Do it,” God said, “and you will gain five years of life.” Lose to live in other words. That touched me profoundly, deeply.
It’s been about a month now and I am implementing my new eating regime. What is glorious is that I am losing weight. How do I know? People are telling me that know me. And my mirror does not lie.
I am mightily rejoicing in the cross of Christ, through which I can do all things, including weight loss. Romans chapter 8 says, though yielding to the spirit, we can put to death the misdeeds of the body. My theology is now more real.
Establish a regulated weight loss regime
Here is what is working for me, based largely on my mother’s advice; bless her soul!
Cereal and fruit-based breakfast. It tastes nice and is full of fibre. That nice combination and eating half a bowl puts me in good stead for a productive day.
Only three, maximum, pieces of bread permitted for myself; for the whole day that is. A sandwich for lunch or a vege-rich, nice tasting little broth from the night before.
Dinner, nice food, with a lot of green colour appearing on the dish. Limited portions, just enough to feel fed and not hungry, not enough to feel you’ve overeaten.
Avoid snacking and think ahead prior to going out. Majoring on drinking tea and eating more fruits and some nuts is helpful to quell any hunger pains.
The take home value is to set limits, and get your stomach used to smaller, and especially fibre rich, protein rich, quantities. And being intentional allows no last minute unhealthy, unholy additions.
The acid test you got it right: You go to bed feeling slightly hungry but with a sense you’ve overcome in your spirit.
And as you get leaner, the morning walks get easier too. You feel good as you look better too.
Final words for weight loss hopefuls
Maybe you have read this article and say, hah, just a month of efforts; what will happen to this poor fellow over Christmas and holiday time with festivities?!
Sure thing, it will be hard! However, I feel I am in a good place to tackle it. I have been going at a slow, but steady pace, with moderation, have a regime and a strong inner conviction based on faith, tapping into Christ’s resurrection power. And as mentioned, I’m taking pleasure in seeing my form transform and so is my wife.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for. When you have faith, you have the thing before you see it in the natural. Faith begets miracles and miracle weight loss, amen!
I have faith for right BMI, what about you? However, it’s more than that. I want greater mastery, to present the world with a gospel I need not be ashamed of, a gospel that comes in power, revealing the kingdom of God.
Binging? Be encouraged, I’ve had weight loss advice from my parents for years; it just took one prompting from the spirit to move on it.
He can do the same for you!
Mark Rusic was born in Melbourne and has a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. He became a missionary to many, suffering hardship and poverty on Madura Island in Indonesia, in 1990 for about four years. He worked as a pastor-life coach with Hope International Ministries from 2002 to May 2023, playing a key role in raising up leaders and elders for the local Melbourne Hope church, which lead today. Mark has also been active in conducting yearly trips to remote Indigenous communities, bringing teams for training and outreach, which he initiated from 2015. He also established a salt and light ministry to empower saints of influence in the marketplace from 2017.
Mark is also an artist and an author and has written two books which are both a collection of his own paintings, photography, and poetry. These include ‘Iconic Melbourne of Australia’ and ‘Iconic Animals of Australia- With a voice to release your giant potential within,’ which are available now on booktopia.com.au and at leading book retailers. He has been counted among some of Australia’s best authors on several occasions through Dymocks since 2014 and continues to be a motivational speaker in various community groups, organisations, and churches.
He is currently pioneering his itinerant ministry to bless Indigenous people and empower the body of Christ, while working as an artist, author and speaker.