Christian Bodybuilder trying to over come self image

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J

Joshie

Guest
#1
#1
I have been bodybuilding for 7 years, recently I have been delivered and I have been freed from old habits and bondage thanks to the Holy Spirit and Gods grace. However one thing I am struggling with I have also almost stopped going to the gym, I was 108kgs and already have lost 8kgs. I want to please God and be like Jesus and this has been the hardest part to overcome. 7 years of some of the hardest work and I know it's wrong to worry about my self image but it's so hard overcoming muscle loss and watching myself shrink.

I guess I would just like to know if anyone has had any similar problems and how did they overcome them.
 
Tommy379

Tommy379

Notorious Member
#2
Jan 12, 2016
7,589
1,151
113
#2
Joshie said:
I have been bodybuilding for 7 years, recently I have been delivered and I have been freed from old habits and bondage thanks to the Holy Spirit and Gods grace. However one thing I am struggling with I have also almost stopped going to the gym, I was 108kgs and already have lost 8kgs. I want to please God and be like Jesus and this has been the hardest part to overcome. 7 years of some of the hardest work and I know it's wrong to worry about my self image but it's so hard overcoming muscle loss and watching myself shrink.

I guess I would just like to know if anyone has had any similar problems and how did they overcome them.
Click to expand...
I deal with most problems by liftimg heavy until I start screaming in German.
 
B

BeyondET

Guest
#3
#3
1. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

2. Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice–the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

3. 1 Timothy 4:7-9 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.

4. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

5. 1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

6. Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
 
W

wwjd_kilden

Guest
#4
#4
Just dropping by with a word of warning: If you use bodybuilding to overcome something, make sure you don't do yourself more harm than good. (Don't overdo it)
 
M

Miri

Guest
#5
#5
If for you body building is a form of escapism from life (many do have some form of
escapism by the way). Then it's better to run to Christ. Let him build you up,
cast your burdens on him for he cares for you.

Get into the bible, and seek God with all your heart. Let the words of the bible
wash over you.

Maybe there will be time for body building in the future, who knows maybe it
might even become a form of ministry and spreading the gospel for you. How cool
would that be to have a Christian body builder, spreading the gospel at the gym. :)

Maybe for now though you need to look elsewhere for some other activity to keep fit,
maybe running or cycling etc. just until you have figured out who you are in Christ.

Sometimes God will take away those things which are keeping a person from Him,
for a time. View this new you as a chance to learn and grow and to develop character
and wisdom. A time to develope your spiritual muscles. :)
 
Stephen63

Stephen63

Banned
#6
Aug 15, 2009
9,745
179
0
#6
If you as a christian continue to use other means to overcome issues instead of trusting God, you will find yourself in a spiritual trial for the sin of idolatry because of depending on self instead of Him.
 
B

BeyondET

Guest
#7
#7
Stephen63 said:
If you as a christian continue to use other means to overcome issues instead of trusting God, you will find yourself in a spiritual trial for the sin of idolatry because of depending on self instead of Him.
Click to expand...
True indeed, nothing should become a idol, at the same time physical training does have some value. :)

1 Tim 4: 7-9
 
B

BeyondET

Guest
#8
#8
Looking at some of the names for some of the moves in body building on a spiritual level, the (deadlift) takes on a whole new meaning. lol
 
U

Ugly

Guest
#9
#9
If you cannot separate your old ways from your body building then it's good you stopped. If you just have a misguided sense that it's wrong to now keep in shape then I see no need to stop.

But giving up our comforts, habits, ways of viewing ourselves is part of the Christian walk. The two go hand in hand. It may not be a body image issue for most of us, but that general sense of loss and lack of identity is common when we decide to forsake ourselves for the sake of God.
It sounds cliche, but growing in God is the best way to overcome and heal from this.

We are like plants. When we turn to God He yanks us out of the ground, pulling our roots up and away from the world. Now we are exposed, vulnerable. We can either send our roots back into the world or move them to the waters that will never leave us thirsty. It's painful and scary at first, but given time we find we've made the right choice going to God.
 
zeroturbulence

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
#10
Aug 2, 2009
24,578
4,268
113
#10
Joshie said:
I have been bodybuilding for 7 years, recently I have been delivered and I have been freed from old habits and bondage thanks to the Holy Spirit and Gods grace. However one thing I am struggling with I have also almost stopped going to the gym, I was 108kgs and already have lost 8kgs. I want to please God and be like Jesus and this has been the hardest part to overcome. 7 years of some of the hardest work and I know it's wrong to worry about my self image but it's so hard overcoming muscle loss and watching myself shrink.

I guess I would just like to know if anyone has had any similar problems and how did they overcome them.
Click to expand...
You can't stay at your peak level of fitness indefinitely. You're going to have peaks and valleys no matter how good you are. When you're in a valley like you are now, you need to get back to the basics and slowly work your way back or at least to maintain what you have. Muscles have memory so when you do get back into the gym it will take you a lot less time to rebuild your muscles than it did when you were first building them up. Take care.
 
J

Joshie

Guest
#11
#11
I think he is leading me away from it until I get the right mind and strength to go back in and start working out without checking myself out in the mirror which I will admit is a big part of bodybuilding to see progress and also Pride, being one of the largest guys in the gym now losing almost 15ks in a few months is hard to overcome and watch myself shrink but im doing it for God because he is more important than my own ego and self pride. I just feel like I am losing my whole identity as everyone knows me for being big, I know it's sounds silly and Egotistical but naturally I just put on lots of muscle when I started going to gym and it just became who I was, I think maybe God is trying to separate that Identity from me because now my identity is in Christ. Don't get me wrong I love and thank God for what he is doing in my life but it's just scary watching yourself almost wither away, one because I was being gluttonous to keep the muscle on put on more so I have stopped eating copious amounts of food just for my Image. I guess I am answering my own question, If I am to go to the gym how would I do it unto the Lord? listening to the gospel or worship music? or if I see and opportunity to minister to someone?
 
blue_ladybug

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
#12
Feb 21, 2014
70,869
9,601
113
#12
Here's a tip from a lady who likes naturally well-built muscles: all the bodybuilders I've seen on TV, had abnormally large, grotesque muscles due to a combo of steroids and going wayyyy overboard on building them up. This is just truly gross:


bad.jpg



but these 2 dudes look good.. :)


good.jpg
 
blue_ladybug

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
#13
Feb 21, 2014
70,869
9,601
113
#13
See how the 2 guys' muscles are well built but look natural? That other guy's muscles look built up with steroids and they look grossly over-sized and too over chiseled..blech..
 
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