While this is no-doubt well-intended, it is also full of erroneous assumptions.
To begin with -- I believe that Rachel's statement was intended - at least partially - as a light-hearted 'comical' expression of her interest in reaching a goal of "toning" her body for both health and appearance:
And then, in her next statement, she basically presupposes everything you said in your post:
She even anticipates - in general - what your answer will be.
So - you didn't actually tell her anything that she didn't already understand - and agree to - beforehand.
Now - I will totally agree with the idea that doing anything strictly for vanity-based reasons is certainly less-than-good. However, working at being more healthy is
never a bad thing. Moreover, I would suggest that working at having a "healthier" appearance is never a bad thing - as long as it is not strictly for vanity-based reasons.
Never chide anyone for wanting to be more healthy, or wanting to attain a "healthier" appearance.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with either one.
And, the "gym bunnies" part of her statement is not about her idolizing the appearance of others; rather, it is about her attaining to a goal that pertains to her own appearance. ( The way I took it, at least. I believe her comparison to "gym bunnies" was intended - at least for the most part - as humor -- rather than her being in any form of actual competition with them. And, if I know Rachel well enough -- she is not in the slightest interested in such as that. )
It is a well-known indisputable proven fact that "extra weight" is less healthy. And, the more "extra weight" you have, the less healthy it is. So - "just a little" extra weight is "just a little" less-than-healthy while "a whole lot" of extra weight is "a whole lot" less-than-healthy. Period - no two ways about it.
Anyone who refuses to believe this obvious proven truth is only deluding themselves.
The God-given natural 'design' - as He actually
intended it - may be generally referred to as "fit and trim" ( male or female ) - or - a 'lean' body with muscles toned.
Did He make allowance for a certain amount of departure from that 'standard'? Sure, He did. Nonetheless, that is the actual 'standard' - that is - His desire for every one of us.
Please don't anyone ask a dumb question like:
"Where is that in the Bible?"
You may find it in every place in the Bible that illustrates what God wants for us concerning our physical body.
It appears to me that Rachel is
not "going against God's design" - but, rather - is, in fact, working towards being in accordance with God's design. She is, in fact, striving to be what God intended her to be.
What if the man God has for her to marry one day is
not one of the men who "like women that aren't too skinny"...?
For that matter -- who said that she is striving to be "too skinny"...???
Now - if she was actually doing so - I would be the first to advise against it -
because it is not healthy.
However -- as long as she does not take it too far - it
is healthy -- and,
I would support her 100% in doing so.
Yes - God has given her a lot of good qualities. Both inside and outside. That is for sure - there is no doubt.
But, the last two sentences in the quote above are 100% pure BS.
She
is, in fact, trying to mold herself into what God absolutely 100%
does intend for
each of us. And,
in no way is she "resisting" God by trying to do that which He intends.
Trying to improve her health and appearance will do nothing but give her more confidence and help her feel better about herself.
(
Not to mention, just plain 'ole [ physically ] "feel better"... )
In my opinion, you have allowed your mind to be overtaken by the modern-day politically-correct "stupid" way of thinking -- with a touch of "Jesus-juking" thrown in...
"Reality has left the building..."
(
borrowing from an Elvis reference )
Leave the girl alone. She is a sweet gal - has a great personality - and, she is doing a good thing for herself. And, while there is nothing "wrong" with her body now, there is nothing "wrong" with her trying to improve upon it -
because, she has determined that she wishes to do so.
Don't tell her that it is
against the will of God for her to do so!
That just may very well be the most ridiculous piece-of-crap thing I have ever seen you write into a post on CC.
It is one thing to encourage people to not let their circumstance-in-life discourage them, take away their dignity, cause them to lose sight of their place in God's plan, etc.
It is another thing altogether to tell people
not to set worthy goals and / or try to improve upon themselves in healthy ways.
That is just plain dumb.