Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. I’m Dr. Andrea Christian Parks, a Christian physician and weight loss coach, and today we’re continuing our discussion on simplifying weight loss. As a physician and coach, I’m passionate about helping people feel better and lose weight without being complicated. Let’s dive into making weight loss simple.

Let’s get to the heart of today’s topic: the one thing you should stop doing to lose weight. So many weight loss programs are complicated, telling you to do this, that, and the other, which can make the process hard to stick to. But it doesn’t have to be that way. I want to share one major thing you can stop doing right now to simplify your weight loss journey.

Alright, what’s the one thing you should stop doing? It’s portion control. Now, I know that might sound surprising because we’ve all been taught that portion control is key to weight loss. But here’s the catch: the traditional way of controlling portions—counting, measuring, and weighing food—is overly complicated and unnecessary.

Portion control is important, but not in the way most diets suggest. The common methods involve counting calories, measuring portions, and weighing food, which can make eating a stressful chore. Instead, the key to effective portion control is tuning into your body’s natural signals, the ones God gave you, to tell you when to stop eating.

There’s a Japanese concept called “Hara Hachi Bu,” which means eating until you are 80% full. This is a simple, intuitive way to manage portions. Aim to stop eating when you’re comfortably full, not stuffed. You should feel light and energetic, not sluggish.

By listening to your body and stopping when you’re comfortably full, you simplify your eating habits. You’ll also find that your body adjusts, and what used to seem like a normal amount of food might actually be more than you need. This adjustment helps you eat less and waste less food.

Many people worry about wasting food, but remember, treating your body like a trash can by forcing yourself to eat more than you need is not honoring God. God calls us to treat our bodies as temples, not trash cans. We should honor our bodies by feeding them appropriately, not by overstuffing them in the name of not wasting food. Over time, you’ll serve yourself less and have less to throw away. But for now, throwing away a little food is better than wearing it on your body!

Let’s remember 1 Corinthians 14:33, which says, “God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” Complicated, chaotic systems are not what God intended for our bodies. For some, these systems might work, but for those who seek peace with food, weight, and body, tuning into your body’s natural signals is the way to go.

So, stop weighing, measuring, and counting your food. Tune into your body’s needs and listen to the signals God has given you. This is how you honor your body and simplify your weight loss journey.

I’m so glad you’re here. If you want personal help from me, visit my website at www.drandreachristianparks.com. I’d be happy to help you on your path to simpler, faith-based weight loss. Have a wonderful week, and enjoy your holiday!