Where is the Line Between Health and Vanity?

(This is a guest post from my wife, Sarah. You can learn more about her at the bottom of the post)

There is a thin line between health and vanity. I personally have struggled with going back and fourth between the two. After finishing my college volleyball career, I realized I had no competitive reason to keep my diet and sleep intact, and so I thought the only reason left to workout was to look a certain way.

One of my first experiences of vanity was in my career as a personal trainer. Mirrors lined the walls and many beautiful, fit, women were coming in to workout. Despite their outward beauty, I found most of these women were deeply insecure. They were always looking to perfect something else with a new hair style, a stricter diet and sometimes a new surgery or non-invasive beauty treatment. They were beacons of health and beauty, yet there was an unhealthy amount of dissatisfaction stirring in them. 

As I observed this behavior, I realized the same thoughts and behaviors starting to creep into my own head. I was training 4-5 days a week and eating what I thought was healthy at the time, my personal training job and loving my new husband and his career. So what could possibly be a complaint? Well maybe I had a little too much fat still left on my thighs, my hair wasn’t as shiny or long as some others, If I could just get rid of every inch of fat around my waist. It didn’t completely consume me, but my point is that these thoughts started to creep in more often and more intense. If these beautiful, healthy women are still unsatisfied with themselves, well then why I am I settling for what I have now? 

Eventually the time came when I got pregnant with my first child. I had never dug deep enough into my issue with vanity, and coveting other women's appearances, until this moment came: Within the next few months I lost my normal body, gained a bigger appetite and..well... looked pregnant.  This is an amazing blessing! I was in a healthy weight range and was trying to train consistently through-out (maybe snuck in some mac n cheese every now and then). Yet, I was really unsatisfied with how I looked, especially to others. 

I realized after my daughter was born, that I was dealing with a deep idol in my heart. I have said it myself, and hear others say all the time, “I’m so scared for my body to change when I get pregnant!” Why is this? Because we will lose part of our identity. 

The miracle of our bodies is that we can have children, and with a healthy consistent diet and exercise we return to good health over time. That's normal. But if our Identity is in our bodily appearance, satisfaction is a long way off.

What if you choose Comfort over Health?

If you’re on the other side of this spectrum, you may think all health and wellness equals vanity. You won’t put effort into something that has no value to you now or eternally. I challenge you to dig a little deeper into why you haven’t put any effort into the health and wellness for you and even your family's health. Are you afraid of the effort it might take to change your lifestyle? Do you hold a moment of pleasure while eating or relaxing, higher than the wellness of your body? That is something you'd need to ask yourself. Perhaps health is written off because it's not eternal, yet we still sink our teeth into some delicious food that is hurting our bodies. The taste of that food is not eternal either. What's important is not what we're doing, but what bring's God the most glory. Is God glorified in my enjoying that pie? Maybe. But is he glorified in me having  a healthy view of my body and wellness? Most certainly.

As a christian, everything I do is either an act of worship to my God, or to something else. When I knowingly sacrifice my well-being either to the idol of “looking beautiful, no matter the consequence,” or to the idol of “comfort, ease and momentary satisfaction,” I am turning the worship from God onto me or another pleasure. This is a daily struggle! 

I leave you with this: 

1. If you compare your body to other bodies, you will never be satisfied. I am telling you, the most beautiful people in the world can still compare themselves with someone out there who is “better.” Start by making your identity about something more than your physical appearance.

2. Put effort into knowing what you are eating. Try and research the short term and long term effects of what you are eating. You only taste that food in your mouth for a short time, but the effects externally and internally can last a lifetime.

3. Eat and exercise to enjoy life! Fueling your body with natural, real foods gives you energy, makes you feel and look younger! If you turn from vanity and the urge to covet others, you may find your spirit and body wanting health and wellness without the negative consequences. 

Sarah Williams is from Kent, Washington and is a wife and mother of three. She played volleyball at the University of Idaho and was a 1st team All-WAC selection in 2009, and a 4-time academic All-American. Most importantly, she is a follower of Jesus. She has lead bible studies, community groups and has served in the church since childhood. She currently resides in San Francisco with her husband and three children where she coaches and plays tons of volleyball.