Cravings, Cortisol and Satan's Counterfeit Comfort

Galatians 5:16-18” So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.LET’S TALK ABOUT THE HORMONE REALITY FOR WOMEN 40+Hormone #1 — Cortisol- Your stress hormone. Women over 40 produce more of it and clear it more slowly. High cortisol increases:  ✔ belly fat ✔ cravings for sugar ✔ emotional reactivity ✔ nighttime overeatingHormone #2 — Insulin-  Insulin resistance becomes more common after 40. Which means: ✔ more hunger ✔ more energy crashes ✔ more “why do I want sugar at 3pm every day?”Hormone #3 — Estrogen Decline- Lower estrogen impacts: ✔ serotonin (your feel-good hormone) ✔ motivation ✔ satisfaction after eatingHERE IS A SPIRITUAL + HORMONAL SOLUTION:1. Interrupt the spiritual moment - When cravings hit, ask: “What am I really needing right now?”  Peace?  Rest? Affection?  Relief? 2. Stabilize your hormones with structure. • Eat every 3–4 hours • Include protein + fiber-filled carb + healthy fat • Drink 16-20 ounces of water every afternoon- ½ your weight in ounces total each day • Stop fasting too long- intermittent fasting can be beneficial for some as long as you’re meeting your macros • Don’t skip meals thinking it will help (it spikes cravings later)3. Create a spiritual replacement habit-Pause. Pray. Plan Lord, show me the places where cravings have become comfort. Search me God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive wayt in me an dlead me in the way everlasting. Thank you for that Psalm Father, let it be the anthem of my life. LEad me to daily repentance Jesus, change me, change my unhealthy habits. Realign my relationship with my body, help me rest her, love her, fuel her and speak LIFE to her. Teach me to see the trap, the trigger, and the truth. Thank Your for thoughtful reminders of Your faithfulness. Help my hormones stabilize, my mind settle, and my spirit strengthen through Your Holy Spirit inside me. Thank You for answered prayer, Amen.Are you sick of trying diet after diet and NOT losing weight?Hey there friend, I'm Lindy Schlabach, Christian Fitness & Nutrition Coach. I gained 100 pounds in my late twenties and struggled for years to get it off. Seven years ago, I found a basic system that worked and has helped me lose 90 of those pounds. I’ve been working with women in online fitness and nutrition ever since to break chains of diet culture, embrace their bodies and fueling instead of dieting.  In this podcast, I'll teach you how to:• Lose Weight in a Way that honors God without obsessing about the scale• Meal Plan and Prep for Your Family• Follow a MACRO based plan that allows you to eat the foods you love.• Recognize and pray through triggers keeping you stuck.• I’ll help you Plan your week and schedule your self-care time.• Cultivate a spirit of self-discipline in your workouts you actually enjoy. It's time to give God your health journey and watch Him make you new, from the inside, OUT.Join The Biblical Weight Loss Framework: https://www.herweightlossmindset.com/frameworkJoin my FREE Community: https://bit.ly/JoinTheChristianWeightLossCommunityJoin my Insiders List with weekly tips for weight loss for Christian women: http://herweightlossmindset.com/herweightlossmindsetinsiders