Prayer for weight loss

The Sacred Scriptures present to us that we are made and formed in the image of God. We were given authority to govern all creation: to cultivate it, safeguard it, and nurture it. Not only should we take care of the living things around us, but we should also take charge of our bodies and health. Our body is also a creation of God, both wonderful and good. Our body is the pinnacle of God’s creation.

Developing healthy eating habits, doing some physical exercise, and avoiding harmful vices are ways of taking care of God’s creation, specifically for our bodies. As we strive to develop such habits, it matures into virtue and eventually becomes our second nature. Managing our body weight exudes the virtue of temperance to fend off the mortal sin of gluttony. May in our conscious effort to lose our excess weight elevate our souls towards prayer and celebration of God’s wonderful creation.

Prayer for weight loss

Our heavenly Father,

After You created the whole world, You formed man, out of clay, into Your image. You freely made us to look like You, to bear Your image here on earth. You even gave us authority over all creation, becoming stewards of Your created beings. You have entrusted us with everything, but through sin, we lost everything. You made us in Your image, but we chose to become little ‘gods’ in our little spheres. You shaped us from dirt, but we chose to adorn ourselves in vanity to seek everyone’s attention. You saw the good within us, but we chose to be wrapped in our insatiable desire for vainglory.

I ask for Your forgiveness, Heavenly Father, for the times when I chose my selfishness over my responsibility of taking care of creation, especially of my own body. Grant me the grace that I may have the perseverance to endure the strains of physical exercise, be mindful of my appetite, and avoid vices which are not beneficial for my health. I hope to develop these healthy habits which will nurture and attend to the needs of my body. I pray that they may become virtues and, in time, become second nature to me. May my desire to lose weight be a step towards attaining my ideal weight, be a way of having a healthy appetite, and be a way of honing the virtue of temperance.

I also pray for others, like myself, who desire to lose weight. Grant them the inspiration to begin and the perseverance to continue. In our responsive effort, may others be drawn to begin taking care of their body to become responsible stewards of creation.

Amen. 

Short prayer for exercise motivation

Our Father, source of all inspiration, grant me the grace that I may have the perseverance to endure the strains of physical exercise, to be mindful of my appetite, and to avoid vices which would harm my health. Amen.

The Word of God

“All things are permitted for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are permitted for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 6:12; 19-20 NRSVUE

Prayer to Saint Charles Borromeo for losing weight

Saint Charles Borromeo, I seek your intercession to assist me in my desire to lose excess weight from my body. You were not only known for your humble and selfless service of leadership among the faithful of the plague-stricken country of Milan. Your pastoral zeal to bring Christ closer to those who need it showed your detachment from material possessions. You sold all your belongings only to provide food for the starving people of Milan. Your illustrious background in society and high position in the church never hindered you in attending to the needs of the poor. When everyone left for fear of their lives, you knocked on windows, distributing the Holy Communion to those who are sick.

Saint Charles Borromeo, may I become more detached from the unhealthy cravings of my appetite. May I learn to control my appetite more than it controls me. May I become more aware of my food choices and only take in what is necessary. May I learn to eat a moderate amount, leaving no excess to avoid unnecessary food waste. Ultimately, I desire to develop the heavenly virtue of temperance.

Saint Charles Borromeo, pray for us.

Amen.

Further reflection

How we take care of our bodies reflects our disposition as stewards of God’s creation. For our bodies themselves are made by God, and more importantly, they are patterned in His image. We, humans, are the pinnacle of God’s creation. We are His masterpiece. It was only through sin that we debased ourselves from the grace of God.

Our dignity was eventually redeemed through the mystery of the Incarnation of Christ. God taking the form of man was unthinkable. It is even a scandal for the Gentiles in Jesus’ time. Why would an Omnipotent and Omniscient God want to become a finite and frail human being? Nevertheless, it is part of the salvific plan of God, and it is also an invitation for us to transcend our weakness and strive to attain heavenly virtues.

Controlling our appetite is a step towards developing the heavenly virtue of temperance. Temperance moderates our attraction toward the created goods provided for us by God. Anything consumed or done in excess is harmful to our bodies. Therefore, let us strive with perseverance and charity to lose weight through observing proper eating habits and physical exercise. Let us glorify God together with our healthy bodies. A healthy body is a man fully alive. “Man [who is] fully alive is the glory of God”, as Saint Irenaeus of Lyons would say.