"Healthy Yums with Madi" - And Why the Name is Changing

 

The End of an Era

Ever since I started blogging about my healthy eating or "diet" per say, I have been using the title The Skinny Café. Being the basic chick that I am, this name came from a Facebook post I made two years ago about my own version of a "skinny" Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte and wanting to start my own little "Skinny Café" where ideas like these could flourish and be shared with others. This post had so much positive feedback that I decided to go for it! I might not have been able to start my own physical café, but I could create an online platform that shared my recipes and ideas. And so begun The Skinny Café journey!

However, I must be honest, there have been many times where I feel that the name doesn't do justice to what I truly want to share via this blog, and can be misleading as to my goals for myself and others. Recently, I have come to terms with my goals in regards to my diet, my body image, and even my spirituality. I have decided to change the name of my blog from The Skinny Café to "Healthy Yums with Madi", or "Healthy Yums" for short, and here's why.

Health and Wellness > Body Image

For as long as I can remember, I struggled with accepting my body as is. Regardless of my weight, the image in the mirror, or what I heard from others, these constant pressing words flood my mind: "not good enough". Although I wouldn't escalate these feelings to that of an eating disorder, they most definitely consumed me (no pun intended). My favorite verse to look to during these emotional moments was (and is) always Psalm 139:14:

For you formed my inward parts; 
 you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 

 

If God designed me in his image, I don't need to force myself into other image than his own. If I look
upon myself with dislike or disgust, am I not ridiculing His creation and design which is by definition, flawless? The same God that made the ocean, the mountains, and all the wonders of the earth also made me and you.

This is not to say that we should give up on "dieting", but rather should focus on health and wellness instead of trying to attain this concept "skinny" not designed by God, but conjured by society's ever-changing and unattainable standards. Society's "perfect image" will always change, but God will never change, nor leave us or forsake us.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

 

1 Corinthians 6:19 (above) along with Psalm 139:14 is why I have changed the name of this blog. Our bodies are temples - not to be molded to the world, but to be molded by God and for God. Our bodies are to be loved, respected, and cared for. 

A Physical and Spiritual Journey

Recently, I have joined an incredible group of women and men who take time out of their day at work to fellowship with other believers and focus entirely on God's word. During this study, a question was raised about what we prioritize over God without even realizing it. What is it that keeps us from spending time in his Word, loving Him to our best ability, and fully surrendering ourselves to Him?

Although I had heard this so many times throughout my years, for the first time a new idol showed its face to me and caused me to dive deep into self-reflection. That idol was my dieting - my desire to eat for the purpose of body image and obtaining worldly standards. Not only have I been denying that He made me in His flawless image, but I have spent countless hours researching diets and weight-loss tips. This is time that should have been devotional. Time that should have been His.

Let me be clear - I am not in any way giving up my healthy and low calorie/fat/carb/other way of cooking or sharing these recipes with others! I want to keep doing this, as it's become a side-passion of mine over the years and I've received very supportive and positive feedback. However, the focus is no longer on being or becoming this abstract concept of "skinny", but learning to eat for self-improvement, health maintenance, and wellness (and in doing so will cause you to lose weight if that is your goal!).

I hope that this seemingly simple change is not only accepted, but understood among my supporters. Thank you all in advance for your love and support!