When Healthy Eating Becomes an Obsession: My Story of Orthorexia

My Story With Orthorexia: How God Led Me From Perfection to Peace

If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly chasing “healthy enough” but never quite arriving… this one’s for you. Today I’m sharing a deeply personal part of my story — one I don’t talk about often — because I know so many Christian women quietly carry the same weight. This is the story of my battle with orthorexia, the idol of perfection, and the freedom God brought when I finally surrendered control.

Growing up in the 2000s meant being bombarded with “fat-burning tricks,” “skinny secrets,” and endless messages that your worth was measured by the size of your jeans. I chased every trend — calorie tracking, “clean eating,” compulsive workouts — believing smaller meant better. What started as “healthy” turned into obsession. Before long, I was trapped in a cycle of rules, restriction, shame, and striving.

And the truth? It stole a decade of my peace.

It wasn’t until I became a mom, rocking my little girl in her nursery, that God brought clarity: I never want her to think about her body the way I have thought about mine. That moment became the turning point — not toward perfect health, but toward grace-filled healing.

Scripture makes it clear: God never asked us to chase a perfect body. He invites us into rest, surrender, and a life centered on Him — not calories, measurements, or the approval of others. Philippians 3:10, Matthew 11:28–30, and Romans 12:2 remind us that our purpose is spiritual growth, not body perfection.

Healing for me looked like deleting MyFitnessPal, unfollowing triggering accounts, stepping away from the scale, and replacing obsessive thoughts with Scripture and gratitude. Over time, God rebuilt my mind. I no longer know the calories in a half cup of rice — and that’s freedom. Now I understand food as fuel, not morality. Nourishment, not punishment.

And friend, that freedom is possible for you too.

Imagine eating without anxiety. Moving your body with joy, not guilt. Finding your worth in Christ instead of a number. This is the life grace makes possible — a life where peace replaces perfection and health becomes a tool for living fully, not an idol that rules you.

If you take one thing from this story, let it be this: Freedom is found in grace, not perfection. God never asked you to perform your way into His love — just to walk with Him.

If this message resonated with you, share it with a friend who needs the reminder that she’s not alone. And be sure to subscribe to the Heart • Body • Mind Podcast so you don’t miss next week’s episode: “Your Body Isn’t the Enemy — Diet Culture Is.”