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You Are Not What You Weigh: End Your War With Food and Discover Your True Value
It is time for women to stop measuring themselves by the numbers on the scale! How many women out there are tired of the tyranny of dieting? Millions! With candor and a gentle spirit, Lisa Bevere shares powerful insights and liberating principles she discovered through her own personal struggles with weight. This life-changing book will empower women • Learn how to identify and maintain an ideal weight• Discover riveting truths from God’s Word that will deliver them from the lies of the world• Trade their self-consciousness for a deeper consciousness of God• Break free from the destructive cycle of dieting This book also features inspiring testimonies since the original publishing in August 1999.
192 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1998
72 people are currently reading
445 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Bevere
102 books730 followersLisa Bevere is a Christian author of the books Lioness Arising, Nurture, Fight Like a Girl, Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry, Out of Control and Loving It! Be Angry but Don't Blow It! The True Measure of a Woman, and You Are Not What You Weigh.
In addition to speaking at national and international conferences, she is a frequent guest on Christian television and radio shows. Lisa is also the cohost of the weekly television program The Messenger, which broadcasts to 214 nations. She and her husband, John Bevere, also a best-selling author, make their home in Colorado with their four sons Addison, Austin, Alec, and Arden.
In addition to speaking at national and international conferences, she is a frequent guest on Christian television and radio shows. Lisa is also the cohost of the weekly television program The Messenger, which broadcasts to 214 nations. She and her husband, John Bevere, also a best-selling author, make their home in Colorado with their four sons Addison, Austin, Alec, and Arden.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 8, 2023
This book literally changed my life. It opened my eyes and brought me to repentance. I am so thankful for Lisa and the fact that she opened up about her journey and blessed us with this book. And I am so thankful to God for not letting me get dizzy in my own circle of madness anymore. I now end this book as a different version, a version where my *self* is no longer the center so that God can take the spotlight. I wish to from now on live my life in the light of His truth and who He says that I am.
May 19, 2018
Where has this book been my entire life? Best book about weight I’ve ever read! I feel so free after finishing this book and plan to read again and again to let the truths Lisa shares really sink into my brain. I have so many years of telling myself lies and letting the scale rule my mood and in some ways my life, that I really need to reinforce these truths to myself. It is a quick read that is hard to put down. Please if you have ever struggled with dieting and weight issues, read this book!
January 6, 2025
Best book I’ve read on eating disorders and the madness of our culture’s value on appearance. A surprise gem!
January 12, 2025
I will stand by what I am saying forever… every woman should read this book!
We are created in the image of God, and we were created for a mighty purpose. A purpose far greater than being accepted by the way we look.
We are created in the image of God, and we were created for a mighty purpose. A purpose far greater than being accepted by the way we look.
April 25, 2021
Such a freeing book
December 2, 2021
This review turned out so much longer than I intended. Once I got going, I just couldn't stop. If you don't want to read it all, I don't blame you. So, I'll start by saying that I highly recommend this book to anyone who struggles with their weight and dieting. Will it be easy to read? That probably depends on the condition of your heart. My heart, as you'll see, was quite hard on the subject.
I know I've read Lisa Bevere's book at least four times. I know I've borrowed it once, checked it out at the library once, and purchased it at least twice.
The very first time I read it was about 20 years ago. A friend's mother recommended it when she looked me over after my remark that I needed to lose about 5 more pounds to reach my goal weight (I had lost over 100 pounds following a diet and exercise plan and really didn't need to lose more weight). I hadn't heard of Lisa or her book, so she loaned me her copy. I could relate way too well to Lisa's struggles. I sobbed all the way through it, but I was so angry over the Truth in it that I threw it across the room. Here I sat, having lost a significant amount of weight, and rather than being able to celebrate, all I could hear in the book was that I was a slave still. See, I thought the weight and food were the enemy and I felt like I had "conquered" those. How dare she tell me I'm still in bondage! At the time, I thought I knew better and quite honestly, I didn't believe I could "eat like a normal person" and not be obese. I told God that I had never met anyone who had done what Lisa did, lost a significant amount of weight, and kept it off, so I dismissed it.
I would end up meeting two women during the next five years who had done just that. I didn't know this was their story because they looked "naturally thin". They each noticed my battle (when I met them both I had put back on all the weight) and had said they were also obese at one time. I said, "yeah, right", to which they provided photos that made my jaw drop. Still, I refused to believe it would work for me even though the title of this book would echo through my mind over and over for decades.
In 2006, God was confronting me regarding my deep seeded anger. When yet again I reached a critical mass frustration point with battling my weight and food, I purchased Lisa's book along with some "intuitive eating" books. I was apparently still too angry to receive the truth. I didn't throw it this time, but I thought, "That's all well and good for Lisa (and those two other people I met), but I can't do it. I need a diet to keep me in check." I decided to do a fast though, but for all the wrong reasons. I was stuck in the "feast or famine" cycle and couldn't get out.
I don't know what happened to that copy of the book. I probably donated it. My habits continued. In 2009, in desperation, I joined Weight Watchers and 18 months later had lost almost 80 pounds. I was still about 20 or so heavier than I was when I first read Lisa's book, but I was ok with it. I felt at peace with food and my weight for the first time in my life. I began to believe that I could "eat like a normal person" as long as I had the points as a boundary line. Unfortunately, I didn't actually face all of the reasons I overate or learn to rely on the Lord because I relied so heavily on that program to keep me in check. It was my "savior". That realization makes me feel sick. Well, as anyone who has any significant experience with that diet program, they changed how they calculated the points right before the holidays in 2010... I found this to be evil. Having to learn a new program in the midst of the Holiday season was torture. Suddenly, what hadn't felt like a diet, felt extremely restrictive to me (triggering bingeing). My anger flared again, but this time, I was angry at WW for letting me down. I should have known better, false gods always disappoint.
It took a bit longer for my habits to return, but return they did - with a vengeance. Once again, tried diet after diet. I think it was 2015 when I checked out Lisa's book from the library, again, along with some books on "intuitive eating". I fasted, and felt good about trying intuitive eating afterward. I mean, my cravings were gone. I'm sure you're seeing what was missing. I was still turning to a "diet program", even if it was supposed to be more "body led". Well, I gained 40 pounds trying to "listen to my hunger and fullness cues". Clearly, my flesh wasn't reliable, but why would it be? I mean, I hadn't really surrendered it to the Lord.
No matter what I did, I could not get the title of Lisa's book out of my head... "You are not what you weigh"... It played over and over. Then, God took it a step further for me. In the summer of 2018, I would end up on a flight with Lisa Bevere... yep, I got to meet her. We even chatted for a bit about books and Colorado. The darling woman even gave up her seat so my husband and I could sit together.
Fast forward to the present after more dieting, more bingeing, more "fasting", more frustration, more health issues, more weight. I felt the Lord pricking my heart, asking me to just surrender. I purchased Lisa's book again on October 15th, but I didn't purchase any diet books this time. I've been reading through it again - more slowly than in the past.
Last week, I had decided to begin a period fasting and prayer today, but last night I felt extreme resistance to it. My flesh argued that "fasting" had never helped in the past. It screamed for me to just return to an old diet instead. It screamed that I shouldn't have to fast, God should just fix me already. It screamed, "It isn't fair!" It screamed, "I can't want to!" It screamed that denying myself food is just dieting anyway, so why not do something where I can actually eat. There were much worse things it screamed at me, but you get the picture. The spiritual oppression was palpable on so many fronts. I went for a short walk with the husband last night and every bone in my body hurt. By the time I went to bed, I had decided against prayer and fasting. I decided prayer and counting calories sounded more appealing. Like an addict getting a fix, my flesh's ranting ceased.
This morning, when the alarm went off, I didn't want to get up... at all. I ached. Still, I heard a whisper in my spirit say, "Go for a walk". So, I did. It was painful. Tying my shoes was painful. Every step of the walk was painful. It was only a very slow mile and when I got back, I decided to stretch. This too hurt. When I tried to get up off the floor, I just crumpled. I sat there and gave up. Then the whisper came again, "This is what comes with *your* plan. You always end up right back here. This isn't what I desire for you. Please surrender."
All I had was a whimper of a thought, "What if I fail again?"
He said, "If you keep trusting in yourself, you will. I, however, never fail. Now, get up."
It hurt to get up, but I felt stronger somehow. I hadn't gone to the store yesterday like I had planned, but I did have five pounds of carrots in the fridge. I juiced them and set the juice in the fridge. I spent some time in God's Word, and then I finished reading Lisa's book (again, lol).
I'm chuckling because the timing of finishing the book was perfect and reaffirmed what God whispered to me this morning. Lisa said, "We are not to measure what God can do with and through us by what we have done. We are not the focus; the possibility of our new image is not based on us - but on victory Christ has already won. It does not matter how many times you may have tried and failed; it is not about you and your ability."
I feel at peace. I still don't know what walking with God in this area of my life looks like, but I'm excited for Him to show me.
I know I've read Lisa Bevere's book at least four times. I know I've borrowed it once, checked it out at the library once, and purchased it at least twice.
The very first time I read it was about 20 years ago. A friend's mother recommended it when she looked me over after my remark that I needed to lose about 5 more pounds to reach my goal weight (I had lost over 100 pounds following a diet and exercise plan and really didn't need to lose more weight). I hadn't heard of Lisa or her book, so she loaned me her copy. I could relate way too well to Lisa's struggles. I sobbed all the way through it, but I was so angry over the Truth in it that I threw it across the room. Here I sat, having lost a significant amount of weight, and rather than being able to celebrate, all I could hear in the book was that I was a slave still. See, I thought the weight and food were the enemy and I felt like I had "conquered" those. How dare she tell me I'm still in bondage! At the time, I thought I knew better and quite honestly, I didn't believe I could "eat like a normal person" and not be obese. I told God that I had never met anyone who had done what Lisa did, lost a significant amount of weight, and kept it off, so I dismissed it.
I would end up meeting two women during the next five years who had done just that. I didn't know this was their story because they looked "naturally thin". They each noticed my battle (when I met them both I had put back on all the weight) and had said they were also obese at one time. I said, "yeah, right", to which they provided photos that made my jaw drop. Still, I refused to believe it would work for me even though the title of this book would echo through my mind over and over for decades.
In 2006, God was confronting me regarding my deep seeded anger. When yet again I reached a critical mass frustration point with battling my weight and food, I purchased Lisa's book along with some "intuitive eating" books. I was apparently still too angry to receive the truth. I didn't throw it this time, but I thought, "That's all well and good for Lisa (and those two other people I met), but I can't do it. I need a diet to keep me in check." I decided to do a fast though, but for all the wrong reasons. I was stuck in the "feast or famine" cycle and couldn't get out.
I don't know what happened to that copy of the book. I probably donated it. My habits continued. In 2009, in desperation, I joined Weight Watchers and 18 months later had lost almost 80 pounds. I was still about 20 or so heavier than I was when I first read Lisa's book, but I was ok with it. I felt at peace with food and my weight for the first time in my life. I began to believe that I could "eat like a normal person" as long as I had the points as a boundary line. Unfortunately, I didn't actually face all of the reasons I overate or learn to rely on the Lord because I relied so heavily on that program to keep me in check. It was my "savior". That realization makes me feel sick. Well, as anyone who has any significant experience with that diet program, they changed how they calculated the points right before the holidays in 2010... I found this to be evil. Having to learn a new program in the midst of the Holiday season was torture. Suddenly, what hadn't felt like a diet, felt extremely restrictive to me (triggering bingeing). My anger flared again, but this time, I was angry at WW for letting me down. I should have known better, false gods always disappoint.
It took a bit longer for my habits to return, but return they did - with a vengeance. Once again, tried diet after diet. I think it was 2015 when I checked out Lisa's book from the library, again, along with some books on "intuitive eating". I fasted, and felt good about trying intuitive eating afterward. I mean, my cravings were gone. I'm sure you're seeing what was missing. I was still turning to a "diet program", even if it was supposed to be more "body led". Well, I gained 40 pounds trying to "listen to my hunger and fullness cues". Clearly, my flesh wasn't reliable, but why would it be? I mean, I hadn't really surrendered it to the Lord.
No matter what I did, I could not get the title of Lisa's book out of my head... "You are not what you weigh"... It played over and over. Then, God took it a step further for me. In the summer of 2018, I would end up on a flight with Lisa Bevere... yep, I got to meet her. We even chatted for a bit about books and Colorado. The darling woman even gave up her seat so my husband and I could sit together.
Fast forward to the present after more dieting, more bingeing, more "fasting", more frustration, more health issues, more weight. I felt the Lord pricking my heart, asking me to just surrender. I purchased Lisa's book again on October 15th, but I didn't purchase any diet books this time. I've been reading through it again - more slowly than in the past.
Last week, I had decided to begin a period fasting and prayer today, but last night I felt extreme resistance to it. My flesh argued that "fasting" had never helped in the past. It screamed for me to just return to an old diet instead. It screamed that I shouldn't have to fast, God should just fix me already. It screamed, "It isn't fair!" It screamed, "I can't want to!" It screamed that denying myself food is just dieting anyway, so why not do something where I can actually eat. There were much worse things it screamed at me, but you get the picture. The spiritual oppression was palpable on so many fronts. I went for a short walk with the husband last night and every bone in my body hurt. By the time I went to bed, I had decided against prayer and fasting. I decided prayer and counting calories sounded more appealing. Like an addict getting a fix, my flesh's ranting ceased.
This morning, when the alarm went off, I didn't want to get up... at all. I ached. Still, I heard a whisper in my spirit say, "Go for a walk". So, I did. It was painful. Tying my shoes was painful. Every step of the walk was painful. It was only a very slow mile and when I got back, I decided to stretch. This too hurt. When I tried to get up off the floor, I just crumpled. I sat there and gave up. Then the whisper came again, "This is what comes with *your* plan. You always end up right back here. This isn't what I desire for you. Please surrender."
All I had was a whimper of a thought, "What if I fail again?"
He said, "If you keep trusting in yourself, you will. I, however, never fail. Now, get up."
It hurt to get up, but I felt stronger somehow. I hadn't gone to the store yesterday like I had planned, but I did have five pounds of carrots in the fridge. I juiced them and set the juice in the fridge. I spent some time in God's Word, and then I finished reading Lisa's book (again, lol).
I'm chuckling because the timing of finishing the book was perfect and reaffirmed what God whispered to me this morning. Lisa said, "We are not to measure what God can do with and through us by what we have done. We are not the focus; the possibility of our new image is not based on us - but on victory Christ has already won. It does not matter how many times you may have tried and failed; it is not about you and your ability."
I feel at peace. I still don't know what walking with God in this area of my life looks like, but I'm excited for Him to show me.
July 12, 2017
powerful and liberating. moreso than I expected.
June 21, 2019
Refused to even finish this book. I am surprised because I usually love any book in the 248’s at the library. Not a fan. Moving on...
April 28, 2022
Aaaammmaaazzziiinnnggg!!!!
January 25, 2025
A must read for anyone who has struggled with body image. I wish I had read this years ago! Thank the Lord for the resource. God bless you, Lisa.
June 20, 2011
FABULOUS!!!! I finished this in one evening because it just did not want to be put down. If you've struggled with being under- or over-weight, have body image issues, are concerned about your daughter's body image, if you tend toward destructive self-talk or just need to feel like you've had a real private heart-to-heart with a friend who understands, this is definitely worth a read. There are workbook pages as well to help you walk through matters step by step, and a kind of credo to copy and keep in front of you.
Is this a diet book? Absolutely not. This is Lisa at her best, speaking from her heart to yours, sharing her experiences, encouraging, uplifting, and pointing the way to the ONE who has the real answers you need to hear.
Is this a diet book? Absolutely not. This is Lisa at her best, speaking from her heart to yours, sharing her experiences, encouraging, uplifting, and pointing the way to the ONE who has the real answers you need to hear.
May 28, 2007
Although God rescued my body from eating disorders while I was in college, my mind was still stuck in that way of thinking.
This book made me so stinkin' mad at the beginning... I wrote my angry comments in the book (no, you can't borrow my copy!). But I stuck with it and it was such a tool for God to point out how my mind needed to be renewed... and it opened up a whole new world for me!
This book made me so stinkin' mad at the beginning... I wrote my angry comments in the book (no, you can't borrow my copy!). But I stuck with it and it was such a tool for God to point out how my mind needed to be renewed... and it opened up a whole new world for me!
February 4, 2009
In this book Bevere shares her personal struggles with weight and how she overcame it all by trusting in God and relying on His strength.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has issues with food or weight-- even if it's just that you obsess about losing a few more pounds, are a chronic dieter, or if you base how you feel on how you look.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has issues with food or weight-- even if it's just that you obsess about losing a few more pounds, are a chronic dieter, or if you base how you feel on how you look.
October 26, 2008
This is a must read for every person I know. Lisa states clearly the truth about how our thinking and attitudes about our bodies have enslaved us.
Thank you, Lisa, for writing this work. I'm buying more copies and giving them to a lot of my friends.
Thank you, Lisa, for writing this work. I'm buying more copies and giving them to a lot of my friends.
July 17, 2016
Easy read. Not quite what I was expecting in that it didn't have any practical steps, but I enjoyed the chapters on the difference between dieting and fasting. Putting my relationship with food along with any other relationship in perspective and context of God in the center, makes sense.
December 20, 2016
Okay, I'll admit reading this book was difficult. I think it was because I felt like she was in my head. I am now looking at myself differently. I am starting a Juice Cleanse, which she recommends right after Christmas.
July 3, 2008
Great book for any woman who has issues with her body (and who doesn't). The first of her books that I've read and now I own most of them.
April 30, 2012
Loved this book so helpful and encouaging
April 24, 2013
Good book that deals with self-image in a culture that is overly consumer with it. Does a nice job of pointing the reader back to God and his Word.
January 6, 2015
This book is awesome ,
March 19, 2016
Really helpful. Great book.
September 1, 2009
One of my favorite books! Have read it twice!
August 27, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews