What If Gaining Weight Wasn’t the Worst Thing?

 

Hey friend—real talk before we dive in.

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The Fear of Weight Gain: A Conversation Worth Having

Let me take you back to a convo I had with a client—we’ll call her Sarah.

She whispered to me during one of our very first calls,

“I know I’m probably not eating enough, but… I’m scared. What if I gain weight and just totally lose control?”

Whew. That one hit deep.

Because I hear this all. the. time.
For so many of the women I work with—especially those who’ve spent years tangled in restrictive eating or chronic dieting—the fear of weight gain feels like the ultimate failure.

But what if I told you that it’s not?

In fact...
What if gaining a little weight is actually one of the best signs your body is healing?

Stick with me, because in this post, we’re going to unpack why gaining weight in recovery is not the enemy—and how it might be exactly what your body (and soul) needs to finally find freedom.

Why Gaining Weight in Recovery Might Be the Healthiest Thing You Do

📱 Your Body in Low Power Mode

Let’s use a little analogy, shall we?

Think of your body like your phone in low power mode.
Sure, it technically works, but it’s not exactly thriving. Your apps are frozen, the screen is dim, and eventually... it’s gonna shut down.

Your body does the same thing when it’s undernourished—regardless of your current weight.

It starts conserving energy by shutting down non-essential functions like:

• Digestion
  
  
• Hormone regulation
  
  
• Your menstrual cycle (yes, your period matters)
  
  

And being undernourished or underweight (even just a little) can increase your risk of:

• Irregular or missing periods
  
  
• Infertility or early menopause
  
  
• Osteoporosis
  
  
• Anemia
  
  
• Depression
  
  

☝️ These aren’t just annoying side effects—they’re red flag warning signs. If your period is missing, if you’re always cold or tired, if your brain feels foggy and you can’t stop thinking about food 24/7… friend, your body might be asking for more.

More nourishment.
More compassion.
And yes—maybe even more weight.

How to Know if Gaining Weight Could Be Necessary for You

Let’s call it what it is: not eating enough can sneak up on you. Sometimes we don’t realize how much we’ve normalized feeling like junk.

Here are a few signs you might be underweight, malnourished, or have too little essential fat:

• Irregular or absent period
  
  
• Feeling tired all. the. time.
  
  
• Trouble sleeping or focusing
  
  
• Hair loss or brittle nails
  
  
• Feeling cold constantly
  
  
• Wounds that take forever to heal
  
  
• Getting sick a lot
  
  
• Obsessive thoughts about food, your body, or eating “perfectly”
  
  

🧠 A Quick Research Check:

Evidence-based research shows that essential body fat is crucial for:

• Hormone regulation
  
  
• Vitamin absorption
  
  
• Immune function
  
  

And when your body fat dips too low (especially for women), these systems can’t function properly. They literally can’t do their job.

So instead of seeing weight gain as a setback…
Start seeing it as a strategic step toward healing.

What Gaining Weight Doesn’t Mean

Let’s clear something up real quick—because diet culture has lied to us on this one.

Gaining weight does not mean:

❌ You’re lazy
❌ You’re out of control
❌ You’ve “let yourself go”
❌ You’re failing your faith

In fact…
It takes a ton of courage, intention, and trust to let your body change on purpose.

💬 One of my favorite reminders:

“Your weight is not a spiritual barometer. Your discipline is not measured by the size of your jeans.”

Yes, I said it. Go back and read it again if you need to.

Your worth? Fixed.
Your identity? Secure in Christ.
Your healing? Not dependent on a number on a scale.

Try flipping the script:

This isn’t failure—it might just be freedom.

How to Fight Back Against the Fear of Weight Gain

Fear is real. But it doesn’t get to call the shots.

Let’s talk about a few practical ways to fight back:

📖 1. Focus on Truth Over Feelings

Feelings are valid—but they’re not facts.
Lean into Scripture and speak truth over what you feel in the moment.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…” (Proverbs 3:5–6)

When the fear creeps in, remind yourself:
Your healing is holy work, and it’s worth the discomfort.

🩷 2. Practice Body Gratitude

Ask yourself: What has my body done for me today?
Start a running list. This could be as simple as:

• Got me out of bed
  
  
• Let me hug my kids
  
  
• Helped me walk the dog
  
  

Your body is not your enemy. It’s your home.

🛑 3. Stay Off the Scale

Please—for the love of all that is good—stop weighing yourself every morning. 🙃

Micromanaging your healing by fixating on a number is like checking your bank account every 3 minutes and wondering why you feel anxious.

Your body is meant to fluctuate. It’s normal.
And you were never meant to micromanage your recovery.

For a deeper dive on this, check out:

🎧 Episode 80 — How Do I Overcome The Fear of Weight Gain?
🎧 Episode 132 — Terrified of Weight Gain? How to Move Toward Food Freedom In Spite of Your Fear

Let’s Wrap This Up

Here’s your permission slip, friend:

Gaining weight in recovery is not the end of the world.
It might actually be the beginning of your healing.

Your body needs enough fuel, enough fat, and enough grace to function the way God designed it to.

So if you're stuck in cycles of fatigue, anxiety, and shame…
Know this: You are not broken.
But your body might be asking for more.

And sometimes, more starts with trusting that healing means letting go of control.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

💌 Want some extra help navigating recovery without letting fear of weight gain hold you hostage?

Here are 2 ways to go deeper today:

👉🏼 Grab my free private podcast — The Joy-Filled Eater PRIVATE Podcast It’s packed with bite-sized, truth-filled encouragement to kickstart your Christ-centered food freedom journey.

👯‍♀️ Come hang with us inside The Joy-Filled Eater LIVE
Doors are open, and I would love to support you through this next season of healing with biblical truth, community, and real-life tools.

You don’t have to fear freedom.
You were made for it.

So go ahead, friend. Nourish your body. Chase joy.
And most of all—keep choosing freedom.

💛 With grace & freedom,

Brittany Braswell, MS, RDN, LD

Registered Dietitian & Food Freedom Coach