Hannah: Before my journey on Grace and Strength, I had a very unhealthy relationship with food. If I felt happy, I ate. If I felt sad, I ate. If I felt stressed, I ate. For every emotion under the sun I would turn to food as my comfort. Food was something in my life that I felt would never disappoint me. When I quit sports at the end of my junior year in high school to get a job I began to really struggle with my weight. I gained more than the "freshman 15". Since that time I would continuously go through the cycle of gaining and losing weight.

I found Grace and Strength through my sister-in-law and coach, Jillynn. I had watched her go through the program and I saw how it significantly changed her life, not just physically but also spiritually. Ever since I started dating her brother (now my husband) I have seen her as my guide to healthy eating and living. She has always been a great resource for me when it came to a healthy lifestyle and would always challenge me to do better every time we hung out by having something new and healthy to try. God has used this program to show me how much of an idol food had become in my life.

I graduated from college, married my best friend, moved into our first apartment and started my professional career and life was going great! A few weeks later, I sat by my grandmother's bedside and watched her take her final breath on earth. I lost someone so very close to my heart. My perfect world came crashing down very quickly and my emotions were all over the place. Life started to get more difficult trying to balance my emotions for the loss of my grandmother and I kept gaining more weight as I turned to food instead of God. I wasn't happy. I felt like I couldn't turn to anyone because they wouldn't understand. Even my relationship with my husband was struggling. I was in a very dark place and built walls of selfishness around myself. With the weight came insecurity and I felt uncomfortable in my own skin.

A year after my grandmother had passed, I decided to join Grace and Strength. It has been such an amazing journey. I found so much more than just a healthier lifestyle. I found that I need to turn to God in times of need instead of food. I had always either turned to food, my relationship with others or on my own will power to get through the tough times. I have learned that wasn't what God's desires for us. I have also learned to run to God and to rely on Him in my time of struggles. With God's help I was able to reach my goal weight and with His help I will continue to grow.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

* Individual results may vary.