Stephanie's Story

I have struggled with my weight at least since those awkward teenage years, or perhaps before that. I have tried many of the diets out there, whether fads or legitimate healthy eating plans, and yo-yo'd up and down the scale over the years, each time, gaining more weight. As life has gone on, I've learned that as we get older, our bodies don't want to shed those extra pounds as easily as they did in our 20s.

I know I'm an emotional eater, meaning I have tended to turn to food, whether celebrating something happy, mourning something sad, or any emotion in-between (as well as wanting to just feel "numb"). Food has been an idol of my heart – the first place I would go to seek refuge, rather than running to seek refuge in Jesus.

I first heard of Grace and Strength Lifestyle (GNS) when I saw a friend's success video posted on Facebook. I noticed how her body had been transformed, and she shared a little bit about the Grace & Strength Lifestyle, and that yes, she joined the program in hopes of losing weight, but that she'd gained so much more, through the encouragement of her coach and the accountability of the other ladies on this journey with her.

I was intrigued that the program isn't solely focused on weight loss, but it is Christ-centered. As a Christian, this was appealing. THIS was what was different from other programs I'd tried over the years! I saw another friend's post about emotional eating (ding, ding, ding!!...I thought, "That's ME!!") I sent a private message, asking her about GNS. She was very open with me about what was involved. I took some time to think and pray about it before even mentioning it to my husband. (My friend said she would pray for me in this area too.) This decision-process took a few weeks…it is definitely an investment of time, effort, and finances. I knew it would be a journey and a serious commitment, if I chose to sign on. I mentioned it to my husband, and then dropped it. I felt that if this was the Lord's plan for me, He would make a way.

We have a two-year-old daughter, and my biggest motivation has been to get healthy. I want to stick around for her. I want to be PRESENT in her life, not just on the sidelines, watching her play. I want to get down on the floor and play with her, to climb around on the playground equipment if I so choose, to splash, play and swim in the pool with her, without feeling self-conscious.

Through Grace and Strength Lifestyle, I've come to the realization that health is a gift from God, and not everyone has it. If we have healthy bodies, we are to be good stewards of them and glorify the Lord with them. This body is HIS temple. It is not my own. This had never occurred to me before!! We're so inundated in our culture with satisfying WHAT we want WHEN we want it. That is so opposite to the lives that our Heavenly Father has called us to!! So, I'm learning to allow the Lord to have every area of my life, including how I care for the body He has given me. Another thought: My daughter watches everything I say and do on a daily basis. As a mom, why wouldn't I want my daughter to view food and how we manage it in a healthy way?

Well, a few weeks after first mentioning it to my husband, I brought it up again, and he was fully supportive of the commitment it would take, financially and otherwise. He wanted me to be healthy and happy, and he appreciated that it was Christ-focused too. I was THRILLED that he was on-board. It makes a huge difference, to have that emotional support, especially down the road when things become more challenging.

I would never say "I've arrived!" I would say that I'm a work in progress, but Grace & Strength has given me the tools to make God-honoring choices, and to live a lifestyle of freedom, no longer in bondage to food or to the weight that (literally) weighed me down!!

"I am making God-honoring choices!"

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* Individual results may vary.