Mary's Story.

My journey with Grace and Strength started February 25th, 2017. My very first daily weight text message that I sent to coach Monica included this: "I feel so yucky".

I have battled my weight for as long as I can remember. As a child I was always "big". It was after my last child that I reached my highest point of 265 lbs. It was then that I also faced the dreaded blood sugar issue. Type 2 diabetes --- ugh. My first thought before it was even confirmed that my blood sugar was high was, "I can't be diabetic, I love chocolate!". It was then that I took my diet more seriously and didn't fall back into one of the many previous diets that I had done. Although most of what I had tried prior to that were not successful I had been able to lose weight fast but not in a healthy way. And obviously none of those endeavors were sustainable.

For many years I had done very well and had gotten to a healthy place in my life. It was more recently that I knew I was out of control. I can't pinpoint exactly why or how it happened. It seemed that everything I knew and had implemented as far as healthy living were no longer doable for me. If I reflect long enough I'm sure I would discover that I started by dipping my toe outside of the healthy boundary. Just a little extra treat here and there. Then I had my entire foot and leg outside of that boundary. Just a "cheat meal" once or twice a week. Before I knew it my entire body was not only outside of those boundaries but I had lost my way back in. I often described it as not just falling off the wagon but falling off the wagon, rolling down the hill and stuck in quick sand at the bottom of the hill. I just didn't have the strength to get back to that place where I felt good, I actually enjoyed exercising and my time with the Lord was my utmost priority. In fact my spiritual health was my biggest concern.

I came across Grace and Strength Lifestyle while I was "researching" (that's my technical term for procrastinating), looking for a good cleanse. Long story short, when I saw Grace and Strength pop up I KNEW that's exactly what I needed! It was a few years ago that I eliminated sugar from my diet and leading up to the day that I was going to make that change my friends and family were convinced that because of my chocolate/sugar obsession I would not succeed. I echoed their concern but also felt so empowered by knowing that though it may be true that I couldn't do it, I also knew that GOD could! And not only would He get me through that I could expect Him give me a spirit of joy and peace along with self control. In other words, if I were to fall into the temptations of the enemy I would be making God look bad.

When I started on phase 2 of Grace and Strength I had that mindset back once again. On more than on occasion I heard comments like "there's no way I could do that", "you just have more will power than I do", "that's not enough food" etc. I was so happy to hear those comments in fact I think at times I even encouraged them. It was those remarks that enabled me to once again give God the glory.

I can't do it either but GOD can and he IS!

That brings me to my spiritual health. Grace and Strength has been the vehicle that God used to direct me back to him. Our weekly bible study has been enlightening as far as realizing how we may have read or memorized different verses and never thought of how they relate to us and our food. And it's not just about food it's about being healthy. Taking care of this body. It was shortly after deciding to take the Grace and Strength journey that I realized I didn't just need a cleanse, I needed a soul cleanse. I indeed got just that with Grace & Strength.

Thank you ... Mary O

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* Individual results may vary.