I have nothing but the highest Praise for the Grace and Strength program. I've done countless other diets and I lost weight on many of them but when I reached a good weight my attitude turned to thinking I was "done dieting". I never dealt with the root issues – my wrong thinking, the idolatrous desire for immediate gratification, the emotional garbage that drove me to eat when I wasn't hungry! So it was always just a matter of time before I returned to old behaviors.

In today's episode of Monica's Morning Minute, Coach Monica shares a heartfelt story from her childhood struggle with obesity. It's hard to believe that someone who is now a role model of fitness was ever challenged with weight, but now Coach Monica is a shining example of the change that the Lord can make in a person's life when the truly surrender to Him.

Starting off by way of a quick introduction, my name is Jeremy Binns... Recently I read a quote by coach Monica that really touched a chord with me, and I knew instantly that I wanted to write a post inspired by her words. This is what she wrote, "Your worth is not defined in a mirror. Your worth is defined in God."

Seems like all my life I've been able to eat anything I wanted without thinking much about it...and never really gaining any weight. Even after having four children I was always able to reclaim my body. Well, soon after entering my 40's I began to notice I wasn't quite as slim and trim as I used to be. I failed over the next few years at keeping off the excess weight and finally came to a place where I realized I needed that extra push and some accountability.

For years I have struggled with a vicious cycle of defeat. While I have been active and athletic for my entire life, I allowed myself to gain weight over the last decade and used some of life's major events (having 2 boys, work and travel, etc.) as justification for that weight gain and un-healthy lifestyle.