Grace and Strength Lifestyle (GNS) was such an answer to prayer for me. I had been seeking a program/answer to my weight issues for about 3yrs. I knew I needed something drastic since I'd tried eating healthy, cutting down on sugar and processed foods, as well as exercising regularly but I was still going UP on the scale. I finally reached a number that I couldn't live with. This motivated me to find something drastic to totally change my life. I met my coach Bekah at church, she gently and patiently told me about the program. It was God's perfect timing. Interestingly, my greatest motivation for joining was not the weight loss but instead the understanding that this was an area of spiritual bondage in my life. God wanted to free me from food, weight, and self-image issues that I had battled for my entire life.

I started the program with a lot of trepidation (as I'm sure most do), this wasn't the first time I was serious about losing weight, but it WAS the first time I dedicated myself to whatever it would take and what God needed to change in me.

Through this program, I have learned a lot about myself, God's desire for every part of my life and how my relationship with food was so much more than just eating. The first thing that I learned was what lies I was telling myself. I was so used to hearing that "I was a failure because I was fat", and that "fat is ugly, so I am ugly" etc. that I didn't even know I was hearing them any more. Crazy how that track will run constantly in our head, beating us up but we don't even know it's playing anymore, we've just incorporated it into our everyday life.

The next step is still a work in progress (and I imagine it will continue for the rest of my life), speaking God's truth, love and complete acceptance over my life daily. He is truth and I need to hear that truth daily.

My husband is my best friend and he says that he is blown away with how much my attitude has been changed. When we aren't spending hours per day berating ourselves, there is so much more time to love, laugh and live!! How easily I was being fooled that by obsessing over myself, somehow things would change! The enemy is a tricky one and looks for every opportunity to ensnare us in a trap of selfishness so we cannot be a part of the world around us to use our gifts and talents for God!!

One of my challenges going forward is to not fall into the trap of worrying about regaining the weight or self-pride. However, knowing that the enemy has set that trap, I continue to give it to God. The weekly Bible studies w/ my group are so encouraging. So many times I have walked away with life messages that have truly changed me! One of the messages that has been with me for the entire journey is, "Life is painful - either the pain of discipline or the pain of disappointment!" We have a choice! I'm not going to fear being who I was before and regaining because God has completely changed me from the inside out. I no longer desire the things I did before and He is faithful going forward! This last quote sums it up nicely "I've come too far in life to take orders from a cookie!" It's just food after all and it has a place in my life, just not the #1 place. Thank you GNS for bringing such a transformation & blessing into my life.

Donna H.

---

* Individual results may vary.