True Story:

Standing in front of the mirror shirtless, I sighed and said to myself:

“You look like a big, fat tick.” (With a “t” just to be clear).

But I also realized, I didn’t get here overnight.

My weight had been creeping up since my stroke in 2017.

I had tried several diets before (unbelievably including Vegetarian for a month or two) but nothing ever seemed to stick as good as syrup does to pancakes.

But that day in August 2023, something began to change.

I had one goal: To lose weight.

I was near certain I was likely beginning another failed weight loss attempt.

But I was never so wrong.

I became my own mind and body guinea pig experiment.

My consumption of personal development books was voracious.

Early morning trips to the gym began to form into habits. Habits began to breed other habits.

Things were somewhat improving until I re-learned an interesting fact: It is near impossible to out-exercise a bad diet.

Exercising regularly was no longer a problem, but I was also not losing any weight. And then:

January 2024 – I hit my highest weight ever (even while exercising nearly daily.)

I felt terrible about myself. I thought: How did I let myself get to this point?

I knew all the drips of sweat in the world were not going to help me turn things around.

Enter – Intermittent Fasting. Things began to slowly click. My one goal in mind (to lose weight) began to happen in front of my eyes. I was now a little lighter fat tick (not a big fat tick, lol).

But then, like clockwork, motivation and willpower began to fade as the scale began to pushback on me.

As if planned at the right moment: Enter some faith-based mindset and habit change books.

God knew it was time to bring to light the secret ingredient.

All the prior personal development books, audios, and verses all came together to spark the desired change. It was like atomic particles colliding to cause a reaction in my brain.

My previous diets, all along, had focused on the wrong thing. And instead of failing once again due to my limited capacity of internal willpower, I began to lean on God’s power instead.

Fast forward to today. Over the past year, I’ve lost over 30 pounds.

Even more exciting than the physical transformation, has been the mental and spiritual transformation. I not only achieved my primary goal of losing weight, but what I gained (pun intended) on the inside was worth so much more.

Am I the only one who has struggled with this?

If you are a Christian over the age of 40 who feels stuck, tired, or frustrated with your weight, know you’re not alone. I’ve been there (and am there) in the Arena every day.

What seems like a physical battle (wanting to lose weight) is actually a mental and spiritual battle being waged in our minds. I have great news though!

You can win on all three battle fronts at the same time.

It is a battle worth fighting. You can lose weight. You can develop mental confidence that is unshakeable. And you can spiritually grow in places that were previously hidden to you.

I’m thinking about putting something together to help.

It would be for Christians who do not want to fail at another diet. (It would especially be for you if you hate counting calories or hate giving up your favorite foods and snacks.)

It would be for you if you are willing to lean in and be willing to learn to become a better you.

If you are content living life riding off into the sunset, believing things are as good as they are going to get, then this would not be for you.

Also, if you are content with mediocrity (a lack of desire for self-improvement), then again, this would not be for you.

If this sounds interesting, comment “Interested” below or send me a message. No pressure— a conversation. Or if you know somebody who needs to read these words right now, please forward to them.

If nothing else, I hope this reminds you today:

Your Yesterday and Today, do not Define your Tomorrow. Only if You want it to. You are, what you believe you are. And you can be, what you believe you can be.

Proverbs 23:7 – For as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is.

Make it a great day.