Be The Change

Be the change…that’s what they say, isn’t it?

So here I am…prayerfully being the change I have so badly needed in my own life.

Weight loss is sort of a taboo topic, even in 2026, but that’s where we are going with this. In particular, why is it that I can hardly ever find a Spirit Filled, Godly, weight loss “influencer” who knows the looooong road of losing more than half of their body weight?

I’m not at all trying to imply that the smaller weight loss coaches have nothing to offer. I am certain they do. Many I have encountered have proven success in helping thousands of people get healthy and fit, which is amazing! But I haven’t ever been able to relate to them. Those moms who fought and lost the 50 lbs of baby weight but never worried they would break a chair at a birthday party. I can’t relate to their journeys. While their success is no less incredible, it isn’t the level of hope I have needed to lose their goal weight and then some.

Certainly those who have lost weight and battled any form of food or sugar addiction have testimonies that help set others free and offer inspiration, but where are those who understand losing 100 or even 200 lbs or more? Those who have carried the weight of trauma inside and out? Those who have had to lose the weight of an entire adult and then, often, lose more even still?

A fit human who has prayerfully battled morbid obesity and done so with the power of Christ, but also with awareness that very often “moderation” with food just doesn’t work for many of us. Gosh, it’s not even safe for many of us. We don’t get to be morbidly obese by having a good sense of portion control or by using it if we are aware of it. Often we find ourselves incredibly overweight because of food addiction, and often that addiction is rooted in trauma. (Not always, but often.)

So many of the Christian fitness coaches and influencers I’ve come across just don’t seem to understand the battle with weight when it is literally your life on the line. Not just a “I wanted to feel good in my body” or “wear my old jeans” mentality…but literally needing to fight the fat to actually have a chance to live. Live fully, not limited and overcome by daily fears and worries about what body system could fail any moment or if you’ll be able to breathe walking your child down the aisle. The battle to heal PTSD, Cptsd, and other forms of trauma, that have shown up on our bathroom scales as we try to hide and find safety/security/dopamine, in food that kills us…most don’t know that journey the same way. If at all.

Again, please hear my heart. I know that losing 50lbs can be hard and require sacrifice and effort. I’m not knocking their successes or battles in the least. I‘m just trying to point out that those smaller size folks, well intentioned though they may be, really don’t have the experience to empathize with those of us who have so much more to lose….and gain for that matter.

While I’m fussin’ let me also just share what my husband and I heard last night while I was showing him some of these Christian influencers I have found….one of these women, with a good size platform, sincerely said, “all you need is Jesus”. While she did add more to that statement as she continued, she didn’t add much that took away the straight nonsense of that statement. All you need is Jesus? Really? As if those of us who are obese and also rock solid in our faith and love of Christ, really just haven’t found Him yet? Are you kidding me?

What a way to put a bunch of doubt and shame on a vulnerable person!

Yes, we need Jesus! That is key to life! But to overcome this food addiction and heal the trapped trauma, we also need to use tools, research, wisdom, and the countless other forms of help the Lord provides and sends our way. Jesus is the foundation of everything good…but we still have steps to take beyond accepting Christ. We need to partner with Him to walk out all the days He has ordained for us to the fullest!

Yes, when all of life is counted, all we need is Jesus….but when it comes to battling obesity and fighting for our lives, even those of us who have Jesus, who know and love Him beyond measure, still need practical help and insight. We still need support and understanding, we need people who also “have Jesus” AND know how to extend grace for battles people face even while walking by faith.

Would you go up to a drug addict and tell them “you’d be free of this addiction if you just had Jesus”? Gosh, I hope not. Addiction and life long struggles often require tangible change and effort mixed with prayer and faith. Having Jesus doesn’t usually mean you’re instantly free of whatever bondage or battle you’re stuck in. While those instant freedom moments can happen, have happened, they are the exception, not the rule.

To say to somebody who has been obese for decades, who has a sincere revelation of Jesus and the whole gift of Salvation that He gives us… “you just need Jesus”, is crap. Total Crap!

We have Jesus, we know Him, we walk with Him, we love Him. He is everything to us, to me. BUT we still have to walk out our freedom from addiction, bondage…we need to walk out our healing and learn new habits and ways to cope. We need to understand the basic science that can help us understand why our physical bodies are so addicted to the foods that are killing us, from gut bacteria to dopamine. We need to learn how past, or even current ongoing traumas, affect our eating habits and our behaviors. We need loving, non sugar coated, truth and a loving hand to walk with us as we battle for our lives. WITH JESUS!

I am very aware of the scripture and have studied it for more years than I can count…and I know the verses to quote and cling to, the ones to use as a weapon when the battles rage, I know the ones that bring deeper conviction and remind of me of who I am called to be and why. BUT I still long for a support system to walk with me as I work out these areas where my flesh is still weak.

________________________________________________________________

You love Jesus but you’re still fat.

You love Jesus but you still overeat.

You love Jesus but you still run to food in hard times.

You love Jesus but you still run to food in good times.

You love Jesus but you’re still not manifesting the full fruit of self control.

You love Jesus but you still feel stuck and hopeless when it comes to your weight struggle.

You know the Bible and the verses about eating and gluttony,

the verses about self control, idolatry, fasting, and more…but you’re still fat.

You long for more, you want to be a living breathing testament of God’s power and goodness…but you’re still fat.

You’ve tried literally countless diets and programs, and you’re still fat.

You’re not alone.

You are NOT alone.

We can do this, by grace and together.

We will overcome!

We can shed the weight of trauma, in all of its forms.

We will walk hand in hand with each other, and JESUS, and step by step, fueled by grace and inspired by the hope we have in Him, we will manifest freedom. The fullness of salvation. We will redeem our temples and create bodies that glorify the Lord and testimonies that help set others free!

Let’s believe for what feels impossible because we know with Christ we are more than conquers and we can have the life abundant that God promises! We can be fully free.

Do you relate? Have you also struggled to find someone who "gets it" in your weight loss and health journey? Then join me...

I’ve come quite far but I still have a long way to go… I’d love your company.