Why You Should Pray For Weight Loss

“I’ve performed a transformation of biblical proportions”

The Gain

For as far back as I can remember I was always the biggest kid in the room. There was always food on the table and I never failed to eat heaps of it.

After leaving school and starting a full-time job, my weight woes compounded. Running youth groups at night, I was always short on time to exercise, but never short on food. Chowing down on pasta and other carb-heavy foods was a habit, while trips to fast-food establishments were a way to pass the time.

After getting my driver’s licence, jumping in the car and going to Maccas was just something to do, even if I’d already eaten a massive dinner. Eating four huge meals in a day was a sinful habit. After getting married, I ballooned out to 135 kilos. With me running the church, there were big guys both upstairs and down.

The Change

I’d thought about losing weight for a long time, now and again managing to shed a few pounds. But I never realised that I had to overhaul my entire lifestyle. There are always “easy” fixes being promoted on TV, but they never worked. And with a hectic schedule and a newborn daughter, I was constantly feeling exhausted.

After a scare around type 2 diabetes, my doctor raised lap-band surgery. I was stunned. She clearly didn’t think I could lose enough weight on my own – and that was just the motivation I needed.

From then on, every decision I made was based on choices I could sustain for the rest of my life. Diet was king. You can’t outrun a bad diet, so the first thing I did was give up fizzy drink. Five kilograms practically fell off me. Every Sabbath I would prepare my meals for the week.

I was really just eating for sustenance, pretty much the same things every day, and I gradually decreased my portion sizes. Bread was out, and I swapped anything “white” for “brown”. I also started playing basketball and indoor soccer, while taking Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes. It wasn’t about exercising religiously; I wanted it to be enjoyable and something to look forward to.

Men’s Health

The Result

I’ve performed a transformation of biblical proportions! In the process, I’ve realised how much of a mental burden it is to be overweight. It was always at the back of my mind.

I’m being treated differently too. I don’t think people do it on purpose, and maybe it’s my confidence coming through, but I feel I’m being treated with far more respect. I’m now incorporating health and nutrition into my services, and have started a chef’s apprenticeship. I’ll be teaching people to treat their body as a temple.