By Lori Burt
Lori Burt before and after losing 100 pounds – plus the shame that was holding her back.
In May 2021, I retired after 28 years in education. I loved my students, my colleagues, and the joy of shaping young lives. At home, I was blessed with a faithful husband, a wonderful daughter and son-in-law, and two precious grandsons. My life was full of family, service, and purpose.
But one area continued to defeat me, my struggle with food and weight.
For more than 20 years, I battled the same cycle: Start a diet on Monday, give up by Tuesday. I tried everything from low-carb to liquid diets, and each time I would lose weight only to gain it back. Every failure left me feeling more frustrated and ashamed.
By the time I retired, I was 56 years old and weighed 248 pounds, the heaviest I had ever been. I decided to try again and rejoined Weight Watchers. I promised myself I wouldn’t quit, no matter how long it took. I thought I was chasing a number on a scale, but God had something much bigger in mind.
Somewhere along that journey, He met me right where I was in my weakness, my frustration, and my striving. He reminded me that my worth was not measured in pounds or clothing sizes. What I needed wasn’t another diet; I needed a heart change.
As I began to surrender this area to Him, God started transforming more than my habits. He began renewing my mind. I started to see food as a gift, not a punishment. I learned to pause and pray instead of giving in to defeat. Slowly, I began to experience a freedom I had never known before, not the temporary kind that comes from losing weight, but the lasting kind that comes from walking with Him daily.
Since that time, I’ve lost more than weight. I’ve lost the shame that used to hold me back. I’ve gained confidence, peace, and a renewed sense of purpose. Today, I help other women find that same freedom through Christian wellness coaching, not by chasing perfection, but by partnering with God for progress.
If you’re reading this and feel stuck in the same struggle, please hear me: You are not alone. You are not a failure. The same God who met me in my brokenness will meet you in yours. Victory is possible, one surrendered step at a time.
Take a moment today to thank God for how far He’s already brought you. Progress doesn’t always show up on a scale, but it shows up in every act of faith and perseverance. Because when we invite God into our struggle, He doesn’t just change our bodies, He changes our hearts.
Lori Burt is a Christian holistic wellness coach who helps women find lasting freedom from food and weight struggles through faith-based mindset and healthy living. Connect with her at LivingAndLosingWithLori.net, email her at livingandlosingwithlori@gmail.com, or follow her journey on social media @livingandlosingwithlori.