“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT)

Dear Friend,

Today I'd like to share with you some amazing testimonies that I believe will encourage you in your own faith and wellness journey. Along with these testimonies, I'm going to share some great questions that we received along with my answers during our Tuesday night Bible study. If you were able to join us live—thank you! We had such a great time diving into your questions about faith, fitness, nutrition, and what it really means to invite God into every part of your health journey.

These stories are so encouraging, and I believe they’ll remind you that you're not alone and that God is doing something powerful in each of our lives.

Your Testimonies: Look What the Lord Is Doing!

Here are just a few of the beautiful testimonies we've received:

"I am so amazed that I can do the workouts—of course with a little pausing, and by God’s grace and strength every time. My struggle now is reading the Bible daily."

Friend, I’m so proud of you! That is a huge win. You’re growing stronger every day, physically and spiritually, and you are growing!

"[The Faithful & Fit 60 Challenge] has been helpful! Typically I am legalistic and "check all the things off", but it doesn't go deeper than that. This time I have more freedom to be like, 'ok I didn't get my water in today and that's ok.' It has been easier in some ways than normal because God told me this is the first time I'm doing nutrition and exercise with Him. (I usually try to do these things in my own strength). The exercises are awesome! So much more "doable". During this time, I've had victory in God revealing and helping me forgive a very old situation. Thank you so much for allowing God to use you in this way!"

Amazing! This is the power of inviting God into our daily habits! He brings healing in places we didn’t even realize needed it.

And this one really touched my heart: 🫶

“I started watching your Bible studies about two months ago, and you've been a catalyst for me to begin creating a new, healthy, disciplined lifestyle... There's a peace in your voice and positivity you always exude... always pointing us to the Word and to God for help in every area.

I needed a change in my spiritual walk with God and in my fitness journey, and your Bible studies and the resources you provide... have been the push that I needed. I started eating clean, doing a step challenge, focusing on how I spend time with God, self-improvement and strength training...

I stopped weighing myself because when I didn't see the number I wanted... I'd get discouraged and quit. I took your approach... started making the healthy changes... and I started having more energy and a better outlook on life... My sister noticed my face and whole body changing. And then I heard you say in a video not to weigh yourself. Confirmation! After a month... I’d lost 10 pounds.

I want to take the time to thank you for all you and Greg are doing through your ministry." (Testimony abbreviated for space).

Praise the Lord! This is what it looks like to walk with God and watch Him transform your life one choice at a time. God is so faithful!

I pray that these testimonies encourage you in your faith and wellness journey. God is here and He is ready to show Himself strong in every area of your life!

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him...” (2 Chronicles 16:9, KJV)

Fitness Q&A Highlights

Let’s dive into a few of your questions from the live session:

Q: “I tend to lean forward in side lunges—is that proper form?”

Great question. Yes, a slight lean is normal, but be sure your shoulders stay tall, spine straight, and chest up. Don’t hunch or twist your back. This exercise targets your glutes and quadriceps, so if you're feeling a strain or pain in a different muscle group, pause and double-check your form.

Tip: Download the Full Fitness app—it’s free and gives great visual demos for exercises and muscles targeted.

Q: “How can I stretch my legs out farther and be more flexible?”

Amazing question! Flexibility is key to longevity, strength, and overall wellness. I was a gymnast growing up, and we always warmed up and stretched before and after practice—and for good reason. Stretching improves balance, corrects muscular imbalances and posture, aids in muscle recovery, helps prevent injury, and even supports strength gains and weight loss by boosting blood flow and metabolism.

Try static stretching—hold a position for 15–30 seconds. Especially target your hamstrings if you have lower back pain.

Q: “How do you stop reverting back to old habits?”

This is such a deep question. And I’ve been there. I used to identify with the chaos of my past: drug addiction, poor choices, and not knowing how to live for God.

It took me a long time to see myself as someone who was healthy—someone who made good choices and actually wanted to exercise and live well. But everything changed when I learned to be patient with myself, do the best I could each day, and consistently renew my mind to the truth of who I am in Christ.

In Him, we have the spirit of self-control and temperance (Gal. 5:22-23); we have diligence, wisdom, power, and the mind of Christ. I rejected the lies that I was lazy, unhealthy, or I made bad choices. I took those thoughts captive and replaced them with the truth (2 Cor. 10:4-5).

Every time I rejected the lies and replaced them with the truth, my brain started to change. And when your thoughts change, your actions will follow.

I was once a drug addict, lost and unable to take care of myself. But through the Word, God began to transform my thinking. I didn’t want to live in those old patterns anymore—not just because they were wrong, but because they made me feel condemned, ashamed, and guilty. As I renewed my mind with the truth, my desires changed, and so did my habits.

Today, I don’t have to force a healthy lifestyle and wake up everyday with my checklist of things "I have to do"—I just live it, because I renewed my mind to the truth that this is who I am. And it can be that simple for you too: change how you think, align it with who God says you are, and let your life follow. This won't happen overnight, but if you're consistent to train your mind, everything else will follow.

My favorite declaration for health and wellness is this:

"I love to eat healthy, be healthy, and think healthy. I love to exercise and make good choices. I am healthy"

The more you say it, the more your brain starts to believe it—and your actions will follow. You are already made new in Christ. Align your thoughts with that truth, and everything else will start to shift.

Also—vision boards helped me renew my mind tremendously. Seeing your dreams and goals helps align the way you see yourself with God's amazing plans for your future. You can watch my Live Bible Study on vision boards here!

Q: “Are sweet potatoes better than white potatoes?”

Both are whole foods, and that’s already a win in my book. But here’s a breakdown:

• Sweet Potatoes: Higher in vitamin A and C, more fiber, lower glycemic index (good for blood sugar).

• White Potatoes: Slightly more potassium, higher glycemic index (especially when mashed or fried).

Sweet potatoes can be a slightly better option, especially if you're watching blood sugar—but both can fit in a healthy lifestyle.

Q: “What are the basics of nutrition?”

Oh, I love this one—especially because I used to live on fast food and soda (ugh). But God’s helped me grow so much in this area.

My Nutrition Basics:

• Check your ingredients: Avoid seed oils, preservatives, and added sugars.

• Stick to whole foods: Fruits, vegetables, clean meats, nuts, legumes, etc.

• Hydrate well: Women need about 91 oz of water/day, men around 125 oz. Add a pinch of sea salt (like Redmond’s Real Salt) before you drink for better electrolyte absorption.

• Care for your gut: Your gut is linked to your brain, health, and emotions. Processed foods and sugar can harm all of the above. Choose foods that nourish your body and support your mood.

You Are Being Transformed!

Every good choice you make is healing your body, renewing your mind, and transforming your future. Keep going. God is with you every step of the way, guiding you into His best.

This week’s Q&A was just Part 1—we still have several questions we didn’t get to, so stay tuned for Part 2 next Tuesday night at 5:30 p.m. MT on YouTube.

If you have a testimony to share or a question that you'd like answered, I’d love to hear from you! Fill out our short, three question survey here!

Want more on this topic?

• Watch my Live Bible Study from this week’s teaching!

• Get Erin’s resources! Hello, New You Book & Walking in the New You Workbook

• New You Lifestyle Courses for every part of your lifestyle: Faith-Based Healthy Habits, Nutrition, and Fitness!

• Join our encouraging, faith-filled community to support your journey every step of the way!

These transformative tools and resources are designed to help you walk in your new identity in Christ, so you can fulfill your God-given purpose!

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Until next time—keep showing up, keep trusting God, and remember… you’re not just getting healthier, you’re becoming the new you!

Love,
Erin

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