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My Blog
What I've discovered on my 90 pound weight loss journey through compulsive overeating and weight gain to 12-Step recovery since 2005. Navigating healthy eating can be tricky! Check out my tips and food tricks below. I've included some healthy recipes - please send your healthy recipe ideas to info@reshapeandrecover.com for posting consideration.


Step Six - Ready to Change
Sometimes overeating isn’t really about the food. We may turn to food after an argument. When we’re resentful. When someone hurts us. When we’re afraid, disappointed, or feeling sorry for ourselves. That’s one reason Step Six is so important in recovery. By this point in the Steps, we’ve begun to recognize some of the patterns within us that contribute to our struggles—things like resentment, fear, self-pity, impatience, perfectionism, criticism, or pride. Step Six asks us to

Julie Kleinhans
1 day ago1 min read


The Real Problem Behind My Overeating
Have you ever wondered why willpower alone isn't enough to overcome overeating? For years, I thought my biggest problem was simply that I ate too much. While that was true, it wasn't the whole story. Everything began to change when I realized I was turning to food for comfort, peace, and relief—things only God could truly provide. In this video, I share a personal part of my recovery journey and how God helped me move beyond focusing only on my eating habits to addressing the

Julie Kleinhans
Jul 301 min read


When Diets Don't Work... God's Word Does
When diets don't work, here's what works. Many of us have used food to cope with stress, worry, loneliness, or difficult emotions. While food may provide temporary comfort, it can't solve the problems underneath. The next time you're stressed, try pausing before you eat. Make a cup of tea, spend a few minutes in prayer, and open God's Word. God's Word can help where food can't. #ChristianWeightLoss #OvereatingRecovery #FoodFreedom #FaithBasedWeightLoss #ReshapeAndRecover

Julie Kleinhans
Jun 111 min read


Step 7 - Humbly Turning to God
🌟 Step 7: We Humbly Turn to God 🌟 One of the biggest mistakes many of us make is believing we can overcome overeating through sheer willpower. We promise ourselves we'll do better tomorrow. We'll be stronger next time. We'll finally get it right. But recovery isn't about becoming strong enough on our own. Step 7 reminds us that we cannot overcome sin and temptation on our own. We need God's help. Whether our struggle is overeating, emotional eating, dishonesty, pride, fear,

Julie Kleinhans
Jun 61 min read


Made New In Christ
Have you ever told yourself: 👉 "I'll start over Monday." 👉 "I'll do better next month." 👉 "I've already messed up, so what's the point?" The good news is that God specializes in new beginnings. You don't have to wait for a new week, a new month, or a new year. You can start again today. Learn from yesterday, but don't live there. God's mercies are new every morning, and His grace is available right now. "Put off your old self... be made new... put on the new self, created

Julie Kleinhans
Jun 51 min read


The Photo I Never Turned In
Sometimes overeating costs us more than our health. Years ago, our church was putting together a church directory and families were invited to have professional photos taken. We had ours done, and the photographer did a good job. But when I saw the pictures, all I could see was my weight. At the time, I was nearly 100 pounds overweight. I hated how my face looked in the photos. The photographer kindly offered to adjust the lighting, but there was no changing the fact that I w

Julie Kleinhans
Jun 31 min read


When Life Hurts
When life hurts, food can start looking like a solution. Not because you're weak. Not because you don't know better. But because food is quick, familiar, and always available. The problem is that food can distract us from pain for a few minutes, but it can't heal it. God can. If you're going through a difficult season right now, don't carry it alone. Talk to God. Talk to someone you trust. Stay connected. Isolation and overeating often grow together. Healing usually begins wh

Julie Kleinhans
Jun 11 min read


Step 6: Becoming Willing
Step 6 isn't about becoming perfect. It's about becoming willing. Many of us can see the behaviors that keep us stuck—turning to food for comfort, holding onto resentment, making excuses, or trying to control everything ourselves. The challenge isn't always recognizing the problem. The challenge is becoming willing to let God change us. Sometimes we want freedom from the consequences, but we're not quite ready to surrender the habit itself. Step 6 invites us to open our hands

Julie Kleinhans
May 301 min read


Be Blessed and Joyful
Be blessed and joyful this weekend. Remember: food is important for good health, but it's not the main event. Enjoy the people, family, conversations, laughter, worship, rest, and simple moments God gives you. Basically, the point is… there is so much more to enjoy in life than food. Have a wonderful weekend! ❤️ #christianweightloss #overeatingrecovery #foodfreedom #faithandhealth #12steps #reshapeandrecover

Julie Kleinhans
May 291 min read


Food Is Not the Main Event
Food is not the main event.

Julie Kleinhans
May 271 min read


Memorial Day Blessings
Silhouette of soldier saluting the American flag and Bible verse John 15:13

Julie Kleinhans
May 251 min read


A Simple Weekend Plan for Freedom from Food Obsession
Weekends can feel challenging when you’re trying to stay on track with your eating. The routines change, temptations show up, and it’s easy to think, “I’ll just start over Monday.” But freedom often starts with a simple plan. One thing that has helped me so much is planning ahead: ✅ 3 meals a day ✅ Nothing in between ✅ Keeping it simple instead of constantly negotiating with myself around food Structure may sound restrictive at first, but honestly, it can bring so much peace

Julie Kleinhans
May 221 min read


Emotional Eating - Bring Your Pain to God Instead of Food
God invites us to come to Him for comfort. Sometimes we try to numb difficult emotions with food because we don’t know what else to do with the pain, stress, loneliness, or exhaustion we’re carrying. But God never asked us to hide from Him. You don’t have to pretend you’re okay. And you don’t have to carry everything alone. In this short encouragement, I share a reminder from Matthew 11:28 about bringing our burdens to Jesus instead of turning to food for comfort. “Come to me

Julie Kleinhans
May 141 min read


Step 3: Turning it Over to God
Have you ever felt hurt so deeply that you didn’t know how to move forward? Joseph did. Betrayed by his own brothers and sold into slavery, he could have stayed bitter and angry. But instead, he chose to trust God through the pain. And in the end, he was able to say: “What you intended for evil against me, God intended for good.” — Genesis 50:20 That’s what Step Three is all about: turning our will and our lives over to the care of God. We fight so hard to stay in control—but

Julie Kleinhans
May 91 min read


Peace May Be the Answer You’re Looking For
You’ve been eating well. You’re staying on plan. But the scale won’t budge — and frustration is creeping in. Before you blame your willpower, consider this: What if it’s not your food… but your stress? When we live in constant go-mode, our cortisol levels rise — leading to cravings, fat storage (especially around the belly), poor sleep, and emotional eating. But God didn’t create us to live in survival mode. He created us for peace. ⏸️ Peace that restores. 📖 Peace that guard

Julie Kleinhans
Apr 171 min read


Freedom from Overeating on Vacation
Going on vacation doesn’t have to mean everything falls apart with your eating. This is a picture Tony and I took on our way to a short trip in Cottonwood, Arizona, and we’re having such a good time already. (And yes… I borrowed his hat because the wind was not cooperating with my hair 😊) But here’s what’s different: We came with a plan. Not a restrictive plan. Not a stressful plan. Just a simple, intentional one. We brought some healthy food with us. We’re choosing wisely a

Julie Kleinhans
Mar 191 min read


Progress Beyond the Scale
Ever notice how discouraging it feels when the scale doesn’t budge? You’re trying. You’re praying. You’re making better choices. …And the number just sits there. But here’s something I’ve seen over and over again — in my own journey and with the people I walk alongside: Sometimes the scale is the last thing to change. Before the pounds move, other things start shifting: ✨ You stop eating past comfortable fullness ✨ You recover faster after a slip ✨ You pause and pray before t

Julie Kleinhans
Feb 91 min read


Step 2: You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
So many people who struggle with overeating secretly believe this is just a willpower problem. If we were stronger, more disciplined, more spiritual… we’d have it figured out by now. Step 2 gently challenges that lie. Step 2 reminds us that recovery isn’t about trying harder — it’s about trusting deeper. It’s about believing that God cares about this struggle and is able to help us with it. One line from this chapter says it so clearly: “We do not need to feel ashamed anymor

Julie Kleinhans
Feb 71 min read


I Decided to Stop
I decided to stop eating — and that used to feel impossible. There was a time in my life when stopping mid-meal didn’t even feel like an option. Once I started eating, I felt driven to finish — even when I knew I would feel physically miserable afterward. Not because I was hungry. But because the food was there. Because I paid for it. Because I didn’t want to waste it. In this video, I share a small but powerful moment: I stopped eating before I felt sick. That may sound simp

Julie Kleinhans
Feb 51 min read


Pausing to Pray
Ever notice how food can feel louder than your faith some days? The cravings feel urgent. The stress feels heavy. It’s not that we don’t want to turn to God…it’s just that we forget. I’ve been there too. It never occurred to me to pray about it. I prayed for others, or for things I thought were more important. But God cares about our health and well-being too. It’s okay to pray for help to turn away from unhealthy food. The good news? You can learn a new way. Every time you p

Julie Kleinhans
Feb 41 min read
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