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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.


Stop Emotional Eating with One Simple Shift: The Prayerful Pause
Emotional eating often happens quickly — long before we even realize what’s happening. Stress, frustration, loneliness, and worry can all push us toward food as a way to self-soothe. But there is a simple, Christ-centered practice that can interrupt that cycle: the prayerful pause. In this video, I share how taking just a moment to step back, breathe, and invite God into the moment can help calm intense emotions and lead to wiser choices. Why the Prayerful Pause Works • Stron

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 20, 20251 min read


Why One Bite Is Never 'Just One Bite'
Why does one tiny bite turn into a binge? We tell ourselves, “I’ll just taste it.” But that first bite wakes up cravings we didn't know we had. Bill W. of Alcoholics Anonymous discovered that “just one drink” always led to more. That’s how addiction works — it pulls us back for more before we even notice. That was my story too. For many of us, one bite of our binge food is the same. Not because we’re weak, but because sugar is addictive. Avoiding that first bite isn’t restric

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 19, 20251 min read


How to Eat Healthy When You’re a Guest
Have you ever sat at someone else’s table, surrounded by delicious food… yet felt that quiet tug in your heart — knowing some of it isn’t part of your plan? You’re not alone. Staying committed to your recovery and health goals can feel especially challenging when food is part of the celebration. But just like Daniel at the king’s table, we can choose faith over pressure. In this week’s episode of the Reshape and Recover Podcast, Tony and I talk about how to: 💛 Stand firm in

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 18, 20251 min read


When Overeating Brings You to Your Breaking Point
Why does it take hitting a breaking point before we finally admit we can’t fix this on our own? So many of us have tried everything — and still found ourselves right back in the same painful cycle with food. The truth is, in Step One, we acknowledge what’s already real: we are broken without God. Not broken beyond repair… but broken in the sense that our own strength isn’t enough. When I first heard Bill W.’s story, it helped me understand my own story. He kept trying to cont

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 17, 20252 min read


Sunday Encouragement — Romans 12:1–2
Romans 12:1–2 “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” I love this passage so much. It reminds me that taking care of my body isn’t just about me— not about vanity, not about perfection, and not even only about health. It is an act of spiritu

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 16, 20251 min read


Step Two - Trusting God with Our Struggle with Food
Perhaps you are like I was… I believed in God. I trusted Him with the “big” things — my family, my health, my salvation, my future. But my struggle with overeating? I never prayed about that. It felt too small… too personal… too embarrassing… just not important enough to bother God with. I felt like He had bigger, more urgent prayers to answer. But here’s what I learned: God is so much bigger and loves us so much more than we could ever imagine! ♦ Scripture tells us that He r

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 15, 20252 min read


Why Rest Matters for Your Recovery and Well-Being
I have a tendency to keep working and not slow down. But on the weekends, I intentionally shift gears — worship, a couple of trips to the pool, and an evening out with my husband. Those moments remind me how important it is to rest, reconnect, and actually enjoy life. As we head into the weekend, I want to offer a gentle reminder I’ve had to learn myself: Rest is not laziness — it’s part of recovery. When we pause, we create space to hear God more clearly and make healthier c

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 14, 20251 min read


An Easy, Christian 10th Step Explained
What does a daily 10th Step actually look like? In this video, I walk through a simple, Christian approach to the 10th Step that helps you stay grounded, honest, and connected to God each day. I’ll share: • The evening questions I ask myself • How I use the Fruits of the Spirit • Why a morning routine reduces anxiety and overeating • How the SOAP method helps with devotional time If you’re in recovery and want a simple daily structure, this will help. 👉 Watch the video to se

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 13, 20251 min read


Spinach, Mushroom & Mozzarella Zucchini Boats
A simple, satisfying way to enjoy comfort food — without the guilt! These zucchini “boats” are filled with spinach, mushrooms, and melty mozzarella cheese — a light, low-carb dish that’s full of flavor and nutrients. They make a great main dish or pair perfectly with grilled chicken for a complete, protein-packed meal. 🍽️ It’s easy to fall into old patterns with food, especially when we’re tired or stressed. But meals like this remind us that healthy choices can still feel c

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 12, 20251 min read


Break Free from Old Eating Habits Through a New Heart 💛
Sometimes our hearts feel stubborn — like no matter how much we want to change, we keep going back to old eating habits. We promise ourselves it’ll be different, but somehow end up in the same cycle again. But God doesn’t just ask us to try harder — He offers us something better. In Ezekiel 36:26, He says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.” This isn’t about more willpower — it’s about surrender. Real change begins when we let God do what only He can: t

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 11, 20251 min read


Confidential Conversations Unlock Hope and Healing
When we open up about our struggles — whether with food, emotions, or faith — we need a space that feels safe. 💛 It took me a while to open up to people in my group. I was afraid of being judged. But as I heard others share their own struggles, I realized I wasn’t alone. They understood what I was going through — and many were dealing with the same things I was. That’s what we offer inside Reshape and Recover: a Christ-centered community where you can share honestly, be unde

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 10, 20251 min read


Sunday Devotion
“Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind. For Your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in Your faithfulness.” — Psalm 26:2–3 (ESV) In recovery, we learn to invite God to search our hearts — not to shame us, but to heal us. Like David, we can pray, “Test me, Lord,” knowing that His love is gentle and His goal is transformation. When we let God show us what’s really driving our struggles, He replaces fear and cravings with peace. Step by step, we walk i

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 9, 20251 min read


Step One: The Beginning of Hope
When I first came to Overeaters Anonymous, I thought Step One was just about admitting I had a problem with food. But it’s more than that. True recovery begins when we recognize that this isn’t just a lack of willpower — it’s an addiction. For me, that addiction was to sugar and junk food. Until I believed that, I kept thinking I could manage it or “just eat a little.” I floundered for over two years before hearing Bill W’s story from Alcoholics Anonymous. As I listened, I re

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 8, 20251 min read


Start Your Weekend with a Grateful Heart
As the weekend begins, take a moment to pause and thank God for His goodness. Gratitude lifts our perspective — helping us see His hand in both the big moments and the little ones. We are so blessed! When we take time to notice even the little blessings in life, joy begins to grow. Writing out five things we’re grateful for can shift our focus away from the hard things that often drive us toward food for comfort. Every blessing is a reminder that God is near and faithful. Whe

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 7, 20251 min read


Is Food Addictive?
Yes — some food is very addictive! Have you ever promised yourself you’d stop eating certain foods… only to find yourself right back at them? You’re not alone. Studies show that sugar lights up the brain’s reward center much like addictive substances do — leaving us craving more and more. But it’s not just a physical addiction — it’s also psychological and spiritual. The food seems to fill a deeper need for comfort and love. That’s an emotional or spiritual hunger — but food

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 5, 20251 min read


Finding Comfort Beyond Food
When life feels overwhelming, food can feel like the easiest comfort. But God offers us something far better — His Word and His promises. In our latest Reshape and Recover podcast episode, Tony and I share Bible verses that speak directly to real struggles — fear, anxiety, depression, shame, anger, loneliness, and more. Each verse reminds us that God sees us, loves us, and is present in every situation we face. Through Scripture and our own recovery stories, we show how turni

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 4, 20251 min read


God's Portion Is Enough
We live in a world that constantly tells us we need more — more food, more comfort, more of everything. That message can make us feel like what we have isn’t enough, and we end up turning to food to fill the emptiness. I understand that feeling. I used to eat past fullness, partially because the food is addictive, but also because something inside of me still felt empty. But what I really needed wasn’t more food — it was more of God. Psalm 16:5 says, “Lord, You alone are my p

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 2, 20251 min read


Sunday Devotion
Matthew 9:36-38 (ESV) When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” It’s so awesome that Jesus has compassion on us. He knows we are harassed and helpless and sends us the help we need. He also sends us out to help others. Thi

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 2, 20251 min read


Continued Freedom in Step 12
Step 12 is how you hold on to the freedom you’ve found by walking through the first eleven steps. It’s what keeps the fire of recovery burning. But many people hesitate to share their stories because they don’t feel “finished” yet. Maybe you’ve still got some weight to lose, or you’re still struggling from time to time — and you wonder if you really have anything worth saying. Here’s the truth: you don’t have to be a perfect model of recovery to tell your story. Our stories a

Julie Kleinhans
Nov 1, 20252 min read


🎃 Happy Halloween!
For many, Halloween is all about candy and costumes — but for those of us in recovery, it can also bring temptation and reminders of darker things. The candy bowls call our name, and the talk of ghosts and things not of God is all around us. But as believers, we know where our focus belongs. God’s Word reminds us in 1 John 4:4, “The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” We don’t need to fear sugar cravings or spiritual darkness — because the Holy Spi

Julie Kleinhans
Oct 31, 20251 min read
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