Why Willpower Isn’t the Problem
- Julie Kleinhans
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
“If I could just try harder, I’d be able to stop overeating and lose weight.”
That’s what I used to believe. Again and again, I told myself that this time would be different. I’d have more control. I’d stick to the plan. I’d finally feel better about myself.
But no matter how hard I tried, I kept falling back into the same patterns — overeating, feeling ashamed, and then starting over with more guilt and less hope.
The worst part? I believed it was all my fault.
Eventually, I learned something that changed everything:
👉 Willpower doesn’t work when you’re fighting a physical, emotional, and spiritual battle.
This isn’t just about food. It’s about what’s underneath the food — the pain, the pressure, the past. And that’s why diets alone don’t bring lasting freedom. They try to manage symptoms, not heal the root.
Through the Christ-centered 12-step recovery process, I discovered I didn’t need to “try harder.”
I needed to surrender.
✅ I needed God’s strength instead of self-reliance.
✅ I needed a plan — not just for eating, but for healing.
✅ I needed a safe place where I could be honest, supported, and known.
Today, I walk in freedom with God’s help and a structured program. I follow a simple structure that keeps me grounded in truth, connected to community, one day at a time.
Freedom doesn’t mean I never face challenges. It means I’m not ruled by them anymore. I have a way to respond instead of react, to pause and pray instead of spiral. I don’t carry it all on my shoulders — I bring it to the Lord and a supportive community. That’s the difference. That’s the gift of recovery. I’m no longer trying to “fix” myself. I’m learning to trust God more fully and let Him reshape my life from the inside out.
💬 If you’re stuck in the willpower trap, maybe it’s time to try something different.
📥 Learn more about our 12-step, Christ-centered path to food freedom:
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