Fitness isn’t just a physical pursuit—it’s spiritual. For years, I credited myself for my weight loss, but it was God who made it happen. Did I have to do the work? Absolutely. But He was the one who made it possible. I wasn’t a Christian when I lost my weight, but God was still working behind the scenes. Christian music plays a big role in my ongoing fitness lifestyle. I’ve listed some of my favorites in this article. Here’s my story.
"You have nothing to lose and everything to gain." These words from my late grandfather motivated me to commit to a lifetime of fitness. It's been over 20 years since I made that decision, and it has transformed my life. Want proof? How about starting with 100 pounds?
Early on, many people said I had a genetic tendency for weight gain. In high school, I gained a significant amount of weight by eating everything in sight. At work, I fully took advantage of the $1.65 employee discount, indulging in Triple Whoppers with cheese, large fries, and extra-thick strawberry milkshakes—sometimes two or three times a day. At home, my favorite pastime was sitting in front of the TV and snacking on a big bowl of popcorn drizzled with butter. Afterwards, the leftover butter made a great dipping sauce.
Before my weight loss transformation, I was a 260-pound overweight man. Inside, I shared the same hopes as any other guy, especially to have a girlfriend. I was tired of seeing the so-called hot guys get the girls while I was met with disgusted looks.
My confidence shifted when my grandfather told me, “Seize the day--you have nothing to lose and everything to gain." Those words stayed with me. Years later, after starting fresh and living on my own, I joined a gym and lost weight. On May 18, 1998, my new life began.
I tracked my progress with a weight scale. Initially, I exercised with a mix of cardio and weight machines five days a week. The constant cardio made my pants looser, and I lost excess pounds. My diet also changed significantly: I stopped eating chips, very buttered popcorn, or fatty foods.
The rewards were astounding. I loved looking at pictures of myself, but people from my past no longer recognized me. I didn't even recognize myself.
After finishing my college education in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, I stayed at my parents' house for a few months while looking for a job. During that time, I ran into an old high school classmate at the bus stop. We were both surprised. When I knew him, he was a skinny kid who always joked about weight. He had gained some muscle, though. As for me? I was half the size I used to be—in a good way. He didn't believe it was me at first—until he looked more closely. That was proof I had really changed.
Workouts and active activities are part of my daily routine, four or five days a week. The answer is simple: God opened the door, and I walked through. However, I had to do the work as well. I hit the gym and lost 100 pounds. It wasn't easy; it took me a few years to achieve. I've fluctuated between 10 and 20 pounds over the years, but I've been able to maintain the weight loss. I've only missed one week of exercise in the past 20 years, which was due to a hospitalization. I also married God’s most beautiful woman.
I thought I knew everything about being healthy; what I learned was that, while I had lost weight (through a drastically reduced diet), there was much more to living a healthy and fit lifestyle.
Now, I have a home gym where I work out. Losing weight improved my confidence and appearance. My fit lifestyle will last for the rest of my life. When I had excess weight, I could barely walk; now, without it, I feel like I can fly. I had everything to gain and nothing to lose, after all.
Paul Phillips is a Canadian journalist with 20 years of experience writing and editing digital and print content. He specializes in health, fitness, nutrition, and travel. He loves music, movies, and, of course, living for Jesus.
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