Susan Gurev, one of The Daniel Plan’s “biggest losers,” shares where she’s been, what she’s learned and her results from adopting a healthy lifestyle.

Before The Daniel Plan

For years I have struggled with my weight and losing the battle. I would diet and lose weight, but always ended up gaining back what I’d lost and more. I felt horrible in my own skin and knew that I needed to lose weight but felt powerless and out of control. My blood pressure was creeping up; I had developed sleep apnea and was not able to engage in anything that required a lot of physical activity.

I was very excited when Pastor Rick announced The Daniel Plan. I had been feeling very defeated and felt that no matter how hard I tried, I still continued to struggle with food and my weight kept going up. I was hopeful that The Daniel Plan would provide an answer.

What I’ve Learned

The most significant thing I learned from The Daniel Plan was realizing my motivation for healthy eating and living is to be a good steward of what God has given me – specifically, my body and my health. I realized that I have not been caring for my most important asset: Myself! I made a decision on January 15, 2011 to present myself to Him as a living sacrifice. This decision has changed my life. I don’t struggle with food like I used to. It’s not me against the brownies or the French fries. It’s just me doing my best to present my body as a living sacrifice to my Lord.

Results From The Daniel Plan

After the first Daniel Plan seminar, I dove right in. I walked away from coffee, diet sodas, fast food, sugars, white breads and processed foods and replaced those things with fresh fruit and vegetables, chicken and fish, whole sprouted grains, vitamins and started walking everyday. The results have been amazing. I have lost over 58 pounds, and my blood pressure has gone from 135/80 to 108/63. I have the stamina and energy of much younger person.

As my motivation for healthy living is to be a good steward of what God has given me, I give myself to Him each and every new day and ask for help to live in a way that is pleasing to Him. I pray before each meal and am truly thankful for the food I am about to eat and for the health He has given me. I strive to be intentional in my living and in my eating and I do not mindlessly just shove food in my mouth. I think about living in a way that glorifies Him. Most importantly, I don’t see The Daniel Plan as a “diet,” but as a new way of living my life.

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