Have you ever blamed yourself for not eating well, exercising consistently, or having a body you just can’t seem to love? Me too. And, there’s a reason we share this struggle.

Getting healthy is hard. 

But it’s not because we lack willpower or haven’t found the right diet plan. It’s not because we haven’t mastered good habits or broken bad ones. The truth is, we were born into this fight. Our struggle began long before we were born...  

Our story started with Earth’s first inhabitants, Adam & Eve, a beautiful garden, a serpent, and a piece of fruit. One small not-so-great decision has impacted everything since. Everything.

Including our health.

Even if you’ve never been a regular church-goer, you’re probably familiar with the story that unfolded in the Garden of Eden. Whether or not you believe the Genesis account to be an accurate reflection of history, I encourage you to lean in and give this story a chance. Keep the door open to the possibility that this story matters.

More importantly, consider that this story just may hold the key to healing not only your health but your life.

My counseling training has led me to believe that sometimes it’s important to look back before we can move forward. Each of our lives is a collection of past choices. And those decisions have created today.

Sometimes, we chose independently. The consequence, good or bad, was solely our responsibility. But sometimes we were impacted by someone else’s choice. We didn’t choose. They did. And we suffer the consequences. 

Sometimes, we inherit a mess. 

Never has this been more true than with Adam & Eve’s choice in the Garden of Eden. We didn’t eat that piece of fruit. They did. They paid the price for their decision. And so did we. 

Our struggle for healthy living is included in this fallout. 

Why?

Because Adam and Eve were given a choice. Life or death.

Life was abundantly available if they trusted their Maker and resisted the only thing in the Garden they couldn’t eat... a single piece of fruit (ironic, huh?). But death was promised with just a single bite of that forbidden fruit. It was up to them.

And they bit.

The crunch resounds today. Can you hear it?  

Death became their inheritance. And ours. 

We can’t undo their decision. We’re tempted... daily... to follow in their footsteps. It’s easy to listen to wrong advice, give in to temptations, and stay stuck in a cycle of defeat. That’s exactly what the serpent wants us to do.

If we do this, the serpent wins.

But, it’s not the only path. We can choose differently.

Though death is ultimately promised to each of us (our inheritance), we can choose abundant life in-between our start and end date. It starts with a small decision. And then another. And another. 

What kind of decisions?

Daily ones. Small ones. Ones that enhance or life rather than detract from it.

Eat an extra vegetable. Drink a glass of water. Walk for five minutes. Give thanks for the body you have today (that’s a tough one... I know). The healthier our decisions and the more we practice them, the better able we are to carry out the unique purpose God has for us while we’re here. 

I can promise you, our purpose goes far beyond a number on a scale or the size of our jeans. 

The quality of our choices around things like food and exercise impacts our ability to be fully alive and well. But it’s hard sometimes. 

So I decided to write a book to make it a bit easier. It’s the part of the story we haven’t talked about before. It’s the part that makes all the difference in finally making peace with your life... mind, body, & spirit. 

It Began In The Garden is blanketed in Biblical truths observed in the Garden of Eden. When applying this new perspective alongside new strategies, we experience release from the shame, guilt, and self-punishment we’ve inflicted on ourselves for years because of food and our body. 

More specifically, It Began In The Garden will help you:

• Make small daily changes for big impact
• Release the blame and shame that have kept you stuck
• Have a “good enough” relationship with food 
• Embrace life beyond the scale     
• Live at peace with your body

You will find hope, encouragement, and resources for making fresh choices that will lead to a healthier future. The one you really want.

Caution... you may lose weight.

You may also develop better discipline and willpower. You may build new habits and break old ones. You may learn to eat better and exercise more consistently. 

If you really dive in and apply the principles in this book, you likely will. After all, physical, emotional and spiritual weight loss are the side effects of healthier choices. It’s about wellness... the whole body kind.

Adam and Eve made their life-altering decision. Now it’s your time to turn the same power of choice into the catalyst for your healthier future. One decision at a time. 

Welcome to your fresh beginning. 

To order It Began In The Garden on Amazon, CLICK HERE.