Denise:  Hey everybody. So today I have on with me, one of our women from the Catholic weight loss breakthrough. Monica and Monica’s been in several of our programs, and she’s going to be sharing with us her story of what clicked for her once she came into the Catholic weight loss breakthrough. So welcome, Monica. 

Monica: Thank you. 

Denise: Monica before we get started with your journey with Breakthrough, can you tell all of the women listening just a little bit about yourself?

Monica: I’m 60 years old, young. I’m a nurse and I enjoy my work most days. I work in recovery with patients after they had surgery. I have a really wonderful husband. We’ve been married. 36 years. Wow. So we’re doing good. And my son is 25 and he’s wonderful. And I’m very blessed and I have a, I belong to the church I was baptized in.

Denise: Wow. 

Monica: And that gives me a lot of sense of family. We’re very active there.

Denise: Yeah, I bet a lot of people cannot say that they still attend the church where they were baptized.  You’re a cradle Catholic. You’ve had your faith since you were born.

Monica: Yes.

Denise: What a gift. Let’s just dive right in. So before joining the Breakthrough Program, and if you guys don’t know what the Breakthrough Program is, the Breakthrough Program is a program that we have for six months, and we’ve changed it to a year long, and it’s a year dedicated to really focusing on all of the obstacles that are standing in the way of being at a healthy weight.

And it’s different than the other programs that we have in that it is a more intense look where you are actively pursuing progress every single week and not just at a self pace. So Monica, before you came into Breakthrough, what was your relationship with food and weight and yourself like on a day-to-day basis?

Monica: Food took up most of my thoughts. It still takes up more than I would like, but I have seen definite improvement. My mood based on the scale and how quote controlled my eating was. I could be strict for a while, sometimes even a long while, but then I feel like, out of restriction. Then when I would allow myself something, I would misuse food. 

Denise: Yeah. 

Monica: Rather than just enjoying it.

Denise: Yeah. So you’re either strict or overeating.

Monica: Yes.

Denise: Not that in-between of just having the peace. Yeah. Okay. And you’d already done 63 Surrendered, right? And you’d done restore, and you’d even done one-on-one coaching.

Monica: Yes.

Denise: You were really invested in overcoming this, but what still felt stuck or unresolved for you?

Monica: The main thing. It still can be a struggle, but trusting in God really taking care of it and giving up the diet ways.

Denise: Yeah. Being willing to not diet. And when you say letting God take care of it, what does that look like in a practical sense? If you let God take care of it, what does that look like?

Monica: As most women in the group or have or will be saying, the surrender prayer every day. But I really try to say it. I don’t think I’ve missed a day but just really to tuning into it and trying to think about that throughout the day. And just knowing that I can’t control this. This has been a lifelong problem for me. So just knowing that I can have food peace with being in peace with God and how I’m handling it.

Denise: Yeah. Peaceful heart is truly the foundation for everything to be able to have peace in our food, peace in our marriages, peace in relationships, peace at work. 

Monica: Yes. 

Denise: That’s so true. So when you joined Breakthrough, what were you hoping breakthrough might help you with that the other things couldn’t do for you?

Monica: Truly giving up my grip. And trusting in the Lord. And just putting it in his hands.

Denise: So let me just go back to before you were on breakthrough and you felt like your thoughts were controlled by food. That you had a lot of food thoughts and that your food felt like it was in extremes. It was either restricting and dieting, or it was overeating and off the rails.

Monica: That pretty well describes it. And it affects my mood a lot.

Denise: Yeah. How did that affect your mood? How did feel physically, emotionally, even spiritually

Monica: Defeated? Not doing God’s will.

Denise: And I think, Monica, what’s so bananas is that until we step back and look at. Food as a real disconnect between us and the Lord. ’cause so many women just feel like it’s just not that big of a deal, or the Lord doesn’t care, or He’s got bigger problems, or I should be able to handle this on my own.

But when we are constantly feeling defeated the lie of the enemy, when we’re constantly feeling defeated and that we’re not in the Lord’s will, he’s but I’m right here. And so it is so holy to be able to find peace with food. It really is part of our sainthood journey.

Monica: I agree a hundred percent.

Denise: And so when you came into Breakthrough  was there something that felt immediately different?

Monica: I think. Yes. I think it was just, I had tried before, but I just felt like with the breakthrough I was all in. And that all in.

Denise: Yeah. You were different. You were stepping up to yourself in a new way.

Monica: Exactly. A hundred per, yes.

Denise: Okay. And what in the program, what really helped you do that in a new way for yourself? Like the coaching calls or the Slack group or what, where were you showing up differently? 

Monica: I think the coaching calls, I listened to ’em. More than once. I’m rarely able to participate because of my work schedule in the calls. But I spend time with listening and I try and take notes when I listen and then after I take my notes, when I listen and I like doing housework or in the car, I’ll listen again. And I was not doing that before. 

And our accountability groups that we had in the summer, that was a, that was helpful. And then we broke into partners and I have my accountability partner. We zoom every three or four weeks and we haven’t missed a day, and that’s been helpful. And I have done some one-on-one coaching. And I felt like after you and Sterling met for the retreat, I felt some of the energy from that. So I don’t know. I just felt like I was all in.

Denise: Yeah. Isn’t that interesting? And I think that’s part of the energy of the Catholic weight loss breakthrough, is that there’s a point where the woman who says yes to this program, there’s a flip switch the minute she says, yes, you’re saying yes to yourself in a new way.

And just the one example that you gave of listening to group coaching, which you’ve had group coaching before. You had many group coaching sessions that you’ve probably listened to, but listening and then taking notes, and then rereading your notes and really applying that to you. 

That’s just one example of how you’re stepping up for you in a new way. And I have to tell you, I have never once mentioned on a coaching call for someone to take notes. So that’s the Holy Spirit talking to you and you responding to that prompting.

Monica: Yes. I think it’s very helpful.

Denise: Yeah. That’s amazing. So what have you learned about yourself through breakthrough that’s been surprising to you? What has the Lord revealed to you?

Monica:  I think a lot of it, and I’ve been a. Paper person the whole time. I didn’t, I have not gotten the app or anything and I also reread my papers sometimes from a couple months ago, what was going on with me. 

But I think God truly wanting you to love yourself out of worship and love others, of course, but love yourself. Out of worship of him because sometimes I feel like, we’re our, all our own worst enemies kinda, and like you get down on yourself. 

And I’m not to say that I’ve not done that sometimes, but I just think that’s not what he wants. He wants me to have food freedom and not be so hard on myself. It’s really important. That’s one of the things in my paperwork that I tell myself every day that God wants this for me and it’s out of worship of him.

Denise: And so I know that has really helped you because you’ve had some physical change.

Monica: Yes, I’ve lost some weight. It’s been very slow and steady, and I haven’t weighed maybe four times since July. But I’m down 12 pounds and I feel like what you and Sterling have said, like this is the last time. Would I like to be down 40 pounds? Yeah. 

But I feel like this is more of a change in me rather than in my body, my relationship with food and just the food freedom and knowing that, although I would like. Everybody would like to lose more, but I think it’s just gonna be coming off slowly. And God wants this for me, and I believe that because he wants us to love ourselves, and I think that’s been a breakthrough for me.

Denise: Yeah. Yeah. Do you remember when that clicked for you?

Monica: I went on a pilgrimage and I prayed for all the women and every day in the all the weight loss with the Holy Spirit, but particularly the breakthrough. And when I first came home, I’ll be honest, I was in a funk. 

But then when I finally kinda, I was just in such a spiritual high during this. Being close to God and then when you get home to real life. But then when I stepped back and relived that, it just brought me closer to God, which helped me with this program.

Denise: So you were in a funk.

Monica: I was on a spiritual high. I truly was. ’cause it was amazing. My pilgrimage. So I went with people that I’d met at the Eucharistic Congress. They were people I’d never met and they just sat next to me and then we bonded. I went and stayed at one of their houses and they, their church, went on. St. Monica’s went on a pilgrimage and I went with them and the priest was amazing.

And the places we went were amazing and when I came home, I had to work two days in a row and it was ugly and my one patient went crazy on me and I was like, oh my gosh. I’m gonna eat.. But then I did, I was just in a funk, but then I just took some time for myself. Not that I ever did not do my daily work, and then I felt at peace more. I don’t know if that meant.

Denise: Yeah. Monica, I missed one piece in that. So you came back, you had two hard days of work. Somebody went crazy on you and you wanted to eat. Did you say you did eat or you did not eat?

Monica: I did.

Denise:  Okay. And so are you finding that you are I know your work is a real stress for you and that really.

Monica: It can be.

Denise: And that has led to nervous eating. Have you noticed that you’re handling and can you tell me about a time  that describe a situation where you’ve handled something differently than you would’ve handled it before? Breakthrough.

Monica: We had a work retirement party for someone last week and went in the room and I planned what I was gonna have and I brought my own things to supplement ’cause I didn’t know what kinda, and I ate it and I enjoyed it and it was.

And I came home and ate my regular food and. That was a big breakthrough. ’cause I normally would go back and eat all this craziness. And I was like, no, I’m not gonna do that. And I’ve, but I did plan and I did eat some sweets, but I moved on and I enjoyed ’em. 

Denise: That’s right. 

Monica: And Thanksgiving, I enjoyed ’em, but I moved on.

Denise: Yeah. You at Thanksgiving and you said before breakthrough, you were eating in extremes. You were either restricting and dieting or overeating. 

Monica: Yes. 

Denise: But what you just described at the retirement party is called self-care  and enjoying food, not using it. 

Monica: Exactly. 

Denise: Yeah. The way the Lord wants you to enjoy food.

Monica: Yes. 

Denise:  And when you came back from that pilgrimage. You had those two hard days at work and your patient went crazy on you and you turned to food after that. How did you handle it differently now that you’ve been through breakthrough? And how would you have handled eating food, because you were stressed out, how would you have talked to yourself before breakthrough and dealt with it before breakthrough?

Monica: Before breakthrough? It probably would’ve been a month of it. Wow. But I have had times where I have some nervous eating, but it’s not, is drawn out and I just, I feel God just telling me, Hey, this. Just move on. And I think I have had a breakthrough that way and I been able to move on.

Denise: Yeah. The question is, so you had those couple days and then of course you overate and you turned to food, which because we’re all human. 

Monica: Yes. 

Denise: Yeah. And instead of it being a month of overeating. What was it this time? How did that play out?

Monica: I did some reflection work and just part of breakthrough and I feel like it just, and ran some models and it just brought me back. After the spiritual high, then I evened out and enjoyed my food, but don’t abuse it like I was.

Denise: Yeah. And that’s what we really teach it is we are human and we will overeat, but we’re overeating or and we’re going to emotionally eat, but we’re doing it a lot less. And every time we do, there’s something to learn from it.

There’s something, there’s a way that we needed more support. And so if we take the time to reflect, like you said, we can see where we need more support and can reconnect with the Lord. So what feels possible for you now that you didn’t think was possible before?

Monica: I feel that it’s possible to plan and enjoy treats and not  feel guilty about ‘ em. Just make ’em part of my plan and go with the plan. I’ve also been trying to work with fullness levels and being satisfied and eating slower and not being just, want, just trying to like just giving it. To God.

Denise: Yeah. Becoming aware more of your hunger and fullness and letting him guide you.

Monica: Yes, and sometimes if I’m at home, like I’ll eat. If it’s just me at lunchtime or whatever, like I’ll eat and then I’ll do something and I’m like, am I still hungry? And I’ll go back. At work you don’t have a choice. You have to eat fast. But I try and, slow it down best I can.

Denise: So if there’s a woman who has already done 63 surrendered, she’s already done restored, she’s already done one-on-one coaching, why might breakthrough be the next step for her?

Monica: I think that breakthrough. Would be the next step because the smaller groups and a personal attention and the Slack groups and the coaching calls, I think that teaches a message where you just feel  like. This is my time. 

Denise: Yeah. 

Monica: It’s my commitment. This is what God wants for me. And by doing this I do feel closer to God.

Denise: Yeah. And I really think the key, honestly, Monica, is you just show up for yourself in a different way.

Monica: I believe that, yes.

Denise: Literally that is the biggest difference is that people are counting on you. That you have that smaller group, that smaller attention, and you can’t hide. And you can’t be lost. And you can’t be forgotten. Most important to yourself. You don’t forget yourself. So if you could go and I feel like, oh, go ahead.

Monica: It helped. It has helped me persevere, even we’re all human. I have over eaten, but I’ve persevered and just, and because of this program, I just gotten back to the work.

Denise: Yeah, and that’s exactly what it is. It is staying in the work with this commitment. So I am curious. So before you came into weight loss with the Holy Spirit at all, like before any of this work, what percentage of the time do you think you were overeating or emotionally eating?

Monica: 50%.

Denise: Okay. And then you came into weight loss with the Holy Spirit restore. 63, surrendered one-on-one coaching, and then so that decreased it to what? Doing those three things.

Monica: 40 to 45 and I’d say I’m down to 20. mean. Maybe even 10.

Denise:  Yeah. Isn’t it?

Monica: It’s not like it was. Yes.

Denise: So you’ve had the greatest reduction in the last five months.

Monica: Yes.

Denise: What do you think is making that possible?

Monica: The support of the breakthrough? Work at the Breakthrough

Denise: And you’re the one that’s doing the work though, Monica. You have to remember that you could easily be in this group and choose to not come to anything and not do any of the work. So it’s you partnering with the Lord and doing that. Yeah. So if you could go back and speak to your Before breakthrough, you. Okay, so before you’re even in breakthrough, what would you tell her about starting this journey in Breakthrough?

Monica: That it’s worth it. That I should pursue it?

Denise: Yeah. Monica, thank you so much for your time sharing about the program. Is there anything else that you want to say to the woman who may be contemplating, do I wanna do breakthrough? Do I not? Is it the right thing for me? What advice would you give her to help her discern?

Monica: I feel like. It’s really helped me and it’s been worth the time and money that I have committed to. Okay.

Denise: Yeah, and the truth is that we all have such a close relationship with the Lord and that. Someone’s already done 63 surrendered. If they’ve already done these other programs they’re walking closely with the Lord and he is already prompting them about what he wants. 

And so women just need to go talk to him and ask, is this what he wants from me? Yeah. Thank you Monica, and for all of you listening, we’re opening the doors to Breakthrough. We’ll put a link in the description of this podcast. 

The breakthrough program will start January, 2026, so the doors for our next round of. 2026 ladies is currently open, so you can just click the link in the description and check out more about the program.

So thank you so much, Monica. 

Monica: Thank you. Take care.