Amy Perry, a member of the gospel group Selah, has openly shared her lifelong struggles with weight and her journey towards a healthier lifestyle. Her story is not just about pounds lost, but about emotional and spiritual growth, and finding a balance between personal well-being and the demands of family and ministry. This article delves into Amy Perry's weight loss journey, highlighting her challenges, triumphs, and the lessons she has learned along the way.
The Beginning: A Cry for Help
Amy Perry's weight issues began early in life. She recalls being told that she would be "beautiful if I would just lose some weight," which significantly impacted her self-esteem. To cope with these feelings, she turned to food. In May 2010, as she and her husband considered starting a family, Amy realized she needed to address her health. She weighed 282 pounds and suffered from frequent sinus and ear infections. "I was sick and tired of being sick and tired," she confessed. It was then that she "cried out to God" for help.
Grace and Strength: A Turning Point
On May 19, 2010, Amy began the Grace and Strength diet with the ambitious goal of losing 100 pounds. Within six months, she achieved 70% of her goal. Despite her travel schedule making the protocol challenging, Amy emphasized that the emotional benefits were invaluable. She describes losing "anger, bitterness, rebellion, feelings of no self-worth," and letting go of "grudges over past wounds." Amy felt that God had placed the right person in her life to help her, and she no longer felt alone in her struggles.
The Yo-Yo Effect and Renewed Focus
Over the years, Amy's journey has been marked by ups and downs. A year after starting Grace and Strength, she acknowledged gaining weight during a spring break when she "kind of just didn’t try." She returned to the protocol and lost eight pounds, working her way back to her goal. However, she expressed frustration with feeling like she was constantly restarting her journey.
In one entry, Amy mentioned that May 19 marked her third anniversary with Grace and Strength, but she was "no where near where I wanted to be." Her counselor, Cyndi, advised her to journal and pray in preparation for a new start date. This time, she decided against HCG, agreeing with her husband's concerns. Her motivation shifted from wanting a healthy pregnancy to wanting to be healthy for her son, Josiah, and to enjoy playing with him.
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The Oxygen Mask Principle
Amy candidly admitted to struggling with her diet and health, especially during the summer when travel made it difficult to stay on track. She experienced a cycle of cheating, gaining weight, losing weight, and then gaining again. Quitting for a while provided temporary relief, but she soon realized that "it really creeps up on you; a pound here, a pound there, then the next thing you know you’re back to square one."
A conversation with Cyndi proved to be a turning point. Cyndi pointed out that Amy was so busy taking care of everyone else that she was neglecting her own needs. She used the analogy of an oxygen mask on an airplane, emphasizing that "if I don’t put the oxygen mask on myself first, no one else survives." This resonated deeply with Amy, who realized that taking care of herself was not selfish but essential for the well-being of her family and ministry. She decided to recommit to the protocol, recognizing that "if I don’t take care of me, then the me that all those things are getting isn’t the me I want them to have, it isn’t the me they deserve."
Accountability and Self-Compassion
Amy acknowledged the importance of accountability, but also the challenges that come with it. She admitted to sometimes dodging phone calls or delaying text replies to avoid confessing her struggles. However, she recognized the need to be honest with herself and to correct any areas of her life that were "out of control."
Drawing inspiration from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Amy emphasized the importance of discipline and perseverance. She stated, "We need to allow ourselves to be lovingly rebuked and then get our butts back on track." Despite the difficulties, Amy remained committed to "beat[ing] my body and make it my slave."
Body Image and Postpartum Challenges
After giving birth to her son, Josiah, Amy faced new challenges with her body image. She shared a vulnerable moment of crying in a store because clothes didn't fit. "I thought I had grown past the place where I cried when clothes don’t fit, after all, I just had a baby." She felt pressure to look cute at Women of Faith events, comparing herself to the other speakers. However, her husband's encouragement helped her through this difficult time.
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Comparing her progress on the Grace and Strength diet in 2010 to 2012, Amy noticed she was losing weight more slowly the second time around. While she initially felt like a failure, she quickly reframed her perspective. "Failures don’t lose 19 pounds in 28 days; failures don’t lose 1 pound in 28 days; to fail something means to fall short of succeeding at it; well I am succeeding at it." She recognized that her circumstances were different, with a baby and a busy touring schedule, and that she deserved to give herself a break.
Embracing Imperfection and Moving Forward
Amy emphasized the importance of self-compassion and not dwelling on mistakes. "2010 Amy would have let those failure thoughts marinate for hours, maybe even days. She would have let them take her into a big cheat, possibly even quitting. She would have looked in the mirror and cried, 'What is wrong with me??'" But 2012 Amy knew that God's love for her was unchanging, regardless of her weight.
She encouraged others who struggle with self-criticism to "Just get up, brush off yesterday and take one step forward. Some days that’s all we can do, and that’s okay. Some days you just gotta stay where you are, and that’s okay too. And if you happen to be someone who’s realized that they moved backwards, that’s okay too."
Pregnancy and New Priorities
During her pregnancy, Amy acknowledged letting go of her strict diet and indulging in carbs. "I let myself go Carb crazy while I was pregnant, now I’m paying for it." She found it more challenging to lose weight after pregnancy, particularly in her legs. Despite the challenges, she looked forward to returning to Grace & Strength and fitting back into her old clothes.
Amy also shared an upsetting experience with an OB who criticized her "excessive weight gain." This contrasted with a previous visit where another doctor had praised her weight. Despite the negative feedback, Amy remained focused on eating healthy and providing good nutrients for her baby.
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The Army Wellness Center: A Model for Support
Amy's journey mirrors the experiences of many individuals who seek support in achieving their health and wellness goals. The Army Wellness Center (AWC) at Fort Lee, Va., provides a valuable model for comprehensive health assessments, physical fitness testing, individualized calorie recommendations, and stress management techniques. The success stories from the AWC highlight the importance of personalized support and resources in achieving sustainable lifestyle changes.
One such story is that of 1st Lt. Julia L. Andrews, who utilized the Wellness Center to meet the Army’s height and weight requirements. Allison, another AWC participant, shared how the center helped her overcome struggles with high blood pressure and improve her overall health. The AWC's non-judgmental approach and focus on education and support were key to her success.