I think a lot of people share their health journey after the fact.
After the weight is lost.
After the habits are built.
After the “before and after” makes sense.
After that, they can package the whole story into something neat and inspiring.
And I understand why.
It feels safer to speak from the other side of success than from the middle of the process.
But I am realizing that the middle matters too.
The messy middle.
The honest middle.
The part where you are not finished, not polished, and not fully “there” yet.
That is where I am right now.
I have already lost 20 pounds, and I am working toward losing 20 to 25 more. I am trying to simplify my food, quiet the mental noise, reduce decision fatigue, and learn how to care for my body with more consistency and intention. I am also trying to become more aligned on the outside with the woman I believe God is shaping me to be on the inside: grounded, disciplined, feminine, peaceful, and strong.
And I do not want to wait until I have everything figured out to talk about it.
I want to share this journey in real time.
Not because I have all the answers.
Not because I have found the perfect formula.
But because I think there is something valuable about honesty while you are still in the work.
Most of us are used to hearing the polished version:
Here is what worked.
Here is how I changed.
Here is my success story.
But what about the days when you are still learning?
What about the weeks when you are trying to build better habits while also fighting overwhelm, managing a home, teaching, cooking, cleaning, and showing up for the people around you?
What about the moments when your biggest battle is not hunger itself, but food noise, mental clutter, and the exhaustion of too many choices?
That is the part I want to talk about.
Because maybe someone else is there too.
Maybe someone else is tired of all-or-nothing thinking.
Maybe someone else is worn down by the constant pressure to be perfect before they are visible.
Maybe someone else needs permission to build a better life slowly, quietly, imperfectly, and in public.
That is what I want Purposeful Wilderness to be.
Not a place where I only share the finished version of myself, but a place where I can tell the truth about growth while it is happening.
I want to write about the meals that are helping me simplify things.
The systems that reduce food noise.
The spiritual lessons I am learning are about discipline, stewardship, identity, and self-control.
The small victories.
The frustrating days.
The deeper reasons I want to change.
The practical side and the heart side.
And maybe someday, I would love to talk about all of this on the podcast, too.
Because this kind of journey is not just about weight.
It is about renewal.
It is about bringing the hidden parts of life into the light.
It is about learning to live with more purpose instead of more chaos.
It is about asking God to transform not just how I look, but how I think, how I choose, and how I live.
I do not want to become obsessed with appearances.
I do want to become more intentional.
I do want to care for my body with gratitude instead of frustration.
I do want to live with less distraction and more peace.
So this is me saying it out loud, before the ending is written:
I am in the middle of the journey.
I am learning in real time.
I am changing in real time.
I am trying to build a quieter, healthier, more purposeful life in real time.
And I think that matters too.
Maybe even especially.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. -Romans 12:2 (NLT)
That kind of transformation usually does not happen all at once.
It happens little by little.
Choice by choice.
Day by day.
This is one of those days.
And I am grateful to begin.
This week’s plan:
To help reduce food noise, I am keeping my meals very simple right now.
I eat in a general 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm window and plan to repeat a small group of meals instead of reinventing things every day. This will hopefully help me reduce decision fatigue and make healthier choices without overthinking them.
Here is the simple meal plan routine I am using this week:
Meal options:
- Chicken rice bowl
- Ground beef rice bowl
- Shredded chicken salad with a small rice portion
Optional snack options:
- Cottage cheese/ honey/ frozen fruit
- Meat and cheese
- Sliced peppers/French onion dip mix/ Greek yogurt dip
Batch Cooking Ideas:
- Chicken (shredded)
- Chicken (cubed)
- Ground beef (crumbled)
- rice/ quinoa mix
- Sauteed onions
- Oven-roasted potatoes
Prep Ideas:
- Cut fresh red/ yellow/ orange bell peppers
- Make Greek yogurt onion dip
These are not fancy meals, but that is part of the point. Right now, I do not need more options. I need more peace. I need meals that are easy to prep, easy to repeat, and easy to say yes to without turning food into a constant conversation in my head. I hope this helps you, my friend.
Action Step
Before the week begins, choose 3 simple meals and 3 easy snacks you can repeat. You can always ‘jazz them up’ with different seasonings, sauces, and dips.
Write them down somewhere visible and make those decisions ahead of time.
This is not about being restrictive.
It is about reducing noise.
You do not need more options this week.
You need more peace.
Until next time, keep taking the next faithful step.
In the wilderness, but not without purpose,
Jenn