Why I Do What I Do

by | Jun 7, 2025 | Uncategorized | 2 comments

I was at physical therapy, where I go to learn how to walk again after knee replacement surgery. I was getting to know my new therapist. I’ll call her Haley. I asked about why she went into physical therapy and if she enjoyed it.

Then, she turned the tables and asked what kind of work I did or have done. My, oh my, that takes a while to share. As I was thinking about what to tell her, I realized everything in my life has prepared me for what I do now. At 71 years of age, I should be retired. So for all practical purposes, I am. Still, I love to write, and I love to help women discover they can actually lose weight and keep it off.

Teresa Shields Parker at 430 pounds and 179 pounds.

While talking to Haley, I was missing a training session by Jennifer Allwood. The day before, she taught us how to state our business. I’d been working on it, but hadn’t gotten it down pat. Plus, Haley is a skinny girl who doesn’t need what I do at all!

So what do I do? Here’s the bottom line. “I guide women who want to lose weight by sharing lessons of my 250-pound weight loss through books, courses, personalized coaching, and working with God for transformation.”

Why do I do what I do? Well, at one time, my life was a complete mess. I weighed 430 pounds. I was exhausted, depressed, stressed, and tired of living. Fat and happy is a lie, especially when you are super morbidly obese and in constant pain.

A huge lesson I learned throughout my weight gain was that a diet is a short-term fix for a long-term problem. It never works for the long haul. It doesn’t change your habits. There is a much better way to lose weight and keep it off.

I had to understand my desire to constantly eat foods made with sugar was an addiction. Diets don’t work for addicts. I had to work with God and surrender my sinful desires to eat sugar every minute of the day. Yep, I am talking to someone right now!

It was only by relying on God that I was able to lose my astronomical amount of weight. I continue to stay close to Him because He is literally my Savior. He rescued me from death by sugar. A doctor had told me that if I didn’t lose at least 100 pounds and keep it off, I’d be dead in five years.

So I started working with God to do what I should have been doing all along. Losing the weight wasn’t easy. After I lost the weight, I started thinking about those who are out there suffering like I had been. That’s when God led me to start Overcomers Christian Weight Loss Academy to help others kick their fat goodbye.

Then, He led me to begin writing and designing courses to help others through the difficult times. We need to hear how others broke their bad eating habits. It’s not easy, but it is oh, so satisfying to NOT be carrying around all that extra weight.

After going through Inner Healing myself, I started offering one-on-one coaching. Sometimes we just need to talk to someone who’s been there. That’s when we discover issues that are holding us back from helping ourselves on our own journeys. The enemy likes to hide these issues, but if we allow God to reveal them to us, they can be gone in seconds.

After losing weight, this writer had to write about it. The first book I wrote was Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds, which is still my bestseller and a No. 1 Christian Weight Loss Memoir on Amazon. I’ve also written 10 other nonfiction books and study guides.

It was in 2024 when God told me it was time to begin to write the Fiction That Transforms series. This would be different from what I’d written up until then. The stories would be about fictional characters who use the tools that helped me lose a whole person! I know how crazy that sounds, almost like fiction, right?

What if you could read a fiction book that helped you lose weight and keep it off? I am already writing those books! Rebuilding Jayne: Her Father’s Protection is already on Amazon. 

Reconnecting Jayne: Her Sister’s Support is written and almost ready to launch. If you want to know when it launches, go to my website, https://TeresaShieldsParker.com, and look for the book as you scroll down the page. Click on details and sign up on the list to be notified when it launches.

We can transform our lifestyles into those that are whole and healthy, but only with God’s help. Sharing all of this information with others will help them decide what will help them on their transformation journeys. Or just share this post with them.

Are you ready to change your life? Here’s where to begin:

If you have a question about anything that will help you, please email me at [email protected].

2 Comments

  1. Ms. Thomas
    Ms. Thomas on July 5, 2025 at 11:43 am

    I found you because I was looking for others that God said “Cut it Off” which He then referred me to Matthew 18:8-9 and discussed about cutting off sugar. I accepted and it’s been 4 weeks now without withdrawal. My only problem, the desire to be with others is returning. Not really looking forward to that. I am 66 and would like to continue to write my own rules but I see that dissolving along with my need for sugar. When I said yes to God about putting sugar aside, I was unaware that doors I nailed shut were going to open again. Thank you for your article.

  2. Teresa K Parker
    Teresa K Parker on July 5, 2025 at 2:46 pm

    I do have a Facebook group, Overcomers Christian Weight Loss Academy. You can join by going to the weight loss and coaching tab, and here on my website, and then going to Overcomers. It’s actually a hybrid group. You will be taken to the Circle app to pay. Then, go to FB and search for Overcomers Christian Weight Loss Group and request to join.

    You don’t have to join the FB group, but that’s where most of the discussion is. And it’s much easier to ask questions there. And by the way, my friend, you do need others to affirm your rules are working for you instead of against you. You can share with them.

    We’d love to have you. BTW, just to let you know, I am 71, soon to be 72. You are still young in my opinion!