“Experience food, faith, and fulfillment a whole new way,” promises the subtitle of Sheri Rose Shepherd’s inspirational new weight-management book, “If You Have a Craving, I Have a Cure,” (Tyndale, 2012).

As someone who definitely gets cravings, I was interested in what she had to share–especially after going from being fifty pounds overweight to becoming a beauty pageant queen.

No, not me. Sheri!

Although, I have never entered a beauty pageant, I certainly relate to Sheri’s struggle with body image and self-acceptance.

Sheri’s book is organized into fifteen brief chapters that address different types of cravings, such as “Craving More Energy,” “Craving Something Sweet,” and “Craving an Adventure.”

“Too many times,” Sheri says in her introduction, “we are so focused on what we are not allowed to do and what we should not eat that we end up feeling deprived and depressed… We waste too many of our days feeling bored and burned out on our faith, while battling the guilt that comes from craving the food we love.”

Rather than focusing on denying ourselves, Sheri encourages readers to focus on what they really want. Craving energy?

First Shepherd focuses on what she calls, “Soul Food.” Try to let go of the need to control every little detail of your life and trust God. “For I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” she quotes Philippians 4:13. Reading this reminded me of a time shortly after my fifth child, Asher had been born. I was taking our seven-year-old daughter, Ruth, who was in a wheelchair, from a doctor’s appointment. Asher was dangling in a sling from my chest as I turned around to pull Ruth’s wheelchair through a heavy glass door.

“You really have your hands full!” a couple on their way inside commented. “How do you do it?”

Instantly this same Scripture came to mind. It was all I could do to keep from blurting it out! Later I wished I had.

Sheri’s other tips on increasing energy include the physical: exercise, staying hydrated, and eliminating excess. She then follows this with a short prayer and seven energizing recipes–including “Steak Supreme Salad” and “Cajun Jumbo Shrimp Kebabs.”

Yum! With more than one hundred healthful recipes, this is a book you can sink your teeth into!

To encourage readers in their healthy New Year’s resolutions, I’m giving away one copy of Sheri’s book, which was provided free to me to review by the publisher. To enter my drawing, simply post a comment on my web site anytime in January or subscribe to my journal. The winner will be announed on Facebook on February 1. The book ships free anywhere in the U.S. Thanks for entering!!!

Below Shepherd shares her story: