Excerpt for the book Grateful Truce Pg. 129-131

CHAPTER 10: THE BODY OF EVIDENCE

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

The Great American Lie
We’ve built a cathedral of health hypocrisy:

• A Cabinet position for Health that oversees declining health
• “Nutrition” labels on boxes of diabetes-in-waiting
• Gyms full of people lifting weights to compensate for lifting forks too often

And the results speak for themselves:
We’re the most medicated, overweight, and spiritually malnourished generation in history – all while drinking more than our prohibition-era grandparents could have dreamed.

Sobriety’s Open Secret
When I first quit drinking, I made the rookie mistake of thinking abstinence alone would fix me. Instead, I became what recovering alcoholics affectionately call a “dry drunk” – sober in breath, but still toxic in every other way.

Then I discovered Paul’s warning: “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Three realizations changed everything:

1. Physical health isn’t vanity – it’s the foundation that keeps your house of cards from collapsing when life blows through
2. Mental clarity isn’t optional – it’s the difference between choosing a drink and being chosen by one
3. Spiritual strength isn’t church talk – it’s the anchor that keeps moderation from becoming justification

The Moderation Multiplier
Now that I drink responsibly, health isn’t just important – it’s the silent partner in every decision:

• A well-rested body naturally stops at “enough”
• A properly fueled brain doesn’t mistake thirst for craving
• A soul in conversation with God doesn’t need liquid courage

The AA Bait-and-Switch
Walk into any recovery meeting and you’ll see the tragic trade we’ve made:

• The newcomer: 140 lbs of shaky hope
• The 5-year veteran: 240 lbs of “sober” but metabolically doomed

We took “one day at a time” and turned it into “one donut at a time.” But Scripture warns: “The drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty.” (Proverbs 23:21)

Your Truce Toolkit

1. The Protein Pause
   Before reaching for a drink, eat 30g of actual food (not the chip-adjacent substances lining grocery aisles). Your blood sugar will thank you.
2. The Grocery Store Gauntlet
   If your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize it as food, it probably shouldn’t be your coping mechanism.
3. Strength Training as Spiritual Discipline
   Lift heavy weights 5x weekly – not for vanity, but because:

• Muscle regulates the hormones alcohol destroyed
• Nothing rebuilds self-respect like physical competence
• “Physical training is of some value…” (1 Timothy 4:8)

4. The 48-Hour Sugar Ceiling
   Enjoy dessert. Then prove you’re in control by avoiding added sugar for two days. This isn’t punishment – it’s demonstrating who’s in charge.

The Bottom Line
Your body keeps score whether you do or not. The same discipline that lets you moderate drinking will demand you moderate everything else. Because in the end:
“Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

End Excerpt.

The Sugar Trap: AA’s Open Secret

We’ve all seen it: Someone leaves alcohol behind only to drown in candy bars, soda, and late-night ice cream binges. “At least I’m not drunk!” they say—but the body doesn’t lie. Swapping a liquor bottle for a sugar high still keeps you chained to the craving cycle.

Here’s the hard truth:

• Sugar lights up the same brain pathways as alcohol (dopamine rush → crash → repeat).
• “Comatose falls” after dessert mirror passing out after drinking.
• Weight gain, inflammation, and fatigue become new battles—while the war for true freedom rages on.

I’m not here to shame anyone. But if we’re negotiating a truce with alcohol, let’s not surrender to another tyrant.

---

Why the “Miracle Fix” Industry Preys on Us

Flip on YouTube, and you’re bombarded with:

• “Lose 30 lbs with this one salt trick!”
• “Ozempic injections—just ignore the side effects!”
• “Lemon water detoxes!” (Spoiler: Your liver already detoxes.)

Here’s reality:

• Our food is poisoned (chemicals, hormones, processed junk).
• Our environment is toxic (air, water, stress).
• Yet some people thrive anyway. How?

Look at UFC fighters, NBA athletes—99% are in peak shape. Not because of miracles, but because they:

1. Move daily (even when they don’t feel like it).
2. Eat intentionally (not “perfectly”).
3. Respect their body as a temple (even when the world makes it hard).

---

The $10/Month Solution That Works

Gym memberships? $30+/month plus fees—and most people quit or gain weight. Here’s what I use instead:

• BODI App ($120/year, often on sale for $99):
  • Tailored workouts (cardio, weights, yoga—no boredom).
  • Nutrition plans (no starvation, just real food).
  • Age/gender-specific programs (because 50-year-old knees aren’t 20-year-old knees).

Last year, I lost 1o lbs. using their “Dig Deeper with Shawn T” program. I achieved this not with willpower, but with consistency. Meanwhile, I gained muscle mass.

---

Your Truce Challenge

1. Audit Your Swaps:
   • Are you trading alcohol for sugar, caffeine, or other numbing agents?
2. Move Today:
   • Walk 10 minutes. Do 5 push-ups. Something > nothing.
3. Try One Week of BODI (or Any Structured Program):
   • Notice how cravings shift when your body feels strong.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?” —1 Corinthians 6:19

---

Final Thought

Moderation isn’t just about alcohol—it’s about balance in all things. You can reclaim your health from addiction’s wreckage. Start small. Start today.

P.S. Hate workouts? Comment below with your biggest hurdle. Love sugar? Share your favorite healthy swap

Like, share, subscribe—and let’s get stronger together.