Caregiving is relentless. The needs don't pause, the stress doesn't politely wait, and the temptation to put ourselves last feels almost virtuous. But in this episode of Hope for the Caregiver, I push back on a lie many of us live with: that our health is expendable.

Joined by my longtime friend and health coach Dale Richardson, we talk candidly about weight, stress eating, and the quiet ways caregivers drift into unhealthy patterns, especially during the holidays. This isn't about shame, gimmicks, or willpower. It's about intentionality.

I share my own journey, losing weight, gaining it back during months in the hospital with Gracie, and then recommitting again, not out of vanity, but out of necessity. I'm no good to my wife if I'm fat, broken, and miserable. That hard truth drives everything.

Dale helps reframe food not as comfort, reward, or failure, but as fuel. Emotional eating isn't a moral flaw. It's often a stress response. The question isn't "Why am I weak?" but "What am I carrying?" Caregivers already know the answer.

We talk about simple, sustainable choices: • Eating with a plan, especially at holidays • Understanding portions without demonizing food • Why "starting over Monday" keeps us stuck • The value of accountability that doesn't condemn • Staying active in real life, not just gyms and step counters

We also explore why community matters. Lone-ranger caregiving is dangerous. Having someone who understands the weight you carry, and walks with you toward healthier choices, can change everything.

The episode closes with a reminder grounded in Advent hope and the hymn Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Christ did not come for people who had it together. He came for the weary, the burdened, and the broken. That includes caregivers.

You don't accidentally get healthy. But with intention, support, and grace, you can move toward strength, not just for yourself, but for those who depend on you.

Healthy caregivers make better caregivers. Your future self, and your loved one, will thank you.

The 2026 Caregiver Calendar is now available! Click for more information!