Mandisa And Weight Loss: The Story Of An 'Overcomer'

Mandisa, American Idol Season 5 Finalist, has come a long way since Idol, losing over 100 pounds and continuing to strive to create inspirational music and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

On July 1, Mandisa tweeted, "Who has 2 thumbs & lost 3.8lbs this wk? This girl!  Woohoo! Victory comes 1 step, 1 decision & 1lb at a time! I will #PressOn! #Overcomer."

In an interview with Beliefnet, Mandisa explained that she has always had a tricky relationship with food because it was something that she would turn to for comfort and escape from the difficult situations she faced in her life.  "I was molested as a child and raped when I was 16. My parents divorced when I was 2. My father moved away to Texas, and I started feeling lonely and abandoned. Food was where I could turn to that made me forget about all that," she said.  "It was my friend, but it betrayed me. I ended up being morbidly obese. By the time I auditioned for American Idol, I was at my heaviest weight."

Mandisa was over 300 pounds when she auditioned for Idol and she was left feeling humiliated after Simon Cowell (American Idol judge) made a joke at her expense during the premiere episode saying, "Do we have a bigger stage this year?"  It was at that time that Mandisa decided to become pro-active about her weight and to address the issue on a public level.

It has been difficult for her to battle with her addiction to food, however, she has found that her faith has literally been her saving grace.  "I did a lot of praying. I memorized a lot of Scripture. That's what helped me to resist. I don't believe you can just stop doing something. I think you have to replace it. I replaced it with God. Instead of turning to food now, I turn to Him. I found it satisfies me more than a Krispy Kreme doughnut ever could," she said.

She has lost over 100 pounds since American Idol and continues to lose weight through her steadfast faith and through living a healthy lifestyle.  "I love dancing, and so I've found that that burns a lot of calories and it's fun," Mandisa said during and appearance on Aol's, 'The Doctors,' in October, 2012.

However, Mandisa found that, although she was doing all of the right things, she hit a plateau at one point where she stopped losing weight and wasn't sure why. It turned out that her Vitamin D levels were extremely low, which seemed to have a negative effect on the way that her body accomplished certain process.

It has continued to be a struggle for her, although she continues to work hard to persevere.  "It's the worst.  Like, I am very diligent to remember that it's a daily battle and that every discussion I mess up, to get myself up, but I'm tired of messing up so much," Mandisa said in an interview with 'The Doctors' in February.

Mandisa's weight-loss journey has really been a driving force behind her music from the beginning.  "My music is based on my life, when I began my weight loss journey, that was really when I began my second album which is called, 'Freedom,' and that is so appropriate because I honestly can say that I have been set free, I have been delivered somewhere between 100 and 120 pounds that I've lost," she said on 'The Doctors' in October, 2012.  "It is one step at a time and so if me being honest and vulnerable can help inspire somebody in that area, that's what I want to do."

Mandisa has a new single, entitled 'Overcomer,' that has already been released to radio and will be released for purchase on July 9.  The new song speaks of trusting in the Lord and knowing that, through Him we can overcome any obstacles that  stand in our way.  Mandisa is also set to release her upcoming album, 'Overcomer,' on August 27.

Although her weight loss is something that Mandisa continues to struggle with from time to time, this is one 'Overcomer' who isn't likely to be giving up any time soon.