So, since we were talking about weight loss a few threads back:
What is everyone's opinion of "Christian" weight loss programs, such as the Weigh Down Workshop or Thin Within - where you are basically supposed to eat whatever your body is craving - as long as you wait until you are completely empty and stop eating immediately when you're full? The whole theory of "listening to the Holy Spirit" telling you when to stop eating...
I'm not considering either of them (let's just say, "been there, done that, got the T-shirt") - I much prefer the old fashioned "eating less and exercising more" method - it's tried and true . Once our finances stabilize, I'm thinking of rejoining Weight Watchers...since my gym is free now, I won't have to choose!!
Just thought I'd start an interesting discussion...just in time for swimsuit season .
First of all, I definitely do not recommend Weigh Down Workshop. They turned into a cult. For more information on this, just google them and you will see the countless articles. It started when it came out that Gwen did not believe in the Trinity but then blossomed from there when she started her own church, "The Remnant" and got into some pretty dangerous teachings. We used to have WDW in our church but when we found out about all this, got rid of it. I would definitely advise you to stay away from it.
I know nothing about Thin Within so can't comment.
However, as far as the premise that you describe about eating only when hungry, etc. I definitely do not subscribe to it. I used to - thinking, "isn't that biblical? When you get hungry it's a signal to eat..." But there is more to it than that. Being in weight watchers, having training on nutrition from that, and keeping 40 pounds off myself over the past two years has shown me that God designed the body for regular fuel. We are not to ever come to the point of feeling like we are ravenous. This takes our blood sugar all the way down, causes the shakes in many people, makes us feel unstable. God designed the body for regular sized portions on a regular basis. Most people do not understand portion size, that's the problem.
We need ALL the food groups, and we need them in smaller increments throughout the day. That's really how I believe God designed us. As for me I do best eating 3 balanced meals a day with normal portion sizes (most things are not over 1/2 cup or 1 cup) and then 2 healthy snacks per day, usually things like low fat cheese, no fat yogurt, veggies, etc.
When I allow myself to go without eating until I feel hungry, I start to drop things, get clumsy, sometimes light headed or headache. Now I ask you, how can that be God? But many people feel that once you have come to that point, then it's time to eat. I say it was time to eat an hour before that, something healthy, to avoid this unstable feeling in your body where your blood sugar is out of whack.
I'm not for starving, or fads. Just normal food. Normal eating. Regular amounts. Drinking water. Working out. I walk or bike, about 3 miles a day or get on the elliptical at the gym. These are the things that do it. It's not easy. It's the hardest thing ever, some days. But it works.
I tried "Thin Within" for awhile - it's pretty much identical to Weigh Down, minus the anti-Trinitarian, cultish beliefs, lol!
And yeah...I think most people "bottom out" when they get too empty. You're right - it can't possibly be the way God designed our bodies - for migraine headaches, nausea, and dizziness to be the signals to eat something?!?!?
Heck, no! I need to eat! Baby carrots have become a favorite of mine for afternoon snacking - as the saying goes, "No one ever got fat because they ate too many carrots!" And in our line of work, we need to stay energized throughout the day...
. Once our finances stabilize, I'm thinking of rejoining Weight Watchers...since my gym is free now, I won't have to choose!!
