This has been a wonderful experience for me. My only regret is that I didn't enroll sooner. My results include developing a life long habit and desire to exercise, eating healthier than I ever have, and losing the first 25 pounds toward my ideal weight.
In some ways I am not surprised this accountability system worked for me because I have a "people pleaser" type of personality. While many mornings, early on, I was tempted to skip my walk I went anyway because I had to ask myself, "what will I tell Emily when she calls"?!
Perhaps just wanting to please my health counselor caused me to start healthful habits, but I also leaned many things that should serve me the rest of my life with or without that type of accountability. Perhaps the most important is that I can change bad habits and begin and maintain positive healthful habits- even at my age! Additionally, I learned that to set goals I am going to achieve, I must put them in the positive. In the past I believe I was always telling myself what "not" to do. Setting positive goals like eating 4 servings of vegetables and 4 servings of fruit a day, gave me something to work toward instead of just something to work against or avoid.
Concentrating intently on the diet and exercise changes I needed to make, I have not considered, until recently, how I might apply my new goal setting and habit changing skills to other areas of my life like spiritual disciplines. Using these new skills, I am excited to continue my healthful routines and develop new spiritual disciplines too.
The real test of my success with this program has not been the last 6 months but will be the next 6 months as I continue to progress, but under my own accountability. I hope to have continued good results to report then too.
This has been one of the great blessings in my life! I've lost weight and feel great and am now on a regular walking program and much more conscientious of my diet. I am convinced God providentially worked in my circumstances to bring me to Christian Care and Emily, my consultant, has been superb in guiding me to a loss (officially today of 24 pounds and 6 inches.)
I just wanted to share a few words about how the Health Initiatives Program has and is changing my life.
My wife and I served with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Cameroon, West Africa for many years. But since we returned to the US in 1996 my weight slowly crept up and up as my eating habits got worse and worse. Buy last April my weight had climbed up to 205 pounds and my total cholesterol had risen to 248. My blood pressure was high and the truth is I was beginning to feel that my health was on the brink of serious decline if I didn't do something about it soon.
I began the health Initiatives Program in May and within one month my total cholesterol had dropped from 248 down to 151! I could not believe my eyes! I was prepared to be quite happy if I had gotten near 200!
My weight also began to drop dramatically. In 4.5 months my weight has gone from 205 down to 172 and still falling.
Energy? I used to love to run but had not done so consistently in the past few years. Since the beginning of June I have gone from 0 to 4 days a week ( and walking 3 times per week). This past Saturday I ran 15 miles on the trails in our local state park! By the grace of God and with the inspiration of the Health Initiative Program I am aiming to do a 50 mile trail race by March 24th of next year.
I cannot thank you enough for the thoughtfulness of your program and for the encouragement along the way. I often say I feel that my life has been redeemed from the brink of health disaster and I owe a great debt of gratitude to you.
Katie Kolb was extremely helpful to me during the last 6 months. She has encouraged me and helped me set goals. She did not set the goals but let me set my own goals. Katie was and has been prompt to call on every scheduled phone conference.
I came to a point where I was looking forward to her call so that I could report the good news of my weight loss and advances in my fitness level. It might sound funny but I did not want to have to tell Katie that I had not achieved my goals. This was an added incentive for me. I have achieved my goals but am continuing to set more and work harder to start running in short races 5K-10K. I am currently tail running on the hills of the Colorado National Monument. I have been able to run (jog) 1.8 miles all uphill.
It's great. My diet has changed considerably. Berries for breakfast, salad/fruit for lunch and mostly salad and other veggies for dinner. Grilled veggies on the barbi, veggie chili and home made salsa to spice thing up.
I have to say that 6-7 months ago I was not able to run more than a block. I started working to lose weight, walking 2-3 times a week. At first it was slow progress but there was progress. As I continued on I started trying to run/walk (mostly walk. I was noticing after about 2 months that I wanted to go out and workout. As more time went by I was able to run up Devils Canyon and walk back. I was excited and felt so much more energy in my leg, heart and lungs. At this point, about 4 months after starting the program, the afternoon heat was coming on. 95-105 degree was not unusual but I continued to workout. I was now challenging myself and starting to lose 4-5 pounds/week. My clothes were getting pretty loose.
My daughter was getting married in Kauai in early August an d I told her that I would get down to 200 lbs by the wedding. I was 230 when I started to workout and by wedding time 195-196. I had to buy all new clothes for the wedding. All the guys at work asked me how I lost the weight and commented on how slender I was getting. My wife really likes the change and has been a great help and encourager. She works with me on preparing meals and tries to go with me to workout as much as our schedules will allow. It's a blessing to have support when you make changes in your life.
Thank you Katie Kolb, health consultant Thank you Laurie, my wonderful wife Thank You Medi-share Ministry for the push Thank God for my health
I've worked with the health consultant over the past 6 months. She gave me many helpful suggestions over the past 6 months and was very encouraging with me; never pushy or insisting on doing things her way. She always tried to incorporate the suggestions into my lifestyle and work schedule. It was a very pleasant experience and we plan on keeping in touch from time to time.
Christian Care Health Initiatives, an integral part of Christian Care MediShare, proved to be for me, in just six months, an excellent alternative physically, financially, and spiritually to a nationally known HMO that I had been a member of through my employer for more than twenty-five years. Then one day in mid 2005, I was unexpectedly laid off from my job. Suddenly, and without warning, I found myself out of work. At age 61, I quickly learned to my dismay that I was unemployable in the eyes of many firms seeking to hire younger people half my age! Out of work, and with virtually no income, the health care provider that my wife and I had been members of for decades, had no choice but to cancel my health insurance policy. Unable to find a job, I became a consultant, and launched a small business from home. Then I began looking for an affordable health plan. Then one day I discovered MediShare! And soon afterward, Christian Care Health Initiative discovered me! Together over the phone, my friendly Health Initiative consultant helped me discover a new lifestyle. With her help and support, I was able to make simple adjustments to my diet. She also assisted me in starting and maintaining a simple, daily exercise routine. In less than six months I lost 40 pounds! But equally important, she assisted me drastically in reducing my bad cholesterol count and raising my good cholesterol count to an exciting new height! Last but not least, my health initiatives consultant made me aware of the biblical principle that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. As such, I now have the ability and the opportunity to glorify God, in part, by living a healthy lifestyle that is pleasing to Him! Today I feel healthier than I ever have in my 62 years! In fact my new lifestyle also enables me to enjoy new adventures with my teenage grandsons that I never dreamed possible!
Imelda worked with me closely to be certain I was well educated regarding my eating habits. She showed me I could alter my diet to contain far more fresh & cooked vegetables and fresh fruit to help lower my cholesterol. Also she assisted me in tracking my physical activity and provided great encouragement to "bump it up a notch". She was always very optimistic and a true blessing to me. She is a great encourager!
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