I discovered that the cost of the Health Initiatives Restore program was just a little more than weight watchers. The difference between the two programs was significant.
On the Restore program I received individual attention from a Christian health consultant. I was encouraged to follow a healthy eating program and to regularly exercise. While weight watchers can help people lose weight in a group setting, it's food plan includes things no so goof for you (such as artificial sweeteners, etc.).
I am glad I took the step to become healthier & learned to follow a better lifestyle via the Restore program. I have learned a lot and plan to continue in the better way. I also saw a dramatic drop in LDL, lost weight. I was also able to bring blood pressure down within a normal range and was able to lower Lipitor medication with my Doctor's help.
My Health Education Consultant, Emily, was prompt each appointment and helpful, providing answers to some of my questions and directing me to helpful websites. She quickly provided names of health food stores with vegan foods, and other needs. She started working with me just after my husband and I attended Emerald Valley Wellness Center where we started a healthy vegan lifestyle and daily walking (6x/week for 2 miles), which we have maintained and are both much improved physically. We need to get back to out stretching exercises. We have been away from home most of the time since leaving Emerald Wellness Center.
Although I know there could still be some improvements to work towards I feel I have done well overall.
This experience in the Restore program is the greatest thing that has happened to me in years. I have known for 25+ years that my cholesterol was high. This program made it so easy for me to get it under control. I dropped from a total cholesterol of 233 to under 150 in 2 months.
Having the health consultant, Eileen, call me was an important part of my success. When offered something "bad" to eat my standard response was, "thanks, but Eileen won't let me".
I am at my ideal weight and have not felt this good in at least 15 years!
My health consultant was patient but held me accountable. She was helpful, opening new options to change eating & exercise habits. She prayed with me and was interested in more than just diet and exercise but also my time management and Christian service; encouraging balance in all areas. She always answered all of my questions and if she didn't know them right away, she would find the answer for me. She helped me set realistic health related goals which positively kept moving me forward. She helped create a plan to reach my goals using small steps and in the process I have lost 20 + lbs.
I have appreciated all the new knowledge I have gained through the Restore program. This knowledge has greatly increased my professional skills as a chemical dependency counselor. Nutrition, exercise, and a balanced lifestyle are essential to a healthy and happy recovery. Since I'm living it with your support and direction now, I have been able to then whole heartedly and enthusiastically give that same encouragement to no only my patents but my own family and friends who see the changes in me and are taking steps to gain their own health. Thank You MediShare for helping me drop 2 sizes in clothing as a result of eating healthy and living healthy with a holistic approach.
I've been on the road to improving my health since I was 30 (I'm now 55) after I had a health "melt-down". I had history of throat infections, bronchitis and severe constipation. My melt down was a severe intestinal infection which my Dr.'s treated with high powered anti-biotics even though I was pregnant with my third child. I couldn't hold down food & if I did eat it resulted in terrible diarrhea. After dropping 35 lbs. (I was already thin) I miscarried and ended up in bed, depressed and weak. I seriously thought I was dying. My husband & I prayed diligently. We didn't know anything about fasting, but we both felt led of the spirit to fast till we felt a release. I called my sister who lived 1,000 miles away, who knew a lot about nutrition & fasting. We called her a "health-nut". She helped me through 2 weeks of fasting with vegetable broths and juices and lots of water which I didn't like to drink, but did anyway. I went through a drastic detoxification process and my body began to heal naturally; by the grace of God.
Over the last 26 years I've never stopped searching to improve my health and taking personal responsibility for what I put into my "temple". I was one of those perishing from lack of knowledge. Now I want to tell everybody that they don't have to be sick and tired. I was ready to make my body a living sacrifice.
We applied to be members of Christian Care Medi-Share last May 2006. I never imagined that I would be considered a health risk! But, to my surprise my cholesterol was 267 and I was about 25 lbs. overweight. I accepted the challenge of going on the Restore Program. Even though I was exercising regularly I joined a gym with my husband and we have a routine on Monday, Wed., Fri. at 5:30 a.m. for 30-40 min. of cardio and 30-40 min. of strength training. I read the "Eat to Live" book by Dr. Joel Fuhrman and went on a strict vegan diet from June until present. My cholesterol has dropped 34 points, I've lost 2 dress sizes and 28 lbs. and feel absolutely wonderful! I'm so thankful to CCM for getting me back on the track toward vibrant health. I'll never go back, it's my lifestyle and I love feeling great!
PRINT ARTICLE
