I'm sending in all my progress reports and blood tests. I just wanted to give you a little of my progress over the year.
I have gone from size 16 to 12 jeans, size 12 to 8 in slacks, also size 1X to 16 in blouses. I have lost 16 pounds for sure, am drinking lots of water, eating fruits and vegetables and beans, (almost afraid to eat meat) walking and exercising. We make our own bread, grinding our own wheat. I am hardly ever sick, can't remember the last time. I don't take chemical pills, only vitamins, feel better than I ever have.
We enclosed our garage and put in an exercise room so that when we can't walk outside we can inside. It has proved very helpful during winter. We also have a few weights we lift.
I am very grateful for the Restore Program! My health consultant has unending patience! She took a very reluctant client and through presistant, but compassionate follow-through finally got me on a program in the last 2 months where I have seen amazing results! In 6 weeks, I have totally changed my eating habits, lost 15 pounds and 3 inches in my waist! I have never, ever in my life lost more than 5 pounds. I am thrilled! Thank you to my consultant and the Restore Program!
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!
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
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