My journey with Medi-Share began with a desire to get our health care costs under control and to stop paying for the medical care of people who are un-willing to make healthy lifestyle choices. In order to be accepted in the program, I needed to lower my cholesterol. For years, several physicians have tried to get me on statin drugs but I have always refused and basically just ignored the problem.
My naturopath suggested I try a vegan diet for six weeks. Reluctantly, I did and my total cholesterol dropped from 292 to 219. At this point CCMS was willing to accept me in the sharing program with the provision that I work with an advisor. I wasn't very excited about this either but working with Angela Dodson has been another unexpected blessing in my life! I've been so impressed with the total Christian perspective CCMS espouses; they really look at whole body health, spiritual, mental, relationships, and physical. Angela was very compassionate and caring. I grew to appreciate her praying with me after each one of our phone sessions. She was very knowledgeable and always offered me many resources. We worked together for about 9 months; I learned a lot about choices I can make and things I can do to improve my own health. My total cholesterol is now 198 and dropping! Working with Angela and the Restore program, my total health awareness has been raised. I have reccommended this program to many friends and family. Another benefit is that I have lost 30 lbs. and that alone has caused people to ask what I have been doing. Fortunately, my wife, Cynthia, has been incredibly supportivem in making these dietary changes. My son and daughter-in-law have seen the changes and been inspired to make changes of their own. Dr. Joel Fuhrman's book, Eat To Live, and Lowering your Cholesterol, have been very helpful. What started as a suggestion from my Naturopath has now become a lifestyle. For a Kansas farm boy who grew up on raw milk, butter, and meat three times a day, I have come a long way. I am excited about enjoying all the health benefits from these changes and the diseases I am avoiding in the future! Thanks be to God!
The Restore Program has dramatically changed my exercise and eating habits. Angela was very helpful and a real pleasure to work with. In a few short weeks, I was able to lose 25 pounds and lower my bad cholesterol significantly. I was a skeptic at first but have learned that with a few adjustments, bad habits can be changed permanently. If I can do it, anyone can!
I had tried losing weight before Restore. I didn't have much success at all. I have now lost over 20 pounds in less than three months! It is very helpful having someone who keeps me accountable to eating healthy and to working out very consistently. The materials are very helpful in re-structuring the way I thought about food, and eating healthy. I am very grateful for Restore and the healthier place it has helped me to achieve. I still have a ways to go until my ideal weight, however, I know I will get there and that I will be able to maintain it because of the new habits I have formed.
When I started the Restore program I was very nervous since I had always had difficulty losing weight. In addition, I had trouble exercising due to an old ankle injury and I wondered whether this program could work for me. I was also nervous about working with a consultant, fearful of being judged or of not having any say in what I ate. All these fears were unfounded, I discovered, as I watched the Lord work in my life through the Restore program. My consultant was patient, prayed regularly with me, and had an uncanny ability to quote just the right scripture at the right time. I benefited greatly from her knowledge and from the accountability for my eating choices through keeping a food diary. As I began to lose weight and inches I was relieved and felt more confident that my body could actually let go of excess pounds. I wasn't destined to be fat, as I had often felt.
But my most important loss was not physical. I lost some of my deeply held attachment to food. Even before Restore, the Lord had begun to deal with my idolatry of food. Now through the program he worked in my heart to love Him more and to see that His love for me will not allow me to eat myself to death. His heart-cleansing deepened my discernment and has changed my walk with Him. Now, the Lord has given me opportunities to share these things with friends who are changing their eating habits as well. One of my friends has even been able to get off diabetes medicine!
I hear God calling his children to bodily stewardship and I have personally experienced the blessing of answering the call. I pray that those whom God leads to read my testimony will be encouraged to follow Him, knowing that "The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him" (Psalm 25:14) I've heard it said, "Those who fear the Lord fear nothing else, but those who do not fear the Lord fear everything else." I started the program with fear of failure, judgment, weight gain... But I'm graduating with a deeper fear of the Lord and renewed excitement to learn the secrets He illuminates as we walk together.
This program really helped me with my eating habits and exercise. I will never go back to my unhealthy, old habits. I still fill out my daily tracking charts and never vary in weight within four pounds. I will not eat dairy or meat but maybe twice a month.
I’ve always been aware of the nutritional value of food and its benefits. Starting at 16 years of age, Prevention magazine and the Clymer Health Clinic (an alternative health practice) in Pennsylvania was a big part of my lifestyle. Even at that age, and in my 20’s, I would eat grain burgers, mushroom burgers and red zinger teas, etc. I ate organic eggs and collected my grains in glass jars to be displayed in my kitchen. Around the age of 24, I was introduced to the Feingold diet, which made me aware of the chemicals and additives put into our foods and products we use everyday. I was on my way! This lifestyle became who I was and I enjoyed it. I was also drawn to people with the same similarities. Then, when I got married, my in-laws weren’t quite so impressed. They liked the good ole Italian cooking. She was quite the cook. She made the best meatballs, sauce, lasagna, manicotti, etc. Now I had to learn to cook this new way, because I’m not just cooking for myself. Well now, years later, my kids are young adults and I’ve been able to go back to my first way of eating that I enjoyed. I thank you for this program because now I know without a doubt that this is the better way to eat. I’m going to pass this way of living to my children. My family has now adopted more fruits and vegetable, and we’re the better for it. Thanks!
I am so thankful for the Restore Health Program. It has changed my thinking about the food I eat and my health. I feel it has added years to my life. I feel so much better since I’ve lost weight. I don’t have heartburn any more either, and my blood pressure is lower than it ever has been.
My health consultant, Becky Carlson, was very helpful and such a blessing to talk with. I know the Lord had a hand in making this happen. Thank you so much!
Angela was very sweet, encouraging, and fun. We visited with her every week over the phone to begin with and eventually, as we improved, every two to three weeks. She met with each of us for 30 minutes and always closed our session with prayer. She challenged us to try new recipes and to cut back on certain foods that were high in cholesterol. She also gave us ideas for food alternatives that are healthier.
Both my husband and I lowered our cholesterol below 200 and lost lots of weight.
We are thankful that you motivated us to improve our health. Thanks Angela and Christian Care Ministry!
I really enjoyed working with Matt. Although I’d like to be further along with my weight loss goals, I do feel that the inches I’ve lost (3” from hip and 4” from waist) are significant. The exercise habits I’ve made are excellent and it has been fun to work on this together. We’ve made significant strides in our eating habits as well. I believe that over time, I will see those pounds disappear.
My husband and I are hoping to take some significant bike trips this summer and even have the “spandex” that goes with it. We really appreciate Matt’s faithfulness to us! I have no complaint with the Restore program. Thanks!
I truly appreciate the Restore Program. At first it seemed like a very inconvenient factor to deal with. However, as I received the materials, I understood and realized that not meeting the necessary guidelines meant that I was not as healthy as I should be.
Working with my Health Education Consultant, Katie Kolb, has been very helpful. She made me aware of the poor habits, dietarily, physically, and spiritually I’d formed over the years. Through our phone conversations she challenged me weekly to achieve better eating habits, try new recipes, walk more in shorter periods of time, and exercise a little longer. If I tried making an excuse for not doing anything, she always had a persuasive way to work it into my daily routine. Disciplining these poor habits has been a real challenge and I still have areas to work on. The results are well worth the work and effort. I do feel healthier and I’ve accomplished a definite weight loss. I’m fitting into clothes I previously couldn’t wear! Also, it’s made my family and friends as about the program and be more interested in improving their own health.
After being involved in Restore, I believe all other health programs should adopt a similar program and make participants more accountable for a healthier lifestyle and be checked regularly to make sure they’re on track. Thank you for caring and providing such a sound and beneficial program!
My approach to food is completely different since being part of the Christian Care Health Initiatives Program. During a grieving process due to the loss of a baby I gained over 50 pounds and found myself completely addicted to food, mainly sugar. Since being a part of the CHIP program the way I look at food has drastically changed. Although, I have not reached my goal weight, my eating patterns are totally different. Instead of dairy and meat products, vegetables and fruit, legumes and beans have become what I reach for. That in and of itself is somewhat a miracle because I grew up in a home where meatloaf and mashed potatoes, ice cream and cake, chicken pot pies were "comfort foods". With the help of weekly then monthly accountability (and at the beginning, most of the time I had to do a lot of confessing), my health consultant helped me to understand more and more the benefits of "raw" eating. This program has been life-changing for me because I know my overall health has improved. I have gained great foundational principles of healthy eating and exercise that will carry me the rest of my life. The pedometer is part of my daily clothing now. Fruit and vegetables are now part of everyday eating as well. Meat is now something I can pass on when it comes to my weekly diet. I would recommend this program to anyone how wants to reach optimal health.
Through the Restore Program and my participation in it, I am now experiencing more freedom. My first response to my conditional acceptace to MediShare was a bit of resistance to being told I must go on a diet and exercise. However, I yielded. I was not happy with the way I was eating or with how I felt or looked. I knew, even though I had "feelings" of resistance, that it was God's help for me and so I was thankful. Next, I was shocked when I received the tape, book and workbook and saw it was "vegetarian". But the book was really good and I felt good as I ate more veggies, fruits and beans and less of some other things. My health consultant had the knowledge, experience, time and willingness to make the program work for me. It was personal, and made changes so much easier than doing it on my own would have been. To God be the glory for this beneficial six month period for me. Of major importance to me is the flexibility of the program, as I experienced (and will continue) it. If I go to a party, potluck, have a birthday, or to someone's home for a meal, I am free to have whatever is served that I choose. I am able to go right back to my usual (now preferred for most of the time) low fat, low sodium, nutrient rich foods. A problem I've had in the past with diets is when I would "break it" or "blow it". It was often an excuse to keep on eating all the wrong things. It is different now. Now, I am glad to go back to the plan of the nutrient-rich foods.
I am thankful for the Restore Program. my family benefited as much as I did. It has helped us be more responsible to the Lord in how we eat. Thank you for this ministry. Also, Julie Roy was not only an excellent Health Consultant, but became a friend. God Bless You,
I thank God for the Restore Program and the resources that it has made available to me. God has blessed me with salvation, a healthy body, a good wife and a desire to please Him. The Restore Program has enabled me, with the supply of God's grace to improve my diet and have a good conscience toward God in regard to my eating habits. While my diet at home has been generally healthy for many years, thanks to the efforts of my wife, I had become enslaved to snacking on candy and sodas and other "junk foods" at work. Gradually, over a number of years, my weight had crept up into the significantly overweight range, and my total cholesterol had been above 200 for over 15 years. Finally, after a lipid panel in December 2006 revealed total cholesterol of 235, LDL of 123, HDL of 35 and Triglycerides of 386, I was willing to face the fact that I had a problem and needed help. I was aware that the Restore Program was available, so I asked my wife to inquire about enrolling in it. We found the Health Initiatives staff very helpful and encouraging. Soon, I was enrolled and received the initial materials. These materials opened my eyes to many diet and health issues that I had been unaware of. The knowledge gained from reading Eat to Live, by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, especially empowered me to make wise choices in regard to what I ate. From the first phone call from our Health Consultant, Matt White, I knew that I had a source of knowldege and encouragement, as well as the element of accountability. This was very important to me. Matt gave many helpful suggestions as to incorporating exercise into my daily schedule, without depriving myself of personal time with God and His Word. He rejoiced at every step of progress as I developed a consistent exercise program, and as the pounds melted away. When the lipid panel in April 2007 revealed total cholesterol of 151, LDL of 93, HDL of 41 and Triglycerides of 87, he was ecstatic. Matt has been a real help to me in this process to a healthier lifestyle, and his prayers with and for me during the process have been a constant reminder that "my help cometh from the Lord." Thank you for making this program available to the members of MediShare. May God use it for the benefit of many of my brothers and sisters in Christ.
I want to thank Christian Care MediShare for assigning me a health consultant. (Eileen) She has been helping me and encouraging me for the past 7 months. She has been able to answer, or find answers to all my questions along the way. Her personal testemonials on the things she wanted me to try was a big encouragement and help to me. The Eat to Live book and Diet for All Reasons tape that MediShare sent to me were very informative. These along with my health consultant, (who was knowlegable about these materials), has helped me to make a healthy change in my eating and exercise habits. This cholesterol reduction program has helped me to focus on the Lord to help me to overcome my cravings for the foods that are bad for my body. 1 Corinthians 3: 16 thru 17 says that I am a temple of God and that He dwells in me. With this it is easier to look for healthier food to put into my body. Thank You again, keep it up and may the Lord continue to bless your ministry.
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!
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.
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!
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