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.
Angela Dodson helped me tremendously! When we first began I did not want to do any of it, but as we went, I began to make some very significant changes in the way I eat.
I already have a very active lifestyle, but simply changing the way I eat has changed my life. I am not perfect by any stretch, but I have made lasting changes and lost a lot of weight. I feel much better and strong physically.
Angela was very faithful to pray with me concerning my family. That meant a lot to me! Thank you!
This program has had a very significant, positive impact on my life. Thanks again for your help!
I have always known that I needed to make better choices concerning my health, i.e. my choices of what I eat and my lack of exercise. So, when I found out I was being placed on the Restore program, I was not shocked. I do remember thinking that I just don’t have time to be dealing with this on top of all the other things that I have going on. But the Lord has opened my eyes, heart and mind to the truth and blessing of being a good steward of/with my body. Not only has this been a blessing to me, but it has also sparked conversation and interest with other people in our church. Thank you for all your hard work, research, prayer, and concern in helping other find freedom in their health and the testimony that it brings to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
When I first entered the Restore Program, I was not convinced that I could follow the program. I wondered how this “meat and potatoes girl” would ever be able to commit to such a plan. That was before I met Angela. Right away, she put me at ease and made me realize that I could achieve my goals through the Restore guidelines, my close relationship with God, my own perseverance, and her guidance all the way.
During her periodic calls, she immediately assessed my needs and the areas where I needed help. She gave me solutions to quick and easy meals when I had no time to cook. She provided answers for eating and prayed with me every step of the way. Together, we achieved my goals. My cholesterol is now below 200 and my triglycerides are 72. I’m still working at improving my numbers and I know without a doubt that I could not have improved my health and lifestyle without the constant encouragement and prayers from Angela. It was not an easy path for me at first, but she guided me through and answered every challenge with a solution.
Now, I have a real desire to continue the program and the success that I have achieved. As I plan my path, I can still hear Angela say, “Now, Loretta, let’s unwrap this package and break it down to see what we can do to help you meet your goals today.” Thank you, Angela!
The Health Education Consultant was a joy to work with, she always spent time with me on whatever was needed and always kept scheduled appointments. She always encouraged me in making realistic health related goals and she encouraged me with prayer. God Bless her. She has seen me through dark times!
My health consultant was professional, knowledgeable and was a joy to work with. She always spent and adequate amount of time with me and always made and kept scheduled appointments. She always encouraged me with prayer and she was an absolute blessing to work with!
I would like to say that Julie, my health consultant, was so encouraging and uplifting even when I didn't do as well. Over the six month period I lost 15 lbs. but had wanted to lose more like 45. I read the Eat to Live book and went through the other educational materials that were sent and am making changes towards those recommendations. I drink more water and try to exercise more now. I plan to get the extra weight off and will not give up!! I just want to say that Julie prayed with me and was so precious in how she was always edifying on the phone. I think the program is very beneficial and encourage others to try also. The book Eat to Live, by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, was very interesting and informing about how we should be eating. I have made some positive changes in my life.
My health consultant worked with my preferences well and reasonably while making good suggestions that worked! Our entire family has benefited health wise through the Restore Program. Thank you very much for encouraging me to send in my application- I waited a year because of being afraid of being rejected and suffered unnecessary stress. I wish I had done it sooner. I'm so glad that I was accepted into the Restore program. My husband and I considered this an answer to years of prayer for help with my weight and general health, which has improved along with my weight loss. He enthusiastically joined me in the changes and is enjoying his own weight loss, too. We have each lost over 15 pounds in 5 months. The Lord bless the MediShare team.
I am in a better place healthwise as a result of working with my Health Education Consultant. I enjoyed working and praying with Matt White, my personal consultant!
My health consultant, Bill, is a wonderful brother in Christ! He has been patient, wise, caring and firm. He is truly a disciple of Christ and a saint. My life has been wonderfully blessed by his counsel. I will miss our biweekly telephone meetings very much. He and Health Initiatives will be in my prayers constantly. Eddie S.
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.
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.
Shortly after starting the Restore program I suffered from a ruptured brain aneurysm. Thank you to the Medi-Share ministry for the calls, prayers and cards of encouragement. God is good!
My health consultant, Julie, has been so enjoyable to work with and my hope is that someday I'll get to meet her. She prayed with me for personal concerns and was always encouraging and extremely helpful.
Comments about Julie Roy: She is a wealth of knowledge, never rushed, always kept scheduled appointments, she was always willing to suggest helpful alternatives. Her experience and knowledge was very helpful and I am undoubtedly in a better place healthwise as a result of working with a health consultant.
*The Health Initiatives Program is a tremendous tool for health and fitness management. I am amazed at the results I've achieved through the faithful and patient counsel of my health consultant, Julie Roy, she is a real gem! I believe that my lifestyle changes will be lasting and permanent fixtures for me. Praise God for you folks!
Emily Thomsen, The Health Consultant was professional, knowledgeable, courteous, loving and encouraging. She always spent an adequate amount of time with me, kept scheduled appointments, and I absolutely believe I am in a better place healthwise as a result of working with her. I wish I could keep her forever.
I began changing my eating habits and exercising just prior to signing up with Medi-Share. I have appreciated my consultant's expressions of help and concern and also her prayers. They are encouraging and help keep me pressing toward the goal that I have set for myself. Thank You.
I just want to share what a blessing it has been to have CCM's help in restoring my health. I was very apprehensive when I first found out that I would have to "report" to someone every week. That meant that I would be accountable to someone. Yikes!! My weight has been a life-long struggle for me, and the only way I have been able to lose weight before was by not eating. Having someone call every week has kept me on track. She has offered much needed help and a listening ear. It hasn't always been easy, but I am grateful I haven't had to do this alone. CCM has great programs and a wonderful website full of helpful information. I know that I am equipped now to never see 172 lbs. again. For that I praise God! Thank you so much for this ministry. I believe it has prolonged my life and taught me how to honor God through how I treat my body.
Angela Dodson, my health consultant was a great "coach". I liked her "forthrightness" ability to inform and care sincerely. She knows her stuff, she had a great sense of humor, directed me in a focus that I believe honors the Lord with my health concerns, especially as I've turned 60. She also showed interest in what I do professionally which went beyond only being interested in me fulfilling a program for health.
Even though I have always followed a healthy lifestyle I was able to improve my numbers by encouragement and guidance from health consultant, Imelda. She researched my specific challenges and gave me tips that helped reduce some of my numbers.
PRINT ARTICLE
