Review: Health By Design: Weight Loss God's Way by Cathy Morenzie

Healthy by Design: Weight Loss, God's Way by Cathy Morenzie

Link to buy Healthy by Design: Weight Loss, God's Way

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Review:

Healthy by Design establishes a 21-day program designed to help readers lose weight in conjunction with their faith. It's geared to a Christian audience and includes passages from the Bible that reinforce each day's weight loss activities. Each day starts with a Bible passage and reflection on the teachings. It's like a mini sermon where the author offers thoughts about how the passage can help the reader achieve his/her weight loss goals. The second daily activity is called a health challenge. This is an action that the reader must take to help move toward weight loss goals. For instance, one of the first health challenges requires readers to select an "accountability partner" to help work through the steps and serve as a support group. The third element of each day's activities is a confession, which is essentially a prayer that reinforces the lesson from each day. For instance, Day 11 addresses the problem of emotional eating. The daily health challenge asks readers to identify emotions that have previously caused an emotional eating response, and the confession demands that readers admit to God that they're guilty of emotional eating, but they have the ability to stop. At the end of the first 21 days, the book provides additional scripture suggestions for continuing the program into the future.

In many ways, this book is an amalgam of other self-help books and self-help programs that encourage readers to think positive, take small steps in the right direction, and focus on the goal. The big difference is that this one is specifically geared to Christians who want to lose weight. You've been told many times before to picture yourself thin (or sober or rich), put your weight loss (or addiction or desire for success) in the hands of a higher power so you can stop obsessing about it, know that you're meant to reach your goal, etc.

Just because the strategies used here have been seen before doesn't mean they're not valuable. Positive thinking and focus on a goal can work wonders. It seems like that would be especially true for Christians who are already eager to learn more from the Bible and strengthen their beliefs. It makes sense to combine faith with health and fitness goals. The author says that a research study showed churchgoers weigh more than non-churchgoers. She suggests that's because of all the food-based fellowship activities like barbeques and bake sales.

If it's true that churchgoers' behaviors cause them to be less fit, perhaps a change in behaviors could improve fitness. What if churches were to install stationary bikes and treadmills instead of pews so parishioners could spend an hour every Sunday strengthening both their bodies and their spirits? That suggestion might sound over-the-top, but it's completely serious. What better way to worship than by attacking the deadly sin of sloth? Nothing in the Bible says people must worship by sitting quietly wearing big hats and uncomfortable clothes.

Since this reviewer isn't a Christian, I approached the book with an eye toward whether it has much value for non-Christians. The answer is a qualified "Yes." For nonbelievers, some of this book's value is lost, but like many self-help books for weight loss or achieving success or curbing anxiety, etc., this one's primary value is reinforcement. It reminds the reader what he/she should do, and reading it provides quiet time to focus on the goal. Also, many of the scripture passages contain valuable advice for Christians and non-Christians alike. For instance, Day 6 is about avoiding excuses. You have to make a choice between "reasons or results," because if you want results you can't be constantly creating reasons (excuses) for why you can't achieve them. Other days focus on additional helpful topics like improving self-image and avoiding blaming others for your problems.

One part of the program that might not work for everyone is choosing the "accountability partner." Some people like to work with partners or groups and feel they provide motivation. Those are the people who go to the gym with a friend or who join study groups in school. Others, however, prefer to work alone and don't want to drag anyone into what they're doing. The author of this book should have made the "accountability partner" portion of this program optional in order to allow for readers' personal preferences.

Reviewed by Peter