First Place 4 Health: Discover a New Way to Healthy Living

Book arrived in great shape and on time. I would order again. The book was interesting but most of the content I already knew.

I feel if people apply this book they can achieve healthy weight, eating habits and most important Bible understanding.

If you've ever tried to lose weight it probably went something like this: You made up your mind to find the newest fad diet out there and signed up. You drastically reduced your calorie intake, threw out all the food in your pantry and fridge (because it was "bad"). Maybe you even signed up to buy pre-packaged meals. You know you're supposed to exercise, so you picked the hardest exercise you could think of, even though you hate it. You forced yourself to workout for hours, leaving you sore and miserable. You actually lost a few pounds, which was great, so you celebrate at the all-you-can-eat buffet. Somehow within a short time it was business as usual, and you gained all the weight back in a few weeks. Sound familiar? This is the pattern most people follow every year or so. First Place 4 Health shows us that God has a better way - "If you want to lose weight, start on your knees." Carole Lewis writes with love for her readers because she's been there, too. She joined a First Place group in 1981. The program is built on the foundation that we "seek Him first and His righteousness and all these things will be added to us as well." The real answer to our weight problem is that we need to live a balanced life - spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. This kind of multi-faceted change takes time, so they ask us to "give God and First Place 4 Health one year... and your life will change forever."And it can take that long for us to finally uncover the emotions that can lead us to food and overeating. Three quarters of this book is not about calories, fat grams, or maximum heart rates. It's about seeking balance in every area of our lives. It's about developing a vibrant prayer life and reading the Bible every day to center us. It's even about memorizing Scriptures every week. It's full of testimonies by people who had been overweight all their lives. Many came to their local First Place meeting looking for a quick fix. What they discovered was that by focusing on the Master's Plan for them, their sedentary lifestyle and old eating habits gradually transformed. Early on Lewis addresses a hurdle for many: understanding that God is good, and that HE wants to help us with our weight and our health. She explains the First Place program, which can be found in thousands of churches across the country, and she makes it clear that it's a group of imperfect people supporting each other and supplying some accountability. There are weekly meetings, and a "Live It Tracker" to keep a journal of your progress. But the group also provides knowledge about diet and exercise (though she tells us it's not a "die - it" but a "live-it"!) "The body wants to do what the body wants to do", and by knowing that we are able to better understand our weaknesses. We realize that we are not our body; we have a body that we can control with God's help. Each chapter has some workbook type spaces where we can write in answers to questions like: "Because God is sympatheti

"First Place 4 Health" by Carole Lewis is inspiring. It's not a diet. It doesn't PROMOTE weight loss - that is merely a byproduct of the healthier lifestyle described in this book. Basically, it shows the reader how to love the Lord with your heart, soul, mind and strength - the clever section breaks carry those headings. There are loads of successful testimonials and pertinent scripture verses. I love that the book doesn't promise a quick fix. Yes, certain results will appear quicker than others, but the author asks you to commit a year to the lifestyle. EXCELLENT! The only thing I don't necessarily embrace is that the cover says, "discover a new way to healthy living." I disagree. This way has been around since the dawn of time. People just don't tap into its power in this way. Overall, this is an outstanding read.

This is a wonderful book that really gets to the heart of why we are overweight and how to regain control over our eating. The emphasis on balance is right on target. Thank God for the First Place Program.