Weight Loss & Pastoral Health

[Dale Schaeffer]

About 6 months ago our staff got inspired to challenge ourselves to get healthy physically. Since that time, 6 of us have lost over 180lbs.

Here's what I've noticed since then....

* Our energy as a staff has increased.
* Our creativity as a staff has increased.
* Our stress as a staff has decreased.

What's crazy is that it's been extremely easy to do...we're all using MyFitnessPal on our phones to track our food and exercise...not only has this worked for us, but it's been helpful to several people in our church.

I'm convinced that physical health should be a major concern for God's people, and especially the leaders of His church.

Why does this seem to be such a struggle for so many of us? And what can we do to change that?

[Marian Schwaller Carney]

This is a really important post. Thank you Dale for pointing me to My Fitness Pal. I've just signed up and entered in my food so far for today - really easy and the data bank already has entries to match my foods. I like that it tells me the carbs, fats and proteins along with the calories. Weight Watchers does not do that and I find that frustrating and not helpful.

I have struggled all my life! But I know I have to get healthy to serve in ministry and keep up with my other responsibilities.
Why? I blame my own lack of discipline for it, not sure what else to add to that. Perhaps, too, not being 'mindful' about food, and I am working on that. Not sure I can blame lack of time, really - that can be fixed by planning and diligence. I've had a club membership for some months and in that case, I really do not have the 1.5 to 2 hours a day it takes to use it, so I plan to cancel it soon and get back to exercising at home. Looking at adding "10 Minute Trainer" to the mix.

[Jim Franklin]

Although I would not be considered obese, I am about 15-20 lbs over my ideal weight. Famous saying by Jim Franklin, "I have been to so many Nazarene potlucks that all my luck has gone to pot."

[Ryan Scott]

I absolutely believe a pastor's physical health is as important as any other essential aspect of pastoral ministry. I've really come to believe that being an example is the primary means of ministry for a pastor - and this is an important area.

I went for my 30 year old check up last summer and found out that - at 6'1" and 180 pounds, I was only five pounds away from being overweight. My doctor recommended weightlifting and cardio - I went to a local gym 3-4 times a week for about an hour and really saw some amazing results.

With the move, the baby, and our financial changes, the gym is out currently - but I'll definitely be looking for some sort of weight set to use in the house.

[Susan Unger]

Why does this seem to be such a struggle for so many of us? And what can we do to change that?

It is hard for me to lose weight when I am anxious or stressed. Some lose weight easily when stressed, others gain. Unfortunately, I am in the latter. Thus, one of my goals during my free, lots less stress of a summer is to lose weight.

I also want to do it now because when I am back to working full time, I will want good health to help me stay working for a long time and be happy whilst doing so.

[Dale Schaeffer]

Susan...you should definitely check out the tools on myfitnesspal.com. It has really been the thing that has helped me the most. I'm down 55lbs in the last 5 months because of it.

[Susan Unger]

Susan...you should definitely check out the tools on myfitnesspal.com. It has really been the thing that has helped me the most. I'm down 55lbs in the last 5 months because of it.

I am looking at it now. It is more helpful than what I had been using [fitday.com] for food diary. It has the brand name food that I eat instead of something generic. Although, I like how fitday shows me my nutrients. I realized after using fitday that I need to eat more green stuff. I'll stick to both - more ways to have fun with diet and exercise.

The exercise section needs more variety of exercises though. I always have to guess in which category to put my exercises - they don't fit into one category very nicely.

[Valisha Trammell Hall]

I am looking at it now. It is more helpful than what I had been using [fitday.com] for food diary. It has the brand name food that I eat instead of something generic. Although, I like how fitday shows me my nutrients. I realized after using fitday that I need to eat more green stuff. I'll stick to both - more ways to have fun with diet and exercise.

The exercise section needs more variety of exercises though. I always have to guess in which category to put my exercises - they don't fit into one category very nicely.

Susan, if you press the "home" icon and then press the "daily" tab, your daily nutrient totals and goals will be displayed using My Fitness Pal. I also like the bar code scanner option.

[Susan Unger]

Susan, if you press the "home" icon and then press the "daily" tab, your daily nutrient totals and goals will be displayed using My Fitness Pal. I also like the bar code scanner option.

I dont' see the word daily on the home page at all. I am on a desk top - don't have a smart phone. Maybe that is why?

[Kevin Rector]

I have used sparkpeople.com in the past. I'm not sure how it compares the system you used, but it's been great as far as food and fitness diaries go. Of course you have to actually use it to get results, and that's often the sticking point!

[Kevin Rector]

Host Post

I deleted Lisa's post as it appeared to be basically an advertisement and solicitation is not permitted on Naznet.

[Susan Unger]

Susan...you should definitely check out the tools on myfitnesspal.com. It has really been the thing that has helped me the most. I'm down 55lbs in the last 5 months because of it.

I have been seriously using my fitness pal for almost two months now. I invited my cousin to join me and she really likes it. It helped her lose almost 15 pounds so far. I think what has helped me the most is the buddy system with her. I care what she thinks of my input so will feel like what I do/not do matters. Since then I have begun to lose weight [not as quickly as she but still is coming off]. So, in the end, I am glad that you suggested this as it is helping out both my cousin and myself much more than what we were doing before.

If any one wants to connect with my on MFP send me a private message.

[Pete Vecchi]

Money, time, and focus.

Those are the reasons I struggle.

I simply quit weighing myself about a month ago. Money and time are tight. I can't always eat "properly." Every time I have lost a significant amount of weight in my life, I have constantly had to try to ignore the growling in my stomach as I tried to work. Then in one day (for instance a holiday, someone's birthday party, etc...), I'd gain 2-3 pounds, just because I would eat the food that was served. Then I'd try to make up for it by eating less the next day or 2 or 3, and feeling that stupid growling in the stomach.

What's worse, I was beginning to find that my weight loss was becoming too important to me--almost like an idol. I would find myself in situations where someone would offer me something to eat (in a situation where that was perfectly normal to occur) and feel rude for turning them down (imagine a church carry-in when as the pastor you tell one of the people who wants you to try something they've made that you can't eat it).

I have no idea if my weight is now gaining, losing, or maintaining. But I am simply not stressing over it. I still try to eat as properly as I can. A large spinach salad is generally on my menu daily. I try to limit the amounts of food I eat throughout the day. But oftentimes my schedule is such that I need to eat "now" because I may not get a change to eat anything else for several hours, and if I don't eat "now", that stupid stomach growling will come at an inopportune time.

I don't always have the money to get the "more healthy" foods. Nor does my phone have any aps at all; I use it as a phone, and to text message when needed (and sometimes as an alarm clock or calculator). I have a basic phone, because even that is difficult for me to afford--never mind a fancy phone plus aps.

As of June, my blood work numbers were about as good as they've ever been--significantly improved over where they were several years ago. I will continue to try to keep an eye on those.

Please understand that I'm genuinely happy for the people who are losing weight and using the technological advances that God has provided to help them do so. It's just that in my particular, personal situation, the focus on the weight loss was getting to be too much of a focus in my life. If God should lead me to once again focus on it, I will. But for now, I am just trying to maintain as balanced of a lifestyle as I can.

[Bob Hunter]

I saw this little saying and I thought it was hallyrous.

"When people suck the life out of you, wouldn't it be great if they sucked some fat too?"

It seemed to be appropriate to share this with pastors. I think we can all relate.

[Susan Unger]

I saw this little saying and I thought it was hallyrous.

"When people suck the life out of you, wouldn't it be great if they sucked some fat too?"

It seemed to be appropriate to share this with pastors. I think we can all relate.

Saw that...many images came to mind

[Gene Tatsch]

Well, I'm on-board a couple days, now - much appreciated.
Phone app is nice, but I like the full computer version.
It seems that what we measure, we manage.
And as I'm starting to measure my calories-in, I'm subconsciously more aware & intentional of what I'm willing to eat.
Yeh, I've not been to a potluck yet.

[Gene Tatsch]

... I also like the bar code scanner option.

- I don't find it at all - in Windows nor on my Blackberry.

[Gene Tatsch]

OK, so I've been using MyFitnessPal a month.
Tonight I just discovered the Recipe section ... put in a recipe, the software pulls nutrition information from their database, and I now have my granola nutrition data to use directly in the daily entries!
I've got several other recipes I plan to enter, but I thought I'd mention this unexpected benefit!

THANKS for alerting us to this nifty tool - it's helping me make intentional progress!!
gene --

[Steven Burton]

Why does this seem to be such a struggle for so many of us? And what can we do to change that?

Number one problem is people think that they have to eat some type of diet. Most people fail and fail hard because they hold themselves to to strict of a diet. Unless you are going to be making money off your diet like a professional. Most people will fail. The key is to let yourself have a snack of something every so often or just change on thing you eat a day. To much change can be drastic to your system and can make you have craving for things you really don't want in your diet. So having a little chocolate cake after dinner is not that bad of things to help curve that sweet tooth. Diet is actually what you eat not what you are not eating. So when someone ask you what diet you are on you can say well I eat what I want which is a diet.

[Susan Unger]

Number one problem is people think that they have to eat some type of diet. Most people fail and fail hard because they hold themselves to to strict of a diet. Unless you are going to be making money off your diet like a professional. Most people will fail. The key is to let yourself have a snack of something every so often or just change on thing you eat a day. To much change can be drastic to your system and can make you have craving for things you really don't want in your diet. So having a little chocolate cake after dinner is not that bad of things to help curve that sweet tooth. Diet is actually what you eat not what you are not eating. So when someone ask you what diet you are on you can say well I eat what I want which is a diet.

A life style change versus a "diet" in other words...

[Steven Burton]

A life style change versus a "diet" in other words...

To an extent. I more for changing the way we use the word diet in general. But yeah that is pretty close to the idea I had in mind.