Please help me with this question

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Laura_B

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Hi: I have a question that I’m embarrassed to ask but here goes:
First a set up: I’m a rather scrupulous person but I’m also about 20-30 lbs overweight. I realize gluttony, pride and vanity are sins and I want to overcome them. I have tried diets and exercise but no luck. My willpower is very weak.
My question is: are over-the-counter diet products (pills, Slim-Fast etc.) sinful? If so, why and what can I do instead?
Thanks and God bless you and yours,
 
Hi Laura, I wouldn’t say otc pills are sinful, but I think that most experts agree they don’t solve the problem. I would seriously suggest looking into Lightweigh, a Catholic Bible study and weight loss program. I am in the middle of it with three friends and it is awesome. The website is www.lightweigh.com The woman who founded it will be happy to talk to you on the phone. She is a Mother of 7 and wears a size 8. She is very inspiring.

Good luck,
Nicole
 
Hi Laura B.
Diet Pills and Slimfast type drinks are not good for you and your goal should be to be healthier not thinner. With that in mind maybe you could check out some healthy eating plans (NOT DIETS - DIETS DON’T WORK!) Dr. Phil McGraw has a book about healthy eating and although I haven’t read it, my friend said it’s filled with excellent tips. Also, excercise is so important. It’s good for your heart and it’s good for you mentally. Make yourself go for walks. Even if you don’t feel like it… put your shoes on and say to yourself, “I’m only going to walk for 5 minutes and if I still don’t feel like it, I’ll come back home.” I promise you that once you get out there, you’ll feel like it. Losing 20 - 30 pounds is not so bad… just think, some people have over 100 pounds to lose and they do it one day at a time, excercising one step at a time. YOU CAN DO IT TOO! Eating healthy & excercising will make you feel better - more energy etc. But keep in mind you are more than a number on a scale. God loves you just the way you are. 🙂 Peace, CM
 
Laura B:
Hi: I have a question that I’m embarrassed to ask but here goes:
First a set up: I’m a rather scrupulous person but I’m also about 20-30 lbs overweight. I realize gluttony, pride and vanity are sins and I want to overcome them. I have tried diets and exercise but no luck. My willpower is very weak.
My question is: are over-the-counter diet products (pills, Slim-Fast etc.) sinful? If so, why and what can I do instead?
Thanks and God bless you and yours,
Click to expand...
Laura,
I’m in the same boat you are in, (30 lbs. thing) I hate Slim-Fast and can’t take diet pills because I have a high level of anxiety. sooo… I have to count calories. It is not sinful to take care of the bodies that the Lord gave us, (as long as we are not obsessed with self). In my case I was told 30 lbs. was obese. Eeeeuu!.. I was offended… To bad, if my health is at risk, then I have the obligation to remedy it! Just remember,everything in moderation… Hope this helps. Annunciata:)
 
Weight Watchers is a really good program that has helped me lose weight after my kids were born. Basically they teach you to eat right and exercise…no voodoo or ‘forbidden’ things involved. I learned so much from their program.

One of the things that benefitted me was the weekly meetings. Just like confession, it REALLY helps to have some accountability in your life. When I knew that I had to go into that meeting and stand on a scale (not in front of everyone, mind you!) I was sure that that number was going down–not the other way! The meetings are also motivational and keep you going through the hard times. I once heard someone describe losing weight as a sort of “honeymoon” experience. Meaning, in the first few weeks you are like a honeymooner, buying all the right foods and exercising. Then the luster starts to fade and you slack a little. Then you are not seeing what you thought you would see and the discouragement sets in. Pretty soon you give up.

She said the trick in losing weight is to perservere through that ‘discouragement’ phase and keep going, even though the scale might not reflect any loss. I found this to be so true!

You can DO this. It is so rewarding to be the person you were meant to be.

Best of luck,
Carrie
 
Laura B:
My question is: are over-the-counter diet products (pills, Slim-Fast etc.) sinful? If so, why and what can I do instead?
Click to expand...
No, they’re not sinful, but they’re not healthy and don’t work for very long, if at all. Here’s a link to a website about what I consider to be true healthy eating. Reading the book really convinced me that getting adequate protein and controlling carbohydrates are the right ways to honor this temple of the Holy Spirit known as my body!

Betsy
 
Thank you all so much for so many responses so soon.

I have tried Lightweigh sort of (I posted about it on the thread about Lightweigh): I borrowed the materials and read through them on my own. There is no Lightweigh group in my area and I’m too busy to even consider starting one on my own. Plus $80 (I think that was the price I recalled) seems a bit high to me.

I’ve tried Weight Watchers too and had some success with it a few years ago. I’m glad it works for some but I personally have issues with it. Namely, I question a diet program owned by a food company (General Foods or Heinz, I thought, I forget which but it was one of the biggies). Also, when I was in it, they had were just about to switch to the current points system and seemed to have no qualms about dropping the older system and leaving long-time members high and dry (that is making them have to purchase the new materials and learn another way of doing things).
I know I should concentrate on being healthy. I do exercise vigorously five times a day 30-60 minutes (usually an exercise video) and I am trying to eat more fruits and veggies and less junk, but it gets so frustrating doing all this for months and months and not seeing the scale budge AT ALL (and I do mean not at all!). Yes, I did have a thyroid test that came back normal.

Sigh. I’m sorry to rant. I guess this is just my cross. Compared to most, it’s not a bad one. Thanks again for all your help, advice and encouragement.
God bless you and yours,
 
I wouldnt call someone who is 20-30 pounds overweight a glutton. A glutton is someone who constantly gorges him or herself and takes no pride in their appearance… Nothing wrong with being a bit portly!

However, I would suggest “Body for Life.” I have been struggling with my weight since I was a kid and this has been the only thing that has worked for me. The exercise program is excellent and you burn fat while building endurance at the same time. I love it because it’s challenging. It also recommends a very healthy and satisfying eating plan. They have a very comprehensive webpage that gives loads of suggestions and tips.

I’ve tried the pills and other artificial products. They don’t work. You may lose 20 or so pounds from them, but guess what, they come right back. Why? Because you didnt learn the discipline and good eating habits. Using pills is like having your cake and eating it too…literally.
 
I’ve lost fat and put on muscle at the same time. The secret is diet and exercise.

Eat a good breakfast. Eat 4 or 5 times a day. Eat most of your food in the 1st half of the day. Drink plenty of water. Don’t eat after 8:00 p.m.

For exercise I worked out with weights. Also I used a treadmill and other cardio equipment at least 20 minutes, 3 times a week.

The main thing is when I didn’t feel like sticking with my program, or doing that one last rep, I did it anyway and offered it up to God.

The problem is that after I have succeeded, I don’t keep up with my program. Fat then increases and muscle decreases.

Now is the time to stop thinking about it and get back on my exercise and diet program.
 
I would have more than just your thyroid checked. I have PCOS and it is EXTREMELY difficult for me to lose weight. I followed an old regiment of Weight Watchers. It is a very healthy program and not restrictive either. I also had to go on a diabetic medication, even though I am not diabetic! This is due to the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome…affects hormones and metabolism. I also started working out 3-4 days per week. {Of course we went on vacation a couple of weeks ago and everything went right out the window!!} I have to tell ya that no matter what my scale tells me, I feel good. I have a husband who loves me just the way I am so I feel like I have no one to impress. If I feel good about me, then it’s all good.
God Bless You and stay away from the Slim Fast…that stuff helps you lose weight but doesn’t teach you to eat right when you get back to normal foods!
~Weezir
 
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