First Place question

[homemom1fl]

Hey Tina,
I was looking at the book for First Place and notice that it is kind of a low-fat eating plan. I was wondering if you modified that a little in your group or how you handled the food part.
Thanks
Chris

[Mom2boys]

Hi Chris,
Everyone really does their own thing on a few issues. First Place also allows artificial sweeteners which I avoid like the plague. I just encourage the ladies to use the real thing and cut down instead of going artificial, but some of them still use the artificial.

On the fat free issue. On the eating plan , it just limits how many fats you can have per day because fat is very high in calories. I encourage people to use the real thing instead of fat free etc and we are having good results so far. We do limit fat though.

I'm editing because dh decided to go to bed in the middle of me writing this last night , so I finished it very quickly so that I could go to bed with him.

I did not use any fat free or sugar substitutes in my eating plan and I was able to loose 12 pounds already. It really is more about counting your calories and monitoring your portions than anything else. I have found now that we are nearing the end of this study that First Place is more about our emotions and our relationship with God than the food plan anyway. You do the food plan first ,but that becomes automatic as you get into what God expects us to do and how we can please Him. I can't rave enough about the study we are doing this time.

[flboysmom]

Tina,
Is there just a book that you can do for the program?

I'll share openly on here since it's pretty private. Our church has been doing the program for one quarter, they just started another 12 weeks. There are two ladies heading it up. My time is very limited so before I commit I wanted some answers, I've asked them a few times about it and they shrug me off. The majority of our church family is large. These ladies have looked at me and said, "You don't need it" and then ended the conversation...basically blown me off. I'm sorry, but I do need to lose some weight. I may not be obese, but I'm full of flab from being on bedrest with dd for so long and although we're not major junk food junkies...we still don't eat as healthy as we should. They started a new session last week and one of my employees went. She's pretty big herself, but has been going to the gym with me. She said that they all stated they haven't lost any weight. It seems to have turned into more of a support group and the initiative isn't there. I don't have time for that, but I would like to do the program.
I"m sure I sound judgemental, it's just frustrating for me to see something that does work not utilized effectively.
Can I just read the book and do it?

[Mom2boys]

Angie,
You can most certainly read the book and do it. I don't have my ladies purchase the kit though because it is pretty expensive. I teach what is in the kit at each meeting and we do our bible study. In my opinion , you can't do the program without committing to the Bible study and scripture reading.

If ladies in the group at your church are not loosing at all, then the Bible study is not being taught properly. I have ladies that can't come to the group anymore but say that they are continuing the Bible study because they love it. If you will PM me privately, your age, height and weight, I will tell you your calorie level and your food exchange allowance. You will need to order Giving Christ First Place and a food exchange guide for First Place. You can find these cheapest on Amazon.com . The scripture reading is a simple read through the Bible in a year program. You can find one of those online easily. I'd be willing to run the study on this board if anyone is interested in being accountable . We can do weekly weigh in and talk about the food exchanges etc. Just let me know.

The program is not hard. I lost weight very quickly doing it.

On the way that you were spoken to by the leaders.....I am the smallest in my group and I was not obese. I made sure that I took care of the comments that were said to me as a group. I let them all know that my ten pounds is just as cumbersome as their 150 lbs. It bothered me just as much and that I have an eating disorder just like they do . That really is the bottom line. I eat more than I should for the wrong reasons. First Place is all about putting Jesus where you used to put the food. The deeper you get into the program, the more that you realise that God is not pleased with the coping skills that you are using . ie food. When I say you, I mean me. okay, off the soap box and off to clean out the fridge. ;D

[flboysmom]

Thanks, Tina. I will hop over to amazon in a bit and order. I would love to do the study online, I know that we both have time constraints...but I usually have 30 minutes or so everyday to get online, some days more then others.
The comments that the ladies have made are very frustrating. Food is a major issue in our family life...and I do need to learn how to put God above it. That sounds so ridiculous, but the reality is that....we spend more time eating, planning, and cooking then we do focusing on the Father. I need to shift the priorities around...

[Mom2boys]

I agree on the food issue. Especially since I think I gained two pounds this week eating all of Brandon's good candy bars from his treat bag. I'll have to get back on the stick .

[Mom2boys]

Let me know when you get your book . Is anyone else going to do this study with us? I won't be able to type out the text, so you'd have to order the book and we could discuss it weekly.

[homemom1fl]

Perfect, wonderful, beautiful!!! I would love to do it this way! Count me in. I'll be getting the book right away! Can you tell I'm excited with all the exclamation points?! Tina, are you sure this won't be too much for you? I know you take on a lot and I don't want you to burn out.

[Mom2boys]

We will do it as a group discussion, so it won't be much on me at all. The leader questions are in the back of the book, so we can all lead it. I'll just moderate. How's that?

[flboysmom]

Do you have the New First Place Favorites cookbook or know if it's worth ordering?

I think I'll go ahead and get it...

I got the free shipping, should be here by next week...doesn't usually take more then 5 days from them.

[Mom2boys]

I have two of the cookbooks and they are both leant out. The Eating Healthy Eating Right one is nice because it has 16 weeks of menus that are very helpful for the exchanges. You can also get recipes off of the web site. www.firstplace.org . The rosemary balsamic chicken is a favorite of mine. I grill it and use it for my salad all week.

[flboysmom]

Hey guess what I just did?! Downloaded the first week for free. Ya wanna start it up tonight?
There's no time like the present...I just drank my last swig of Vanilla Coke and ate my last pringle.

[Mom2boys]

lol. Okay! How are you with doing the Bible study for a week and we will discuss it on Mondays? We will all check in daily and post our exchanges and exercise. That way, I can help teach the food program because it can be confusing to begin with.

[flboysmom]

Alrighty, sounds good to me....

I'm not too sure about the exchanges until I get the guide, but I can probably wing it for now.

Thanks!

;DYa know, I'm sure God is chuckling at me right now...I've been praying for four years to become better organized....

---dh is insisting that we sell our house, right away...
which means it has to stay cleaned

---our pastor has me embarking on a massive advertising campaign...
which means that I've got to stay on my toes all the time at work

---i keep chunking on the pounds, even with exercising...
which means it's time to start this

I guess I'll be one ultra organized momma once I get through this season!

I'm telling ya, I'm going to write a book someday about the challenges, woes, and delights of a being a dedicated Christian, wife, and momma.

We can do what He has called us to do!