“New Year, New You” To Help With That New Year’s Resolution
Andy Baker seen here at a recent work day at Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – New Years resolutions are as big a tradition of the holiday season as a tree, turkey and family get-togethers.
Andy Baker, Director of Outreach and Assimilation, at the Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa talked about how resolutions helped him and his wife last year, and how they hope that sharing their success will help others.
Baker said, “My Wife and I started the Daniel Plan on January 1, 2013. I lost 101 lbs, going from clinically obese to a clinically healthy weight in six months. I also saw cholesterol, blood pressure, and digestive problems I had—all go away. Andrea lost 35lbs in the same period, and we’ve both been able to successfully keep the weight off over the past six months. Doing the program together was great because we were able to hold each other accountable and cheer each other on. It was also great for our marriage, as it gave us something to do together. In fact, exercising together has become one of our favorite activities, which has helped draw us closer as a couple and kept us healthy.”
On those challenges, Andy explained, “The most challenging thing for me was giving up so many of the foods I loved. My favorite food item was Casey’s Taco Pizza, but with the Daniel Plan, wanting little to no consumption of dairy, gluten, or red meat, that was most certainly out. Those first few months it was torture driving by Casey’s, but between my personal motivation to improve my health, my wife’s support, and my constant leaning on God I was able to get through it. For Andrea the biggest struggle was getting in to a workout routine after never having been into sports. After weeks of struggling, she made a pact that the only way she could watch her favorite TV show off Netflix was to do so on the exercise bike. Her love for the show trumped her distaste of exercising and soon the pounds were flying off.”
Baker felt there was so much success, a campaign is starting this January at the Central Reformed Church called “New Year, New You”. “It’s an effort to help people in our church and community accomplish their New Year’s Resolutions,” said Baker. “The campaign features three different programs: The Daniel Plan (a diet and exercise program pioneered at Saddleback Church in California by Rick Warren, Dr. Mehmut Oz, Dr. Daniel Amen, and Dr. Mark Hyman), Financial Peace University (a money management program created by Dave Ramsey) and I Am Second (a spiritual growth program that includes video interviews with celebrities such as: baseball all-star Josh Hamilton, Korn lead singer Brian Welch, and Duck Dynasty stars the Robertson family).”
If you would like to know more about the upcoming program, you can visit the Central Reformed Church website at http://www.centralosky.com/
