Teri Miller is a Saddleback member whose life has been changed by The Daniel Plan. She joined the program at its launch in January of this year after being invited to the kick off rally by a co-worker. Since that time she has lost more than 93 pounds and has seen immense change in her life.
“I heard about The Daniel Plan through Saddleback Church,” explains Teri. “I went to the first presentation on January 15 with six co-workers from my office. I was so inspired by the brain information from Dr. Daniel Amen, and by Dr. Mark Hyman’s talk on how certain foods can help with symptoms and diseases. I just knew I had to start it the following Monday.”
Teri’s motivation for jumping on board with the Daniel Plan was more than simple weight loss. “My father had Alzheimer’s disease,” she said, “but I was not aware that obesity was a gateway to Alzheimer’s. That point clicked with me that day, and each day since.”
"What I got from that first rally was that it isn't a 'diet,'" said Teri. "I had allowed myself to become overweight and not exercise, so I made those choices myself. I knew it was hurting me in the job marketplace, but one thing I'd always had confidence in was that I was smart—the person others came to for advice. So when Dr. Amen spoke about the dinosaur syndrome, that the heavier you become the smaller your brain becomes, it was like a slap in the face! I can't be fat and dumb. Dumb simply isn't an option!”
Teri says that sugar was the toughest thing to give up as she embarked on a journey towards physical health. “I am a sugarholic and was eating sugar at least six times a day. I learned that sugar can affect the part of the brain the same way heroin does, and that made total sense to me. I needed sugar to feel better about my life. In times of stress, depression and crisis, I turned to food. I also ate a lot of carbohydrates filled with white flour and sugar. I learned that eating that way goes directly to your middle area and can damage your vital organs such as your heart, liver and kidneys.”
Teri has since replaced the sugar, white flour, and saturated fats with delicious lean proteins, fresh vegetables, brown rice, fresh fruit, nuts, spices and whole, unprocessed foods. Her energy levels have returned and she feels empowered to continue on the path to better health.
Although her eating habits were a major part of her success, Teri attributes the most important changes to a lesson she learned from Pastor Rick about prayer.
“Using the Lord’s Prayer as a model, Pastor Rick laid out each verse and how to relate it daily to my life and to change my habit. I had to give my stress, my depression and my crisis situations to God and not try to stuff them away with food. The Daniel Plan is changing my food choices and turning to God for the tough choices is the success I am experiencing today and that keeps me going.
“The most important advice I can give you is that The Daniel Plan is not a diet . . . it is a way of life. Losing weight is a side effect of not eating white flour, white sugar, saturated fats, and putting exercise in to my life. Feeling good, looking younger, knowing I am taking care of my brain, and turning to God in place of food are the real benefits of this way of life.
Whether you’ve participated in The Daniel Plan from day one, or are interested in learning more about this FREE program, visit danielplan.com for more information and to create or update your health profile.
On January 14, 2012, we will hold our next Daniel Plan rally! We will celebrate, hear from the Daniel Plan doctors and Pastor Rick as well as be inspired by Tae Bo creator Billy Blanks and chef Tana Amen. Don’t miss this change to take the next step in your physical health!
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