Participants: Lee Wellard & Dr. Scott Grivas
Series Code: WM
Program Code: WM000423
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00:01 The following program presents principles
00:03 designed to promote good health 00:04 and is not intended to take the place 00:06 of personalized professional care. 00:08 The opinions and ideas expressed 00:10 are those of the speaker. 00:11 Viewers are encouraged to draw their own 00:13 conclusions about the information presented. 00:36 Welcome to Wonderfully Made, 00:38 My name is Lee Wellard, a lifestyle educator 00:41 from Wildwood Lifestyle Center. 00:43 And today we have with us Dr. Scott Grivas 00:46 from Wildwood Lifestyle Center, thank you for 00:48 coming into the program today Dr. Grivas. 00:50 Today's topic is quite a sensitive one, 00:54 we're gonna be looking at the role of obesity 00:58 and we're going to be looking at what we can 01:00 do to help in this program. 01:04 Today we're gonna be discussing about lifestyle, 01:07 what practices that we can make in our 01:10 lifestyle to bring about a better weight? 01:13 And we want you to know how, whether 01:14 you're overweight, whether you're ideal 01:16 weight, or underweight, you are very precious 01:19 to, to God. Dr. Grivas what has attributed 01:23 to this epidemic of obesity in United States 01:26 and around the world? There are several 01:30 factors Lee, one is the diet itself, 01:34 in this country our diet has been now 01:39 weighted toward a high fat, high sugar intake. 01:45 And those fats mostly now are coming from 01:50 the animal foods, not vegetables fats, 01:53 but animal fats. There is more calories 01:58 in the fat foods, so we're up taking in a 02:03 higher choleric intake, and our exercise 02:08 levels have been declining. 02:10 Our lifestyle generally here in this country 02:13 is more sedentary, we have office jobs, 02:18 we sit behind computers, we as students we sit 02:23 in the classroom, we go home and study. 02:26 There is less and less exercise, it's alarming 02:32 for what's taking place here in this country, 02:35 so if you're taking in more calories with 02:38 these higher fat processed foods. 02:41 And you're exercising less you become larger, 02:45 because you're storing all of that excess fuel, 02:48 you're not burning it up. Now, when we talk about 02:51 obesity a lot of people especially those 02:54 who are watching, you're probably 02:55 thinking about diets, and there was so many 02:59 diets that we have today it is, 03:01 New Beverly Hills diet, there is the chocolate 03:04 diet, the cabbage diet and maybe you 03:06 who are watching you've tried many 03:07 of these diets and they have failed. 03:10 How do we know what is the best diet to be on? 03:13 It's interesting, your question about 03:17 the best diet. We had a recent editorial 03:23 article written by a physician who was the 03:27 chair person of Nutrition Department at Harvard. 03:32 And he was making some simple statements 03:36 and rebuttal to some physicians who were 03:38 talking about the Atkins diet that's promoting 03:40 you know for weight loss. And his question was 03:45 simply this, why all this fuss about these diets? 03:49 We already have all of the information 03:53 that's necessary, epidemiologically, 03:56 nutritionally, and medically, and the 03:59 clinical studies to show what is the best 04:01 diet for people, weight reduction, 04:04 reversal of disease and that is a primary 04:07 plant based diet, with some modifications 04:12 in the eating patterns which we all want to 04:14 discuss. But we don't have to go to extremes 04:19 Lee in order to lose weight. 04:21 We don't have to go on these prolonged 04:23 fasts in order to lose weight. 04:26 Right, it's an important topic and one that many 04:30 people struggle with, especially when they've 04:33 followed a specific diet maybe they've adhere 04:35 to it for a week or two weeks even a month, 04:38 and then they start to slip back and they start 04:43 to get discouraged and maybe even go into 04:47 depression as a result of failure of these diets, 04:50 but what you really telling me is lot of these, 04:53 these diets aren't working? No, but yet 04:56 God has a plan, he has a dietary plan that 04:59 can bring about true success, sure. 05:02 And what is some other problems in losing 05:05 weight too quickly you know we have many 05:09 people who are trying the best they can to 05:12 lose weight rapidly, does this create a 05:15 potential problem in one's health? 05:17 It may in fact there is a greater incidence 05:19 of gallbladder disease and people who are 05:22 taking off weight very rapidly, you can 05:24 precipitate problems with inflammation of 05:27 the gallbladder. But I think the biggest 05:30 problem with this rapid weight loss diets, 05:33 is that when people stop them, they may 05:36 have lost the weight, but then they go 05:39 right back to their previous pattern 05:42 of eating which allows them to regain that 05:45 weight and usually it's not just regaining, 05:47 they go pass that, and so they gain more weight. 05:50 Right, that's interesting you 05:51 should bring that out, because we have seen 05:54 there is a rebound effect, and often diets work 05:57 on the principle of illumination, 06:00 some almost to the point of even starvation, 06:05 that's right, but nevertheless a lot 06:07 of these actually have a reduction in 06:10 nutrients, so their body is craving the things 06:13 that they're not getting from their diet, 06:15 and as a result it's building up more of an 06:19 appetite. So, when they're off it, 06:20 they're more of a tenancy to overindulge, 06:24 right. Now, let's talk for a minute about 06:27 appetite control because you know there are 06:30 many viewers watching that are gonna be 06:33 ideal weight, even underweight, 06:35 but yet we still struggle with our appetite, 06:38 no matter how big or how small we are. 06:40 How can we get a better handle on our appetite, 06:45 what do you suggest would be some of the 06:47 ways we can control our appetite better? 06:50 Well, I will begin with my patients by talking 06:55 about a spiritual dimension of, of weight 06:59 reduction. Appetite is one of the biggest 07:05 problems for everyone, is the control to reign 07:10 in those desires for food, and certainly eating 07:15 is a pleasure, isn't it? I mean we should enjoy 07:17 our food, amen, God gave that for us, 07:19 and so we're, we're not trying to lessen that, 07:22 we don't want to be so austere that, 07:26 that people are losing the enjoyment of eating. 07:30 But there is an element that has come into 07:34 human nature since the fall, and that is the 07:39 absence of restraint on our passions, 07:43 on our appetites, and this is where we must 07:46 have the Lord to help us. Now, let's go back to 07:50 where the problem really started, you mention 07:52 about the fall, and how that was beginning 07:55 of the problem. What do you see that God 08:00 did to put a plan there to actually restore 08:05 control back to man, to give him the victory 08:08 over his appetite? Well, you remember 08:10 the very first work that Christ did after his 08:15 baptism was what? He went into the wilderness, 08:19 he went into the wilderness and fasted, 08:21 fasted that's right. And he had to come to 08:24 redeem man's failures, and the first temptation 08:29 was obviously on appetite, and so 08:33 we must not look to ourselves for strength 08:36 to curb this unconquerable desire of appetite, 08:41 we have to look to Jesus. 08:43 And if we will ask him to help us in this 08:48 struggle then the victory is ours by His grace. 08:53 What you're really telling me is that Jesus 08:56 can enter in to feelings, because he, he actually 09:01 was, as a Bible says tempted in all points 09:04 just like as we are, because he was 09:06 made in all points like we are, amen. 09:08 He had our flesh, he, he could actually 09:11 feel the hunger, in fact I think in the Bible 09:14 it does record after he had that fast, 09:17 it says he hungered and so he was, 09:20 he really had an appetite at that point, 09:23 and yet he had complete control. 09:26 And fortunately he doesn't ask us to fast 09:28 40 days, correct? No, no, no, I wouldn't 09:30 recommend it, he did that for us. 09:33 Amen, and another good point that you 09:36 mentioned was the enjoyment of food, 09:40 we don't want any of the viewers to get 09:43 an idea that we just promote a bland diet, 09:47 an unattractive diet, one that doesn't bring 09:50 satisfaction to our taste buds, right. 09:53 Now you have actually got personal 09:56 experience in this, I understand 09:59 you had a weight problem in the past 10:02 as a physician, and there was certain things 10:06 that happened in your life, could you just share 10:08 us your personal experience of how you 10:10 overcame this point. Sure, I'll just begin by 10:14 mentioning you were talking about various diets, 10:17 I don't think you could mention one that 10:19 I haven't been on in terms of trying that 10:23 struggle, that battle with the appetites. 10:26 And my experience was very similar to, 10:30 to others; I would lose some weight but then 10:34 when I would get off that diet so to speak, 10:38 I would go right back to my other eating 10:40 patterns, I never made a lifestyle change. 10:43 And I didn't know at that point the Lord 10:48 who alone could give me the power to overcome 10:51 that appetite, right. And it wasn't until 10:56 I became a Christian, until I found the Lord 11:01 who had been looking for me all those years 11:04 and developed a relationship with him 11:07 that he was able then to give me the 11:11 strength that I needed to curb these 11:14 unconquerable appetites, and also to reveal to me 11:20 a plan, an actual physical plan that 11:23 I could follow in order to take the weight off. 11:26 And when I had both of those, when the Lord 11:30 showed me those things and gave me that power 11:32 then I could start to make those changes 11:35 to change the lifestyle and eating pattern, 11:40 and the weight didn't just rapidly come off, 11:43 but it was steady, and that's what I would 11:46 like to encourage all of our viewers is that 11:49 if you are trying to develop a weight 11:53 reduction plan, don't be in tempered in that, 11:57 that we need to be balanced, 11:59 we need maybe to shoot for a pound, or pound 12:03 and a half per week weight loss. 12:06 And just be steady and persistent as the 12:09 Lord will help you, and it will come. 12:11 Now, there maybe some people who are 12:13 watching that have lost weight and they 12:17 haven't done it or they believe they haven't 12:20 done it in, in God strength. 12:22 Maybe they don't even believe in God, 12:24 I know before I was a Christian that 12:27 I became a vegetarian, I was convicted about 12:30 that and I, I practiced that. 12:32 What would you say to people out there 12:34 who are thinking perhaps, you know, 12:36 I didn't need God; I've been able to handle 12:40 this myself? It's a good question, 12:43 but you know Lee there were many benefits 12:46 that came to humanity through the cross that 12:50 people may not be aware of, but they are living 12:53 in this envelop of God's grace. Right, you see, 12:56 right, and so the Lord still is working for 13:00 individuals even though they may not 13:02 recognize it. But when we come to that conscious 13:06 recognition, and then we asks Him for more, 13:09 oh! He's able to do so much more, you see. 13:12 So, you're saying that, He does it in spite of us, 13:14 exactly. Because He's leading us to, 13:16 to greater truth and He wants us to eventually 13:20 get to that point where we say you know 13:22 He really did help me even though I didn't 13:24 realize He was helping me, exactly. 13:26 Dr. Grivas, maybe you can share a little bit 13:29 more about that point in your life where you 13:34 realized that you couldn't do it by yourself, 13:38 and then you had failed repeatedly different 13:42 dietary programs, what was it that gave you that 13:47 final push so to speak to, to follow through 13:51 and to get complete victory? I remember 13:54 I was studying the Bible at that point and 13:58 I came across Romans the 7th chapter, okay. 14:02 Paul's struggle, and you know Paul admitted it 14:08 wasn't that he didn't know what to do, 14:10 but he found that even knowing that he ended 14:14 up doing the very opposite. 14:15 He would fall back into those old patterns of 14:18 living even though he knew he needed to change. 14:21 And when I read that I thought you know 14:26 that then is my history, that's my problem. 14:30 You saw yourself? I saw myself and I said well, 14:33 if that was Paul's problem and there 14:35 was hope for him in Jesus, then there was 14:38 for me also, and that's when I really started 14:40 seeking the Lord, and that's when things 14:42 started to change. So, you cried out: 14:44 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me. 14:46 Amen. Praise God. Let's talk for a minute about 14:50 emotional eating; we know that a lot of people eat 14:55 because they feel that emotional need, 14:58 how can those people be helped 15:00 to break that habit? Well, we don't want 15:05 to deny that eating is a pleasure right, 15:08 and a lot of people get comfort from that, 15:11 and we don't want to take that from them. 15:13 But in the life that is submerged in Christ 15:18 there are so many other pleasures. 15:21 So, that eating is just one of many, 15:24 and we don't then live in order to eat, 15:29 but we are eating for strength, 15:30 so that we can enjoy all the other elements 15:33 of the abundant life in Christ. 15:35 So, what you're saying is we don't wanna 15:37 make food an ideal, right, but we do want 15:41 to make it appetizing, sure, and pleasurable. 15:43 And I think that's important when we 15:45 follow a good dietary program that we do 15:50 actually enjoy the food that we're eating; 15:52 it was designed by God to be pleasurable. 15:55 I could imagine in the beginning the fruit just 15:58 I mean just the smell of it was enough to give 16:02 you a hearty appetite. Yes. What you're saying 16:05 too is that we don't want to go too far, 16:08 and make it something that we can't live apart 16:12 from and the God has created other avenues, 16:15 right, that we can enjoy even more pleasurable 16:17 than eating, exactly. Let's, let's talk about 16:22 exercise and its role in obesity. 16:25 Could you explain to the viewers who are 16:28 listening some of the simple exercise programs 16:33 that they can get on or maybe some of the 16:36 different exercise practices they can use 16:41 to lower their weight. Sure, the biggest thing 16:47 in exercise I believe is consistency, 16:50 a daily plan where people are beginning to burn 16:58 those calories that they have stored and 17:02 exercise is one area, the other is the dietary 17:06 change that we must address but with exercise 17:10 I recommend an exercise program that's enjoyable, 17:14 that they will love to do, that they will begin 17:18 to look forward to everyday. 17:21 Now, walking is the best exercise, 17:24 there is no question about that, 17:25 and some people really enjoy getting outside 17:29 and walking. And this is where I tell people 17:31 whether permitting, get outdoors because 17:34 then you're gonna get the other benefits of 17:35 sunshine and fresh air, the beauty of God's 17:39 created nature. So do you exercise outdoors 17:44 and try to have a systematic plan 17:46 of when you're gonna exercise and we should 17:50 also help people to understand that exercise 17:53 is accumulative through the day. 17:55 You may not have to do it all at one point, 17:57 just if you can get out and walk for 10 minutes 18:00 when you're going to the store, park your car 18:04 at a distance walk into the store, climb 18:08 those stairs, do useful work, do your gardening, 18:13 your wrecking. So, we, we don't have to 18:16 get on a treadmill or enter a marathon 18:20 or we can, we can do something simple 18:22 as even working and gardening, sure. 18:25 It's interesting, reminds of a story 18:28 of a lady who all she could do was move 18:30 her arms. In fact she was watching television 18:32 most of the day and she gain tremendous weight 18:36 I think she was around 1200 pounds in weight. 18:41 And one day someone motivated her to do 18:46 some exercise, and she could just move her arms 18:49 and she was waving her arms and then 18:51 she was also move her legs. And as months went 18:54 by she lost weight, and as years went by could 18:58 you believe she was actually able to not 19:02 just stand up and move around, 19:04 but she was able to lose 1,000 pounds. 19:08 She, she went from 1200 down to 200 pounds, 19:12 that took a, a number of years to do that. 19:15 But it just goes to show how much 19:17 resilience the body can have in its recovery once 19:21 we follow a healthier plan. Right, now lets 19:25 just talk a moment about those who come 19:27 to lifestyle center such as Wildwood that 19:30 is one of the things we do, we put them 19:32 on a good lifestyle program. 19:34 Is it best to put, put them on exercise 19:38 program in, in the morning to get all 19:40 the exercise or do we spread it out, 19:43 what is the best plan as far as losing weight 19:46 goes? Well, we certainly put them on an exercise 19:50 program, their walking is throughout different 19:54 parts of the day, morning, middle of the day and 19:57 so forth. But also we make some changes 20:00 in their diet which is important, and we are 20:04 recommending more plant foods, no snacks, 20:09 okay, in between 5 or 6 hours at least 20:13 separating two meals. And encouraging them 20:17 we have a little gathering in the evening, 20:21 so that when they're accustom to eating 20:24 and it's a social enjoyment. We still 20:26 serve lemon water or something like that 20:30 at night, but it's a social time that they 20:32 can get together and it makes that skipping 20:35 of the third meal a little less painful. 20:38 Right, so it's better to have your lemon 20:40 water with a group of people that are gonna 20:42 like it, exactly, okay, exactly. So, having that 20:45 social network you say that's very important 20:48 as far as being able to feel you know that, 20:52 that emotional support, that encouragement 20:55 and this is why it's good to try to lose 20:59 weight with a group of people. 21:01 And you know sometimes not 21:03 everyone is so encouraged when people make 21:06 these lifestyle changes. In fact some people are 21:09 a little on the discouraging side, 21:11 especially if you know they're being convicted 21:14 of some lifestyle changes that they need to make, 21:17 sure. So, let's talk a little moment about sleep 21:22 and it's role in obesity, does it play a role 21:25 and how big of role does it play? 21:28 Well, I think it's definitely a factor and 21:32 we have been able to demonstrate that people 21:34 who are stressed from lack of sleep; 21:37 they will tend to eat more during the day. 21:39 And so we would factor that in and try to 21:46 help individuals who are lets say not 21:50 sleeping well, they're not a good sleeping 21:52 program, they're going to bed late, 21:54 and they're getting up late. 21:56 We try to help them in the lifestyle center 21:58 to change that pattern also, to get to bed 22:01 earlier, I think we've suggested to them 22:06 9:30 or 10 at the latest for retiring sleeping 22:10 7 to 8 hours or so. And then getting up 22:14 and not going back to bed right. 22:16 Is that possible for someone coming from 22:18 someone like New York city, they've been 22:20 used to 1, 2 O'clock in the morning, 22:22 they come to this outback place, 22:25 surrounded by birds and nature and then 22:28 the lights go off at 9, 9:30. 22:31 Do they, do they enjoy that, do they get use 22:33 to that? They get use to it, and they start 22:36 to enjoy, okay, but it may take a little while, 22:38 because they're used to that more intense 22:42 phase, but this is one of the advantages 22:45 of coming to a lifestyle center, 22:47 it's like Jesus said, its time to come apart 22:50 and rest awhile, right. It gets them away 22:53 from the stresses of life and lifestyle changes 22:56 are best made in a safe and comfortable 23:00 environment, one preferably that's 23:02 surrounded by the beauties of nature 23:06 where God is there, their minds are directed 23:09 spiritually. It's so much easy to make 23:12 these changes. And what about that folks 23:14 who are listening at home and they're 23:15 thinking well this sounds ideal, it sounds 23:18 perfect but yet I'm, I'm stuck in the city, 23:22 I don't get to go out much, what hope is 23:27 there for me, can I make some of these 23:28 changes where I am? Yes, very definitely, 23:32 God is where we are right, he comes to 23:37 where you are, so if you can't go to a 23:40 lifestyle center, don't despair but start to 23:44 incorporate some of these principles that 23:46 we're talking about now with the Lords 23:48 help into your daily program and you watch 23:51 what the Lord will do, it will be amazing. 23:53 And so the message we want to give to 23:56 there is really a message of hope, 23:58 no matter where you are, no matter 24:00 where you've come from there are some 24:03 simple changes that one can make, amen. 24:05 Let's talk a little bit about snacking because 24:08 I know that you know, we so tempted, 24:10 whenever we go out we go to a restaurant, 24:12 we go even to the super market, 24:14 we're constantly bombarded with different 24:17 items they're staring us in the face 24:19 and we even start to imagine some of the 24:21 flavors and the smells hit us. 24:23 How do we cope with that you know what 24:26 provisions can we make to, to get the 24:28 control in that situation? Well, first 24:31 of all when we are subjected to temptation, 24:35 I encourage my patients you pray, 24:37 okay. And you ask the Lord to help you 24:40 and also to try not to go at least knowingly 24:44 into situations where you know you're gonna 24:47 be tempted to eat. In other words trying to 24:50 avoid where you can and then where you can't 24:52 then the Lord will be your strong hold, 24:55 your refuge. And it doesn't last forever, 24:58 in other words as the Lord is working 25:00 to give you victories, one victory after 25:03 another you become stronger. 25:05 And so these same challenges that you had 25:08 will become less and less as you're growing 25:11 in Christ. And I think that something very 25:14 important that we need to keep in mind 25:15 that temptation doesn't stay around forever, 25:19 but the will has to be set, yes. 25:22 For that temptation to go and that strength 25:25 to come how important is that will in making 25:30 those decisions? It's everything, 25:33 because the will is the power of our choice, 25:37 in other words God will not do for us the willing 25:41 that we must do, we must make the choice. 25:44 But it's like a, a boat on the sea with a sail, 25:50 right, alright and a, and a director of the 25:55 direction there what it is the router, 25:59 router, okay yes in other words we can make 26:03 the choice and that's the router. 26:05 We can make the choice for Christ he then 26:08 supplies the power which then moves the 26:11 vessel right, okay, right but we have to make 26:15 that choice. He will not make that choice for us. 26:17 If we don't make the choice we're left to our 26:20 own self sufficiency which is weakness. 26:24 Right, and I think one of the important 26:27 things to remember even if you're struggling 26:29 with your will, we can at least be willing to be, 26:32 be made willing sure, right. So, the Lord will 26:34 even strengthen that little desire that 26:37 we have to make some of these lifestyle 26:39 changes, right. What do you see as the most 26:43 important factor for those who are going 26:47 to follow the program and making those 26:50 healthy lifestyle changes? First of all 26:53 the spiritual dimension that we've talked about, 26:56 secondly is to know the plan and then to ask 27:01 the Lord to help you to adhere to it, 27:03 perseverance, perseverance 27:06 and well doing, okay it's those who endure 27:09 to the end shall be saved right. 27:12 Thank you very much, our time has come to an end, 27:16 I hope you've been encouraged as you 27:19 look at some of the practical ways that 27:22 you can make some of these lifestyle 27:24 changes in your life. You know it may a 27:26 seem a little challenging at first 27:29 but as you continue making these changes 27:32 it will actually become a habit and those 27:35 habits will get easier as we continue in the path 27:39 that God has chosen for us. 27:41 Just remember that you are not alone 27:43 in your struggle, God has said in his word: 27:47 That they had no temptation taking it 27:50 but that which is common to man and 27:52 God will make a way to escape that you maybe 27:56 able to bear it. I've hope you've enjoyed 27:58 today's program, please join us again next time 28:01 for Wonderfully Made, my name is Lee Wellard from 28:04 Wildwood Lifestyle Center, and just 28:06 remember that you're body is God's temple. |
Revised 2014-12-17