Product Description

Our bodies are our God-given instruments for experiencing a fulfilling life, for doing good works and for spiritual development. God's plan for each of us involves maintaining a sound mind, body and soul. In her latest book, Joyce addresses the 'self-esteem drought' that leads us to bad health habits. She includes practical tools that help make complete self-maintenance an easy part of any daily routine. Revealing 12 keys to reclaiming our health through such things as exercise, eating habits, soul care and responsibility, Joyce uses her engaging style to reveal how simple the restoration process really is. Key 1--Finding the strength for the heavy lifting; Key 2--Learning to love your body; Key 3--Mastering metabolism; Key 4--Essential Exercise; Key 5--Balanced eating Key; 6--Water your soul; Key 7--Mindful eating; Key 8--Curb your spiritual hunger; Key 9--Necessary food and necessary sleep; Key 10--Right vision; Key 11--Make it easy; Key 12--Take responsibility.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1474859 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 196 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Beloved Bible teacher and prolific author Meyer blends self-help with Scripture in this peppy guide to getting fit. You wouldn't want to attend a church with chipped paint or threadbare carpeting, says Meyer, so by the same token, your body, the temple of the Holy Spirit, should be well cared for. After rehearsing her autobiography (a classic conversion narrative in which Meyer had a "poor relationship" with her body but then saw the light), Meyer offers 12 unoriginal steps to healthy living. She promises that if you follow her instructions, you will learn to love your body; boost your metabolism by drinking water and getting lots of sleep; eat more mindfully; envision feeling "fit, comfortable, and happy"; exercise; avoid fad diets; and even have a better relationship with God. The most important part of the book may be the epilogue, which addresses the rising rate of childhood obesity. Occasionally, Meyer seems out of touch with reality. For example, she says that one of the main reasons people fail to care for their bodies is that they are "pathologically selfless," so caught up in altruistic deeds that they forget to care for themselves. All in all, there's nothing here that hasn't been said many times before. (Apr. 4)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
*'A clever and engaging study of Britain as it prepared to swing into the sixties. Never Had It So Good is very good indeed' Amanda Foreman *'A wonderful book -- a most accomplished, readable and convincing tour through seven years from Suez to Beatlemania. It is refreshing because it probes beneath the surface of events, dissolving many of the myths of the sixties and suggesting, quite rightly, that this was a period of uneven and gradual change rather than a revolution' Lawrence James

About the Author
Joyce Meyer is the author of several bestselling inspirational books and her radio and television programmes are broadcast around the world. She has been teaching the Word of God since 1976 and in full-time ministry since 1980. She has also released thousands of teaching cassettes and a complete video library.

Customer Reviews

A really great book!
I have seen Joyce Meyer on TV a few times, and I think she is just great. One of my girlfriends always tells me I need to read her books. When I saw this book I thought it would be a great time to stop putting off getting into better shape. After having a child last year, I have been carrying some extra weight. My diet hasn't been the best lately either.

This was a very down to earth book that has given me the motivation to take better care of myself. I believe God wants us to take good care of our bodies, and I already feel better just by doing some stretching and moderate exercise in the morning, and eating more salads and less junk food. I decided not to make radical changes that I wouldn't stick with, but gradual efforts that I could handle. This book really helped me to get started. And I naturally like the fact that it's written by a wonderful Christian woman like Joyce Meyer. My friend told me how much she also loves Battlefield of the Mind, so I bought that too and will start that one next. Right now I am reading Passenger's Side which is really incredible. It too has helped me so much. I would highly recommend both of these.

Not bad....
First off I ONLY read this book because I wanted to see if there was anything in it that was worth following.

I am not a big fan of televangelists, but this book by Ms. Meyers caught my eye because of three chapters or Keys. Keys 4,5 and 6. Exercise, Balanced eating and Water. And then the last Key 12 Take Responsibility. These are such important keys especially when one looks around at Americans who are amongst the least fit and most obese of any industrialized nation.

And the taking responsibility chapter is so important I believe because there is a large (in my opinion) segment who believe that all they have to do is trust God and the weight will drop off. Hard work and self discipline is what produced results.

Water is another element I am so glad to see the author writing about because water is so important for a healthy body and healthy life. One need only see how often water is mentioned throughout history.

And I was pleased to see her write that water not other beverages is so important for flushing out the system of toxins, which in turn helps the body run better which then results in more efficient burning of fat, and a healthier skin, hair, nails and sleep.

At the end of each chapter there is a section where the reader can write down an action they will do that day for that section. Like for the water section, one might write down that they will drink a glass of water every three hours. And the author reminds us that people walked most places and did physical work daily in the past.

So simply using a push lawn mower, parking further from a store and walking, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator are simple changes one can do daily. That's the gist of the book which makes it well worth reading even if you are not a believer.

Practical advise
I really enjoy Joyce Meyer's candid and practical advice. She is an excellent teacher. I also believe this will be the last book I will need on this subject because she has given me the tools and the wherewithal to overcome.

This isn't a diet book. It's a book on being healthy and whole and accepting ourselves. While I was already entrenched in an exercise routine, I was surprised to find that I was stressed. I don't live a stressful life but because of my hormonal imbalances I am a very stressed person. So expect to be surprised at where your struggles truly are.

I agree with the above poster that she should have left off the numbers when she spoke of her struggles. 6lbs or 20lbs is not what most of us are struggling with and it seems to demoralize the rest of us. I disagree however that mindless eating should not have it's own chapter. This mindless eating is something I struggle with and I was happy that it came with it's own key. I was grateful for the opportunity to have a separate focus and grateful for the additional steps to work through.


I'll also mention that I purchased the CD version as well as the book. (I prefer to read, my husband prefers not to read) I was sorely disappointed in the CD. Joyce Meyer gives an introduction but the book is read by another voice. Also Joyce appears to read the introduction so her personality doesn't come through and it sounds rather dry. If you have ever watched one of her shows you know she isn't a "dry" personality. Also, I didn't think the CD was laid out very well. Key 1 starts on track 10 of CD 1, and the other keys are broken up as well. I have listened to other CD books from Joyce where each CD is a separate lesson. Those are excellent! It will be hard to use this CD as a learning tool unless you are going to go from step 1-12 numerically which she says isn't required. Once I overcame my disappointment of the CD (and read the book), I was able to listen and focus on the advice and the steps and get on with the learning and applying these tools to my life.

I am committed to taking her advice and continue to work on each key individually until it becomes habit and I am convinced that by doing so, I will overcome my struggles.