Catholics Unite

Join

The Light Weigh Program

rizzolv
rizzolv Posts: 11
in Social Groups
Hi everyone,

I am new to MFP and glad to find a group of Catholics to connect with. I am wondering if anyone has ever heard of or been a member of the Light Weigh program? It is a Catholic program designed to teach you how to have normalcy with food, by finding complete fulfillment with God, rather than food. I have been wanting to be a part of this program for several years, but I have been unable to get a group together.

Replies

  • orapronobis
    orapronobis Posts: 460 Member
    Hi, I'm Louise and I'm new to MFP, as well. I'd be interested in learning more about the Light Weigh program. The website didn't give much information about the program, and nothing about the cost. Do you have any more information on it?

    If you would like to add me as a friend, please do.
  • rizzolv
    rizzolv Posts: 11
    I would love to, if you could tell me how. I know a few people on MFP and I can't figure out how to add them as friends. I am a sweet girl, but dumb as a doornail when it comes to computer stuff :) Tell me how and I'm on it.
  • orapronobis
    orapronobis Posts: 460 Member
    Click on my screen name to the left of this message. My home page will open up, then click on "Add as Friend"
  • grassette
    grassette Posts: 976 Member
    The light weight program does sound interesting. There is a spiritual element to obesity--it is one of the cardinal sins, after all. It would be interesting to set up a group around this theme, if not for that specific program.
  • orapronobis
    orapronobis Posts: 460 Member
    Not too long ago, I heard a talk by Fr. Robert Barron on the cardinal sins and boy did that hit me between the eyes! I KNEW these things! How I could be overweight for 20 years and never connect it to gluttony?? I could name my problem as a carb addiction, lack of will power, whatever...But by grace, this time my eyes were opened. This website is a great tool, and adding a spiritual dimension would be awesome.
  • rizzolv
    rizzolv Posts: 11
    The Light Weigh program seems to be everything I have been looking for in my attempts to deal with my food issues. THe problem is that the Light Weigh staff believes very strongly in the power of prayer in number and they claim much of the success of their program is dependant on that prayer. Because of this, they will not let you do the program unless you have a minimum of three people to participate. I have not been able to find any one in my local area to start a group with. The program teaches you how to detach yourself from the hold that food has on you. It teaches you how to have a normal relationship with food, by turning to God for your every need. I love the program because it also increases your prayer life and utilizes some of the great tools of our faith that we often forget about. I know so much about the program because I had them send me an orientation DVD to present to my pastor. It really sold me on the whole program. Unfortunately, my priest has yet to give me the green light, but we will see. I feel like the program is dangling the answers in front of my face, but I can't grasp them until I can start a group. Understandable, but frustrating.

    I have compared this program with other faith based weight loss program , and this one seems to be the most complete and successful by far.
  • grassette
    grassette Posts: 976 Member
    The Light Weigh program seems to be everything I have been looking for in my attempts to deal with my food issues. THe problem is that the Light Weigh staff believes very strongly in the power of prayer in number and they claim much of the success of their program is dependant on that prayer. Because of this, they will not let you do the program unless you have a minimum of three people to participate. I have not been able to find any one in my local area to start a group with. The program teaches you how to detach yourself from the hold that food has on you. It teaches you how to have a normal relationship with food, by turning to God for your every need. I love the program because it also increases your prayer life and utilizes some of the great tools of our faith that we often forget about. I know so much about the program because I had them send me an orientation DVD to present to my pastor. It really sold me on the whole program. Unfortunately, my priest has yet to give me the green light, but we will see. I feel like the program is dangling the answers in front of my face, but I can't grasp them until I can start a group. Understandable, but frustrating.

    I have compared this program with other faith based weight loss program , and this one seems to be the most complete and successful by far.

    There are costs to this program: (from their website)

    - Each Light Weigh member who joins your group receives a Light Weigh Workbook, a Light Weigh Audio Series, a Light Weigh Spiritual Growth Kit and permission to attend the Light Weigh DVD series for $135.00 per person plus $7.00 S&H* per set if ordered with the Orientation order. If you get 5 people in your group not including yourself, you receive your set of Light Weigh materials at no charge (this is a one time gift).

    -Anyone ordering after the initial group order has been shipped will pay $14.00 S&H* per set.

    -At your Light Weigh Orientation meeting, everyone knows why they are there. Simply pray an Our Father or a Hail Mary and play the Orientation DVD.

    Later...

    As a Light Weigh Coordinator you have everything you need at your fingertips. You receive the Light Weigh Bible Study completely printed out for you and all the instructions for Light Weigh are on the Light Weigh DVD.

    Your group meets once a week for 12 weeks. Your meetings are 90 minutes. There are no weigh-ins at Light Weigh meetings. The Bible Study is discussed by your group for 15-20 minutes and then you put in the Light Weigh DVD for the week.

    ************
    The website is not very specific on the spirituality, and the testimonies are pretty generic for any kind of weight loss program. There is no mention if an imprimateur anywhere on it, so it is not clear that the approach has been approved by the Church itself. I'm not sure that we could not do better by improvising our own program.
  • perfectingpatti
    perfectingpatti Posts: 1,037 Member
    Interesting. I'll have to look into this as I haven't heard about it. I wonder if it's similar to the theme in the book Made to Crave. Anyone know?
  • rizzolv
    rizzolv Posts: 11
    The program has been featured several times on EWTN and the informational dvd that I watched interviewed a priest regarding his parish and their use of the program. I don't know if there is an official stamp of approval from the church, but it does seem to be regarded highly by many trust worthy sources in our faith.

    There are many faith based programs out there, but many of them are mostly comprised of feel good messages and biblical affirmations. I liked this program because it uses real tools of our faith, such as prayer in number, the power of sacrifice and devotions to several saints. It gives you more than just the messages about what you should be doing according to God, it gives you the tools to do so.

    The cost seems very fair when you take into consideration the overall numbers. If one chooses to do the program for a full 12 months, the total cost over the course of the year comes to less than $250 (I think). THe beauty is that within this year you will learn all that you need to live a life free of food addiction. You do not have to keep coming back and paying year after year. Many people who have done the program, have continued to meet as a supportive prayer group after the first twelve months, but there are no more charges. It is a commitment you can make for a year, that will benefit you forever. I have many friends that pay over $350 a year to do Weight Watchers, and they continue to pay it year after year. Their inner battle never ends and they continue to depend on the diet itself.

    If anyone would like to know more, I highly suggest that you contact the Light Weigh company and they will send you an orientation dvd free of charge. It is very informative. I am hoping to do all that I can to get a group going locally. The company can also tell you if there are any local groups already in progress near you.
  • grassette
    grassette Posts: 976 Member
    The program has been featured several times on EWTN and the informational dvd that I watched interviewed a priest regarding his parish and their use of the program. I don't know if there is an official stamp of approval from the church, but it does seem to be regarded highly by many trust worthy sources in our faith.

    There are many faith based programs out there, but many of them are mostly comprised of feel good messages and biblical affirmations. I liked this program because it uses real tools of our faith, such as prayer in number, the power of sacrifice and devotions to several saints. It gives you more than just the messages about what you should be doing according to God, it gives you the tools to do so.

    The cost seems very fair when you take into consideration the overall numbers. If one chooses to do the program for a full 12 months, the total cost over the course of the year comes to less than $250 (I think). THe beauty is that within this year you will learn all that you need to live a life free of food addiction. You do not have to keep coming back and paying year after year. Many people who have done the program, have continued to meet as a supportive prayer group after the first twelve months, but there are no more charges. It is a commitment you can make for a year, that will benefit you forever. I have many friends that pay over $350 a year to do Weight Watchers, and they continue to pay it year after year. Their inner battle never ends and they continue to depend on the diet itself.

    If anyone would like to know more, I highly suggest that you contact the Light Weigh company and they will send you an orientation dvd free of charge. It is very informative. I am hoping to do all that I can to get a group going locally. The company can also tell you if there are any local groups already in progress near you.

    This is more information than what the Light Weigh program tells you on its website, which I found to be very thin when it came to describing its religious approach. Not that I would disagree with it. It has no testimonials from priests, for example. And one does not know whether it promotes a sacramental approach or not. If it has been featured on ETWN, it would be nice to view those programs,
  • rizzolv
    rizzolv Posts: 11
    Their website use to be much more informative when I first discovered the program, I am not sure why they changed it. You use to be able to read all kinds of testimonies and watch clips of the program featured on CNN, EWTN, etc... Now they have simplified the website to say very little, which is puzzling. Most of the info that was available on the site at one time is now covered on the dvd. If you google Light Weigh, you can catch a few videos on Youtube and such. I may speak very highly of the program, but that is only because I have continued to look into over the course of two years. But honestly, I cannot speak from experience. In all my efforts, I have yet to be able to round up a group to participate with me. :( I don't suppose any of you from the MA/RI area? haha
  • perfectingpatti
    perfectingpatti Posts: 1,037 Member
    I wonder if we can get old programs from EWTN. My husband has friends over there, so I'll ask.
  • rizzolv
    rizzolv Posts: 11
    I just checked out Youtube. There are three great videos on there. Two clips are interviews from news programs. One is an interview from Fox news. Then there is a home made clip by a girl that explains a little bit about what the program has consisted of. She also shows you some of the things that you get in your package, such as work books, cds, prayer card, novenas, etc... They are all informative.
  • grassette
    grassette Posts: 976 Member
    I just checked out Youtube. There are three great videos on there. Two clips are interviews from news programs. One is an interview from Fox news. Then there is a home made clip by a girl that explains a little bit about what the program has consisted of. She also shows you some of the things that you get in your package, such as work books, cds, prayer card, novenas, etc... They are all informative.

    It would be helpful if you posted the links. I did not find anything on You-tube when I looked.
  • rizzolv
    rizzolv Posts: 11
    I'll try. Again, I am NOT good at computer anything, but maybe I can figure it out.
  • rizzolv
    rizzolv Posts: 11
    Sorry guys, I can't figure out how to share the link. I can share it on FB or in email, but I don't know how to share it on MFP. I just searched "The Light Weigh Program" or the creater's name "Suzanne Fowler" and several clips popped up. If it helps, I can tell you the exact name of each clip.

    1. Light Weigh and Suzanne Fowler netny.net tv

    2. Light Weigh Program, the Catholic way to learn how to eat :) By: Breanne Saldivar

    3. Fox News interview 4 10, by the Light Weigh

    I hope that helps. If you google thoses titles it may take you directly to the clip on YouTube. I'll have to try it for you.
  • rizzolv
    rizzolv Posts: 11
    The website for CNA- Catholic News Agency also has a very informative and positive article. It is just another thing I found when I googled The Light Weigh Program.
  • BestCindyICanBe
    BestCindyICanBe Posts: 75 Member
    I had watched their information video at one point. They were starting just about the same time as the Weigh Down Workshop. The video talked about the spirituality of St. Therese of Lesiux (sorry not sure of the spelling) and her little ways. I don't remember much more than that. I gave the video to the Pastoral Associate at our parish but it didn't go anywhere after that. She was really into the Weigh Down Workshop and wanted to do it instead.
  • rizzolv
    rizzolv Posts: 11
    I am not familliar with the Weigh Down workshop. I gave the video to my pastor as well and it also went nowhere. I have decided that I am going to do whatever it takes to start a group near me. I signed up for MFP as a desperate attempt to inspire myself, and as I suspected, I have not been logging in or tracking or anything. :( I have felt a strong calling to do the Light Weigh program for awhile. If I can't do it at my church than I am going to try and spread the word at a few local prayer meetings. If God wants this to happen, then he will lead me in the right direction. It is the only thing that I feel has hope for me and my food issues.
  • totustuusmaria
    totustuusmaria Posts: 182 Member
    I saw them on EWTN's Life on the Rock once, and they were really inspiring. There was nothing close by me though.
  • rizzolv
    rizzolv Posts: 11
    I have not been on MFP for weeks. I have been totally uninspired. I have however put forth every effort into recruiting people to start my own light weigh program. I do not have any answers yet, but I have made some connections and spread the word. I know that God will bring people to me if I am intended to lead a group.

Categories