“The Daniel Fast for Weight Loss” by Susan Gregory *christian 21 day fast* book review

The Daniel Fast for Weight Loss: A Biblical Approach to Losing Weight and Keeping It Off (released December 29, 2015) by Susan Gregory

I love to read health and fitness books and although I am christian, I was pretty skeptical of this book. First, I don’t particularly agree with “fasting” like the author states that she does on a regular basis in the beginning of the book. I do fast occasionally for religious purposes but not on a regular basis as I feel like it is not beneficial for my body with all the exercising that I do.

This book is based on Daniel’s 21 day fast that is mentioned in the bible in Daniel chapter 1. The author states that this is meant to be a life long spiritual journey and not a temporary diet type method. The thought that came to my mind as I was reading this first several chapters was “eat to live, not live to eat”.

Part 1 of the book focuses alot of the spiritual aspect of the book. What the purpose of the 21 day fast is, what the bible tells us about our bodies, the benefits to doing the fast, and how to stay with this way of eating after 21 days.

The author recommends cutting back on sugar and caffeine at least a week ahead of time so the cravings aren’t so brutal during the fast. She includes a list of foods that are to be eaten during the 21 days and what foods are not allowed during the 21 days. She lists then on page 142-144.

Basically you will be eating all fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, oils and water. You will NOT eat any meat and animal products (like meat, fish and eggs), dairy, sweeteners, leavened bread, refined and processed products, deep fried foods, solid fats and beverages other than water.

She recommends eating 3 meals and 2 snacks per day which I also agree with. “The key to success is to stay nourished and not let yourself get hungry”. She also says its important to focus on the foods that you CAN eat, especially if you are wanting this to be a spiritual journey.

I liked reading the “10 habits practiced by healthy individuals” section. She lists all 10 things like eating small bites and drinking lots of water-and then goes into specific details about each one. They are practical, easy things to follow.

Part 2 includes the recipes and 21 days of devotionals to be read each day during the fast.

My overall thoughts on this book:
I read through the whole plan and most of the recipes. I think the concept is good and I like the religious aspect of it; but I personally don’t see myself following it. It would take ALOT of willpower and determination to eat like this and then maintain this lifestyle long term. Kudos if you can do it!

I personally do not eat much-if at all-fast food and sugar. But because I have to eat gluten free it would be very hard for me to not have any meat or eggs when I already can’t eat the grains except for oats. I also try to eat more veggies than fruits because of the sugar content. I feel like I eat healthy most of the time, but obviously not as strict as this book is suggesting.

If you are wanting to reset your body, take away cravings and you don’t have any food restrictions like I do; you may want to read more about this plan to see if it’s something you can follow. It is very well written and easy to read.

I received a copy of this book complimentary from Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:
If you’re tired of chasing the latest diet fad only to find that you’ve gained weight, it’s time to try an entirely different approach. The Daniel Fast for Weight Loss succeeds where other programs fail because it focuses on your relationship with God as well as on your relationship with food. Once you discover the pleasures of eating the food God has provided for optimum health, you will not want to turn back. The Daniel Fast for Weight Loss offers a strategic, biblically based plan backed by solid research that will eliminate your cravings and help you to drop those unwanted pounds once and for all.

You can purchase a copy here:

Susan Gregory, “The Daniel Fast Blogger” and bestselling author of The Daniel Fast, is back with a spiritual and practical roadmap to this wildly popular 21-day fast for anyone who wants to lose weight and develop a lifestyle of health in a way that honors God. Way beyond a diet plan, The Daniel Fast for Weight Loss includes more than 90 new recipes, multiple tips for successful fasting, a 21-day devotional, and practical guidance for maintaining weight loss and good eating habits even after you complete your Christ-centered fasting experience. Embark on a life-changing journey toward happiness and confidence about the body God designed for you.

http://daniel-fast.com/