Saturday, January 22, 2011

Book Review: Made to Crave

I had the chance to read Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst as part of a LitFuse Blog Tour.  Tis the season for this kind of thing, I suppose, and after I said yes to this I started to question why I was going through another Christian weight loss book. 

"About the book: Just because a woman finally fits into her skinny jeans doesn't mean she's won her battle with food. Too often, women overlook the spiritual component to their physical struggle with healthy eating. Made to Crave taps into the desires God gave you to consume food without letting food consume you!

Made to Crave is the missing link between a woman's desire to be healthy and the spiritual empowerment necessary to make that happen. The reality is we were made to crave. Craving isn't a bad thing. But we must realize God created us to crave more of him. Many of us have misplaced that craving by overindulging in physical pleasures instead of lasting spiritual satisfaction. If you are struggling with unhealthy eating habits, you can break the "I'll start again Monday" cycle, and start feeling good about yourself today. Learn to stop beating yourself up over the numbers on the scale. Discover that your weight loss struggle isn't a curse but rather a blessing in the making, and replace justifications that lead to diet failure with empowering go-to scripts that lead to victory. You can reach your healthy weight goal - and grow closer to God in the process. This is not a how-to book. This is not the latest and greatest dieting plan. This book is the necessary companion for you to use alongside whatever healthy lifestyle plan you choose. This is a book and Bible study to help you find the "want to" in making healthy lifestyle choices. 224 pages. Companion Bible study DVD set also available."


My thoughts: Okay, well, I have to start off with some of the things that put me off about this book.  And part of this is colored by listening to Lysa Terkeurst on Focus on the Family recently too.  She made a statement on the broadcast that rankles -- "If I can do this, anyone can do this."  Or something to that effect.  Okay, now, I am one of those people who doesn't have a lot of weight to lose.  If I took off about 35 pounds, I'd be ecstatic. I'd be happy with around 25.

So it isn't like I'm in a position to make sweeping statements about me either.  But really... you are writing a book that will be read by people who need to lose more weight than you started with, and you make claims about how you are the poster child for being out of control and totally changed by God?

Okay, so in talking about the numbers, Terkeurst makes the point that redeems the book.  This isn't about numbers.  It isn't about the numbers on the scale, it isn't about the numbers on the clothing labels.  It is about misplaced cravings.  It is about "needing" that brownie more than we need God.

That is what sets this book apart.  It isn't a how-to book.  No explicit diet and exercise tips, no big plan to set into motion.  This book gives illustrations from the Bible about cravings... and it is making me far more aware of HOW I think about food, HOW I think about exercise, HOW I think about all those other "I deserve" statements in my life.

Somewhere in the middle of the book was a paragraph that really summed this up for me:
"An undivided heart.  That's what my whole journey in conquering cravings was about.  When it comes to my body, I can't live with divided loyalties.  I can either be loyal to honoring the Lord with my body or loyal to my cravings, desires, and many excuses for not exercising."
I am glad I had the chance to read this book.  I'm very glad I got past my aversion to the "If I can do it..." I heard on Focus on the Family.  And I will be re-reading this book, hopefully with some wonderful results.  Because I shy away from the discipline necessary to exercise and to make the right choices, and I do allow Satan to "fill" my cravings with all kinds of temporary stuff when I should be turning to God.


Win a brand new KINDLE from Lysa Terkeurst during the Made To Crave KINDLE Giveaway!
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To celebrate the release of Made to Crave and the MTC Small Group DVD Study Set, Lysa is giving away a KINDLE prize package worth over $175.00! To enter just click on one of the icons below! One winner will receive:
  • A brand new Kindle with Wi-Fi & the New E Ink Pearl Screen
  • KINDLE editions of Lysa’s Made to Crave and Becoming More Than A Good Girl
But, wait there is more! Lysa will be announcing the winner of the Made to Crave KINDLE Giveaway on February 8th during the Made To Crave Party on Facebook! During the party Lysa will chat with guests, host a trivia contest or two, and give away lots of other fun prizes (copies of Lysa’s other books and Amazon.com, iTunes & Starbucks gift certificates) – including a live Author Chat with Lysa for your small group! Don’t miss the fun! Lysa is looking forward to learning more about you – so be sure to stop by Lysa's Facebook Author Page on February 8th at 5:00 PM PST (6 PM MST, 7 PM CST, & 8 PM EST).



Disclaimer:  I received this book through the LitFuse Blog Tour.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own.   

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