God is helping me lose weight and maintain what I've lost. I know this. At the end of 2007, I felt Him say, "I will help you get healthy, if you reach out and help others do the same."
God is brilliant. Not only have I, and almost 80 others, lost weight, I've also found great joy, and lifelong friends, in Pray it Off (PIO).
One of the key parts of the PIO Meeting is the Small Group or Table. After I give my presentation, they discuss the topics du jour. We have 9 local tables and now we even have a Cyber Table 10.
This past Thursday, I challenged the Tables to brainstorm how they can support each other in their healthy lifestyle goals.
Here's what they came up with:
Pray It Off Table Support Ideas 4/29/10
1. Pray For Each Other Especially Troubled Members
2. Listen To Each Other During Group Time – Be Active Listeners
3. Make Table Prayer Time a “No Judgment Zone”
4. Ask St. Pio To Intercede for Tablemates Success
5. Encourage Each Other
6. Share Weight Loss Suggestions
7. Share Exercise Suggestions i.e. Golfing/Tennis
8. Share “Good” Food/Meal/Product Suggestions To Avoid Boredom and “Falling Off The Wagon”
9. Praise Each Other’s Accomplishments
10. Share Successes and Ideas As To What Works
11. Share Healthy Recipes
12. Phone Support – Call Each Other When Tempted or Depressed
13. Email Support
14. Set Table Goals and Discuss Accountability
15. Group Walks – Mall Walking – Charity for Children Run/Walk
16. Participate in Group Outings i.e. Bird Watching, Hiking, Bike Rides
17. Call Members Who Missed A Meeting an Fill Them In On What They Missed
18. Get Together To Watch Videos on the Blog, As A Group, and Pause and Discuss It Throughout (Especially Good To Share With Those Who Don’t Have Computers)
19. Review Logs as A Group and Make Suggestions/ Bring in Old Logs/Get Another Set Of Eyes On Them To Brainstorm Suggestions
20. Go To Adoration As A Group
21. Set Up An Informal Bible Discussion On The Weekly Chapter
22. Make Group Prayer a “NO Stinkin’ Thinkin’ Time
23. Pick a Table Patron Saint and Do a Novena To That Saint
24. Plan a Weekly Menu As a Group
25. Plan a Grocery List As A Group
26. Pick a Week Where the Table Agrees to Only Eat Three Meals a Day With No Snacks
27. Plan A Week Where The Group Agrees to Not Eat Out
Please feel free to add (in a comment) any ideas you, the reader, might come up with.
Also keep the Blog posted when these ideas are put into action and report back on the results. Thank you!
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Many of these are very focused on a task to be completed at the table. I like that. Too often we answer the questions in safe generic ways and don't really have a discussion of any depth.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to suggest reading a scripture chapter together and sharing in more depth with the small group. I think some people might be shy to share in the large group.