Rating: 
Summary: A phenomenal piece of religious-dieting-garbage.
Review: Okay I am not an overweight person, nor am I overly religious. I did not read the entire book but merely glimpsed at some of the pages and was amazed at how preachy and bizarre this book is. She speaks of the Bible as if we are all small African children, so pathetically interested in her spiel as if to supplement starvation. I am not Christian, but her denial of the Trinity Doctrine will go against many of your beliefs, saying: The Bible teaches us that the Son doesn't even know the day or the hour, but only the Father. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Mark 13:32). How could the same "being" keep a secret from part of the Godhead if indeed there is one Head and not two separate beings? I believe that Jesus and God are two separate beings. I believe that Jesus is our Lord (referenced hundreds of times) and our God (referenced approximately three times), but I believe that the God of Jesus is God the Father. Jesus is not God the Father. Sorry Mrs. Shamblin, I would prefer going to Heaven than reading your book to lose a few pounds.
Rating: 
Summary: Rise Above
Review: Thank you Gwen for following where God leads. I have read this book twice, and lent it to others. It explains how to get to the root of the problem. Helped to get me motivated to stay on my journey to the promise land. This is not a gt it quick, diet. Gwen shows us that it is not worldly diets or the fads that are the problem, it is our hearts and minds. It is what we worship, (the food), that is the problem. This is truly a gift from God, for us to use to get out of the slavery of over eating.
Rating: 
Summary: Folks I've got good news and bad news.
Review: The good news: This book changed my life. I read her first book "the weigh down diet" and then I read this one and as a result of utilizing many of the principles in them I lost 100lbs in 9 months. There is truth in these books because I struggled with my weight for 20 years and NOTHING worked. I am free from ever being fat again. In addition to the 100lbs I lost 12 inches on my waist. I look and feel like a different person. I actually had to make a scrap book because when I looked in the mirror I didn't recognize myself. More good news: My relationship with God skyrocketed to new heights; I added a second career and my marriage got better because I lost a lot of internal anger with the weight. The Bad news: You have to read these books and think. For me that wasn't a problem but it might be for people looking for all the answers in one place. 2000 years ago all the answers were in one place... Jesus. And unlike Gwen I follow the reformed tradition that believes that Jesus IS God. I think I was able to lose the weight because I applied the truth I found in her book to the truth I already knew. Some of the things she says are wacky and she has some heretical doctrine but that doesn't mean that God didn't give her any truth it just means that she's a sinner like us all. If you look for problems about Gwen you will find them and it won't take long but that's not the point. The point is, can you lose weight if you do what she says in the book? The Point: Get the book. Use your heart, your mind and your spirit and find the truth. Overweight people need the truth because there are a lot of lies out there. Pray for the truth and the truth will set you free. Not Gwen. Not the book. The truth. You will lose weight. I did.
Rating:
Summary: Folks I've got good news and bad news.
Review: The good news: This book changed my life. I read her first book "the weigh down diet" and then I read this one and as a result of utilizing many of the principles in them I lost 100lbs in 9 months. There is truth in these books because I struggled with my weight for 20 years and NOTHING worked. I am free from ever being fat again. In addition to the 100lbs I lost 12 inches on my waist. I look and feel like a different person. I actually had to make a scrap book because when I looked in the mirror I didn't recognize myself. More good news: My relationship with God skyrocketed to new heights; I added a second career and my marriage got better because I lost a lot of internal anger with the weight. The Bad news: You have to read these books and think. For me that wasn't a problem but it might be for people looking for all the answers in one place. 2000 years ago all the answers were in one place... Jesus. And unlike Gwen I follow the reformed tradition that believes that Jesus IS God. I think I was able to lose the weight because I applied the truth I found in her book to the truth I already knew. Some of the things she says are wacky and she has some heretical doctrine but that doesn't mean that God didn't give her any truth it just means that she's a sinner like us all. If you look for problems about Gwen you will find them and it won't take long but that's not the point. The point is, can you lose weight if you do what she says in the book? The Point: Get the book. Use your heart, your mind and your spirit and find the truth. Overweight people need the truth because there are a lot of lies out there. Pray for the truth and the truth will set you free. Not Gwen. Not the book. The truth. You will lose weight. I did.
Rating:
Summary: Folks I've got good news and bad news.
Review: The good news: This book changed my life. I read her first book "the weigh down diet" and then I read this one and as a result of utilizing many of the principles in them I lost 100lbs in 9 months. There is truth in these books because I struggled with my weight for 20 years and NOTHING worked. I am free from ever being fat again. In addition to the 100lbs I lost 12 inches on my waist. I look and feel like a different person. I actually had to make a scrap book because when I looked in the mirror I didn't recognize myself. More good news: My relationship with God skyrocketed to new heights; I added a second career and my marriage got better because I lost a lot of internal anger with the weight. The Bad news: You have to read these books and think. For me that wasn't a problem but it might be for people looking for all the answers in one place. 2000 years ago all the answers were in one place... Jesus. And unlike Gwen I follow the reformed tradition that believes that Jesus IS God. I think I was able to lose the weight because I applied the truth I found in her book to the truth I already knew. Some of the things she says are wacky and she has some heretical doctrine but that doesn't mean that God didn't give her any truth it just means that she's a sinner like us all. If you look for problems about Gwen you will find them and it won't take long but that's not the point. The point is, can you lose weight if you do what she says in the book? The Point: Get the book. Use your heart, your mind and your spirit and find the truth. Overweight people need the truth because there are a lot of lies out there. Pray for the truth and the truth will set you free. Not Gwen. Not the book. The truth. You will lose weight. I did.
Rating: 
Summary: some things not fundamentally sound
Review: This book has the capacity to change lives. The author had me in the palm of her hand until I came to the part where she said that some medications are necessary (such as insulin) to physiological well-being, but she had to laugh when she heard people say that anti-depressants are necessary. Is not clinical depression often a physiological condition which requires medical help? God gives medical professionals the intelligence and discretion to help all people and to prescribe medication for all conditions. I pray that her comments have not caused anyone to stop anti-depressant medication and then to harm himself or herself. God has given this author charisma and logic, but I feel this section of the book shows irresponsibility. The rest of the book is a gut-wrenching, soul-searching marvelous Bible study.
Rating:
Summary: WDW program is excellent, but this book is nothing new
Review: This book is a continuation and also a repeat of The Weigh Down Diet. Those who have gone through the Weigh Down program at a local church will not find much new here. However, either this book or The Weigh Down Diet is a great place to start if you aren't familiar with Gwen's message or approach. As for the program and her books altoghether, I think Gwen does a fantastic job of helping people to stop obsessing about food and weight, and focus on God instead. I personally took my first Weigh Down class four years ago, lost 28 pounds within a year, and have kept them off. For that, I cannot thank Gwen enough. As for the way she interprets the Bible and understands God, I do not agree with everything that she says. I ignore what I don't agree with (yes, that's right, I ignore it) because I agree with her basic message which is "Focus on God, not the food!" As for Gwen's nutritional advice (eat whatever your body tells you it wants), I agree...to a point. I did lose 28 pounds and have kept them off, but I believe that there is a lot of sound nutritional advice to be had if you research and find out what you need. For example, I have had sever acne and exzema for about 15 years. After trying even the most powerful prescription medicines, I found that the only thing that could cure these symptoms was to supplement my diet with essential fatty acids (EFAs). (See the book "Smart Fats" for more on EFAs.) The standard American diet is very poor in EFAs, so following Gwen's advice to not supplement my diet, I would probably still have acne and exzema to this day. If you're overweight and obsessing about food, read this book, or read "The Weigh Down Diet", or ... contact their headquarters to find a class in your area.
Rating:
Summary: Gwen is mean.
Review: Well, she is. Most prophets are, or are perceived to be. When I'm getting some unasked for but much needed advice from my best friend, for example, I am filled with snarkiness--because I know how right she is. Truth is something that makes my hair hurt. I keep reading Gwen's books because I'm some kind of masochist. I also read them because truth has a way of cutting a person loose. With Gwen's first book, The Weigh Down Diet, I lost ten pounds. With Rise Above, I lost another ten. The weight has stayed off. I have about, oh, two more books worth to lose, so I hope she keeps writing. I suggest a devotional, a daily shot-in-the-arm type of book that I can refer to daily, and get my fix of mean old truth. Speaking of truth, I heard a line from the movie "The Insider" which reminds me of Gwen's work: "The greater the truth, the greater the damage." It takes a stubborn woman like Gwen to speak to a stubborn woman like me, and Gwen--I'd share a Mallowcup with you. (Within the boundries of hunger and fullness, of course.)
Rating:
Summary: Only God can help you "Rise Above"
Review: What an awesome book! This book gets deeper into the "heart" and helps you find the one true God. I have read many reviews and I agree with most. There are, however, a few that totally miss the mark. It does not matter what you eat, high fat, high calorie, etc. as long as it is done in moderation. I know from personal experience that it works. I have lost over 60 lbs. and my wife has lost 130 lbs. and has been through two pregnancies, each time losing back down to her pre-pregnancy weight within a couple of months of giving birth. She and I have both kept the weight off for over 2 years. We are constantly eating what the world would call "junk food." God knows exactly what your body needs. We no longer count calories or fat grams or anything else for that matter. We have tried everything and nothing works like God works! This book is not for the timid. If you truly want to improve your relationship with God and lose weight in the process, buy the book! If you want to see results, look at page 120 for the before and after pictures of me and my wife. This book will change your life if you let it!
Rating:
Summary: Only God can help you "Rise Above"
Review: What an awesome book! This book gets deeper into the "heart" and helps you find the one true God. I have read many reviews and I agree with most. There are, however, a few that totally miss the mark. It does not matter what you eat, high fat, high calorie, etc. as long as it is done in moderation. I know from personal experience that it works. I have lost over 60 lbs. and my wife has lost 130 lbs. and has been through two pregnancies, each time losing back down to her pre-pregnancy weight within a couple of months of giving birth. She and I have both kept the weight off for over 2 years. We are constantly eating what the world would call "junk food." God knows exactly what your body needs. We no longer count calories or fat grams or anything else for that matter. We have tried everything and nothing works like God works! This book is not for the timid. If you truly want to improve your relationship with God and lose weight in the process, buy the book! If you want to see results, look at page 120 for the before and after pictures of me and my wife. This book will change your life if you let it!
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