I Must Decrease: Inspiration and Encouragement for Dieters

by Janice Thompson

Many dieters are ready for a lighthearted look at weight loss-a practical devotional approach that offers scriptural advice that encourages and never condemns. I Must Decrease lifts up dieters with biblical wisdom, thought-provoking stories, and a good dose of humor. It's a perfect companion to any weight loss program.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Self Help

154 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2005

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Linore]

This is a fun, well-meaning book. There's lots of humorous quotes, and interesting first-hand snippets from the lives of many contributing authors regarding their own battles with the bulge. Ms. Thompson collected a lot of data to share with the reader. Unfortunately, most of it is old science, such as "eat low-fat," (carbs don't matter if its got low fat content); eat diet substitutes for ice-cream, jello, etc., when these chemical-laden foods are anything but healthy. However, the spirit here is good, and the encouragement is applicable for anyone attempting weight loss through any method. I have my Kindle reading this aloud to me while I do mindless chores, and it's not all bad.

[Barbara Harper]

I Must Decrease: Biblical Inspiration and Encouragement for Dieters by Janice Thompson is pretty much just what the title says. Janice had lost over 100 lbs. over fourteen months. But she didn’t want to write a “how-to” manual or promote a specific plan. She wanted to share some tips and encouragement with a light-hearted approach.

The book is divided into three 21-day sections in which she compares the dieting (or healthy eating) journey to a horse race: the beginning, with eager anticipation; the middle, where we’re tired and need encouragement to keep going; and the end, when we realize the race isn’t really over, that healthy eating needs to be a lifestyle.

Each day’s devotional is divided into twelve sections, usually with a particular theme or emphasis for the day:

Ticklers: A humorous quote.
Tidbits: A bit of information.
Traps: e.g., quick snacks which are usually unhealthy, using food as a reward, etc.
Tricks: Little helps.
Treats: Healthy food ideas.
Testimonies from Janice and others: a paragraph of some aspect of healthy eating or a problem they faced.
Treasures: A Scripture reference.
Tips: Devotional thoughts on the Scripture for the day.
Trusting Him: A prayer about the day’s devotional.
Turning Your Focus: Ideas for ways to reach out to others.
Today’s Food Choices: A reminder to write down what you ate.
Thoughts on Paper: A reminder to journal about your experiences.

There are four recipes at the end.

Almost every “tidbit” section had a link in the ebook version I read, but of the half-dozen or so I tried to click on, none went to an active link.

The title bothered me. John the Baptist’s statement has such depth and meaning to it, I hate to see it used for a cutesy title. We do have to deny ourselves in order to “decrease” in any capacity. Still . . .I’d rather a different title had been used.

Personally, I’m sorry to say that I didn’t get much from this book. I don’t think I came across a lot that was new to me. Humor is a subjective thing, and the humor here just didn’t jibe with me. The twelve sections every day seemed fragmented, but this formatting might appeal to someone else. The book had mostly positive reviews on Amazon, so many people did benefit from it.

[Reeds]

This title cracks me up.

John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease."
Whatever stage of life you're in, the Word has something for you. {grin}

[Lillie]

This book doesn't advocate any particular diet plan, though it does offer tips for healthy snacks and includes a few recipes for main dishes. Primarily it focuses on living a healthy lifestyle in obedience to God. We are to care for our bodies-they are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Most importantly, we must not let anything come between ourselves and God. When we turn to food to soothe us when we're sad or to celebrate when we're happy, we are putting food in God's place. Losing weight is as much spiritual as it is physical. While we change our diet and exercise regimens, we can grow closer to God as we recognize that we must depend on Him to succeed in changing our lifestyles.

[Jenni]

This book have a lot info about nutrions. I enjoy read this book.

[Margaret]

Good devotions

Good solid devotions although some of the info is outdated. I did benefit from the scriptures and stories. Good read

[Glenda]

I enjoyed this book. I appreciated the tips and the information.

[Karen]

This book was written in 2005 when the low-fat craze still had its hold. We now know that low fat is not the way to go for most people, but that watching out for sugar and eating healthy fats is a key to overall health and weight loss. However, I enjoyed reading a section each day. I especially enjoyed the Treasure, Testimony and Thought for the Day sections. It was humorous and encouraging to create a lifestyle and trusting Our Lord.