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The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life
Revolutionize Your Health ... Once and for All During an afternoon of baptizing over 800 people, Pastor Rick Warren realized it was time for change. He told his congregation he needed to lose weight and asked if anyone wanted to join him. He thought maybe 200 people would sign up, instead he witnessed a movement unfold as 15,000 people lost over 260,000 pounds in the first year. With assistance from medical and fitness experts, Pastor Rick and thousands of people began a journey to transform their lives. Welcome to The Daniel Plan. Here's the secret sauce: The Daniel Plan is designed to be done in a supportive community relying on God's instruction for living. When it comes to getting healthy, two are always better than one. Our research has revealed that people getting healthy together lose twice as much weight as those who do it alone. God never meant for you to go through life alone and that includes the journey to health. Unlike the thousands of other books on the market, this book is not about a new diet, guilt-driven gym sessions, or shame-driven fasts. The Daniel Plan shows you how the powerful combination of faith, fitness, food, focus, and friends will change your health forever, transforming you in the most head-turning way imaginably---from the inside out.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published December 3, 2013
1932 people are currently reading
3850 people want to read
About the author
Rick Warren
538 books2,017 followersRichard Duane Warren is an American Baptist evangelical Christian pastor and author.He is the founder of Saddleback Church, an evangelical Baptist megachurch in Lake Forest, California. Since 2022, he is director of the Finishing the Task mission coalition.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 345 reviews
December 21, 2013
I'm very excited about the Daniel Plan. I had read about another program based on the Daniel Fast and liked the idea, but that was only the diet portion. The Daniel Plan includes five essentials: food, fitness, focus, faith, and friends. It is designed to improve physical, spiritual, and mental health. Although I have lost weight in the past, I have always gained back more than I lost. This plan is a lifestyle, not a "diet," so I am optimistic that with the help of God and friends (I'm trying to get a small group together) this time I will succeed. I'm looking forward to better health! I bought the Kindle edition because I prefer to read on the Kindle. However, there are a number of tables and charts that weren't re-formatted for the Kindle, and they are unreadable in the small size they appear on the Kindle screen. I will have to buy a paperback book to have all the information for the program. Had the publisher converted the charts and tables to text, I wouldn't have had to buy a print copy of the book to access all the information. The content was so good I didn't want to lower the rating for formatting, but a major publisher should know how to format a Kindle edition to make it readable.
October 3, 2014
This book helped me focus on what is most important - health. Faith, Food, Fitness, Focus, and Friends/Family are a huge part of it. I learned much about adding more variety to my diet, how to choose whole foods instead of processed ones, as well as how to actually cook! It's been fun trying new recipes. I've got a lentil soup brewing as I write this, savoring the hearty aroma wafting through my kitchen. One of my coworkers and I are sharing each other's cooking. We each take turns making a recipe from the book, and we share with each other, that way we split the cooking responsibilities in half. The benefits of a little exercises, doing some basic exercises have really given me more energy than I thought was possible. I encourage you to pick this book up, but don't read it alone, get a second book to give to a friend, so you can walk through the journey together! Don't forget none of these benefits would be possible with God and His Holy Spirit strengthening me and giving me the desire to do what pleases Him!
January 10, 2014
So many thoughts. Didn't really love this one. Have more to say but haven't worked it all out yet. Wheat is not poison. The end.
June 8, 2016
About the Book
Though Rick Warren doesn't have many book titles to his credit, there are very few Pastors that have the platform and influence of Rick Warren. You can see that influence exercised when world renown doctors and health experts willingly volunteer their time to help establish a diet plan for Pastor Warren and his church family at Saddleback. That's just what Dr. Oz, Daniel Amen, and Mark Hyman did. Now at first glance that seems odd, doesn't it? An entire church committed to a diet plan? Isn't there usually a giving campaign, or Bible reading plan commitment to get involved with instead?
It's no secret that Warren himself has struggled with his own weight. At the start f the book, Warren recounts a specific time of confession in front of his church one Sunday morning following the experience of baptizing 800 individuals the previous week. He tells the story of his own judgement of those he was baptizing due to their obesity before falling under the deep conviction that he had to look in the mirror. Pastor Warren then asked for forgiveness and vowed to right the ship. The Daniel Plan is the result of his efforts to do just that.
"The Daniel Plan is far more than a diet. It is a lifestyle program based on biblical principles and five essential components: Food, Fitness, Focus, Faith, and Friends. These last two components "faith and friends" are what I call the secret sauce that makes The Daniel Plan so effective." - Rick Warren
In this 40 day challenge there are no gimmicks and no shortcuts. The quality of advice and thought put into the book is evident from the beginning. Warren is especially encouraging through out each chapter while acknowledging several times that success with this program only comes through hard work and intentional choices, daily. He uses various scriptures and health studies to motivate and deepen the experience of the food plan past just being a diet.
He begins the book talking about faith and briefly presents a broad stroke, light review of the gospel and our need for faith. Warren then moves on to the food choices that we make while outlining that we should consider these choices a lifestyle decision, not just a 40 day trial. The remaining chapters deal with fitness and what type of physical exercise will work for you, maintaining your focus during this plan, and ending with the need to walk through this plan in the context of community that will lead to a lasting change. In the final chapter there are also some recipes that coincide with this 40 day challenge for you to follow.
My Thoughts
This book was an easy read and full of great motivation, information and encouragement. I will say parts of this book felt forced. There were several times when it seemed like Warren was stretching the biblical context just a little too thin in order to incorporate scripture onto his plan. To that point, you will notice the unending translation resources that Warren uses, seemingly on the whim of whichever version carries his point verbally best. Although he stretches some scripture passages a bit to fit his mold, it definitely brings home his point.
Something else to consider, which is true of most diet plans, is the amount of money you will need to follow the food recipes and nutrition guides made available. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an effective and practical diet plan that is well thought out and provides some spiritual context. Warren once again delivers a quality program that has and will continue to have lasting impact on individuals lives for years to come.
Though Rick Warren doesn't have many book titles to his credit, there are very few Pastors that have the platform and influence of Rick Warren. You can see that influence exercised when world renown doctors and health experts willingly volunteer their time to help establish a diet plan for Pastor Warren and his church family at Saddleback. That's just what Dr. Oz, Daniel Amen, and Mark Hyman did. Now at first glance that seems odd, doesn't it? An entire church committed to a diet plan? Isn't there usually a giving campaign, or Bible reading plan commitment to get involved with instead?
It's no secret that Warren himself has struggled with his own weight. At the start f the book, Warren recounts a specific time of confession in front of his church one Sunday morning following the experience of baptizing 800 individuals the previous week. He tells the story of his own judgement of those he was baptizing due to their obesity before falling under the deep conviction that he had to look in the mirror. Pastor Warren then asked for forgiveness and vowed to right the ship. The Daniel Plan is the result of his efforts to do just that.
"The Daniel Plan is far more than a diet. It is a lifestyle program based on biblical principles and five essential components: Food, Fitness, Focus, Faith, and Friends. These last two components "faith and friends" are what I call the secret sauce that makes The Daniel Plan so effective." - Rick Warren
In this 40 day challenge there are no gimmicks and no shortcuts. The quality of advice and thought put into the book is evident from the beginning. Warren is especially encouraging through out each chapter while acknowledging several times that success with this program only comes through hard work and intentional choices, daily. He uses various scriptures and health studies to motivate and deepen the experience of the food plan past just being a diet.
He begins the book talking about faith and briefly presents a broad stroke, light review of the gospel and our need for faith. Warren then moves on to the food choices that we make while outlining that we should consider these choices a lifestyle decision, not just a 40 day trial. The remaining chapters deal with fitness and what type of physical exercise will work for you, maintaining your focus during this plan, and ending with the need to walk through this plan in the context of community that will lead to a lasting change. In the final chapter there are also some recipes that coincide with this 40 day challenge for you to follow.
My Thoughts
This book was an easy read and full of great motivation, information and encouragement. I will say parts of this book felt forced. There were several times when it seemed like Warren was stretching the biblical context just a little too thin in order to incorporate scripture onto his plan. To that point, you will notice the unending translation resources that Warren uses, seemingly on the whim of whichever version carries his point verbally best. Although he stretches some scripture passages a bit to fit his mold, it definitely brings home his point.
Something else to consider, which is true of most diet plans, is the amount of money you will need to follow the food recipes and nutrition guides made available. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an effective and practical diet plan that is well thought out and provides some spiritual context. Warren once again delivers a quality program that has and will continue to have lasting impact on individuals lives for years to come.
April 17, 2014
My husband and I read this together while attending a class over the book at our church. We both really enjoyed the book. While a lot of the food and fitness material you can find in any "health plan" book, we really enjoyed the way faith and focus were brought into the plan. Its difficult to stick with diet and exercise plans, but being accountable to anther person and recognizing that God wants us to be healthy in order to do His will adds a different level to the plan. It is a lifestyle change and one that we will be working on for the rest of our lives. I particularly found the Focus chapter to be the most helpful for me. I mentally sabotage myself all the time and this, along with "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene Brown, has been helping me to change my thinking patterns and habits.
January 25, 2014
If you wish to experience vitality as a Christian so that you have the energy, faith and mindset to be and do all that God has called you to do and be.........READ AND APPLY THIS BOOK! I got so jazzed about this 40 day plan that I have created a local community for Rick Warren's 6 week study. Looking forward to the support and community that it will be provide for us.
February 6, 2014
I am so glad that a Christian leader with the visibility of Rick Warren has started a movement to encourage people to take better care of their health. Warren, with the help of celebrity Doctor Daniel Amen and "functional medicine" expert Doctor Mark Hyman, has written an easy-to-understand guide for people wishing to change their health habits for the better. Dr. Amen is like many doctors in being slightly obsessive about his area of medical expertise, the brain, and I wish there had been a little more in-depth information about other organs and systems of the body. I also wish there had been more of a discussion of the health issues surrounding eating meat and dairy--I recall one brief mention of a plant-based diet in the book, and wish that option had been more fully discussed. All in all, a book that will be very helpful to many people, and I commend Pastor Warren for his efforts to help his congregation and people in general to pursue better health.
March 20, 2018
I have read many books on becoming healthier with proper food choices and exercise. This one is
a little different since it mentions, 5 areas of help to motivate us. Food, Fitness, Focus, Faith, and Friends are discussed along with help from God. This makes sense since it is hard to stay focused alone. Prayer and better choice of whole food are really the key. Eating processed food is not healthy.
Staying in control of the triggers is hard to do. This book makes you want to DECIDE how and why to become stronger in these decisions to feel better for life. Hope to note the most important areas of this and become stronger in my eating habits and plan to move more as my health becomes better with some needed care of a injury.
a little different since it mentions, 5 areas of help to motivate us. Food, Fitness, Focus, Faith, and Friends are discussed along with help from God. This makes sense since it is hard to stay focused alone. Prayer and better choice of whole food are really the key. Eating processed food is not healthy.
Staying in control of the triggers is hard to do. This book makes you want to DECIDE how and why to become stronger in these decisions to feel better for life. Hope to note the most important areas of this and become stronger in my eating habits and plan to move more as my health becomes better with some needed care of a injury.
April 27, 2018
Notes:
Author says eat foods your great-grandmother would have prepared. Does he really think she had unlimited access to protein powders, year-round fresh produce, boxed broth, all varieties of nut trees, avocados or pomegranates, an asian supermarket, or almond milk??? NO!! She ate meat and used every last scrap of it, she drank raw milk and made cream and butter, she fermented veggies and made sourdough bread, she served everything with a delicious nourishing gravy or creamy sauce, she boiled bones for days to make broth, she gave her children cod liver oil.
This so-called 'Daniel' plan is NOT a nourishing way to live and it most certainly NOT endorsed by God or the Bible.
Plus this quote really annoyed me -- "Why should God heal you of an obesity-related illness if you have no intention of changing the choices that led yo to it? God is waiting for you to start making healthy choices." (p. 24) Get serious.
Until the author has mastered these techniques as a shining example of the lifelong working change it can (supposedly) bring, he should not be selling books about it!!!
Random thoughts:
*hated this book mostly because of what it represents in Christian circles (this whole 'Daniel Fast' trend is so ridiculous)
*not based on Daniel in any way so it has a misleading title (Daniel ate veggies for 10 days and got 'fatter' according to scripture -- maybe because it was spirit-led there were supernatural results)
*plant-based high-carb/low-fat (the so-called clean diet)
*heavy on the psychology/self-help, but laced with a few scriptures
*nothing in this book you can't find on the internet; poorly researched and Doctor Oz is a major contributor so.....
*each chapter is an overwhelming compilation of all the typical sound-bytes regarding food, fitness, faith, friends (support groups) and a focused life
*filled with checklists, bullet points, numbered lists, surveys, acronyms, pointless charts (his sermons are probably like this, ugh)
*author says without God's help you'll go back to your old habits
*told to avoid recipes with the words 'creamy, crispy, breaded'
*fermented veggies are included on the pantry items but never discussed or included on menu plans
*super low-fat diet -- allows 1 Tablespoon of olive oil for a recipe with SIX servings (no wonder you would need a support group to stick with this insanity)
*never gives the option of RAW milk, just avoid dairy entirely
*lots of mentions of the follow-up cookbook/website/app -- to make even more money off of
Author says eat foods your great-grandmother would have prepared. Does he really think she had unlimited access to protein powders, year-round fresh produce, boxed broth, all varieties of nut trees, avocados or pomegranates, an asian supermarket, or almond milk??? NO!! She ate meat and used every last scrap of it, she drank raw milk and made cream and butter, she fermented veggies and made sourdough bread, she served everything with a delicious nourishing gravy or creamy sauce, she boiled bones for days to make broth, she gave her children cod liver oil.
This so-called 'Daniel' plan is NOT a nourishing way to live and it most certainly NOT endorsed by God or the Bible.
Plus this quote really annoyed me -- "Why should God heal you of an obesity-related illness if you have no intention of changing the choices that led yo to it? God is waiting for you to start making healthy choices." (p. 24) Get serious.
Until the author has mastered these techniques as a shining example of the lifelong working change it can (supposedly) bring, he should not be selling books about it!!!
Random thoughts:
*hated this book mostly because of what it represents in Christian circles (this whole 'Daniel Fast' trend is so ridiculous)
*not based on Daniel in any way so it has a misleading title (Daniel ate veggies for 10 days and got 'fatter' according to scripture -- maybe because it was spirit-led there were supernatural results)
*plant-based high-carb/low-fat (the so-called clean diet)
*heavy on the psychology/self-help, but laced with a few scriptures
*nothing in this book you can't find on the internet; poorly researched and Doctor Oz is a major contributor so.....
*each chapter is an overwhelming compilation of all the typical sound-bytes regarding food, fitness, faith, friends (support groups) and a focused life
*filled with checklists, bullet points, numbered lists, surveys, acronyms, pointless charts (his sermons are probably like this, ugh)
*author says without God's help you'll go back to your old habits
*told to avoid recipes with the words 'creamy, crispy, breaded'
*fermented veggies are included on the pantry items but never discussed or included on menu plans
*super low-fat diet -- allows 1 Tablespoon of olive oil for a recipe with SIX servings (no wonder you would need a support group to stick with this insanity)
*never gives the option of RAW milk, just avoid dairy entirely
*lots of mentions of the follow-up cookbook/website/app -- to make even more money off of
December 17, 2014
There are tons of books out there about how to lose weight and/or get healthy, but this particular book is about how to do it with God's help. The Daniel Plan refers to the biblical Daniel, and it's a very interesting way to go about getting healthy.
A lot of the information was common sense and things I've read elsewhere, but the chapters on faith were very well done. I definitely walked away from this book feeling like I had learned something, which is pretty much all you can ask for from a book like this.
One minor annoyance is that the book constantly talked about a mobile app that doesn't seem to exist. It's not like this book came out last month, so in my opinion there has been ample time to get it up and running. It almost made it seem like you HAD to get the app to succeed in the Daniel Plan, and since it's not available it bugged me.
A lot of the information was common sense and things I've read elsewhere, but the chapters on faith were very well done. I definitely walked away from this book feeling like I had learned something, which is pretty much all you can ask for from a book like this.
One minor annoyance is that the book constantly talked about a mobile app that doesn't seem to exist. It's not like this book came out last month, so in my opinion there has been ample time to get it up and running. It almost made it seem like you HAD to get the app to succeed in the Daniel Plan, and since it's not available it bugged me.
July 1, 2018
The Daniel Plan pretends that it's not a diet, which is a lie. It also pretends that it works, which we can obviously see is not true because its creator, Rick Warren, is still fat. 97% of people who try to lose weight gain it back plus more. http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/diets_do_not_work
January 5, 2014
The health and nutrition sections were similar to many other books I have read, but the Daniel Plan has a new twist on faith and motivation. I have already begun to implement many of these changes suggested in this book, but it was a good way to 're-focus for the new year.
July 11, 2014
The title comes from the Biblical Daniel. The author integrates faith, food, fitness, focus and friends in order to lead an optimal healthy life. This is not simply a weight loss plan although if these principles are followed that will result.
When Pastor Rick Warren (also author of The Purpose Driven Life) began his program in his church in California, the results were astounding. Not only did 15,000 people from his congregation lose a significant amount of weight, he saw the changes in them went far beyond that. He saw their relationship with God become closer as well as their relationship with others.
Co-authors Doctors Daniel Amen and Mark Hyman lend their medical expertise. They reinforce the current findings that it is not so much the healthy fats in our diets that need to be avoided, but rather the sugar and wheat(carbs). These are the culprits behind heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and even Alzheimers.
I am not someone who is extremely overweight, but I certainly need to lose more than a few pounds. I came upon this book from a fellow parishioner. She and I have been doing this together. What I realized as I began reading The Daniel Plan is that I have always relied on myself to become healthier and I always end up reverting back to old, unhealthy habits. The first principle in the plan is faith; I need to ask God for His help, and having friends along for the journey also helps. The other thing I liked about all the authors had to say was that not only does the science make sense, but they are realistic and very aware of how our human natures can be weak. They let us know that there will be setbacks at times because that is just life.
The Daniel Plan is about living the way God created us to live and about eating the good healthy foods He, not some factory, created.
When Pastor Rick Warren (also author of The Purpose Driven Life) began his program in his church in California, the results were astounding. Not only did 15,000 people from his congregation lose a significant amount of weight, he saw the changes in them went far beyond that. He saw their relationship with God become closer as well as their relationship with others.
Co-authors Doctors Daniel Amen and Mark Hyman lend their medical expertise. They reinforce the current findings that it is not so much the healthy fats in our diets that need to be avoided, but rather the sugar and wheat(carbs). These are the culprits behind heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and even Alzheimers.
I am not someone who is extremely overweight, but I certainly need to lose more than a few pounds. I came upon this book from a fellow parishioner. She and I have been doing this together. What I realized as I began reading The Daniel Plan is that I have always relied on myself to become healthier and I always end up reverting back to old, unhealthy habits. The first principle in the plan is faith; I need to ask God for His help, and having friends along for the journey also helps. The other thing I liked about all the authors had to say was that not only does the science make sense, but they are realistic and very aware of how our human natures can be weak. They let us know that there will be setbacks at times because that is just life.
The Daniel Plan is about living the way God created us to live and about eating the good healthy foods He, not some factory, created.
September 11, 2014
I suspect that those who will get the most out of this book are:
1. Overweight and/or feeling quite unhealthy
2. Mainstream Christians
3. Do not know a lot about nutrition or whole foods diets (e.g., are unsure of the best healthy diet or eat a lot of fast or processed foods).
For those who fall into those categories, I would definitely recommend this book. And depending on your personality, the following could be either a plus or a minus:
1. The book is written in a very upbeat, peppy, "you can do it!" style;
2. The authors assume you know NOTHING about nutrition, so everything is presented in small "bites" and an easy-to-assimilate manner;
3. There is a lot of religion but it is presented in a friendly, non-judgmental Christianity-lite tone.
Personally, I am not unhealthy or overweight, have read extensively on whole foods and nutrition, and have studied enough theology/comparative religion and philosophy to find the fluffy tone a bit annoying. So I did not really get a lot out of this book. I read it because diet books are a peculiar passion of mine.
That said: the advice in this book seems solid, and the diet chapters and menu plans are definitely a step above what most Americans eat. If you are in the categories I described above, I think this book would be quite helpful. Otherwise, your mileage may vary.
1. Overweight and/or feeling quite unhealthy
2. Mainstream Christians
3. Do not know a lot about nutrition or whole foods diets (e.g., are unsure of the best healthy diet or eat a lot of fast or processed foods).
For those who fall into those categories, I would definitely recommend this book. And depending on your personality, the following could be either a plus or a minus:
1. The book is written in a very upbeat, peppy, "you can do it!" style;
2. The authors assume you know NOTHING about nutrition, so everything is presented in small "bites" and an easy-to-assimilate manner;
3. There is a lot of religion but it is presented in a friendly, non-judgmental Christianity-lite tone.
Personally, I am not unhealthy or overweight, have read extensively on whole foods and nutrition, and have studied enough theology/comparative religion and philosophy to find the fluffy tone a bit annoying. So I did not really get a lot out of this book. I read it because diet books are a peculiar passion of mine.
That said: the advice in this book seems solid, and the diet chapters and menu plans are definitely a step above what most Americans eat. If you are in the categories I described above, I think this book would be quite helpful. Otherwise, your mileage may vary.
January 2, 2014
A great book that interweaves faith and health beautifully. It was written after the huge success saddleback church had after implementing it where they had tremendous life changing results across the congregation. He wrote the book with the help of a medical professionals to tackle each hurdle you face along your journey.
This is book is for anyone that wants to make a change physically and spiritually. It's a great 40 day challenge that I will be starting tomorrow as I begin 2014, to help me grow in my faith and reach my health goals I have set out to achieve this year.
This is book is for anyone that wants to make a change physically and spiritually. It's a great 40 day challenge that I will be starting tomorrow as I begin 2014, to help me grow in my faith and reach my health goals I have set out to achieve this year.
February 12, 2014
Great book for anyone looking for a way to shed some pounds and be motivated to do so.
The shopping lists are quite helpful.
I try to take a little bit from each self-help book I read and I found a lot in this one.
The shopping lists are quite helpful.
I try to take a little bit from each self-help book I read and I found a lot in this one.
October 31, 2018
Expected more medical and scientific research to support Daniel's actual diet. This was more of an eat-clean diet, as Daniel did not eat animal products. Read more like a Bible study than health book. Though I don't disagree with the spiritual aspects to health, science is equally relevant.
February 28, 2024
"God can make changes in your life that you have never dared to even dream of. He specializes in miracle makeovers" (pg. 49).
Some books encourage, others entertain, and some books change your life. "The Daniel Plan" truly is a call to action to make necessary changes for a healthier lifestyle. The text inspired me to include more vegetables and whole foods in my diet. I am now implementing the Eat Under Five rule which is checking the label for less than five ingredients. I also couldn't ever find a healthy breakfast option until now. My motivation to be healthy is to prevent chronic diseases in the future.
I have read "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Waren, so I was excited to drive into "The Daniel Plan" by Rick Warren with contributors Daniel Amen and Mark Hyman. The text is covered with Bible verses, personal testimonies, statistics, nutrition information and more! The author explains in detail the five essentials: Faith, Food, Fitness, Focus & Friends.
There is an entire chapter on Foods that Heal and what we should be eating, showing a chart of the top ten choices in each food group. This chapter explains the good carbs, how to boost your fiber, how to power up with protein, how to cut the cravings, the best snack items and the importance of water. There is an entire chapter on Foods that harm and what we should avoid eating. The author explains where to shop and how to read labels and how to eat healthy on a budget. There is a 40-Day Meal Plan with detailed meals, options and recipes for breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner and a healthy treat.... including a grocery shopping list.
There is an entire chapter devoted to Fitness like aerobic activities and strength training with suggested exercises and a detailed Fitness Plan with illustrations. There is an entire chapter on Focus which outlines warning signs your brain may be in trouble due to an unhealthy lifestyle as well as going over the symptoms of stress and how to eliminate negative thought patterns. There is an entire chapter on Friends and the importance of community and accountability.
I highly recommend!
"Watch your health improve, your mood lift, your memory improve, and your skin, hair, and nails glow" (pg. 96).
Some books encourage, others entertain, and some books change your life. "The Daniel Plan" truly is a call to action to make necessary changes for a healthier lifestyle. The text inspired me to include more vegetables and whole foods in my diet. I am now implementing the Eat Under Five rule which is checking the label for less than five ingredients. I also couldn't ever find a healthy breakfast option until now. My motivation to be healthy is to prevent chronic diseases in the future.
I have read "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Waren, so I was excited to drive into "The Daniel Plan" by Rick Warren with contributors Daniel Amen and Mark Hyman. The text is covered with Bible verses, personal testimonies, statistics, nutrition information and more! The author explains in detail the five essentials: Faith, Food, Fitness, Focus & Friends.
There is an entire chapter on Foods that Heal and what we should be eating, showing a chart of the top ten choices in each food group. This chapter explains the good carbs, how to boost your fiber, how to power up with protein, how to cut the cravings, the best snack items and the importance of water. There is an entire chapter on Foods that harm and what we should avoid eating. The author explains where to shop and how to read labels and how to eat healthy on a budget. There is a 40-Day Meal Plan with detailed meals, options and recipes for breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner and a healthy treat.... including a grocery shopping list.
There is an entire chapter devoted to Fitness like aerobic activities and strength training with suggested exercises and a detailed Fitness Plan with illustrations. There is an entire chapter on Focus which outlines warning signs your brain may be in trouble due to an unhealthy lifestyle as well as going over the symptoms of stress and how to eliminate negative thought patterns. There is an entire chapter on Friends and the importance of community and accountability.
I highly recommend!
"Watch your health improve, your mood lift, your memory improve, and your skin, hair, and nails glow" (pg. 96).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2015
Title: The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life
Author(s): Rick Warren, Daniel Amen, Mark Hyman
Publisher: Zondervan
Date: 2013
Pages: 346
The Daniel Plan Official Website
Saddleback Church
[Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of The Daniel Plan in exchange for my fair and unbiased review of the book. I was in no way compensated nor asked to write a favorable review. So, there you go.]
I'm sitting in my study tonight enjoying some music, playing a game on my NOOK, and enjoying a fine adult beverage--which is loaded with carbs and calories and was probably made from the sorts of things that the authors of The Daniel Plan would advise me to eschew. I'm actually fine with that. It seems to me that the key to living, and enjoying life, is moderation. But let's be honest: most Americans would just as soon cut their leg off than to practice moderation.
This is a long book. A very long book. It is all of the 261 pages of text about the Five Essentials (Faith, Food, Fitness, Focus, and Friends.) One would think it would be a quick and rather whimsical read, but it wasn't. It was boring. The remainder of the pages (263-346) are filled with recipes, fitness plans, meal plans, detox charts, and more. Really, it is terribly boring reading--even the multitude of personal testimonies marked off in green text boxes gives the book very little depth because all the testimonies are, predictably, supportive of the wonders of the Daniel Plan. I'm not suggesting the authors should have included negative testimonies; that would defeat the purpose. I am suggesting they could have eliminated most of them and the reader would not have missed anything.
I'm going to just cut to the chase, so to speak, in this review. Rick Warren is very popular and has written several books that have been remarkably helpful to thousands of people around the world. This is a fact no one disputes--well, except for some online 'ministries' who think it their job to police the church. I'm not concerned about Rick Warren as an individual nor is it my objective here to review him. I will review the book. The Daniel Plan is the third of Warren's books I have read and the same problem I had with the first two is the problem I have with this one: I dislike to the nth degree the way he uses Scripture to suit his own agenda. And with this book it starts with the title and gets worse.
Let's be honest: the Old Testament book of Daniel has absolutely nothing to do with what 'a healthier lifestyle' and frankly it is simply pastorally irresponsible to suggest that it does. Yes, in chapter 1 of Daniel, Daniel and his three friends refuse to eat the king's provisions and instead consume only vegetables and water. The next verse says, "To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds" (1:17). The emphasis is on what God did, not on the reasons why Daniel and his friends went on the peculiar diet in the first place.
This is how Warren consistently uses Scripture. He quotes it piecemeal--as if that is how the Bible was written. A verse here, a verse there; a particular translation that renders a verse with just such language that it suits Warren's thesis. It's old and tired. Just once I'd like Warren to write a book where he deals with a whole text--say, a book length church program about the church living in exile and what the Bible says to us about keeping in stride with Jesus all while focusing on one book of the Bible, from one translation, and with clear theological exposition of the book. But that is just not what I get from Warren's books. It is disappointing. And if I might say one final thing about this point, it would be this: his use of Scripture is, in my opinion, dangerous because it betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose of Scripture. That is, it may not necessarily be wrong, but neither is it necessarily right. It really fails, at a significantly deep level, the grapple with the hard truth of the Bible. The Bible isn't necessarily interested in better people, but new people. Books like The Daniel Plan might make us thinner, healthier, and better. They will not necessarily make us new.
As much as I hate to say it, Warren is a master of abusing context to make Scripture match his ends.
As for the rest of the book, what can I say? There are those who agree; there are those who disagree. I've read other reviews suggesting his take on wheat and gluten and other grains is wholly off base. I disagree that the diet plan suggested in the book is affordable. Whole foods and organic foods are incredibly expensive and the meals they suggest we prepare for our families probably are not entirely realistic for families where both adults work full-time. I could be wrong, but I'm willing to bet that people who are already in a financial position to eat the sort of foods suggested are going to have a much easier time following through than people who are not.
A couple of final points. First, I disagree that red meats 'should be cooked medium rare or medium' (146). I think this is a matter of taste. Second: "That is why we believe that once The Daniel Plan is embraced by the faith community, it will spread the gospel of health and change through America and the world" (148). Well, there you go. This is a worldwide initiative. I can think of a few other things the church ought to embrace--but this is a 'faith community' initiative not necessarily a church initiative.
Here's the bottom line: I am sure The Daniel Plan has helped a lot of people. I am sure there is nothing in it that is entirely unhelpful. I am sure it is a radical thing for the 'faith community' to embrace. I am sure it is somewhat countercultural. I am sure getting healthy is a good thing that many of us in the church need to think about--especially in America where our poor are among the wealthiest people in the world. Rick Warren continues to produce books that are meaningful to a large portion of the population and that make a lot of money for his publishers. (There's a whole line of The Daniel Plan products including journals, apps, exercise gear, etc.)
As far as content is concerned, I'm indifferent. It's nothing more than another in a long line of lifestyle books on the market. Strangely enough we have a market for these books in America where we have everything we need. Others can testify to the medical content of the book; although, I have read reviews that suggest he is misguided on the issue of wheat, grains, gluten and other things. (And I might add that I don't trust Dr Oz who happens to be a proponent of the content of this book.)
But I'm not going to pretend for a minute that this book has done any justice to Scripture and I'm not going to pretend that just because it was written by a Christian preacher that it necessarily has anything to do with faith in Jesus. The 'faith community' is where it's at for this book--whatever faith that may be.
2/5 Stars
Author(s): Rick Warren, Daniel Amen, Mark Hyman
Publisher: Zondervan
Date: 2013
Pages: 346
The Daniel Plan Official Website
Saddleback Church
[Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of The Daniel Plan in exchange for my fair and unbiased review of the book. I was in no way compensated nor asked to write a favorable review. So, there you go.]
I'm sitting in my study tonight enjoying some music, playing a game on my NOOK, and enjoying a fine adult beverage--which is loaded with carbs and calories and was probably made from the sorts of things that the authors of The Daniel Plan would advise me to eschew. I'm actually fine with that. It seems to me that the key to living, and enjoying life, is moderation. But let's be honest: most Americans would just as soon cut their leg off than to practice moderation.
This is a long book. A very long book. It is all of the 261 pages of text about the Five Essentials (Faith, Food, Fitness, Focus, and Friends.) One would think it would be a quick and rather whimsical read, but it wasn't. It was boring. The remainder of the pages (263-346) are filled with recipes, fitness plans, meal plans, detox charts, and more. Really, it is terribly boring reading--even the multitude of personal testimonies marked off in green text boxes gives the book very little depth because all the testimonies are, predictably, supportive of the wonders of the Daniel Plan. I'm not suggesting the authors should have included negative testimonies; that would defeat the purpose. I am suggesting they could have eliminated most of them and the reader would not have missed anything.
I'm going to just cut to the chase, so to speak, in this review. Rick Warren is very popular and has written several books that have been remarkably helpful to thousands of people around the world. This is a fact no one disputes--well, except for some online 'ministries' who think it their job to police the church. I'm not concerned about Rick Warren as an individual nor is it my objective here to review him. I will review the book. The Daniel Plan is the third of Warren's books I have read and the same problem I had with the first two is the problem I have with this one: I dislike to the nth degree the way he uses Scripture to suit his own agenda. And with this book it starts with the title and gets worse.
Let's be honest: the Old Testament book of Daniel has absolutely nothing to do with what 'a healthier lifestyle' and frankly it is simply pastorally irresponsible to suggest that it does. Yes, in chapter 1 of Daniel, Daniel and his three friends refuse to eat the king's provisions and instead consume only vegetables and water. The next verse says, "To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds" (1:17). The emphasis is on what God did, not on the reasons why Daniel and his friends went on the peculiar diet in the first place.
This is how Warren consistently uses Scripture. He quotes it piecemeal--as if that is how the Bible was written. A verse here, a verse there; a particular translation that renders a verse with just such language that it suits Warren's thesis. It's old and tired. Just once I'd like Warren to write a book where he deals with a whole text--say, a book length church program about the church living in exile and what the Bible says to us about keeping in stride with Jesus all while focusing on one book of the Bible, from one translation, and with clear theological exposition of the book. But that is just not what I get from Warren's books. It is disappointing. And if I might say one final thing about this point, it would be this: his use of Scripture is, in my opinion, dangerous because it betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose of Scripture. That is, it may not necessarily be wrong, but neither is it necessarily right. It really fails, at a significantly deep level, the grapple with the hard truth of the Bible. The Bible isn't necessarily interested in better people, but new people. Books like The Daniel Plan might make us thinner, healthier, and better. They will not necessarily make us new.
As much as I hate to say it, Warren is a master of abusing context to make Scripture match his ends.
As for the rest of the book, what can I say? There are those who agree; there are those who disagree. I've read other reviews suggesting his take on wheat and gluten and other grains is wholly off base. I disagree that the diet plan suggested in the book is affordable. Whole foods and organic foods are incredibly expensive and the meals they suggest we prepare for our families probably are not entirely realistic for families where both adults work full-time. I could be wrong, but I'm willing to bet that people who are already in a financial position to eat the sort of foods suggested are going to have a much easier time following through than people who are not.
A couple of final points. First, I disagree that red meats 'should be cooked medium rare or medium' (146). I think this is a matter of taste. Second: "That is why we believe that once The Daniel Plan is embraced by the faith community, it will spread the gospel of health and change through America and the world" (148). Well, there you go. This is a worldwide initiative. I can think of a few other things the church ought to embrace--but this is a 'faith community' initiative not necessarily a church initiative.
Here's the bottom line: I am sure The Daniel Plan has helped a lot of people. I am sure there is nothing in it that is entirely unhelpful. I am sure it is a radical thing for the 'faith community' to embrace. I am sure it is somewhat countercultural. I am sure getting healthy is a good thing that many of us in the church need to think about--especially in America where our poor are among the wealthiest people in the world. Rick Warren continues to produce books that are meaningful to a large portion of the population and that make a lot of money for his publishers. (There's a whole line of The Daniel Plan products including journals, apps, exercise gear, etc.)
As far as content is concerned, I'm indifferent. It's nothing more than another in a long line of lifestyle books on the market. Strangely enough we have a market for these books in America where we have everything we need. Others can testify to the medical content of the book; although, I have read reviews that suggest he is misguided on the issue of wheat, grains, gluten and other things. (And I might add that I don't trust Dr Oz who happens to be a proponent of the content of this book.)
But I'm not going to pretend for a minute that this book has done any justice to Scripture and I'm not going to pretend that just because it was written by a Christian preacher that it necessarily has anything to do with faith in Jesus. The 'faith community' is where it's at for this book--whatever faith that may be.
2/5 Stars
April 15, 2020
Having already read other books, it was challenging to read this unbiased, which I tried desperately to do, but my review will come at it from a mixed view.
I have heard many good things about this plan throughout the years. I really appreciate the five essentials that they use to lay out their plan: faith, food, fitness, focus and friends. Anyone knows that this type of combination helps with the success of anything in life. They take a chapter to explain each of these in detail.
The Faith section had a some encouragement, but parts of it even left me discouraged. They also talk about promises out of context and did not do a great job of explaining the Gospel in this section. In fact, I don't remember it being clear that without Jesus none of the faith element works. Perhaps it was more than I realized, but I remember thinking many times "You can't say that." Without the true faith element, it doesn't work.
The food section I struggled with greatly. They immediately said they were a high carb diet, which was my assumption and while acknowledging you need good fats, I didn't see them incorporated well. This is a problem for pregnant and nursing women for sure and not at all good for children. If a long term diet is not workable in these stations I have a hard time with it. Since I have gestational diabetes I was looking at it from that angle as well and many of their meals I would have to tweak majorly to be able to eat. There are some recipes that I am excited to try though, which is a bonus.
The diet does have its merits and they have some great dishes in the back, but they were lacking in solid research. They also continually suggest Olive Oil for cooking but do not discuss proper temps to keep it from turning to a trans fat. Cornstarch was suggested in several dishes for thickening which I can't eat with diabetes. I was also disheartened to see the moderate demonization of gluten and dairy. There was a LOT of assumption that their diet fits everyone, and having investigated other eating plans and philosophies I cannot say this. What I can tell is this is a great cleansing diet, but many people would likely need to add in more fats after this period of cleansing.
Fitness was encouraging, but again many of the fitness exercises I could not do as a pregnant woman. I liked the encouragement to do what you can and build as well as doing what you enjoy doing as people are built differently. That was a good attribute of this element. I didn't see any acknowledgement of those who already work in physically strenuous jobs and recommendations to help with that. But on the whole the fitness element was well explained.
Focus was a mix of encouragement and discouragement as well. For quality health you do need focus, but they are assuming that their plan is the only one to focus on. I appreciated the section on renewing your mind, but this again only works with God as your guide changing and renewing your mind. The bit of research they shared on the brain was very interesting and good information to consider. I do 100% agree that we need to be focused on God, positive elements and thanksgiving in order to move forward with ideal health. I greatly appreciated this section as that type of research can be taboo in Christian circles.
The Friends element was probably the most discouraging of them all. Why? Because it comes at it from the assumption that this plan will work for everyone completely long term. It means that you have to have people doing this plan with you. Yes, for success we need accountability, but that means, in essence, you need people in the same place you are physically to do this with that can help you with this plan.
Again, I do think this plan has merits and I'm grateful for the five elements to help in guiding the plan, but there is too much of the "one size fits all" feel and not enough sound science or longevity to say that this is a good plan long term for everyone. There is not a whole lot of wiggle room. They also don't tell you a great way to make treats. This is sad and frustrating. Instead they simply expect you to simply say no to all of it.
They also recommend eating all day, which is contrary with other research I have done for those who are morbidly obese and struggling with diabetes. I'm sure there are some with these conditions that have had success, but is it dealing with the underlying issues? I also would love to see numbers in blood work (this is the nurse coming out in me) to see how these things are doing.
My biggest issue with this book is they base their entire plan on a paragraph of Scripture instead of the whole. They completely neglect other Old Testament and New Testament teachings in their program.
I recommend doing your own research and know where you are in your health journey. This book could be helpful in this, but remember there are many elements to consider and always seek a professional opinion.
I have heard many good things about this plan throughout the years. I really appreciate the five essentials that they use to lay out their plan: faith, food, fitness, focus and friends. Anyone knows that this type of combination helps with the success of anything in life. They take a chapter to explain each of these in detail.
The Faith section had a some encouragement, but parts of it even left me discouraged. They also talk about promises out of context and did not do a great job of explaining the Gospel in this section. In fact, I don't remember it being clear that without Jesus none of the faith element works. Perhaps it was more than I realized, but I remember thinking many times "You can't say that." Without the true faith element, it doesn't work.
The food section I struggled with greatly. They immediately said they were a high carb diet, which was my assumption and while acknowledging you need good fats, I didn't see them incorporated well. This is a problem for pregnant and nursing women for sure and not at all good for children. If a long term diet is not workable in these stations I have a hard time with it. Since I have gestational diabetes I was looking at it from that angle as well and many of their meals I would have to tweak majorly to be able to eat. There are some recipes that I am excited to try though, which is a bonus.
The diet does have its merits and they have some great dishes in the back, but they were lacking in solid research. They also continually suggest Olive Oil for cooking but do not discuss proper temps to keep it from turning to a trans fat. Cornstarch was suggested in several dishes for thickening which I can't eat with diabetes. I was also disheartened to see the moderate demonization of gluten and dairy. There was a LOT of assumption that their diet fits everyone, and having investigated other eating plans and philosophies I cannot say this. What I can tell is this is a great cleansing diet, but many people would likely need to add in more fats after this period of cleansing.
Fitness was encouraging, but again many of the fitness exercises I could not do as a pregnant woman. I liked the encouragement to do what you can and build as well as doing what you enjoy doing as people are built differently. That was a good attribute of this element. I didn't see any acknowledgement of those who already work in physically strenuous jobs and recommendations to help with that. But on the whole the fitness element was well explained.
Focus was a mix of encouragement and discouragement as well. For quality health you do need focus, but they are assuming that their plan is the only one to focus on. I appreciated the section on renewing your mind, but this again only works with God as your guide changing and renewing your mind. The bit of research they shared on the brain was very interesting and good information to consider. I do 100% agree that we need to be focused on God, positive elements and thanksgiving in order to move forward with ideal health. I greatly appreciated this section as that type of research can be taboo in Christian circles.
The Friends element was probably the most discouraging of them all. Why? Because it comes at it from the assumption that this plan will work for everyone completely long term. It means that you have to have people doing this plan with you. Yes, for success we need accountability, but that means, in essence, you need people in the same place you are physically to do this with that can help you with this plan.
Again, I do think this plan has merits and I'm grateful for the five elements to help in guiding the plan, but there is too much of the "one size fits all" feel and not enough sound science or longevity to say that this is a good plan long term for everyone. There is not a whole lot of wiggle room. They also don't tell you a great way to make treats. This is sad and frustrating. Instead they simply expect you to simply say no to all of it.
They also recommend eating all day, which is contrary with other research I have done for those who are morbidly obese and struggling with diabetes. I'm sure there are some with these conditions that have had success, but is it dealing with the underlying issues? I also would love to see numbers in blood work (this is the nurse coming out in me) to see how these things are doing.
My biggest issue with this book is they base their entire plan on a paragraph of Scripture instead of the whole. They completely neglect other Old Testament and New Testament teachings in their program.
I recommend doing your own research and know where you are in your health journey. This book could be helpful in this, but remember there are many elements to consider and always seek a professional opinion.
December 5, 2014
The Daniel Plan says that in 40 days, you can lead a healthier life. I’m not reviewing this book after having done that. I’m reviewing it based on the information I see it providing me with. The plan has 5 areas that it categorizes the book into: Faith, Food, Fitness, Focus, Friends. There are also introductory chapters and three chapters at the end that are more practical. I’m going to tackle my thoughts on each of the five main sections for this review.
In the Faith section, there is a big focus on how our relationship with God can affect our ability to change our habits. There is a strong focus on spending time in the Word and meditating on scriptures as well as actively praying. Rick Warren discusses how these steps can help us overcome bad habits with God’s help all while also improving our own relationship with God.
The Food section is huge in this book and filled with a lot of wonderful information. This section discusses portion control, has quick info about foods we should be eating more of, how to eat less sugar, as well as what different foods do for us and how to have a well-balanced diet. There is also information about where cravings come from and how to deal with them. What I found most helpful in this section though is the chapter about harmful foods. This chapter talks about reading the ingredient labels on food and identifying the ingredients that are most harmful to our bodies. But rather that just listing them out, Rick Warren explains why they are bad.There are also notes on how to eat healthier on a budget or making over your kitchen and pantry to make things healthier.
Motivation is a strong point in the Fitness section. Rick Warren provides strategies for encouraging you to exercise. Even better are the suggestions for combining prayer and worship with simple stretches and exercises. There are also suggestions to implement these activities into your week–things like setting a reminder on your phone or actually scheduling them into your week.
Focus is a section that deals with how to handle stress, eliminating negative thought patterns, attitudes and more. The point of this section is to get our mind in a healthier place and to improve our relationship with God.
The final section is based around Friends. The idea that community will both encourage you and challenge you while holding you accountable.
As I mentioned earlier, after the 5 main sections, the chapters become quite practical. There is a suggested exercise plan, a meal plan, checklists to determine your health, a method to detox your body, shopping lists and recipes.
This book is a wonderful tool. I love the ways in which faith interacts with all the other choices of our lives to become healthier. Many concepts of the book are also backed up with Scripture.
For me personally, I don’t plan to tackle all of these things in the suggested 40 days, but I will probably work on slowly incorporating other ideas from the book into everyday life. Some things will be a bit more difficult than others. It is a book that will probably remain a wonderful “go-to” tool for me to help myself and my family live healthier lives.
**I received a free copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review**
In the Faith section, there is a big focus on how our relationship with God can affect our ability to change our habits. There is a strong focus on spending time in the Word and meditating on scriptures as well as actively praying. Rick Warren discusses how these steps can help us overcome bad habits with God’s help all while also improving our own relationship with God.
The Food section is huge in this book and filled with a lot of wonderful information. This section discusses portion control, has quick info about foods we should be eating more of, how to eat less sugar, as well as what different foods do for us and how to have a well-balanced diet. There is also information about where cravings come from and how to deal with them. What I found most helpful in this section though is the chapter about harmful foods. This chapter talks about reading the ingredient labels on food and identifying the ingredients that are most harmful to our bodies. But rather that just listing them out, Rick Warren explains why they are bad.There are also notes on how to eat healthier on a budget or making over your kitchen and pantry to make things healthier.
Motivation is a strong point in the Fitness section. Rick Warren provides strategies for encouraging you to exercise. Even better are the suggestions for combining prayer and worship with simple stretches and exercises. There are also suggestions to implement these activities into your week–things like setting a reminder on your phone or actually scheduling them into your week.
Focus is a section that deals with how to handle stress, eliminating negative thought patterns, attitudes and more. The point of this section is to get our mind in a healthier place and to improve our relationship with God.
The final section is based around Friends. The idea that community will both encourage you and challenge you while holding you accountable.
As I mentioned earlier, after the 5 main sections, the chapters become quite practical. There is a suggested exercise plan, a meal plan, checklists to determine your health, a method to detox your body, shopping lists and recipes.
This book is a wonderful tool. I love the ways in which faith interacts with all the other choices of our lives to become healthier. Many concepts of the book are also backed up with Scripture.
For me personally, I don’t plan to tackle all of these things in the suggested 40 days, but I will probably work on slowly incorporating other ideas from the book into everyday life. Some things will be a bit more difficult than others. It is a book that will probably remain a wonderful “go-to” tool for me to help myself and my family live healthier lives.
**I received a free copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review**
February 16, 2014
If you're looking for a book that will help you overhaul your eating and fitness habits, then this is the book. I read it to simply assess whether my church should go through it as a small group series (and wasn't planning on starting The Daniel Plan soon), yet as I read I felt so encouraged, and the advice was so practical and sensible, that I've already started making changes to my weekly routine.
The best sections of the book were the first chapter (where Rick Warren lays out a solid argument for how and why God cares about what you do with your body), the second chapter (where you're taught how to overhaul your diet), and the final section of the book that contains the actual daily map of Daniel Plan goals.
But here's where I'm torn: is this the best series for a church that is not particularly struggling with physical health issues? There are only so many weeks in the year and only so many small group series we can choose. The first chapter had a solid biblical foundation but after that, I felt as if the biblical content was mostly a sidebar.
For example, in one section there is mention of prayer. Great! Except, the book takes the opportunity to merely talk about the biochemical benefits of prayer. The food chapter is wonderfully practical but seldom connects back to biblical content. It would have been great if the content of the first chapter was brought back and connected through the other chapters. Also, it's a tiny gripe but if you live in a small town in the Midwest, you'll have an extremely difficult time finding items on the Daniel Plan grocery list.
I would recommend this book to anyone who desires to get healthier. But hmm, again, not sure if I'd recommend it to every church who is looking for a small group curriculum; that would have to depend on the season that the congregation is in.
The best sections of the book were the first chapter (where Rick Warren lays out a solid argument for how and why God cares about what you do with your body), the second chapter (where you're taught how to overhaul your diet), and the final section of the book that contains the actual daily map of Daniel Plan goals.
But here's where I'm torn: is this the best series for a church that is not particularly struggling with physical health issues? There are only so many weeks in the year and only so many small group series we can choose. The first chapter had a solid biblical foundation but after that, I felt as if the biblical content was mostly a sidebar.
For example, in one section there is mention of prayer. Great! Except, the book takes the opportunity to merely talk about the biochemical benefits of prayer. The food chapter is wonderfully practical but seldom connects back to biblical content. It would have been great if the content of the first chapter was brought back and connected through the other chapters. Also, it's a tiny gripe but if you live in a small town in the Midwest, you'll have an extremely difficult time finding items on the Daniel Plan grocery list.
I would recommend this book to anyone who desires to get healthier. But hmm, again, not sure if I'd recommend it to every church who is looking for a small group curriculum; that would have to depend on the season that the congregation is in.
January 27, 2014
Four stars per Goodreads is "really liked it". Yup. I think that sums it up. The end.
Just kidding! Although it is an accurate rating for it. I thought it was a really positive approach to fitness and health, and a really well-rounded system. I usually argue (in my head, of course) with any Christian nonfiction, just because that's what I do unfortunately. But this time, I really didn't. I thought it was completely reasonable science, with interesting Biblical evidence. There were a lot of encouraging stories and thoughts that kept me motivated to keep reading. It wasn't intimidating like a lot of workout/health/fitness plans can be. I will definitely be using this as a guide, and I hear a lot of the passages I highlighted roll around in my head when I feel like I'm being a butthead about fitness or diet or whatever. "The best workout is one you will actually do..." Hmm. Touche. And while I don't think I'll do the detox or follow the diet plan to a T, but I'll definitely scope out the website for recipes when I'm lacking ideas. And I'm definitely working to be more conscientious about what I'm eating, I can't say I'll go full out cleaning eating, but it's definitely made me stop and reconsider my trips to fast food joints or making a box of velveta mac n cheese for the third time in a week.
So, I say read it! It may even speak to you in other aspects of your life than just your health. It's worth a listen. :)
Just kidding! Although it is an accurate rating for it. I thought it was a really positive approach to fitness and health, and a really well-rounded system. I usually argue (in my head, of course) with any Christian nonfiction, just because that's what I do unfortunately. But this time, I really didn't. I thought it was completely reasonable science, with interesting Biblical evidence. There were a lot of encouraging stories and thoughts that kept me motivated to keep reading. It wasn't intimidating like a lot of workout/health/fitness plans can be. I will definitely be using this as a guide, and I hear a lot of the passages I highlighted roll around in my head when I feel like I'm being a butthead about fitness or diet or whatever. "The best workout is one you will actually do..." Hmm. Touche. And while I don't think I'll do the detox or follow the diet plan to a T, but I'll definitely scope out the website for recipes when I'm lacking ideas. And I'm definitely working to be more conscientious about what I'm eating, I can't say I'll go full out cleaning eating, but it's definitely made me stop and reconsider my trips to fast food joints or making a box of velveta mac n cheese for the third time in a week.
So, I say read it! It may even speak to you in other aspects of your life than just your health. It's worth a listen. :)
July 21, 2016
The Daniel Plan is a highly motivating educational resource. I found it to be quite comprehensive and thorough with regard to the presented information. It tackled the spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, interpersonal, and intrapersonal aspects of man and tied it to what it takes to make a lifestyle change for optimal health. The book provided resource after resource. The most appealing aspect to me was the Scriptural element. I unwaveringly believe that God and His word must be an active part of any undertaking for it to be successful.
This book was a compilation of many things. It reminded me of Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst, The Body Ecology Diet by Donna Gates, The Living Foods Lifestyle by Brenda Cobb,The Daniel Fast by Susan Gregory, and The Maker's Diet by Jordan Rubin It, like all of them, proved to be very helpful.
If you need a wake up call, read this book or any of the others I have mentioned above.
A complimentary copy of this title was made available by the publisher.
This book was a compilation of many things. It reminded me of Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst, The Body Ecology Diet by Donna Gates, The Living Foods Lifestyle by Brenda Cobb,The Daniel Fast by Susan Gregory, and The Maker's Diet by Jordan Rubin It, like all of them, proved to be very helpful.
If you need a wake up call, read this book or any of the others I have mentioned above.
A complimentary copy of this title was made available by the publisher.
February 16, 2014
Warren outlines a common sense approach to weight loss that involves a lifestyle change. No fast food, no white stuff (sugar, flour, rice), cooking whole foods in your own kitchen, daily exercise, daily Bible devotions, journaling, and teaming up with a group of friends for support and accountability. There's nothing really new here, but he packages it in a way that will appeal to people.
He includes personal stories from people in his congregation who have had success with the Daniel Plan. The one that caught my attention was from a father of a little boy struggling with ADHD and the anesthetizing effects medications were having on his personality and behavior. When this man finally got on board with his wife and her desire to totally revamp their family diet, the impact on this little boy was almost immediate. Within months he was not only off his medications but he went from a C student to an A student with no behavior problems in school.
There is a recipe section and a helpful grocery list. While I haven't tried any of the recipes, they look good and easy to make.
He includes personal stories from people in his congregation who have had success with the Daniel Plan. The one that caught my attention was from a father of a little boy struggling with ADHD and the anesthetizing effects medications were having on his personality and behavior. When this man finally got on board with his wife and her desire to totally revamp their family diet, the impact on this little boy was almost immediate. Within months he was not only off his medications but he went from a C student to an A student with no behavior problems in school.
There is a recipe section and a helpful grocery list. While I haven't tried any of the recipes, they look good and easy to make.
March 7, 2015
The theory of the Daniel Plan is wonderful and it should encourage all readers to live a healthier life. It does provide wisdom using a faith-based approach to living a healthy life. All of us do need to make a lasting change in our lives to be healthier and the biblical connections were nice to read. As a person of faith, we should build our life on trust, make wise choices, have a honest community around us. His idea of having "junk out, abundance in" is true.
Throughout the book, it tries to connect the Bible and faith with healthy living and, in that regard, it fell flat. The book is long and there is a section of various exercises that I could find in any women's magazine. There was also a section of recipes that are in any cookbook or on line. That entire part was just filler pages for me. Sadly, there was enough like that in this book that it negated the original purpose.
So, I agree in theory with what the book is trying to do, I just don't think it was successful. I would not recommend this book.
Throughout the book, it tries to connect the Bible and faith with healthy living and, in that regard, it fell flat. The book is long and there is a section of various exercises that I could find in any women's magazine. There was also a section of recipes that are in any cookbook or on line. That entire part was just filler pages for me. Sadly, there was enough like that in this book that it negated the original purpose.
So, I agree in theory with what the book is trying to do, I just don't think it was successful. I would not recommend this book.
June 6, 2018
I hate to negatively review Christian authors, somehow it makes me feel less Christian! But I can't in good conscience (is that even how you spell it?!) give this one more than 2 stars, and that was out of my good Christian heart! First off, he could have cut this book in half and STILL had way to much fluff. Also, nothing really seemed new or anything that someone in their right mind doesn't already know. Also, as someone in their 30s with a few minor (though sometimes they feel major) health issues it kinda seemed like it was geared towards someone looking to do a lot of socializing, some food watching and a just a pinch of exercising, hence walking being enough. Meh, doesn't sound like much of a transformation to me.
If you want to do something for your health get a diff book, The South Beach Diet has been my family's all time fav as we have had several members in diff walks of life have success on that one.
If you want to do something for your health get a diff book, The South Beach Diet has been my family's all time fav as we have had several members in diff walks of life have success on that one.
August 31, 2018
This book impressed me with a program based on Biblical principles plus current medical & other kinds of knowledge, all of which offer anyone sufficiently motivated to significantly improve health, relationships & daily lifestyle. This sounds like a lot, but, though it's demanding, this system can be followed a little at a time for each person's needs. My goal is to join with a couple of other people to work through it with mutual support to whatever extent I can tolerate to make my life healthier & more rewarding.
May 5, 2017
I was honestly a little disappointed in this. It's basically just clean eating/Whole30 light with a Rick Warren title. All of the same info is found in other (free) sources, including the Dr. Oz show, who happens to be one of the contributors in the book. The recipes were just different enough that I don't plan on doing any of them, though I thought the exercise plans might prove useful. Overall, I wouldn't bother adding this to my library.
April 12, 2015
Everyone should read this book!
One warning: The book incorrectly tells the reader how to become a Christian. In order to become a Christian, one must follow the plan of salvation: Hear the Word (Romans 10:17), Believe (Acts 16:31), Repent (Acts 17:30), Confess (Acts 8:37), Be Immersed for the Remission of Sins (Acts 2:38) and Live Faithfully (Acts 14:22). Otherwise....it's an awesome book!
One warning: The book incorrectly tells the reader how to become a Christian. In order to become a Christian, one must follow the plan of salvation: Hear the Word (Romans 10:17), Believe (Acts 16:31), Repent (Acts 17:30), Confess (Acts 8:37), Be Immersed for the Remission of Sins (Acts 2:38) and Live Faithfully (Acts 14:22). Otherwise....it's an awesome book!
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