It’s not exactly tied to Lent, which begins last Wednesday, but the spirit behind the Men’s Cleanse Life Group at Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Ahwatukee echoes the kind of habit-changing denial that the season involves.
Just ask Dave Hackett, who started his own personal “cleanse” six years ago after his annual physical.
“I had just turned 55,” he recalled. “I was overweight, tired and my bloodwork just came back with elevated cholesterol and sky-high triglycerides levels. My doctor recommended changing my diet and lifestyle or I would continue to gain weight and feel unhealthy.”
So he searched the internet and discovered a book titled “The Metabolism Reset Diet” (MRD) by Dr. Allan Christianson.
“I learned a lot about the causes for high triglycerides and weight gain as we get older, and it all made sense,” Hackett said.
“I particularly liked the fact that it was only 28-days. I figured I could do any diet that was only 28-days, plus it was all healthy food you were eating and eliminating the unhealthy food.
“The diet is a high protein, low calorie diet that consists of a protein rich smoothie for breakfast and lunch and high protein meal for dinner. There are also specified unlimited snacks – mostly vegetables – you can eat during the day.”
The denial part: No alcohol, caffeine, sugar, soda, juice, bread and chips/snacks.
Hackett prepared by weaning off the bad stuff and sampling smoothies and meals to see which ones he liked.
“There are three components to the cleanse – diet, sleep, and micro-workouts,” he said.
“The protein rich diet ensures you retain muscle mass while losing weight. The sleep component stresses good sleep habits and seven to eight hours a night. The micro-workouts are five minutes of light cardio one day and five minutes of light body weight exercises the other day to preserve muscle mass.”
Hackett said the cleanse “was a little tough, but not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.”
And unlike the 40 days of Lent, this program only lasted only 28 days.
Not only did he lose close to 30 pounds, but Hackett found, “I had so much energy after losing the weight and eating healthy that I no longer needed my morning coffee to wake up and I was sleeping better.”
“I’m more conscious about what I put into my body,” he added. “I still enjoy unhealthy food sometimes, life’s too short to go without pizza and beer, but eat less of them and I’m more conscious of doing it.”
Hackett shared it with other members of the church and the group was born.
They, too, were impressed by the results.
“Significant weight loss is only part of the story,” said Bill Turnpin. “Besides feeling lighter and more energetic, I no longer think about or take late afternoon naps, my blood pressure has dropped so much that I stopped taking my medication.”
Len Arthanari raved that besides losing pounds and waistline inches, “Best of all, I feel several years younger too.”
Adding that he had less joint pain, he also said he had “lots more energy, endurance, flexibility and quickness.”
Hackett said he felt compelled to follow through with forming a life group at the church because he had suggested that maybe he ought to while he was on church grounds.
“Life Groups are member-run groups at our church that are fellowship, spiritual or service related,” he said. “I wasn’t sure if the pastor would allow it and quite honestly, was almost hoping he wouldn’t.
“Yes, I had gone through the MRD twice before and was passionate about it, but what the heck did I know about helping others go through it?”
Turned out, the men who made it through the program last year credited his leadership with making it.
“I could see the transformation in all the guys by week two,” he said, adding they reported the same results that he had experienced – and looked it.
“It was a very rewarding experience for me to share with these gentlemen something that changed my life and one I hope will continue to change theirs,” Hackett said. They had all lost enough weight where it was noticeable. They ended the program with an awards banquet. On the menu: a two-course brunch with a gazpacho appetizer and squash spaghetti and turkey meatballs.
“In true millennial fashion, everyone got a trophy,” Hackett joked. “It was a fun way to end the diet. As mentioned, I had successfully done the diet twice before, but this by far was the easiest and most enjoyable. We all shared in each other’s successes and supported each other along the way.
“Although weight loss was the most measurable component, it really played a little role in our overall satisfaction,” Hackett continued. “We all had our own goals and were happy to see others attaining theirs.
“Although I see most of the guys at church on Sunday, I’ll miss our Saturday morning meetings. Though, I have a feeling I’ll see them on the pickleball court, hiking or just out enjoying life.”
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