Feed the soul, trim the fat
With bestsellers and networking, the Christian weight-loss movement is creating believers.
By Elena Conis, Special to The Times
July 10, 2006

When the First Place Christian weight-loss program came to his church in 1998, Chino computer programmer Mark Gutierrez — who weighed 310 at the time — was skeptical. The 44-year-old father of two had tried numerous high-profile weight-loss programs, starting as far back as age 13.

"I had lost weight many times, but always put it back on and more," he says.

Fear and doubt, he says, delayed him from committing to the program for a year. But once he signed on, in early 1999, he met with rapid success — dropping 120 pounds in the first 12 months.
The program's spiritual component made all the difference to him.

"You draw your encouragement and strength from God and Bible study, from prayer and the prayers of others in the room with you," he says of the First Place program. the rest