I Can!
Discovering the Real
Truth About Change
Punch Press, 2005
Gregory
P. Samano, II,
D.O., Marilyn Jeffcoat, and David Uth, Ph.D.
Reviewed by Tameka Delaney Edwards
Say “Yes!” to change. I Can! Discovering
the Real Truth About Change, written by Marilyn
Jeffcoat, Dr.
Gregory Samano, and Dr. David Uth, offers strategies and solutions to I-Can’t claims regarding change.
Many people believe that change is not possible
when it comes to weight loss, poor eating habits, or negative thinking.
However,
change is possible when we shift our focus onto God’s word and His
ability to
transform us. Marilyn lost over 100 lbs and experienced a change of
heart after
understanding and applying Philippians 4:13: I can do all
things through Christ who strengthens me. Today, she
is a life coach and founder of Total Sculpt, “a holistic program that
incorporates body and soul sculpting exercises to achieve fitness from
the
inside out.”
Our thoughts can stop us from moving forward. When
we are convinced that something is too hard or difficult to achieve, we
remain
trapped in our minds and stagnate in our behaviors. People are
motivated to
lose weight and start an exercise regimen during the spring and summer.
However,
they often lose focus and determination before reaching their goals.
Part one
of this two-part book covers information on physical fitness and eating
habits,
while part two focuses on personal growth from a Christian perspective.
In part one, Dr. Gregory Samano, a family practice physician,
shares the top eight I-Can’t
statements from patients regarding health and nutrition, such as “I
can’t seem
to lose weight…,” “I can’t stay on a diet,” and “I can’t stop craving
my
favorite foods.” It also includes exercise tips and I Can!
strategies (such as “I can handle any challenge”) that
promotes positive thinking.
In part two, Dr. David Uth (bible teacher) and
Marilyn provide the Truth about change.
Each chapter begins with an I Can
statement and a scripture reference from Philippians. Chapter three
talks about
how we can change our thinking (Philippians
4:8-9) with Christ’s help. We do not have to struggle with change on
our own.
We have the Word as our guide. When we “Take every thought captive” (2
Corinthians
10:5) that is not consistent with the will of God, and practice right-thinking, we experience change in
our behaviors. I benefited the most from this part of the book, which
included
personal experience stories from both authors. However, this section
seemed a
little disorganized in format. Notations, such as “I [Marilyn]” and “I
[David]”,
which were supposed to eliminate confusion, caused some distraction.
Despite the formatting issue, I enjoyed the reading
and feel that anyone can benefit from this book as it deals with
healthy living
from the way we eat to the way we think. If you are ready to start
living
healthier from the inside out, then I Can! is a
must-read for you!