A group of 22 discovered they could become significantly healthier when they participated in the recent Coronary Health Improvement Project at the Kahului church.

For 30 days, they learned how to adopt a lifestyle that would help them with cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, weight loss, hypertension and other health problems. Led by the local CHIP director, Laura Alfonso, the group dropped 768 points in cholesterol, more than 160 pounds and 14.29 percent blood glucose, and everyone's blood pressure fell within the normal range.

CHIP is an intensive health program that emphasized diet, exercise, water and sleep. "Some of the participants were walking ‘time bombs,' waiting for a heart attack to happen at any time," Alfonso noted. "I tried to do everything I could to encourage the group to keep up with their daily exercise. I even directed a daily program in which I had them run using one-pound weights. At every meeting, there was always time for their positive personal testimonies. We gave all the glory to God for the impressive changes."

A big part of the new healthy lifestyle was learning how to eat fresh foods. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes are the mainstay of the CHIP diet. "Every night of the program, I made sure to prepare tasty food samples and incorporate a recipe folder so that the participants could learn how to cook healthy and delicious foods for their families and friends, as well," said Alfonso.

Throughout the 30-day program, there were short skits, informational lectures, cooking demonstrations, video presentations by Dr. Hans Diehl, and a variety of educational materials on how to improve one's health. "This is the best health program I have ever seen," said one participant. "I intend to follow through with this new lifestyle."

After one week of the program, a Trinity Broadcast Network program asked Alfonso for an interview, hosted by Walter Nelson, pastor of the Honolulu Central church. Several participants and guests provided testimonies about the CHIP program.

Participants celebrated the completion of the Kahului CHIP program with a delicious and healthy graduation dinner. The group received a surprise conference call from Dr. Hans Diehl, the director of the Lifestyle Medicine Institute, who congratulated and encouraged the graduates: "You are now the light bearers and can now share this with others."

The group plans on doing just that with monthly CHIP alumni meetings. They hope to make the CHIP program an ongoing project that will continually reach out to the surrounding community to help them live more healthfully and to lead souls to Jesus.