Hi! I’m Monique Addison-Stinson and I have several certifications in the health space. Most recently, I became an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and I was inspired by my faith and my church community to help people lead healthier lives.
After years of being an overweight, active churchgoer, I had an epiphany when I came across scripture that read, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 1:2).
I realized then that being unhealthy was not what God wanted for me, so I dramatically changed what I ate and started exercising. However, while I was on my own health journey, I noticed that other parishioners accepted their ailments as normal.
I started doing some research to see if it was only parishioners in my community exhibiting this behavior. I was shocked to read in the Duke Divinity Journal that weight, mental health, heart disease, and stress are the most critical issues concerning clergy. I also read a study of South Carolinian African American Episcopal Pastors that found that 93% of A.M.E. pastors were overweight, 68% of A.M.E. pastors suffered from hypertension, and 35% of A.M.E. pastors suffered from two or more chronic health conditions such as diabetes.
I had to do something! So, I founded phattlife.org and I help busy women (and men) of faith drop the weight for good, without counting calories, juicing or giving up chocolate.