Editing Gwen Shamblin Lara (section)

== Weigh Down Workshop ==
Shamblin developed a [[Christian diet programs|faith-oriented weight-loss program]] while earning her master's degree at [[University of Memphis|Memphis State University]], and founded the Weigh Down Workshop in 1986.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kleczynski |first=Jennifer Coleridge |date=April 21, 1995 |title=Program helps dieters succeed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/222544335/ |access-date=July 5, 2017 |work=Strictly Hunterdon |publisher=The Courier-News |page=5 |language=en}}</ref> Shamblin counseled that [[genetics]] and [[behavior modification]] were not enough explanation for why some people were overweight, and hosted the first class in a mall in [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]]<ref name="Divine Intervention">{{cite news |last=Spencer |first=Paula |date=November 22, 1994 |title=Divine Intervention |work=Woman's Day |pages=76, 78}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 13, 1997 |title=Dieters seek help in religion |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/159376638/ |access-date=July 5, 2017 |work=The News Journal |pages=J1, J7 |language=en}}</ref> with a strong focus on faith and prayer.<ref name="Wages of Thin">{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Bill |date=June 17, 1998 |title=The wages of thin: By putting grace before meals, Christian diet programs are reshaping lives |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/nydn-features/wages-thin-putting-grace-meals-christian-diet-programs-reshaping-lives-article-1.792223 |access-date=July 5, 2017 |work=Daily News |location=New York |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Through Prayer">{{Cite news |last=Graham |first=Jennifer |date=December 7, 1994 |title=Weight-loss disciples are shedding the extra pounds through prayer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/138503800/ |access-date=July 5, 2017 |work=Democrat and Chronicle |pages=1C, 6C |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wells |first=Valerie |date=May 6, 1995 |title=Weighty matters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/77357120/ |access-date=July 5, 2017 |work=Herald and Review |language=en}}</ref> The program did not require exercise, calorie-counting, weigh-ins, or food restrictions.<ref name="Leaning on God">{{Cite news |last=Waddle |first=Ray |date=February 27, 1994 |title=Churchgoers leaning on God to shed their unwanted pounds |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/112566660/ |access-date=July 5, 2017 |work=The Tennessean |page=2A |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Ray Waddle">{{Cite news |last=Waddle |first=Ray |date=July 3, 1996 |title=Weigh Down transfers love for food into love for God |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/113393691/ |access-date=July 5, 2017 |work=The Tennessean |pages=1B–2B |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Battle Creek">{{Cite news |last=Associated Press |date=January 3, 1995 |title=God is focus of weight-loss program |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/205898521/ |access-date=July 5, 2017 |work=Battle Creek Enquirer |page=4A |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Whyche |first=Stephanie |date=October 9, 1995 |title=The Weigh to the Lite |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/159455908/ |access-date=July 5, 2017 |work=The News Journal |pages=C1, C4 |language=en}}</ref> It developed into a 12-week seminar guided by video and audio tapes featuring Shamblin.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnson II |first=Lucas L. |date=July 18, 1996 |title=Faith helps some people lower weight way down |url=http://www.greensboro.com/faith-helps-some-people-lower-weight-way-down/article_e2d14ec6-826c-5669-abfa-fb62ec1e134b.html |access-date=July 5, 2017 |work=Greensboro News & Record |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="Dieting with Jesus">{{Cite news |last=Rosenfeld |first=Megan |date=January 23, 1995 |title=Dieting with Jesus |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1995/01/23/dieting-with-jesus/67735e60-9238-4b4c-9ea2-ae3391d2b677/ |access-date=July 5, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US}}</ref> Some experts raised concern over its deviations from [[Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics|American Dietetic Association]] guidance.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Quigley |first=Linda |date=March 1, 1997 |title=Praying away the pounds |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/112841589/ |access-date=July 5, 2017 |work=The Tennessean |pages=1D, 4D |language=en}}</ref>  

The Weigh Down Workshop expanded rapidly in the 1990s, with Shamblin hosting a Memphis-area program at [[Bellevue Baptist Church]] and many other churches and homes<ref name="Leaning on God" /> hosting programs simultaneously.<ref name="Leaning on God" /><ref name="Ray Waddle" /><ref name="Laura Hill">{{Cite news |last=Hill |first=Laura |date=February 10, 1998 |title=In God's own image |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/113428692 |access-date=July 5, 2017 |work=The Tennessean |language=en}}</ref> By 1994, it was offered in about 600 churches in 35 US states,<ref name="Divine Intervention" /> and by January 1995 it reached more than 1,000 churches in 49 states plus Canada and the UK.<ref name="Battle Creek" /> By July 1996, the Weigh Down Workshop was in about 5,000 churches, 10 percent of them in Tennessee.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/285568028|title=Program urges people to turn to God to shed pounds|last=Associated Press|date=July 26, 1996|work=The Daily Spectrum|access-date=July 5, 2017|language=en}}</ref> 

Weigh Down Workshop had a staff of 40 in 1996. The company built a headquarters in [[Franklin, Tennessee]], and Shamblin began hosting an annual summer convention in the [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] area called Desert Oasis.<ref name="Ray Waddle" /><ref name="Jessi de la Cruz">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/205068421|title=Heavenly help|last=De La Cruz|first=Jessi|date=March 19, 1999|work=Lansing State Journal|access-date=July 5, 2017|language=en}}</ref> By August 1998, it had more than 250,000 participants in more than 21,000 classes across Europe, Canada, and every US state.<ref name="Key to Slimming">{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/08/20/christian-diet-programs-nourishing-the-spirit-is-the-key-to-slimming-down-the-body/|title=Christian Diet Programs: Nourishing The Spirit Is The Key To Slimming Down The Body|last=Lauerman|first=Connie|date=August 20, 1998|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=July 5, 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Ray Waddle" /><ref name="Random House2">{{cite web|url=http://www.randomhouse.com/author/results.pperl?authorid=27826|title=Random House|access-date=February 11, 2010}}</ref> 

=== Writing ===
Shamblin published the 1997 book ''The Weigh Down Diet'', which advised readers to cut food portions in half, eat only when hungry, and transfer the desire for food into love of God.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mulrine |first=Anna |date=April 27, 1997 |title=A Godly Approach to Weight Loss |url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/970505/archive_006847.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205070344/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/970505/archive_006847.htm |archive-date=February 5, 2013 |access-date=April 6, 2007 |work=[[U.S. News & World Report]]}}</ref> The book sold more than 1.2 million copies and led to further publishing deals.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Booth |first=Claire |date=March 14, 1997 |title=Dietitian says God, not food fills void |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/217232683 |access-date=July 5, 2017 |work=The Times |location=Shreveport, Louisiana |page=2D |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Stein |first=Joel |date=October 24, 1999 |title=The Low-Carb Diet Craze |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,33169-3,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123225301/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,33169-3,00.html |archive-date=January 23, 2018 |access-date=July 5, 2017 |magazine=Time |language=en-US |issn=0040-781X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Shamblin |first=Gwen |url=https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/weigh-down-diet_gwen-shamblin/246851/#edition=2382248&idiq=5415077 |title=The Weigh down Diet : The Inspirational Way to Lose Weight, Stay Slim and Find a New You |publisher=The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group |year=1997 |isbn=9780385487627 |publication-date=February 1997 |access-date=September 1, 2021}}</ref>

=== Finances ===
Shamblin was criticized for branding the Weigh Down Workshop as a Christian ministry while profiting significantly and living a lavish lifestyle, driving multiple [[BMW]]s and a [[Mercedes-Benz|Mercedes]] and purchasing a $2.3 million mansion.<ref name="griffith2004">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dGtHZImY4lcC|title=Born Again Bodies: Flesh and Spirit in American Christianity|last=Griffith|first=R. Marie|date=October 4, 2004|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=9780520938113|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=July 1, 2001 |title=Part 1: Is it a ministry or just big business? |url=http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=5409134 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224230555/http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=5409134 |archive-date=February 24, 2012 |website=NewsChannel5.com}}</ref> When a [[WTVF]] reporter asked in 2001 how much money Shamblin was making, she said the amount was "between me and God".<ref name=":1" /> On [[Larry King Live]], she said the Weigh Down Workshop devoted half its proceeds to taxes and put the other half back into the program.<ref name=":1" />