Wednesday, January 28, 2009

My Before and Now Photos

Me and my marathon/ironman husband - what a pair

This was taken 080808

on my B-day
I'm only posting this so those of you who didn't know me before and for those of you who don't remember . . . could see the change.

Taken 122208 - I definitely see an improvement (28lbs lost)


Thursday, October 16, 2008

Yes, I'm Losing It!

Have you ever been so excited about something and people just look at you like you've lost it. Well I have . . . LOST IT! That is, I've lost 14 pounds in 4 weeks. There was no suffering involved; no cravings unfulfilled.

I have tried my fair share of diets, some have worked better than others; namely Weight Watchers and Body for Life. Unfortunately, my emotional eating just brings me right back to my usual, unhappy, jolly circumstance.

It is so depressing and frustrating to think about starting anew. My midwife has told me, as well as so many other resources, that our calorie intake is 80% of the problem; 20% is exercise. The exercise part is fathomable but going from 3500/4000 calories a day, down to 1200 calories is UNREALISTIC! IMPOSSIBLE! TORTURE! Food is emotional for me, comforting, enjoyable, a livelihood. It is literally who I am - food, you are what you eat.

I have not been much of a drug taker; I've always been nervous about putting manmade chemicals in my mouth to solve even the basic problem. I wait until my headache is so bad I can't function before I think of taking a tylenol or excedrin. I heard about the pills that speed up your metabolism and help suppress your hunger; but in fear, I would never try them. Six months ago, in desperation, I decided to try some. On the third day, I finally related my shaky, heart racing, nervousness to the stupid pills. AND I still craved all the sugar and bake goods my mind could imagine (ate them, too). Of course a pill isn't going to do the work for us.

Can any of you relate?

So, for those of you still reading this, I'm hoping that you're wondering "What's up with the14 lbs. lost? What did Carrie do? " Basically, I've dropped my daily calorie intake to 1200 calories a day. That's what it takes to lose weight. But that's not the key, not the important part. The key is that I was able to do it happily, no cravings, no suffering, no loss of enjoyment and PERFECTLY SAFE.

1 hour, prior to each meal, I took a pill called FORM, a temporary pre-meal gastric bulking agent. WHAT? Definition: a pill that goes right to my stomach and absorbs the 6 oz glass of water that I drank with it, enlarging up to 1,000 times its weight, leaving me feeling partially filled before I ever begin eating.

Is it safe? YES! Have you ever eaten a Frosty from Wendy's or a Jello Pudding? gelatin, pectin, soups, sauces or salad dressings? Then you have consumed this polyacrylic acid hydrogel. Many polymers are used as filler in pharmaceuticals. It is non-invasive and biologically inert. It DOES NOT absorb nutrients, vitamins, medications or other beneficial compounds that our bodies need! It is just there.

All my cravings are gone! I always want something sweet when I'm finished with my 3 servings of a meal. Now I eat one serving and have no desire for sugar to complete me. I went to Costco Monday and no interest in those samples they hand out. My stomach is telling my brain that it is full and so my brain isn't telling me to EAT! EAT! EAT!

So, now I want to invite you, the one that actually read this entire entry, to our 3rd and upcoming skinny party or you can contact me and we can have a "heart to heart". Come and see what this is really all about. Whether you struggle like I do or just want to keep those few extra pounds off. Or maybe there's someone you care about that would really benefit from this way of living. You are welcome to bring anyone with you. You won't be sorry.

I'm a so excited. I am in control. Food does not run my life! No more. Never again. I am going to be thin and healthy and happy and enjoy all those things that I've been missing for so long.

Thursday, September 25, 2008