WARNING:
THIS IS NOT A HOME DECOR ENTRY!!
If you’re not interested in losing weight or eating healthy, back away slowly, turn around and run for your life!
I’m going to share a little bit about myself which I’m not 100% comfortable doing, but here goes.
I have always been thin. When I say “always” it seems like yesterday I was a size zero and weighed 98 lbs. and people were telling me to eat more.
That was about thirty years ago. Since then, I have slowly gained a pound or two going away to college, getting married, carrying four children in my tummy, hitting 40, and hitting 50 even harder. I weigh about 60 lbs more now!!
My metabolism has slowly become my enemy!
I have tried a number of different diet plans and none have seemed to work for me.
I tried Nutrisystem and lost 5 pounds right at the start and didn’t lose anymore for the next three months.
I tried Slimfast for three months drinking a shake for breakfast and lunch and a healthy dinner and didn’t lose any weight at all.
I tried Atkins with the LOML (he had used this diet a few times and lost up to 30 lbs each time) but I didn’t lose a pound. Don’t you hate the opposite sex??!!
I tried getting rid of all the “white” foods ~ rice, pasta, sugar, bread (Is this diet called something?) and didn’t lose anything.
I tried Garcinia Cambogia Extract with no results.
I tried Hydroxycut with no results.
I’ve also tried Green Tea, Amberen (no weight loss but it really helped with the hot flashes and a great night’s sleep!), Fit Tea, apple cider vinegar and honey and lemon (I read this increases your metabolism).
I also increased my exercise by a lot! I walk four miles a day 2-3 per week, weights, ab crunches, squats, lunges, jumping jacks, and I’ve even picked up running. Have you ever seen the bumper sticker that reads “0.0”? That’s me!! I don’t run! That is how desperate I am to lose weight.
Now I’m not saying these won’t work for anyone. For me, my problem was not the amount of food I was eating, but the kinds of food I was eating. The calories in being less than the calories burned did not help me lose weight.
The LOML did some research because he knew how frustrated I was not being able to lose weight after trying so many things.
He found a book called “Always Hungry” written by Dr. David Ludwig, MD, PhD.
The diet consists of three phases…..
Phase 1 ~ Conquer Cravings. A pretty strict diet of cutting carbs and sugar out of your diet. You also eliminate all grain products, potatoes, and added sugar. You replace them with calories with fat from olive oil, nuts, avocado, full fat dairy products. You get to eat slow-digesting carbohydrates in the form of non-starchy vegetables, legumes, and fruit. The author encourages you to take a leisurely 15 minute walk after each meal.
Phase 2 ~ Retrain Your Fat Cells. This stage may last for 2-6 months. This phase expands your diet allowing intact whole grains, some starchy vegetables, and tropical fruits and melons. The author encourages you to increase your exercise to keep your metabolism up.
Phase 3 ~ Lose Weight Permanently. You will slowly reintroduce some of the more processed carbs – breads, white potato products, and sweets. Watch how your body responds when adding these foods. You don’t want to re-trigger your old cravings and regain the lost weight.
The LOML and I started the first phase of the diet on April 24. Having my husband on the diet with me really makes me accountable and it’s easier to stick with the restrictions. Have I mentioned I’m a terrible dieter….NO WILL POWER!!
The first phase is when you usually lose a majority of your weight. I lost 5 lbs in the first two weeks.
The next week I lost 2 lbs. Then I got stuck! For the next month, I was stuck!
After the stuck month, I lost 1 lb. before we headed to the beach.
Now, you know what happens on vacation don’t ya? You eat and eat and eat!
Well, you will be so proud to hear,
I lost 2 lbs!!! I really didn’t cheat. I stuck with it even when everyone was eating pasta, and donuts, and cereal. Saying no really isn’t as hard as I thought it would be. My options are still pretty good. Instead of pasta I have zucchini spirals. Instead of donuts I have a fruit. I tried avocado for the first time while I was at the beach and it was pretty good. Instead of cereal for breakfast, I make a scrambled egg with cheddar cheese.
So far, I’m really happy with my results on the “Always Hungry” diet. After trying so many others, I finally found one that is working for me.
Hope you have a great week!
Love y’all,
Linda
