So bummed to report no weight loss this week, though I am still holding steady at 212.6, so I am happy to at least report no gain!! This is only the second time in 10 weeks I've had no loss. The first time was in week two. I'll have to go back and look at that week and compare.
Well, what happened??? I was so excited to be at home for the weekend, no traveling, and getting back on track with my fiber intake. Silly me to think that just because we weren't out of town, didn't mean we wouldn't be at home! And where as the month of October gone anyway???
Some of the culprits this week......I've been getting a little carried away with the red wine in the evening ;-). A couple of nights I drank 3 glasses rather than the allowed 2 glasses. On Friday night.....I drank the whole bottle...not good! Sunday was a full day of activities with the kids....a breakfast fundraiser for my son's class Space Camp trip. I tried to load up on the eggs, but did try one pancake and one biscuit with some sausage gravy......it was sooooo good. I didn't try counting the carbs in that breakfast, as I'm sure it was way over my quota for the whole day. Later in the day, we had a pizza party for our other son's baseball team. Thank goodness they didn't order a pizza with "everything" or I would have found it hard to contain myself. As it was, I only had a small square of the pepperoni pizza.
But the thing that was missing this weekend.......very little green vegetables!! What a difference that makes :-)
So, lesson learned......I can't do good all week but stop tracking in the weekends. Even though I didn't "overeat" this weekend, I didn't eat all the "right" foods at every meal. My strategy for this week - first, I am going to hold off on having any red wine after dinner, only one glass with dinner. Second, I will have a dinner plan for the weekend, instead of winging it. Third, making sure I get enough water everyday. Fourth, Halloween is this weekend - for the trick-or-treaters, I am stocking up candy that I know I won't eat......those nasty looking gummy "body parts" and really anything that IS NOT chocolate.
I would also like to welcome a friend, S, to the BFC way of life!! She is starting today! Here's to you, S, and hope you enjoy great success with the Belly Fat Cure. Have a great week everyone :-)
CONSTANT VIGILANCE!!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
It's more than just NUMBERS
I hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend. It's a beautiful fall day here and the sun is just starting to peek out for the day, so I am going to make this short and sweet!
I know for many of us when losing weight that it's all about the numbers.......numbers on our scale, the size of our clothes, the days on the calendar, our sugar/carb values, our fiber intake, calories consumed, blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels......it goes on and on! True, I admit I am a numbers gal :-) I like to track and predict and count, sometimes I get too caught up in the numbers. So today I will share a little about how my life has changed without using numbers :-)
MORE ENERGY The first week I started the BFC, I did have some headaches from the caffeine/sugar withdrawal but that was quickly overshadowed after a couple of days by how much ENERGY I had! After getting the kids off to school, I was able to walk the dog and do several hours of chores around the house without even thinking about sitting down and turning on the tv. Most days I will also make a quick trip to the gym in the afternoon for 20-30 minutes on the bike for some cardio.
WAKE UP EASIER I used to DRAAAAAAAAG myself out of bed in the mornings and then stumble around the house getting breakfast for my family and getting them off to school/work. Most days now I am up before my alarm goes off and I wake up alert. I am actually cooking breakfast for the boys as opposed to slinging some cereal in a bowl. I have the time (and energy) to get some chores done around the house while everyone is showering/getting ready.
BETTER SLEEP I am sleeping much better than I did. Before, I would toss and turn, wakeup several times, be uncomfortable from whatever position I was in. Now, when I wake up, I literally feel like I've "slept like a log".
LESS STIFFNESS/ACHINESS Also, when coming down the stairs for the first time in the morning, my ankles would be so stiff that I would have to take the stairs one at a time. The stiffness in my ankles is gone and while I'm no ballerina, I do feel much "lighter" on my feet ;-) In general, I feel less achy and stiff all the time.
HAPPIER I have much fewer mood swings......I am quicker to laugh, slower to upset. I've always been a happy, positive person but now I feel myself becoming the funny, social girl I used to be.......you remember that don't you???? How we felt before we had a care in the world??!!
IMMUNITY I had a head cold a few weeks ago. While it was a fairly intense cold, it only lasted a couple of days rather than a week.
AWARE I've also noticed that I am motivated to educate myself more on all aspects of my health and fitness. I used be overwhelmed thinking about all the health risks and everything we should be doing to take care of ourselves. I am not sticking my head in the sand anymore and find any information I can find helpful and informative.
FAMILY The changes in my family members are another benefit. My husband and boys can see the difference in me, on the outside as well as the inside, and have been extremely supportive. The boys complain less about the food I prepare and they are making healthier choices for themselves when choosing a snack. We talk more about healthy options and there is definitely more outside activity than video game activity.
So success is more than just numbers, it's about how you feel! I love that I've been able to stick with the Belly Fat Cure and make a positive lifestyle change for myself and my family. I love that I am still going strong and not ready to give up or cheat, even though I have a long road ahead of me. I am truly enjoying the journey. Find what works for you and stick with it, you will be amazed at how even a small change can make you feel much better.
NAMASTE :-)
I know for many of us when losing weight that it's all about the numbers.......numbers on our scale, the size of our clothes, the days on the calendar, our sugar/carb values, our fiber intake, calories consumed, blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels......it goes on and on! True, I admit I am a numbers gal :-) I like to track and predict and count, sometimes I get too caught up in the numbers. So today I will share a little about how my life has changed without using numbers :-)
MORE ENERGY The first week I started the BFC, I did have some headaches from the caffeine/sugar withdrawal but that was quickly overshadowed after a couple of days by how much ENERGY I had! After getting the kids off to school, I was able to walk the dog and do several hours of chores around the house without even thinking about sitting down and turning on the tv. Most days I will also make a quick trip to the gym in the afternoon for 20-30 minutes on the bike for some cardio.
WAKE UP EASIER I used to DRAAAAAAAAG myself out of bed in the mornings and then stumble around the house getting breakfast for my family and getting them off to school/work. Most days now I am up before my alarm goes off and I wake up alert. I am actually cooking breakfast for the boys as opposed to slinging some cereal in a bowl. I have the time (and energy) to get some chores done around the house while everyone is showering/getting ready.
BETTER SLEEP I am sleeping much better than I did. Before, I would toss and turn, wakeup several times, be uncomfortable from whatever position I was in. Now, when I wake up, I literally feel like I've "slept like a log".
LESS STIFFNESS/ACHINESS Also, when coming down the stairs for the first time in the morning, my ankles would be so stiff that I would have to take the stairs one at a time. The stiffness in my ankles is gone and while I'm no ballerina, I do feel much "lighter" on my feet ;-) In general, I feel less achy and stiff all the time.
HAPPIER I have much fewer mood swings......I am quicker to laugh, slower to upset. I've always been a happy, positive person but now I feel myself becoming the funny, social girl I used to be.......you remember that don't you???? How we felt before we had a care in the world??!!
IMMUNITY I had a head cold a few weeks ago. While it was a fairly intense cold, it only lasted a couple of days rather than a week.
AWARE I've also noticed that I am motivated to educate myself more on all aspects of my health and fitness. I used be overwhelmed thinking about all the health risks and everything we should be doing to take care of ourselves. I am not sticking my head in the sand anymore and find any information I can find helpful and informative.
FAMILY The changes in my family members are another benefit. My husband and boys can see the difference in me, on the outside as well as the inside, and have been extremely supportive. The boys complain less about the food I prepare and they are making healthier choices for themselves when choosing a snack. We talk more about healthy options and there is definitely more outside activity than video game activity.
So success is more than just numbers, it's about how you feel! I love that I've been able to stick with the Belly Fat Cure and make a positive lifestyle change for myself and my family. I love that I am still going strong and not ready to give up or cheat, even though I have a long road ahead of me. I am truly enjoying the journey. Find what works for you and stick with it, you will be amazed at how even a small change can make you feel much better.
NAMASTE :-)
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Nothing Is Impossible!
I've attached some pictures I took yesterday to record my 25 pound weight loss! I found some Adidas workout clothes on sale........they are both "only" size XL. Other than the size 16 jeans I bought recently, these are the first clothes I've bought in a few years that aren't from the women's dept (I was up to 2X at my heaviest with some items!).
I hate taking these kind of pictures......they remind me of mug shots. I guess I'll enjoy the pics more in about 50 pounds ;-) A couple of things of note: the inner tube around my waist is so much smaller than it was. When I started the BFC my belly was sticking out further than my boobs (not a good look unless you are pregnant). Second, my shirt is tucked in!!!! Third, the shirt says "Nothing Is Impossible".......my new motto! It's only been 9 weeks, and because I used to be sooooooo completely hooked on sugar, I can't believe how free from food and sugar I am now .....for the first time in my life :-) I truly feel that anything is possible, including a 100 pounds weight loss!
It feels great to be back on track this week (and know that I'm not going anywhere for at least the next couple of weekends!) I've been able to get 30 grams of fiber each day this week so far. These are my secret get-enough-daily-fiber foods:
Uncle Sam cereal
Thomas Triple Health english muffins
LaTortilla Factory tortillas
Flat Out Bread wraps
Fiber One cottage cheese
Benefiber at least 1-2 times per day in my tea
Flax seeds at least 1 TBSP as a topping on my salad
Now that I'm caught up with the weekly weigh-in summaries, I hope to be able to blog about other things that have helped me be successful as well as the positive changes that are happening in our home :-)
NAMASTE!
I hate taking these kind of pictures......they remind me of mug shots. I guess I'll enjoy the pics more in about 50 pounds ;-) A couple of things of note: the inner tube around my waist is so much smaller than it was. When I started the BFC my belly was sticking out further than my boobs (not a good look unless you are pregnant). Second, my shirt is tucked in!!!! Third, the shirt says "Nothing Is Impossible".......my new motto! It's only been 9 weeks, and because I used to be sooooooo completely hooked on sugar, I can't believe how free from food and sugar I am now .....for the first time in my life :-) I truly feel that anything is possible, including a 100 pounds weight loss!
It feels great to be back on track this week (and know that I'm not going anywhere for at least the next couple of weekends!) I've been able to get 30 grams of fiber each day this week so far. These are my secret get-enough-daily-fiber foods:
Uncle Sam cereal
Thomas Triple Health english muffins
LaTortilla Factory tortillas
Flat Out Bread wraps
Fiber One cottage cheese
Benefiber at least 1-2 times per day in my tea
Flax seeds at least 1 TBSP as a topping on my salad
Now that I'm caught up with the weekly weigh-in summaries, I hope to be able to blog about other things that have helped me be successful as well as the positive changes that are happening in our home :-)
NAMASTE!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Week Nine Summary/Weight Loss = 2.2
My love affair with Dr. Pepper has been replaced with a love affair with my bathroom scale!! Trust me, readers, when I say that is something I NEVER, EVER thought I would say :-). When I weighed this morning and discovered I was down another 2.2 pounds, I actually "woohooed" out loud. Because of all the traveling recently, my weight loss has slowed down the last couple of weeks and this past weekend we spent away from home, AGAIN!
We spent the weekend camping and along with the one S'more I treated myself to, I probably ate more carbs than I should have. I was convinced I was going to have a week with no weight loss and possibly even a gain. I was THRILLED to see the number 212.6. After 9 weeks, I can now report I've lost 25.8 pounds.
We are home for the next few weeks, thank goodness! I am looking forward to getting back on track, especially with tracking my fiber intake. Today I actually got 30 grams of fiber :-). In honor of being a quarter of the way to my goal, I took some pictures today and I will post those tomorrow.
CONSTANT VIGILANCE!!
We spent the weekend camping and along with the one S'more I treated myself to, I probably ate more carbs than I should have. I was convinced I was going to have a week with no weight loss and possibly even a gain. I was THRILLED to see the number 212.6. After 9 weeks, I can now report I've lost 25.8 pounds.
We are home for the next few weeks, thank goodness! I am looking forward to getting back on track, especially with tracking my fiber intake. Today I actually got 30 grams of fiber :-). In honor of being a quarter of the way to my goal, I took some pictures today and I will post those tomorrow.
CONSTANT VIGILANCE!!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Week Eight Summary/Weight Loss = 1.8
Another week, another weekend away from home, another small loss :-). As of October 12th, I was down another 1.8 pounds for a total weight loss of 23.6. The weekends away from home are starting to catch up, but I am still thankful I am losing overall. My sister and I took our five kids on a long weekend road trip to Michigan for a trip down Memory Lane. Lately, they've been interested in hearing more about our childhood and where we grew up. It was great weekend, spending time with my sister and all our kids as well as visiting with a couple of old friends.
It was evident early on in the planning of the trip that many of the places my sister and I wanted to visit for the memories were restaurants we remembered! I drank my first soda in eight weeks when we stopped at a drive-in restaurant and I just couldn't pass up their homemade root beer in a frosty mug. That night we ate dinner at a Big Boy, another childhood favorite. I stuck with a grilled chicken salad and iced tea. The breakfast at our hotel offered hard boiled eggs on Saturday morning and I was glad to be able to fill up on the protein. For lunch we stopped at a diner at a local orchard market. I had a salad for lunch because I knew dinner was going to be harder at the Chinese restaurant we were going to that night!
China Star was my first experience with Chinese food and the standard by which I hold all other Chinese restaurants to ;-). The restaurant and the food was EXACTLY how I remembered, due in a big part I am sure in still having the same owner! We even had a nice chat with her :-) Let me just tell you, I didn't even try to resist the eggrolls and the plum sauce they serve with them. The best thing about their egg rolls is that they are made with bean sprouts rather than cabbage like most egg rolls. I am not sure I've ever run across another restaurant that make them with bean sprouts. With a little plum sauce to dip them in, they are to die for!!!!
Lunch on Sunday was at an old friend's, she grilled burgers for us, which I ate without a bun. We met some other friends for dinner that night, some delicious Detroit style pizza....thick, chewy crust and heavy on the sauce. I didn't even try to track my S/C values :-). The next day was our drive home. We stopped at a Cracker Barrel for lunch, I had my favorite grilled chicken tenderloins but overdid it on the carbs by having a baked potato AND some hashbrown casserole.
All in all, after that feeding extravaganza, I was happy with the 1.8 pound weight loss but ready to get back into the BFC routine.
It was evident early on in the planning of the trip that many of the places my sister and I wanted to visit for the memories were restaurants we remembered! I drank my first soda in eight weeks when we stopped at a drive-in restaurant and I just couldn't pass up their homemade root beer in a frosty mug. That night we ate dinner at a Big Boy, another childhood favorite. I stuck with a grilled chicken salad and iced tea. The breakfast at our hotel offered hard boiled eggs on Saturday morning and I was glad to be able to fill up on the protein. For lunch we stopped at a diner at a local orchard market. I had a salad for lunch because I knew dinner was going to be harder at the Chinese restaurant we were going to that night!
China Star was my first experience with Chinese food and the standard by which I hold all other Chinese restaurants to ;-). The restaurant and the food was EXACTLY how I remembered, due in a big part I am sure in still having the same owner! We even had a nice chat with her :-) Let me just tell you, I didn't even try to resist the eggrolls and the plum sauce they serve with them. The best thing about their egg rolls is that they are made with bean sprouts rather than cabbage like most egg rolls. I am not sure I've ever run across another restaurant that make them with bean sprouts. With a little plum sauce to dip them in, they are to die for!!!!
Lunch on Sunday was at an old friend's, she grilled burgers for us, which I ate without a bun. We met some other friends for dinner that night, some delicious Detroit style pizza....thick, chewy crust and heavy on the sauce. I didn't even try to track my S/C values :-). The next day was our drive home. We stopped at a Cracker Barrel for lunch, I had my favorite grilled chicken tenderloins but overdid it on the carbs by having a baked potato AND some hashbrown casserole.
All in all, after that feeding extravaganza, I was happy with the 1.8 pound weight loss but ready to get back into the BFC routine.
Week Seven Summary/Weight Loss = 2.8
I was so happy week 7 weigh-in still continued to show a loss. I was down another 2.8 pounds for a total of 21.8 pounds lost. My waist still steady at 40 inches, 4 inches lost total. As of 10/5 my weight was at 216.6 and my waist still measuring 40 inches.
We've been doing alot of traveling on the weekends as my son's jr high baseball team kept continuing to win.....regionals, then sectionals to earn a chance to play at State!! I have found it easy to stick to the 15/6 when eating out, but it's difficult to make sure I'm getting the right amount of fiber when I'm not at home. I do travel now with my Sweetleaf sweetener and teabags. I also make sure I have some packets of almonds in my purse for snacks and some Vitamin Water Zero "squeezed" for a change of pace from water. How about you? What do you "not leave home without"??
We've been doing alot of traveling on the weekends as my son's jr high baseball team kept continuing to win.....regionals, then sectionals to earn a chance to play at State!! I have found it easy to stick to the 15/6 when eating out, but it's difficult to make sure I'm getting the right amount of fiber when I'm not at home. I do travel now with my Sweetleaf sweetener and teabags. I also make sure I have some packets of almonds in my purse for snacks and some Vitamin Water Zero "squeezed" for a change of pace from water. How about you? What do you "not leave home without"??
Week Six Summary/Weight Loss = 2.2
Slowly but surely..........down another 2.2 pounds at week six weigh-in :-) Waist hangs steady at 40 inches. Total weight loss as of 9/28 is 19 pounds and 4 inches lost on my waist. I remember thinking that I could really start telling people about the changes I had made and the success that I had had so far. I also liked being able to tell people I had lost "almost 20 pounds"!
I also noticed that I was becoming more interested not only in "belly good" food, but food that was overall better for me and my family. I am scouring stores for organic produce and meats, looking for healthier alternatives for all the food and treats my boys like. Another benefit to being aware of the sugar in my foods....the desire to eat healthier overall :-)
I also noticed that I was becoming more interested not only in "belly good" food, but food that was overall better for me and my family. I am scouring stores for organic produce and meats, looking for healthier alternatives for all the food and treats my boys like. Another benefit to being aware of the sugar in my foods....the desire to eat healthier overall :-)
Week Five Summary/Weight Loss = 2.6
Another week, another loss! Down 2.6 pounds this week and another 1/2 inch on my waist. As of 9/21, my weight loss was a total of 16.8 pounds and 4 inches on my waist. By week 5 I had settled into a routine that was apparently working for me. Breakfast usually consists of a serving of Uncle Sam cereal with 1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk (USAM), a hard boiled egg, a couple of slices of bacon with a cup of hot tea. Mid-morning snack of string cheese. Lunch is a sandwich of some kind - either on flax seed bread, in a pita or on a tortilla with a small salad on the side or some kind of green veggie. Mid-afternoon snack is usually a serving of cocoa-roasted almonds. Dinner is usually a grilled chicken salad with oil/vinegar instead of dressing. I also discovered Fiber One cottage cheese. It's a good source of calcium as well as fiber. Throughout the day I drink water, iced green tea, hot tea, Vitamin Water Zero "Squeezed" flavor. If I've got any sugar/carbs left at the end of the day, I treat myself to some dark chocolate and a glass of red wine.
I know for some people the routine may seem boring, but for the first time EVER in my life, I find that I am eating strictly for nutritional reasons and not for pleasure, for emotions or out of boredom. I can't even describe in words how FREEING that feeling is. How about you? When/why do you find yourself eating?
I know for some people the routine may seem boring, but for the first time EVER in my life, I find that I am eating strictly for nutritional reasons and not for pleasure, for emotions or out of boredom. I can't even describe in words how FREEING that feeling is. How about you? When/why do you find yourself eating?
Week Four Summary/Weight Loss = 2.4
My week four weigh-in was still promising with a weight loss for the week of 2.4 pounds and another 1/2 inch on my waist. My total weight loss was now 14.2 pounds and 3 1/2 inches on my waist. Despite the consistent weight loss, I felt like I could be doing better. I had discovered Jorge's videos on YouTube and they are full of more great information and motivation. If you have watched any of Jorge's videos, you know he talks alot about "False" belly fat......also known as "trapped waste matter". Without going into detail about my bathroom activity ;-), I realized I wasn't getting anough fiber.....the recommended 25-30 grams per day. Up to this point, I had "tracked" my s/c intake, but I wasn't writing anything down.
Starting on 9/6, I started a small food journal. I write down everything I have for meals/snacks. I track sugar/carb values as well as fiber counts. Out of curiousity, I also tracked my total calories and fat grams for the first couple of weeks. I was happy to know that my caloric intake and calories from fat were within the recommended daily allowances.
This also marked the beginning of challenging myself to finding food with the highest fiber count possible. Previously I was only look at sugar/carb counts. My favorite fiber sources include Uncle Sam cereal, Thomas "Triple Health" english muffins, and LaTortilla Factory tortillas. I also started drinking Jorge's "Belly Fat Cure Drink" that is on page 101 of the BFC book on days when I felt I wasn't getting the required fiber. I won't go into details......but I defintely noticed a change in the bathroom...not only the frequency, but the "content". Dr. Oz would be proud ;-)
Starting on 9/6, I started a small food journal. I write down everything I have for meals/snacks. I track sugar/carb values as well as fiber counts. Out of curiousity, I also tracked my total calories and fat grams for the first couple of weeks. I was happy to know that my caloric intake and calories from fat were within the recommended daily allowances.
This also marked the beginning of challenging myself to finding food with the highest fiber count possible. Previously I was only look at sugar/carb counts. My favorite fiber sources include Uncle Sam cereal, Thomas "Triple Health" english muffins, and LaTortilla Factory tortillas. I also started drinking Jorge's "Belly Fat Cure Drink" that is on page 101 of the BFC book on days when I felt I wasn't getting the required fiber. I won't go into details......but I defintely noticed a change in the bathroom...not only the frequency, but the "content". Dr. Oz would be proud ;-)
Week Three Summary/Weight Loss = 2.2
I was very happy for a solid weight loss this week, 2.2 pounds and another 1/4 inch on my waist!! In three weeks, I had lost 11.8 pounds and 3 inches on my waist. I was also estactic to have made it to that "magical" three week mark, where experts say new habits are formed after following or doing something for that amount of time. It was during this week, that the thought started creeping in to my mind that I could actually do this and reach my goal weight of 140! When I started the BFC, I was settling for getting down anywhere in the 160-180 range.
Labor Day weekend fell into this week. We traveled to my hometown to spend time with friends and family. I packed some Belly Good food to take with me to the family's get-together. It was the first time my mom, my sister, aunt and cousins had seen me, so it was easy to stick to the BFC under all their praise :-)
We then stayed at my friend J's house, but it was easy since she was still following her own clean-eating plan. She also introduced me to iced green tea sweetened with Stevia! Hallelujah......something to drink other than water!!!
Labor Day weekend fell into this week. We traveled to my hometown to spend time with friends and family. I packed some Belly Good food to take with me to the family's get-together. It was the first time my mom, my sister, aunt and cousins had seen me, so it was easy to stick to the BFC under all their praise :-)
We then stayed at my friend J's house, but it was easy since she was still following her own clean-eating plan. She also introduced me to iced green tea sweetened with Stevia! Hallelujah......something to drink other than water!!!
Week Two Summary/Weight Loss = 0.0
The number on the scale for my week two weigh-in was obviously disappointing after such a strong first week. However, my measuring tape saved the day........I had lost another 1 1/4 inches on my waist!!! That was a total of 9.6 pounds and 2 3/4 inches lost in two weeks.
During this week, I was still feeling great despite some dieting challenges I faced...... another visitor, from Aunt Flo, then a scrapbooking retreat weekend with some girlfriends. I did indulge in some sugar-free candy and was proud of myself for sticking to the 15/6 plan while surrounded by a roomful of people eating nothing but junk food and candy :-) My savior that weekend was my best friend, J, who was adhering to her own clean-eating plan.
After this week's weigh-in, I think what kept me going the most was still my energy and my amazement that I still had no desires/cravings for sugar, even after being surrounded by treats all weekend :-)
During this week, I was still feeling great despite some dieting challenges I faced...... another visitor, from Aunt Flo, then a scrapbooking retreat weekend with some girlfriends. I did indulge in some sugar-free candy and was proud of myself for sticking to the 15/6 plan while surrounded by a roomful of people eating nothing but junk food and candy :-) My savior that weekend was my best friend, J, who was adhering to her own clean-eating plan.
After this week's weigh-in, I think what kept me going the most was still my energy and my amazement that I still had no desires/cravings for sugar, even after being surrounded by treats all weekend :-)
Week One Summary/Weight Loss = 9.6
My first week on the Belly Fat Cure also coincided with a visit from my in-laws!! Now most people may see this as a stressor, but I think it was actually one of the reasons I had such a significant weight loss that first week. When they are here for a visit, I stay away from junk food to try to avoid the lectures......but I know I wasn't ever fooling them ;-). But with this visit, it did make sticking the Belly Fat Cure very easy. My in-laws have always been fairly health conscious, but father-in-law is now diabetic and they both have to watch their cholesterol. My mother-in-law was intrigued by the BFC and we poured over the book all week. We planned Belly Good meals and even spent some time at the grocery looking for different products and reading labels. I'll have to say that my mother-in-law's only hangup with the plan was not having to count calories or fat grams, since that is something she has spent so much time focusing on over the years.
I had started the plan on a Tuesday. I went cold turkey on my Dr. Pepper habit and IMMEDIATELY felt better.....more energy, more focus, less moody. I did have some headaches from the lack of caffeine but since my in-laws are coffee drinkers, I did drink coffee that week and it helped. After that week, I switched to drinking hot tea. I also have been drinking water and that certainly helped the headaches as well. Honestly, though, I was so amazed at how good I was feeling that the soda "withdrawal" seemed easier. By not having ANY sugar, it immediately got rid of ALL the sugar cravings I had. In the past, when I had tried to lose weight, I was always trying to figure out how to work in a treat or a soda. With the BFC, I didn't have to worry about that :-).
In addition to the 9.6 pounds lost, I also lost 1.5 inches on my waist that first wee. The weight/inches loss was definitely enough to keep my inspired to continue for another week.
I had started the plan on a Tuesday. I went cold turkey on my Dr. Pepper habit and IMMEDIATELY felt better.....more energy, more focus, less moody. I did have some headaches from the lack of caffeine but since my in-laws are coffee drinkers, I did drink coffee that week and it helped. After that week, I switched to drinking hot tea. I also have been drinking water and that certainly helped the headaches as well. Honestly, though, I was so amazed at how good I was feeling that the soda "withdrawal" seemed easier. By not having ANY sugar, it immediately got rid of ALL the sugar cravings I had. In the past, when I had tried to lose weight, I was always trying to figure out how to work in a treat or a soda. With the BFC, I didn't have to worry about that :-).
In addition to the 9.6 pounds lost, I also lost 1.5 inches on my waist that first wee. The weight/inches loss was definitely enough to keep my inspired to continue for another week.
My Life Prior to the Belly Fat Cure
In August of this year, I found myself at my highest weight EVER....238.4 pounds :-O. We had recently moved our family to a new state, a new town. The move went smoother than I ever could have hoped for and my kids (2 boys, ages 13 and 11) were already making friends. My husband, who had actually been working and living here for 8 months already, is/was still enjoying the challenges of his new position. However, after the unpacking and household set-up was complete, I found myself in a funk, on the couch, the likes of which I have never seen before.
Now I admit, my eating habits have never been the greatest. Even during childhood I can remember way too much fast food and junk food. Once I got to high school, I coupled the junk food diet with fad diet crazes.....the most memorable being either starvation or the steak/grapefruit diet. I managed to hover between 125-135. Once in college, living in the dorms, of course I gained the freshmen "15" and then some. Add (too much) beer to a diet still filled with fast food food and junk food. I managed to maintain a reasonable weight, no more than 145, thru exercise (aerobics was the 80's craze) and walking around as well as to/from campus. Once I left college and entered the working world......well, anyone who's worked in an office knows what that is like.......morning doughnuts, lunches out, vending machines.....I managed to stay under 150 thru various fad diets, starvation and aerobics classes.
I met my husband to be, and started Weight Watchers while planning our wedding. I was able to bring my weight down from the 160's to around 145. I felt great and sticking with Weight Watchers was easy when I had motivation (a looming wedding ceremony!). But once we were married and I became pregnant, the weight started creeping back. The main culprit was that during my first pregnancy, I quit drinking DIET sodas. I began drinking regular soda (caffeine-free during pregnancy and nursing). Once I had both boys and stopped nursing, my affair with Dr. Pepper became truly serious ;-). And because of all the sugary soda I was drinking, my diet slowly changed to include ALOT of cookies, brownies, chocolate candy, ice cream.....
Slowly, my weight had crept up......from the 180's to 200....to 210, 220........and then my final shock this past August, 238 pounds!!!!! I had just turned 45 (halfway to 50!) and my scale was telling me I was almost halfway to 300 pounds :-0. Serious change was needed. Not only was that number on the scale terrifying, my energy had dropped dramatically and I felt "icky" all the time. My digestion was terrible and I could just "feel" the drain I was making on my kidneys, pancreas, liver, etc. It was all I could do to get off the couch and do laundry. Thankfully, I hadn't YET been diagnosed with high blood sugar, diabetes or any heart disease, but I feel I was on the fast track to one if not more of those problems.
One day, while reading Facebook, a friend of mine posted about losing 25 pounds, wearing a size 10 again, and thanked Jorge Cruise and the Belly Fat Cure. I sent her a message right away and asked for the scoop. After she shared her success with me, I went right out to buy the book. I felt like no time was better than the present, so the very next day I started the Belly Fat Cure myself. I gave up soda and sweets......COLD TURKEY and I haven't looked back. It's been 8 weeks and I am down 25 pounds and 4 inches. I truly see this as a permanent lifestyle change and for the first time ever, I can actually see myself losing the 100 pounds I need to lose.
Now I admit, my eating habits have never been the greatest. Even during childhood I can remember way too much fast food and junk food. Once I got to high school, I coupled the junk food diet with fad diet crazes.....the most memorable being either starvation or the steak/grapefruit diet. I managed to hover between 125-135. Once in college, living in the dorms, of course I gained the freshmen "15" and then some. Add (too much) beer to a diet still filled with fast food food and junk food. I managed to maintain a reasonable weight, no more than 145, thru exercise (aerobics was the 80's craze) and walking around as well as to/from campus. Once I left college and entered the working world......well, anyone who's worked in an office knows what that is like.......morning doughnuts, lunches out, vending machines.....I managed to stay under 150 thru various fad diets, starvation and aerobics classes.
I met my husband to be, and started Weight Watchers while planning our wedding. I was able to bring my weight down from the 160's to around 145. I felt great and sticking with Weight Watchers was easy when I had motivation (a looming wedding ceremony!). But once we were married and I became pregnant, the weight started creeping back. The main culprit was that during my first pregnancy, I quit drinking DIET sodas. I began drinking regular soda (caffeine-free during pregnancy and nursing). Once I had both boys and stopped nursing, my affair with Dr. Pepper became truly serious ;-). And because of all the sugary soda I was drinking, my diet slowly changed to include ALOT of cookies, brownies, chocolate candy, ice cream.....
Slowly, my weight had crept up......from the 180's to 200....to 210, 220........and then my final shock this past August, 238 pounds!!!!! I had just turned 45 (halfway to 50!) and my scale was telling me I was almost halfway to 300 pounds :-0. Serious change was needed. Not only was that number on the scale terrifying, my energy had dropped dramatically and I felt "icky" all the time. My digestion was terrible and I could just "feel" the drain I was making on my kidneys, pancreas, liver, etc. It was all I could do to get off the couch and do laundry. Thankfully, I hadn't YET been diagnosed with high blood sugar, diabetes or any heart disease, but I feel I was on the fast track to one if not more of those problems.
One day, while reading Facebook, a friend of mine posted about losing 25 pounds, wearing a size 10 again, and thanked Jorge Cruise and the Belly Fat Cure. I sent her a message right away and asked for the scoop. After she shared her success with me, I went right out to buy the book. I felt like no time was better than the present, so the very next day I started the Belly Fat Cure myself. I gave up soda and sweets......COLD TURKEY and I haven't looked back. It's been 8 weeks and I am down 25 pounds and 4 inches. I truly see this as a permanent lifestyle change and for the first time ever, I can actually see myself losing the 100 pounds I need to lose.
I've included some picture of myself that were take in November, 2009. Unfortunately, the pictures I took when starting the BFC in August were in my underwear. They won't be posted here! I have no idea what my weight was in these pictures, but good gracious....I look pregnant!! I had to crop my skinny friends out of the pictures before posting ;-) No offense E and J!! Since I am already 8 weeks in, my next few post will be general summaries of my weekly weight loss since the beginning, until I am current. I will keep these weekly summaries from August thru now brief. I was really inspired to start this blog after reading another blog "Me and Jorge". The author has had great success on the BFC and I felt like her experiences mirrored mine. She is a pleasure to read and I want to inspire others like she has inspired me.
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