Getting to the End of Your Rope

In December my physical health had reached an all time low. I was heavier than I'd ever been. I was having trouble keeping up with my three year old grandson. Walking up the stairs was an effort. Shooting pains in my legs and hip plagued me at night. I couldn't sleep which led to more eating to anesthesize myself. I developed acute acid reflux. In addition, I didn't want to walk out of the house in the morning because I was ashamed of my appearance. Buying and trying on clothing was a humiliating experience. I had to compensate by spending hours on my hair and makeup just to feel presentable. My 38 year marriage suffered, mainly because I felt unloveable.

I had gotten to the end of my rope. Many diets have come and gone in my life. I did remember one being successful, at least as long as I had the will power to stay on it. That was the Lo-Carb diet. I decided to give it one last try before I got too old to care anymore.

December 15th was D-day. Today is June 4th and so far I have lost 46 pounds. My pain is completely gone. I walk three miles a day on the treadmill at Bally's. I'm able to run after my active grandson, my acid reflux has disappeared and I'm sleeping through the night, every night. Here is how I did it.

1. No starches or sugars. This includes rice, pasta, potatoes, bread. I do allow myself two Wasa Fiber Crispbread crackers a day. After awhile, I will introduce back a little brown rice, whole wheat pasta and whole wheat bread. But for right now, I don't have it.

2. No pop, regular or sugar free. Carbonation makes your tummy bigger.

3. No sweet or starchy veggies, i.e. corn, peas, carrots, squash (spaghetti squash is OK). I limit my tomatoes (they are technically a fruit). Steaming veggies is healthiest, or eat them raw with a little hummus or ranch dressing.

4. No fruit right now.

5. No milk or cottage cheese. Whole sour cream, cream cheese, butter and whipping cream are OK.

6. I eat lots of salads. (Ranch dressing is OK, but I watch how much I put on.)

7. All meats and fish are OK, as long as there is no filler such as bread crumbs. Pecans can be finely chopped and used as a "breading", when fish or meat is dipped in egg first.

8. I use butter, grape seed oil, or olive oil.

9. A few (10 or so) almonds a day

10. Drinking alcohol or using artificial sweeteners will impede weight loss.

11. I eat every 4 to 6 hours. If I am hungry I eat, but only until I don't feel hungry anymore. Sometimes this only takes a few bites.

12. Drink plenty of water. Sometimes thirst masquerades as hunger. If you are hungry, drink water first. If you're still hungry in 10 minutes, eat something.

13. Pinpoint when you are most likely to snack when you aren't hungry. My time is at the computer. I keep a pack of gum at my computer and chomp on it when I need to chew on something.

14. Some nights I make myself a cup of Oolong tea (supposed to aid weight loss) and on the side I have a tablespoon of Almond butter stirred with a tablespoon of honey. If you eat a little something sweet, eat a little protein with it.