Age: 39
Height: 5′ 5”
Start Weight: 280 pounds
Current Weight: 190 pounds
Total Weight Lost: 90 pounds!
How Long: 9 months
Start Size : 3x/24
End Size: L/14
Well, what a journey it has been! I have struggled with my weight most of my adult life. It’s the usual story: I would lose some … then gain more back … lose some again … and then gain even more back.
I made promises to myself: after this baby … before my cousin’s wedding … before this vacation … before my brothers’ wedding … and for sure before my youngest and only daughter becomes a teenager. It went on and on. Well, my daughter will be 13 in February so I finally met a deadline (albeit not by much). I really hoped this was going to be the time!!!
It started last year with friends pushing me to get on Facebook. I dreaded the thought of having to put a picture of myself on the profile. I knew that people I hadn’t even talked to since high school would want to get in touch, but in my mind they really just wanted to see who got fat. So I knew this had to be the time … it just had to be.
I had always said I would do ANYTHING except eat right and exercise, but that really hadn’t worked. I knew the only way it was going to happen was to go back to Kimkins. It was the only diet that really worked for me in the past. I was already a member so I went to the website and found a group that was starting February 22nd , 2010.
That same day I faced my fears and joined Facebook. But of course I was too scared to put my photo up so I used a picture of the kids … baby steps.
I started the first couple of weeks doing the Shake It Off plan which quickly got my cravings under control. I was doing 3 or 4 shakes a day. I braced myself the first couple weeks until I adjusted to the diet for tiredness that I remembered from the last time I did the diet. But, to my surprise that didn’t happen this time.
After the first 2 weeks I added 1 small meal a day. One of the big differences this time was having a challenge group to report to. It really helped me having people going through the same thing and cheering each other on. We shared tips and recipes with each other.
One of the biggest keys for me was taking all emotion out of eating. I think most of us use food when we have had a good day, a bad day, to celebrate, as a reason to get together with friends, when the weather was good or when it was bad.
I told myself I was taking control and that I was eating to nourish my body and for no other reason. I kept it kind of boring and uneventful when I ate. That’s why doing shakes for a couple of meals a day really worked for me.
A lot of times my small meal would be the same every day for weeks … but my body was getting what I needed. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of variety to be had on Kimkins and so many great recipes available in the Kimkins Recipe Box. I just knew until I was well on my way I needed go hard core and be strict.
The weight just started to melt away without any cravings and without any exercise. I knew exercise would need to be a part of a plan for lifelong change but I was so heavy that exercise was difficult. I focused on losing weight.
About 2 months I got the dreaded invitation to my class reunion. I hadn’t attended the first 3 and was terrified to attend, but it was 5 months away and it fueled my fire. The scale kept moving.
My birthday was in May and it was time to start exercising. My friend, Sue, told me about the Fitbit she got for Christmas. It is a very cool step counter where you can download all kinds of data onto your computer. It is amazing how that little thing can motivate you!
For the first several months we would text each other throughout the day to root each other on and making sure we got our 10,000 steps a day in. I remember some nights marching in my bedroom just to make it to 10,000 or trying to beat Sue’s count. Teaming up with a friend is a great motivator!
Eventually I wanted to add back going out to lunch. I found 3 places where I could make good choices. Thanks to all my friends for understanding that those were the only choices for lunch. They were Jimmy John’s Unwich, Culver’s Chicken Cashew Salad and an extra special treat was Chipotle’s The Veggie Bowl (no rice, easy on the beans). I just kept cruising and melting away!
Went to my reunion and had a good time! I hit a bit of a speed bump in November when I had surgery and was off work for 6 weeks. This was hard because I run around all day at work and really missed getting my steps in. I lightened up on myself a bit. I was disappointed that my weight loss slowed to almost nothing, but was glad to know I wasn’t gaining!!!
It has been a little hard getting back to dieting hard core, but I am confident that by the end of February I will hit 100 pounds lost!!! J I encourage everyone to make this be the time that it happens for you!! Because you can do it! Make it happen for you!!!
Thanks for taking the time to read my story. As I always say to my Kimkins friends, “MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!!! J FIGHT THE BATTLE YOU ARE SO WORTH IT!!!“
Stacey K
