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Success of the Month: Lorraine
Someone who can vouch for the benefits of keeping a Success Diary is 73-year-old Lorraine from Adelaide, who lost 17 kilos to reach a healthy and stable 72 kilos for her 1.65 meter-tall frame.In August 2009, after several years of personal trauma, stress, and medication with prednisolone for suspected arthritis, Lorraine's weight had escalated to 89 kilos.
As well as not liking the way she looked, Lorraine had heightened blood pressure, heightened blood sugar levels, and excess weight was putting undue pressure on her aching knees.
As you'll see in Lorraine's email about her weight loss adventure, she didn't go it alone.
From:Lorraine
Sent:Friday 10th December 2010 6:27 PM
To:Dr Amanda Sainsbury-Salis
Subject:Re: May I feature your success story in my newsletter?
Dear Amanda,
I am only too happy to answer your questions about my success with Don't Go Hungry. It would be lovely to think that my experiences might inspire someone else.
It started in September 2009 when - on my own volition - I booked a consultation with a dietitian I found online. The dietitian was Lisa Ansell. She gave me the choice of a diet plan where she set out menus for me, or the Don't Go Hungry Diet, which involving keeping a food diary where I analyzed how satisfied I was with each meal. I chose the latter.
Lisa came to my home to see me. After the initial consultation she came fortnightly for the first month along with her trusty scales. Part of the deal was that I did not weigh myself between check-ins. Then she came once a month to weigh me and give encouragement. I lost 1 kilo in the first fortnight and the loss accelerated from there. I saw her seven times in all. It was really nice to have someone come and say "You're doing well". She was also very encouraging about gentle exercise such as walking.
I had never "dieted" before and I found this method very simple. I could eat exactly the same food as I prepared for anyone else. I just had to finish eating when I was no longer hungry. I kept my food diary for six months and during that time I lost 15 kilos and reached 74 kilos. In the 9 months since then I have kept that weight off and have lost another 2 kilos, and I consider that I am at a really good weight for maintaining good health. I still eat in the same way as I did when I was losing weight but I seem to have reached stability at 72 kilos. The work Lisa did with me and the support of your book allowed me to make changes to my eating habits that will stay with me, so I know I will be able to continue as I have started.
The great thing about my weight loss was that I didn't have to explain the "diet" to anyone. I could eat exactly the same foods that my friends and family ate...just less of them (except for vegetables). In all the time I was losing weight there was not once where I felt deprived of food. As the weight slid off my friends started noticing my weight loss, but they look at me in disbelief when I tell them how I lost all those extra kilos.
I bought myself some new pants last week and got the biggest surprise...the ones that fit were Size 10! I haven't been a size 10 since I was 16. Besides having less stress on my knees, normal blood pressure, normal blood sugar levels and more energy, I love the fact that I can wear a belt again because I now have a really trim waistline. I have had to buy a whole new wardrobe, but that seems a small sacrifice for the way I look and feel.
Thank you, I am ever grateful,
Lorraine
What our readers say...
"Dear Dr Amanda, this is the first time I have written to you but really felt the need to tell you what a positive impact your book and newsletters have had on me. This newsletter is no exception – the article on the Famine Reaction is an eye opener to me – I have felt it and experienced it and didn’t know what it was. As the article indicates, I tried to “fight” it and figure out what was “wrong” with me. As I answered the questions you suggested, I realize that it was a feeling of being “out of control” and so fearful to give in to the message my body was giving me – fear that if I ever started eating I would never stop! While I would still like to loose about 10 pounds, I am delighted to say that after a lifetime of dieting/binging and having NO freedom in eating (I am 60 years old), I am finally listening to my body and trusting it to tell me what it needs. And ………………. the result is that I truly desire healthy nutritious foods most of the time, but at times want something that used to be on “no way” list. As I listen to my body I am experiencing the ability to have a limited amount of something (like chocolate) and not binge on it. This is just amazing to me! Thank you for your wonderful support. "