March 8, 2008 7:56 AM
The Fat Flush Diet: how hard is it and did it work?
From the comments:
I'm wondering whether you found the Fat Flush diet hard to stick to, and did you have a hard time breaking free from the sugar cravings?
Yes, I found it hard to stick to the first few days!!! But that's not the point. I realized that one of my problems was that I had not been willing to work hard to do something I'd needed to do for a long time. I was 100 pounds overweight, for crying out loud :) !!!
The Fat Flush diet really worked for me because I was finally willing to work, but I needed an extremely strict regimen. Weight Watchers might work for some people, but instinctively I knew that was not the route for me. While I dieted, I did not use recipes and try to make palatable dishes because I did not want to put my energy or attention into food, I wanted to turn my attention away - to learn to eat to live rather live to eat.
The Fat Flush was designed to break cravings by eliminating toxins in your body. For me the first two days were the most difficult, and once I was past Day Five it was easy to fix my family's meals without touching them (becoming aware of how often my elbow had the impulse to bend, even though I had thought I ate very little - who was I kidding?) and even on a stressful, event-packed evening to drive through McDonalds and pick up Happy Meals for the kids without a single thing for me.
For me, losing weight had to do with a lot more than losing pounds. It meant losing my sense of entitlement. It meant surrendering, drawing closer to God and living more sacrificially. It meant realizing that my being fat had a negative impact on the lives of others, particularly those who were close to me. It meant looking forward to the insights God would be able to give me about my life when I had broken free of my attachment to food.
I also fasted one day each week, drinking only water and the 'miracle juice" made of cranberry, lemon and orange juices mixed with herbs and spices.
For anyone overweight who is open to the idea of looking at weight loss as a responsibility and spiritual duty/journey, please read my entire diet journey - along with all my emotional, psychological and spiritual insights :) - start by scrolling to the bottom here and working your way forward. Seriously, there's some helpful stuff there.
Also, I found it helpful to google weight loss before and after to look at pictures. Very inspirational and motivational!
As much as I loathe doing this, for the sake of my readers, here are my before and afters - the first taken 12/2005 (I was making enchiladas for the family on Christmas Eve) and the second 10/2007:
From size 20w to size 10, 10 1/2 shoe to 9. Even my toes are smaller!
I can run. I can run up and down stairs. I can feel good about myself in family pictures. I can better serve my family and be a better witness to the world - after all, what does it say about our spiritual path if our bodies give proof of our gluttony, testimony that in our lives God is not enough?
So, yes it was hard work!! Was it worth it? Did it work? Yes and yes and yes! And anyone can do it - just be ready for some of the greatest spiritual lessons of your life!
Posted in Diet, My life | Permalink
Comments
That is great! And you look fabulous.
I am a Christian, and have found the easiest way to lose my baby weight was to focus on the how my body is a gift and I should treat it with only the best foods and care etc.
Funny, how when I stopped trying to fight food and started accepting my body as a gift the journey is hard but satisfying..
Posted by: Blogversary | March 8, 2008 9:11 AM
You look mahvelous, dahling! The picture of health!
Posted by: Kim | March 8, 2008 12:12 PM
Congratulations! That is so wonderful! I know this sounds corny, but you really are an inspiration!
I'm trying to get back into shape--not lose weight, really, just tone up a bit. And even that takes so much discipline to realize that it's not a diet, it's a whole lifestyle change.
I'm glad you got through it! Now you can wear toe rings :).
Posted by: Sheila Gregoire | March 8, 2008 4:07 PM
WOW! I have been doing LA Weigh Loss of over a year now...my first encounter with a weight loss system. I am amazed at your results and how wonderful you look. the joy of the Lord is all over ya!
Posted by: meredith | March 8, 2008 5:17 PM
I love your honesty...
"Yes, I found it hard to stick to... but that's not the point."
Amen and amen.
Posted by: Julie Garrett | March 8, 2008 7:08 PM
You look fabulous! I lost 90lbs. about 4 years ago but have put a lot of it back on...in just this past year. A lot of stresses with my Momma dealing with advanced stages of colon cancer and my husband going back to school to get his MBA. I'm an optimist though and every day I wake up and say, "I'll do it today!" Still trying. *smile* Take care. Dani
Posted by: Dani | March 9, 2008 11:24 AM
