December 17, 2008 9:19 PM
The Fat Flush Diet: Does it work? And anyone want to join me 1/2/09?
I'm rerunning this entry for a couple reasons:
* My post yesterday with the picture of the fat woman in the apron - me - promised a follow-up showing me minus all that extra weight.
* I am currently up 10 pounds from my weight when the second picture was taken and at a point where my pants are either not wearable or too tight. Since I am refusing to buy new pants, this puts me in the uncomfortable predicament of looking like I choose to wear pants that are too tight.
* I am planning on January 1 to stop fooling around and go back on the Fat Flush Diet full tilt to lose 30 pounds, which will bring me to a total of 100 pounds lost. I'm thinking maybe some of you would like to set that as a start date too.
So, for those who've asked:
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.
or 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 modified the Fat Flush Diet by actually using The Fast Track Detox Diet
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
I'm with you! I lost 10 lb. recently but the holiday goodies all over the place are making it hard to stick with it, and I still need to lose another 30 lb.
But I won't be starting until Jan. 2nd because Jan. 1st is the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God and we never fast on big feast days!
Posted by: Michele Q. | December 18, 2008 12:09 AM
Hey Barbara,
Great story. In my humble opinion, I beleive periodic fasting (juice and water) is key to helping our bodies rid themselves of the toxic overload of today's world. Not only that, it opens the space in our bodies to hear the subtle messages that while eating are difficult to hear. One of the greatest benefits seems to be the lack of discipline and will power necessary after a prolonged fast. You will naturally gravitate towards higher vibration foods (raw fruits/veggies) and other foods that do not serve us just fall away without the need for discipline. I am currently in the Philippines integrating therapeutic juice fasting into St. Theodore's Hospital in Sagada. We are conducting the first ever clinical trial on therapeutic juice fasting. The results have been remarkable. Check it out if you'd like... www.sagadahospital.com.
Happy holidays to you and keep spreading the good word.
peace and love,
Patrick
Posted by: Patrick O'Connor | December 18, 2008 2:47 AM
It's funny you should mention this. I have been reading all your diet posts over the last few weeks and visiting many of the Fat Flush Blogs and sites. Just yesterday, I bought 2 books from Amazon.com (the FF Program and the FF Detox). I am anxious to get started on this and would love to start this with you on Jan 2. I am at least 100lbs overweight! I would like to lose 120 lbs.
I also think it would be helpful to touch base once in a while with someone who has been successful at it. I lost 50 lbs with WW 2 years ago....then I ended up with breast cancer and it all went downhill from there.
Posted by: Nancy | December 18, 2008 6:50 AM
Would like to join in but will have to track down the book(s). Can't afford to buy them by Jan 1st but if I can find them via my library/interlibrary loan system, I'm in!
Posted by: Beth/Mom2TwoVikings | December 18, 2008 6:53 AM
I am going to do it again....It worked GREAT last time. But then I dropped it. I have to do the diet AND look at my emotional eating. It's a process for me.
Here's to our health!!
Posted by: suzanne | December 18, 2008 7:11 AM
I'm with you too. Someone also recommended the French women's diet where you make a big pot of leek soup and eat that pretty much exclusively. It's much easier to stay on a diet when you get a nice jump start.
Posted by: Cath Young | December 18, 2008 7:52 AM
Yes, I want to do this too !! I need to lose 50-70 pounds that I gained AFTER I lost my baby weight 4 years ago. I have issues with food (entitlement, reward, emotional, mindless eating etc.) What do we need ? Do we need to get a book or supplements etc.? How are we going to do this ? I'm excited and a little fearful ! My husband says he'd rather me be fat and friendly than on a diet and miserable. How can I maintain a good attitude about this ?
Posted by: dee | December 18, 2008 2:05 PM
I really needed this post. I have been putting this off for the past year, struggling with myself and not being able to surrender. The part about letting go of your sense of entitlement really jolted me!
I can't get into the whole story here, but being overweight for many years was oneof the reasons my dear mother died at the too young age of 69. I don't want to do the same!
I want to start with you. I am going to try to get the recommended book. I really think this type of diet may be the only way for me as well. I agree that this is not only a flesh and blood battle, but spiritual as well. I really want to say goodbye to at least 50lbs. and old habits!
Posted by: Sue | December 18, 2008 6:01 PM
This is kind of hard to throw out there but what the heck. I guess I have found that confession is a large part of healing. I too need to loose weight. I am at 211 lbs and uncomfortable about my weight in body, spirit and emotion. I had a baby 8 months ago and I have put on weight since the birth. I dont know quite how this has happened because I do breast feed. I would like to do the fat flush diet with you but I dont think it is probably an option for nursing moms. Does anyone know for sure? As well, I do have to be careful about how much weight I lose while nursing. I understand that if I loose too much too quick it will alter my milk. I do need to get moving more. My biggest problems are sweets, portions and lack of movement. One of my other huge problems is not making time for myself. Does anyone else have this? My kids range from 14 y to 8m and 2 have special needs. I always feel like someone else has a greater or more immediate need than I do. I am also starting a daycare so I dont see the time thing getting any better for me. Someone talk me through this. I know I do need to start by making better choices. I guess maybe I should talk to my doctor to see what kind of dieting is ok. I have tried so many over the years and they probably could have all worked but I am so undisciplined when it comes to food. My husband has put on a lot of weight over the life of our marriage too and I am concerned for him as well.
Posted by: april yates | December 18, 2008 7:43 PM
April, my daughter is seven months old, just a little younger than your smallest. I am also not sure what does and does not work while breastfeeding--I've only had real luck with starvation-type diets.
I've heard fasting is bad for nursing and pregnancy and conception, and I am currently nursing and would love to be pregnant again--although it also would be nice to lose some weight first, especially since I might then have less risk of a recurrence of gestational diabetes. I'm not sure I believe that fasting one day a week is really an issue, but I would really like more information on how that might affect a very early pregnancy from a pro-life source; I am not willing to risk the lives of any children I might conceive, even if I don't appear fertile.
I also struggle with movement. My daughter nurses a lot, and I sit at those times. She will not tolerate being put down very often, so it's hard for me to do a lot of things. I had been walking every day, but then I didn't feel well, and winter started up, and it's a lot harder to keep walking every day during a New England winter.
So if anyone has any reliable advice/resources for us breastfeeding mommies, I'd appreciate it too.
Posted by: Young Christian Woman | December 19, 2008 10:26 AM
Hi-
I'm in too!!! I have been struggling with weight for the past 5 years.
Barbara, I have been reading your posts about weight and I see a lot of myself in those posts. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.
I am looking forward to the journey ahead with all of you.
Merry Christmas!!
Dina
Posted by: Dina | December 19, 2008 4:32 PM
To April/Young Christian Woman:
You are right that fasting on liquids only is not a good idea either during breastfeeding or pregnancy or even when one is trying to become pregnant because the physical stress of fasting can mess up your cycle.
On the other hand being significantly overweight is not healthy during pregnancy and can make conception more difficult, too.
WW has a program specifically for breastfeeding mommies which would also be fine preconception and in the first trimester. Or, I had great success with simply counting calories. I couldn't afford WW, so I checked a couple of books out of the library with recipes and calorie counts for lots of different foods, bought a little kitchen scale at the dollar store, measured and wrote down EVERYTHING I ate and limited myself to 2000 calories a day. I lost almost 20lbs in a little over 3 months and conceived the next month. :)
Remember also that toting your baby around is definitely a form of exercise so don't beat yourself up over not formally working out. Walking around the house for half an hour with baby on your hip (or nursing in a sling) singing Raffi songs counts!
Good luck to you!
Posted by: Minna | December 19, 2008 5:59 PM
Im in! I had a baby 4 months ago, and need to get the xtra weight off. I had lost and kept off 65 lbs before having the baby. Im hopful I can do it again. Thanks
Posted by: Nina | December 22, 2008 9:35 AM
Count me in! I've been reading your blog for awhile but have never commented. After reading this post, I got a couple of the Fat Flush books out of the library, and I'm definitely going to go for it. I eliminated all sugar and refined carbs from my diet a couple of months ago, but I'm not losing weight. I have some other health issues that suggest that I'm not eliminating toxins, and I think that this may really help.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Denise
Posted by: Denise | December 29, 2008 11:08 PM
I'm thinking about it. I definitely have some weight issues going on and have been wondering about detoxing. I'll run by the bookstore and see if they have these in stock so I can look a little more closely.
That said, I would like to ask the nursing mommies to exercise EXTREME caution!!!!!! The questions raised by previous commenters about dieting while nursing are correct. 1) A sudden drop in caloric intake can decrease your milk supply, so do it gradually and wait until you are at least 2 months postpartum and have a well established supply. 2) I would be extremely cautious about doing anything that is going to release toxins from your fat stores in large quantities. Those toxins will get in your breastmilk and therefore into your baby.
I totally get wanting to get rid of the baby weight. Just be really careful while breastfeeding. Make good, healthy food choices and remember that milk production uses 500-800 calories per day. And more calories are burned toting baby around and all the tasks that go along with caring for and playing with your baby.
Sorry! Didn't mean to lapse into a sermon. LOL
Posted by: Samantha | December 30, 2008 5:33 PM
Samantha -
Yes, I am concerned about this issue too - and it is because of this type of specialized diet management that I started a forum as I am
not a Diet Guru and can't devote the time it would require for me to answer this. My hope is that those of you who are nursing will share
together the modifications you need to make and the limitations you need to observe. I've heard from some of you that you know you can't diet now and are just listening in to glean information for when your time comes.
Hoping that some "experts" will be joining the forum to share their experience and provide guidance.
Posted by: barbara | December 30, 2008 6:27 PM
You ladies are all an inspiration. I have 25 pounds to lose. I am not sure I will follow the regiment of the Fat Flush diet, but I enjoy reading your comments.They are encouraging me to stick to a healthy diet.
Posted by: Andrea | December 31, 2008 9:14 AM
Hello, this one is for April:
Dear April, I actually found your post entirely by accident, looking for a topic about trying to make art making people cry. I a have a fourteen year old and a three year old, I seem to gain weight when I nurse, and last time it took 'Body For Life' and twenty four weeks of Gym four to six times a week to loose the extra 48 pounds. More importantly I went from 39.6 percent fat to 27, a much healthier number.
My problem is it won't stay unless I go to the gym six times a week, and eat every two hours, and drink 64 ounces of water a day. And that is impossible at present! (My older daughter is also special needs, though an Aspergers kid and more independant every day). So, I guess my message is, you can do it, if you really want to, but wait until you are done nursing! And also one day a week for moderate immoderacy really helped us through, that was part of Body for Life. Knowing I could have one hostess fruit pie on Friday or whatever made it possible to get through the week. Just remember, you will not become beautiful by losing weight, you are beautiful and if getting healthier make you more YOU, than you will be even more beautiful.
Love,
Katie in California
P.S. now I have to check out the diet, huh.
KT
Posted by: kt | January 5, 2009 6:50 PM
