7 Questions Answered About My Weight Loss Journey

Yesterday on Facebook I posted a before/after pic of myself since I started my weight loss journey.  I didn’t expect the outpouring of support and especially the 200+ emails and messages I got asking for more info on how I did it.

I so wish I could reply to them all, but there’s isn’t enough time for me to do that, which makes me so sad!  You all are so special!  I am gonna try here to reply to the basic questions and fill you in as best I can.  I am sure I will miss something and I hope you will leave a comment if you have more questions and I will try to answer those as best I can.

1. How did you lose the weight?
I did it the old-fashioned way….diet and exercise.
a. I have written several posts about what I am eating, but in a nutshell I am using a book called Dr. Gundry’s Diet Evolution.  My doctor recommended it to me and I am following it almost exactly.
b. A few weeks after I started the diet I started to exercise.  Before this, I never did any kind of exercise.  I would have told you, “I am not that kind of person.”  But it turns out that it was in me all along….or maybe God just put it there, but I do enjoy it now.  Weird, huh?

2. What are you eating?
The book describes it a lot better than I can, but I basically eat vegetables and protein.  No sugars (including artificial sweeteners, honey, etc.), no dairy (except yogurt), no carbs (pasta, bread, potatoes, rice, etc.).  It feels really strict at first, but once I got used to it I find it very enjoyable.  I do a lot of traveling and I have been able to keep it up even on the road.  Here’s a post with 7 lunch ideas!

3. What kind of exercise are you doing?
I started by just walking on my road.  Then I decided to challenge myself a little more.   I jogged, just a little at first, then longer and longer until now I run for about half of the 5 miles I go every morning.  I like it, but I needed to work on shaping my body more, so I added a workout called TTapp and I now do that about 3x a week.  And recently I started adding a few weights and other toning exercises (Who AM I?!).

4. How long did it take and how did you not lose motivation?
It took me about 6 months to lose the first 70# and 5 months to lose the last 13# and I still want to lose another 20#.  I am assuming that will take me another year, which is fine.  I feel good and am in no huge hurry.  I credit three things to my being able to stick with it.  The first is accountability….this was huge!  I told everybody I was doing it and I post every morning on Facebook and Instagram.  If I don’t post my exercise picture I will get at least 20 messages from people asking where I am.  It’s a strong motivation.  Second, getting the first few weeks under my belt started the ball rolling and I allowed myself to buy a couple of new outfits.  I love fashion so knowing I would reward myself with a few new things all along the way was a big motivation.  It’s a whole new experience to enjoy trying on clothes and that inspires me to keep going.  And last is prayer.  I am determined to turn to God first before I let myself blow it and He gives me strength every time to stay the course.

5. Can you tell me more about the supplements you are using?
Young Living has a whole line of incredible supplements!  I take Inner Defense every day along with Life 5, Super C and Super B.  I have a whole bunch of others that I use more as needed.  You want to invest in your health by using quality supplements and not those from the grocery store that have fillers and weak ingredients.  It matters!

6. How did the essential oils help you?
Oh my goodness!  I don’t know if I would have been able to stick with it if I hadn’t had my essential oils.  They helped me when I would have cravings, when I needed extra energy or if I was just feeling low.  I have learned so much about how the oils support the body that it has not only helped me to lose weight, but boosted my general drive for overall health and wellness.  I started drinking their NingXia Red a few months ago and that has been another huge help to my staying well and being able to keep up the lifestyle change.  My use of the oils has been woven into my journey and I am so grateful!

7. What do you do to support your thyroid?
This, along with adrenal support, is something that I have needed even more for the past 5+ years.  It definitely plays a part in my moods and feelings, but I think just changing my diet made it much more manageable.  I started researching how to use essential oils to  support my thyroid function which led me to use EndoFlex and Myrtle twice a day over my thyroid.

One thing that I want to add even though it wasn’t asked, is how much the diet and lifestyle change has affected my relationship with God.  The morning walk/jog has given me more time with Him each day and that has led to a deeper spiritual walk.  I have grown to trust Him more and that has added a peace to my life that is better than any weight loss or physical healing.  My friends, if I can impart that one message to you, that God is right there ready to fill all of your needs, it would be worth everything I have gone through.

I hope that helps to answer some of your questions!  Let’s keep the conversation going….what else can I share with you to help you on your own journey?  I want to be your cheerleader!