WOW!!:eek:

Hi Everyone~~:wave:

I had asked a couple of months ago if anyone had ever heard of "*******" which is a low-carb diet plan that is "supposedly" an excellent plan. The diet was in Woman's World magazine and people were losing weight very quickly. I had bookmarked the site as one of my favorites and I was going to join after my operation--even though my BF said it was a bad idea.

Well when I came back here after my operation, I saw an article on the home page of 3FC all about ******* and how it was a scam. I did a lot more digging and I discovered that Christin--the woman featured in the Woman's World article--actually left *******. I couldn't believe it. It seems that ******* is really a very low calorie diet that is causing all sorts of problems for most of the people following it. The woman who is responsible for starting *******--the "Kimmer"--supposedly lost 198 lbs. in 11 months and she's kept it off. Well guess what? It was nothing but a bunch of lies told by a woman who is nothing but a thief.

Here's a link to a news report that was aired yesterday about ******* and the Kimmer. Part 2 is supposed to air today.

http://ktla.trb.com/news/local/

Here is a link to the private investigators notes:

http://tinyurl.com/2vs4p7

And here is a link to the transcript from the broadcast.

http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/9295713-post166.htm

I am so upset that this woman took advantage of so many people just so she could make a lot of money. Who cares who you hurt as long as you make the almighty dollar, right? (Is the sarcasm really as obvious as I think it is?) I am so, so glad that the people at 3FC posted that article on the main page. I would have gone and joined ******* a month ago if I hadn't seen it. I am posting all of this information here so that no one here hears about ******* and falls for any of Heidi Diaz's lies. I am totally disgusted.

Like all of us, I want that "miracle cure", but not at the expense of my health or my hair or heart problems. What good is it going to be to any one of us if we're skinny or thin but unhealthy? Oh--Christin--the woman from the Woman's World article? She was recently brought to the hospital suffering from heart problems.

Well, I have to go but I just had to post this information because for some reason it is really upsetting me today. Thanks again 3FC. :hug:

My emotions are all over the place today. I know it's because TOM is late and my hormones are running wild, but I am where I am.

Here I am at over 40 lbs. lost, and am still not officially in the next size down. Fitted pants in size 24 are still too tight around the abdomen. My size 26 clothes are looser, but still wearable. Not one person has noticed or commented on my loss. I find myself questioning whether this weight loss is a figment of my imagination. I know it's not rational, but I'm having a hard time with reality right now.

Because I had stopped weighing myself or looking in mirrors for years, I had no idea what weight corresponded with what size clothing I was wearing. I couldn't have guessed what amount of weight matched an increase or decrease in clothing size. I'm floored.

I wonder if my friends stopped looking at my body and noticing its size, too...for reasons I can only guess?

If someone tells me they lost 40 lbs., I would think that was a significant amount of weight, and I would be impressed by their efforts. Yet, on a 300+ lb. woman, it hardly makes a dent. This is another fact that challenges the vestiges of my denial. Yes, I am that fat. I'm not diminishing the effort it took to lose this much. I am proud of myself and and committed to my lifestyle change. But still...

I spent so many years in denial that I am having trouble grasping reality. Had you asked me prior to this weight loss journey about my mental health, I would have told you that I've done a lot of work on myself and have learned how to trust my inner voice; I've learned how to be honest with myself and others; I'm in touch with my inner workings and and overall, am a mentally healthy person.

But, at this point in my journey, the depth of my denial is hitting me in the face. I knew I was in denial, but I knew that more intellectually than within my core.

I wonder what else I have been hiding from.

Battle,

You have articulated many of the feelings I've had in this journey very nicely.

One of the positives is that my friends and co-workers see the inside me as I see me. Weight is not an issue for them (although always in the periphery). They see my face and my beauty and hear the words I speak. I am not a size to them, I am a person.

This reminds me of a story.....My grandma (rest her soul) asked once if I had any black friends (she'd be over 100 now, btw, to give you a time context). After the initial shock of the question, I had to actually picture my friends and count. I don't see my friends as a color (or a size for that matter). I see them as funny/quick-to-laugh or down-to-earth or smart-as-heck.

My internal denial of my size is not reflected in my friends' or co-workers' eyes. With that said, I still struggle with that inner denial of my actual size. I still hide stuff from myself. It is hard to accept that a 30# loss on a 300+ woman is difficult to visualize, but it's true. Especially when I wore such baggy clothes. How in the world was someone going to notice a weight loss when I dressed for concealment? I've lost 30 lbs since Feb and no one has said they've noticed a dramatic difference in me that *didn't* know that I was doing WW. Right now, that's ok. What's got me concerned is the stuff inside me that I'm hiding from myself.

Battle, if you find out what it is.. post it! I wanna know what it is too! hehe.. we are in this journey together and seem to have soooo many similar issues.

Hugs and Luv and in mental health,
Ratkity

My dentist visit was the best one I may have ever had. He was very gentle and pleasant, and did his own cleaning, no hygienist. Then we went to a birthday party -- at Denny's. I had the Boca Burger, but I did have a small piece of birthday cake. Unfortunately it was chocolate/pecan cheese cake from the Portuguese bakery. If you are going to have a little something, might as well make it quality. OMG, it was ambrosia. People had their eyes rolling back in their heads like they were on drugs. Now I'm off to class. God help my students. When I've had some sugar, I talk pretty fast, and my accent gets thicker. I never knew I had a Southern accent until I moved here. I get lots of "where are you from!!?"

I’m just not up for personals tonight, but I thought I would check in. I am entirely back on track after not doing so well last week. I was actually pretty proud of myself on how hard I was kicking it on the elliptical tonight, although I did end up wearing myself out and I only ended up doing a half hour instead of an hour. I caught a fleeting glimpse of myself in the mirror and thought, "wow - that girl is really moving!" before I realized it was me!

My scale is broken, so I haven’t weighed in awhile. I will try to see if I can salvage it over the weekend, and if not I will need to invest in a new one. I am a bit scared of what I will find.

I am still finding myself exhausted from the stress of the move and am really glad I decided to take Friday off to catch up with everything. A 3 day weekend will do me good and hopefully I will feel back to my perky self again. :)

Angie...there you are!! I found you and now you're going to get back on track and come here and post.

Story, your description of the fat is pretty funny...and that's exactly how mine is starting to look! I hope the therapist can help you to figure out the issues you're going thru. It should be interesting to see what she says.

Debbie/Ideal, I love to see how people are progressing and you should be proud to post your pictures with your accomplishments. It's a great way to share an NSV! So don't be shy, we're here to encourage you.

Luan, how long will you have to stay in Louisiana?

Peggy, I know what you mean about feeling bored with what your eating. That's where I'm at right now and I know I have to start incorporating better dishes into the diet because I'm starting to look towards the junk food again, which is a big no no. I guess we all reach that point sooner or later. Just something else we have to deal with. I'm glad to hear you're staying OP...keep up the good work.

GoingToLose, I think the journaling will really help you. It helps to write down your feelings, thoughts, and what you eat so you can look back and see where you were doing well and the not so hot times. Hopefully you're done with the breakdowns and now you can get back on track and succeed in your journey.

Hi ulovlee! Hi Nancy!

Ammi, hmmm...I have the same slapping noise!! :rofl:

Annie, with all the exercise you've been doing, I'm sure the treadmill will be ez for u. So get your little hiney on there and gooooooooooo!!!

Ratkity, you're a better woman than me. Those spin classes look like they could kill a person. I watched em on TBL and I was out of breath for them!! Oh my gosh!!! You want me to walk on the treadmill all the way to Atlanta??? From Washington state?? :rofl:

Heather, I hope you can figure out something that will work for you to where you don't get so overwhelmed. Just remember why you started this journey and all the work you've already put into it, how healthy you feel and look. You don't want to go back to that person that was unhappy and unhealthy do you? Just baby steps remember?

Battleax, I don't think there is really a determined size that goes with weight. There are so many body types and shapes that what ever we fit into is what we fit into. Don't make it so hard on yourself. Besides, we are not trying to do it for other people to notice although it is nice when they do, but more for ourselves, and as long as you see a change in your body, others will notice it soon. Some people notice on me, others not at all. Some people are more perceptive to things like that, some people will sit there and say, Hey there's something different about that person but can't pinpoint it and won't say anything. Keep listening to that inner voice, it knows the truth.

Catherine, I think you did a great job on eating out. And great news about the dentist being gentle and kind.

I got 45 minutes in today for exercise. Has anyone done the LS walk and kick? It's like doing walking and then some kick boxing. Sorta fun. It wore me out though. Staying within my calorie limit, just not with the right foods still. I have to really look at how I'm going to eat now. The salads were great during the summer but now it's getting pretty cold out so I have to look for warmer dishes to make for lunches. Breakfast I will just start having oatmeal. Dinners are pretty much the same, lunches I'm in a quandry about. Any suggestions?
Debbie

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for the welcome--I know I am looking forward to getting to know you all.
I have started a program called the "Beck Diet Solution" which is a cognitive therapy approach to weight loss. Each day I add another behavior, so far the most challenging change has been to sit at the table (without the tv or the computer) every time I eat. It has been amazing how often I catch myself about to pop something in my mouth and realize that if I want to eat it, I have to sit down and turn the tv off. I am only on day 6, and don't actually start the "diet" until day 15. Tomorrow's task is to clean the house of stuff not on the diet. It is hard to picture myself throwing food out. I hope to get to know you better as time goes on--Hi Ammi--I am looking forward to staying in touch with the whole group and getting everyone's feedback and suggestions.

Hi everyone. I'm not up to posting personals tonight, but wanted to check in anyway. Thank you all for your support and information. I really appreciate it.

I switched doctors when I moved as a fluke. I actually really enjoyed my last doc because I didn't feel like I was being brushed off because of my weight. I think that's a big part of why I'm angry, to be honest. Now I can only be thankful that I did move, and that I was feeling so crummy that I went in and saw the new doc. I can't get in again until next week, so they will be adjusting my meds then, and it will take a few weeks to take effect. But, at least I know there's an 'end' in sight. The hair issues, inability to lose weight, fluid build up (hopefully), depression, and lack of sleep coupled with extreme fatigue should all get at least a little bit better. I can take anything as long as I know that it will get better at some point.

We will know more about the CHF vs just a side effect from my hypothyroidism next week too. They're going to run some more tests, because she thinks that it's very likely that a lot of it was due to my thyroid. I am thankful for that as well, but will be cautiously optimistic until we know otherwise.

Thanks again for everything! I will be back to do personals in the next couple days.

Debbie, thank you so much for your comments. You are so right in that we are doing this for ourselves and not for others. I admit that I am looking forward to others noticing, but what's eating at me now is that if they haven't noticed 40+ lbs. gone, it is another confirmation that I am really fat. If a 150 lb person lost 40 lbs. there would be an enormous change in their appearance. I've been avoiding facing the reality of how big I was, and this is another piece of information that confirms it.

--
Suggestions on lunch: I'm thinking about making some big pots of chicken vegetable and beef vegetable soup. While I like to use fresh veggies, when I'm in a hurry I will start with cans of chicken or beef broth, a bag of frozen veggies, and cut up chicken or beef. I add whatever herbs/spices seem nice at the time.

battle - look under recipes here for chicken corn chowder. its seriously the greatest soup ever. and it freezes well

http://www.3fatchicks.com/diet-recip...-corn-chowder/

debbie - i will be there for 8 days

Battle:

At -52 no one has noticed besides my husband either. (Shrug) I TRY and let it not bother me, but I understand the desire for some external confirmation... but what the others said it true about baggy clothing etc. Plus those who see us every day tend to not notice until it kinda smacks them in the face. People who haven't seen us in a long time notice the difference first because they have a mental picture going on. I wish this much of an accomplishment was more obvious too. It took me awhile to get down to the next size too... and even though I went from tight 26s to mostly 20s the 26s still don't fall off me because of that damn gutt. Know what though? As soon as I changed up my exercise about a month and a half ago I dropped 2 sizes fairly quickly. I went from walking to more intensity with DVDs so those muscle gains do make a huge difference I think the pants I had on today (20s) fit me last when I was about 230-240 so i'm ahead of the game. :)

I took a photo tonight but it didn't turn out that great so i'll take another in a few days.

Hi everyone, sorry I just can't organise myself enough to do personals for everyone, but..
Battleaxe, try to think of the big picture, TOM makes us all a bit upset/sad/angry, etc, the weight will be noticeable soon. Did you take any measurements before you started? If not do it NOW! write them down & do it each month, the numbers do go down pretty fast! The clothes thing isn't weird, I wear too-tight clothes & after 20lbs or so they start to get more comfy, by 40lbs they are better, before long they won't be wearable, you will drop sizes, stick with it!xxxxxxx
Luan, congrats on the job offer, boy you are leading an exciting life!xxxxxx
Catherine, wish I could get sedatives for the dentist's visits, I'm shaking & trying not to throw up when I go!xxxxxxx
DolfinGirl, so sorry the diet wasn't honest or healthy, but at least you didn't start it & endanger your health AND finances! There are so many diets/plans around, there's bound to be one which suits you, GOOD GRIEF LOOK HOW WELL YOU'VE done already!!xxxxxxxx
I'm ok, sore head, still tired but TOM is almost done with so I can resume life, lol! We got a new mattress yesterday, BLISS, so comfy, no lumps, dips or 'boing-y' noises when we moved! lol My parents come tomorrow for a visit before they go on to the airport to Spain for 2 weeks. It means we get to go out alone one night, though do I have a little protein so I can have some vodka & diet coke or do I not drink at all & stay TOTALLY OP? I want three stones off for Christmas (1 stone =14lbs) which is do-able on liquid diets, but coming off for a day might hinder it, any advice?
xxxxxsharon

Despite the lack of makeup and my hair being frizzy because it was half wet I've decided to not be vain and post my photo for the first time and not retake it (Gulp)

The first photo is early June about 1mo into my weight loss and I weighed about 293. The photo today is me at nearly 5 months along and about 45lbs lighter between the 2 photos. I do not have a photo at my very highest weight. I have VERY few photos of myself... recent anyway.

I'm not ready for public body shots yet. :(

(Photo Removed because I didn't want it stuck in a locked post!)

IdealMuse, you can certainly see the differences!!! Boobs, chin, arms, shoulders, in fact everywhere that's visible on the opics! Love the hair colour! I did mine the same sort of shade but it went patchy so had to put dark brown over it, sob.... I'm so jealous!
xxxsharon