by Bkworm » Thu Nov 17, 2016 11:02 am
In June 1991 I started taking meds for hypothyroidism. Doing everything I knew how to do to control my weight, exercising, vegetarian, etc., I still got up to 255 before starting this way of eating (WOE). It was so discouraging as I know my diet and exercise was much healthier than all my slender friends who existed on pure junk most of the time. The actual reason for trying this WOE was to control RA without meds. Wanted and needed to lose weight desperately, too, but controlling RA was the top factor.
That step has been a tremendous success as I have never had to result to meds for the RA even though the rheumatologist prescribed methotrexate and Folic Acid to begin with. In addition, I have lost 90 pounds over the almost four years I been on this WOE. No, haven't experienced the fast weight loses that so many on this forum have, but the weight continues to come off slowly but consistently. Do I get discouraged at times that the weight is coming off so slowly, of course. But the weight did not go on overnight and it won't come off overnight. Have been at a plateau for the past few months but now my weight seems to be starting to move down again so I am happy about that. For exercise I do a set of stretches daily which you can see demonstrated by Rip Esselstyn on the Engine2Diet website. I also walk on my treadmill and for strength training I use a BodyGym purchased from QVC. Will celebrate my 65th birthday next week.
I follow the MWL plan, with no bread of any sort, no added fat or oil or sugar. I do eat a bit of salt one meal a day as I cook meals for my family and they refuse to go totally salt free. But no salt for breakfast or lunch or snacks. I control my salt intake and their salt intake by only purchasing salt free canned foods. Then I know how much salt is added to a recipe. I do eat a dish with quinoa/corn pasta once a month. The only grains my body tolerates are corn, quinoa, and buckwheat. Even without the bread and pasta, my weight still does not just drop off. It has been this way my entire life. The doctor told me I had been dealing with hypothyroidism long before it was diagnosed.
In addition, I am off several other meds I had taken for years, including one for high blood pressure and one for A-Fib - just another blood pressure med actually - and a cancer causing one at that. My health has improved so much since starting this WOE, I only see my PCP once a year now. I see no other medical specialist either. Dr. D has been sharing my success with this WOE with her other patients. I gave her a copy of the FOKs and the Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue DVDs . Dr. D even has her office staff play the DVDs on the TV in her waiting room.
I personally can't say enough good things about this WOE. You can also think of it this way. This WOE certainly won't hurt you in any manner so why not give it a try? That was my mind set when I originally started this program.
Hope this will encourage you to make a lifestyle change to this WOE.