The following is a reprint from the blog "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb":
It was this poor health report that led Mary in July 2002 to start the Atkins diet, which helped her shed a cool 100 pounds off of her body. Eventually the plan was not as effective as it once was and she stalled out around 153 pounds. That's when she started Kimkins which helped her lose 42 pounds to bring her weight down to 111 pounds. This new weight sorta freaked Mary out.
"That was too small," she admitted. "So I gained some back just eating a little more food."
Now she's been holding steady since late 2004 (just like me!) and that her focus now is on keeping the weight off for good. Her supportive husband Richard has been a big part of that as you can see from the photo at the top of this post. He hikes with Mary to keep her accountable with her exercise commitment.
In fact, Mary said Richard needed to implement some of the principles of livin' la vida low-carb into his own life to deal with some weight and cholesterol issues.
"He cut back on his sugar and lost 35 pounds, and now his cholesterol is normal," she revealed.
Although she herself only eats between 1,000-1,500 calories daily, she does explain how livin' la vida low-carb allows people to eat more calories than you could on a high-carb, low-fat diet because of the metabolic advantage it provides. I'm so glad Mary got that point in there and they actually published it!
Like so many of us, Mary did the yo-yo dieting circuit because she never grasped the concept of "lifestyle change." Sound familiar anyone? Now she knows she cannot have carbohydrates like sugar, starch, flour, and pasta as well as "anything that is sugar or turns to sugar after I eat it, and that includes sugary vegetables, fruits and breads." Man, I love this woman because she speaketh the truth, baby! :)
So what does Mary Smith eat? Chicken, beef, pork, fish and eggs; green vegetables, such as broccoli, lettuce, Brussels sprouts and bell peppers; and healthful fats, like olive oil. She also eats coconut oil, real butter, real mayonnaise and heavy cream. Mmmm, yummy! Sounds like an awesome way to eat if you ask me (but I am a bit biased, too!).
Speaking not just from personal experience, but also from someone who has become an expert in the low-carb lifestyle, Mary said this way of eating is all about controlling blood glucose levels to ward off obesity, diabetes, and other such health ailments.
"The whole science behind it is insulin control. You eat sugars and it raises your blood sugar, and your body releases insulin to lower the blood sugar. So then you need more sugar carbs to raise it up for energy, which starts the whole vicious circle. For those of us who cannot process carbs, insulin is what makes us fat."
HIP HIP HOORAY! Another slam dunk, Mary! Can you start blogging about this stuff because people need to be exposed to these kind of evidenciary facts from all of us who have changed our lives forever implementing the lessons we have learned.
As if her weight loss wasn't already an incredible accomplishment, Mary had a procedure done just months before she started the Atkins diet five years ago--A HYSTERECTOMY! Yikes! But she refused to use that as an excuse to simply give up on her weight loss aspirations.
"It's significant because people believe if you've had a hysterectomy you can't lose weight," Mary stated. "Your metabolism is slower after a hysterectomy, but you can still lose weight, though it may require more dedication and diligence."
WOWsers, that's totally awesome, Mary! As if weight loss wasn't difficult enough on its own, the fact that you overcame such obstacles and still triumphed makes your story that much more compelling and impressive.
It's funny she quipped to the reporter that livin' la vida low-carb "was easy" because she always did it for herself and nobody else. That's so true! When I was losing my weight, it was about ME getting my life under control once and for all. I put myself in that position, so with the Lord's help I would have to be the one to get out of it. Nobody else could lose weight for me.
Interestingly, another similarity between me and Mary is the fact that we don't feel tempted by high-carb foods that are placed in front of us anymore. She realizes that going back to those old ways will lead her "to be fat" again.
"There's no middle ground," Mary exclaimed.
Man is she ever right about this! When you first start livin' la vida low-carb, you think there's no way you could EVER live without potatoes, bread, pasta, sugar, and other such garbage foods for your body. But then a funny thing happens to you--all desire for those things just vanish. They REALLY do! Mary and I can attest to it.
I adored Mary's list of tips because I could have written these:
- Choose the diet right for you and stick to it. No single diet is appropriate for everybody.
- Drink at least 64 ounces of water a day, plus another 8 ounces for every 10 pounds you are overweight.
- Move more. Start with simple things, like parking in the farthest parking spot and taking stairs instead of the elevator. Then get on a regular exercise program and stick with it.
- Don't look at cheating as an option. Instead, keep meals interesting by using variation with the foods that are acceptable within your diet.
- Counting calories is important, but limiting carbohydrates is more important.
- Sleep at least eight hours a night. Stressed bodies don't shed weight as easily.
So there you have it! Another incredibly positive story about someone who not only lost a whole lotta weight on low-carb, but has kept it off over the long-term. Yes, people, don't let the spin-meisters who despise low-carb living fool you into thinking this is some "short-term" way to lose weight and then you're left hopeless from that point on.
This is the permanent long-term lifestyle change you've been looking for your entire life. It was for me and Mary and it will be for you, too! What are you waiting for? Start livin' la vida low-carb TODAY!
mary smith low carb diet
Comment on this recipe
