My name is Kellie and I was honored when Amber asked me to
be a guest blogger on her blog! It has
been about two-and-a-half years since I started the BFC. I regret not keeping track of an exact date,
but for me, it has been a transition. The
BFC has been a very effective tool that has helped me get my weight under
control and helped me cope with a chronic illness. I truly believe that losing weight is not the
only objective. For some of us with
chronic illness or diseases, it can be a way to transform overall health. It does not always change everything and it
certainly doesn’t happen fast, but it helps. I am absolutely certain that had I
not been making changes and getting stronger in spite of the disease, I would
not still be here.
Three years ago, I started having flares of ulcerative
colitis. It had been in remission for
about 8 years and I was very surprised when it flared. After such a long remission, I really thought
it was gone. Seeking answers, I read a
book called “The Specific Carbohydrate Diet” by Elaine Gottschall. The book is geared towards people that have
colitis, Chron’s, Celiac, and intestinal issues. I remember after reading the book, thinking
to myself that there was no way on earth I could do it. It seemed way, way too restrictive. I set it aside and made a couple small
changes, but did not embrace it fully. I
continued to struggle and even spent a week in the hospital. Shortly after my hospitalization, I read
about Jorge and the Belly Fat Cure.
Something about it really caught my attention and I bought the
book. I read the book in a day and it
just clicked. It made sense, and what
Jorge said about sugar interested me.
Sugar, turns out, was one of the main components of the Specific Carbohydrate
Diet as well. The BFC was not as
restrictive and it sounded easier for me to try.
Forever a skeptic, I made baby steps with changing my
diet. I noticed I started to feel a
little better and I lost some weight, but something was missing still. I actually found Amber’s blog and read about
the upcoming Belly Fat Cure Fast Track program.
She had mentioned if you could not wait, to read a book called “The
Primal Blueprint” by Mark Sisson. I had
a sense of what the Fast Track was and so I also read Mark Sisson’s book. Talk about coming full circle. Mark’s book and later the Fast Track, were
almost identical to the Specific Carbohydrate book.
I started following the Fast Track and my health improved
along with losing weight effortlessly. I
had tried for years to lose weight and it just went up and down. It took reading from several sources to get
through my head what I needed to do to change.
I was very surprised at how easy it was.
Over the last couple of years, I have gradually made changes. I think it is easy to get into the mindset of
wanting immediate results and instant gratification. Getting overwhelmed is common when trying to
change everything at once. The hardest
part for me was realizing how long it took for my body to get so sick, it was
chronic over years. It has taken a long
time to recover. I still have a ways to
go, but I feel better than I have in years.
For me, the BFC was not just about losing weight; it was about a journey
to better health. I have certainly had some
bumps along the way. This past December,
things went downhill fast, they changed the diagnosis to a more-serious one of Chron’s
disease, and I spent another week in the hospital. I have not given up though and kept on with
my quest towards better health. Ongoing
tweaking of the way I eat, along with supplements, and some modern medicine
intervention, has made a huge difference.
For me, it truly has been a journey. I have spent countless hours reading and
learning as much as I can. Sometimes, I
think the proverbial kick in the butt or wake up call is what it truly
takes. I experienced very serious
illness and discovered that if you are motivated and willing to help yourself,
you can turn your health around!
Hi Kellie, great post! I agree whole heartedly. I read what Jorge said about sugar more than two years ago and made small changes but didn't fully embrace it either.
ReplyDeleteIn February of this year I read the whole BFC and Fast Track books. I went on to "convince" myself Jorge was right by reading books by Gary Taubes, Dr. Davis and reading on line information about Paleo/Primal. I also started paying attention (on line) to what low carb doctors were saying (and have been saying for years) - Dr. Vernon, Dr. Phinney, Dr. Volek, Dr. Eenfeld (just today Dr. Gerber of Denver).
http://www.dietdoctor.com/interview-lchf-for-weight-loss-and-health?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=interview-lchf-for-weight-loss-and-health
In February I decided to start following the 15/6 recommendation of the BFC. I did the 3 day extreme twice and both times lost weight but when I went back to BFC I would gain. I figured out early on (luckily) that I must be very carb sensitive. I decided in March to eliminate all grains/starches from my diet and have been having tremendous weight success (I’m down 32.5 pounds so far) as well as additional health benefits I didn’t see coming (a chronic post nasal drip is almost gone and my acid reflux gone).
I feel cheated that I spend my whole life eating popcorn and rice cakes in a futile effort to lose weight when the answer was so simple. Stories like yours keep me very motivated to keep going – I love this new way of eating and can’t imagine ever going back.
Congratulations on your success and I wish you continued healing and health :)
That is awesome Trina!!! You sound like me, LOL! I've read all of that as well. I know that there are so many people out there that would benefit not only from cutting out sugars, but also cutting out grains. Most people don't realize that grains convert to sugar anyway. It doesn't have to be as serious as a major disease, you are proof that something as annoying as a chronic post nasal drip, can improve with diet changes. Way to go and thank you as well! :)
DeleteI love your story and commitment to better health. You have done a great job :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you SO much Rosalie!
DeleteGreat transformation! You look amazing! I have fallen off the belly Fat cure and need some motivation to get back on. Thanks for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteThank you! If you fall off, just get right back on. I know this sounds really cliche, but if I can do it, anyone can. You have to commit to the right reasons and not look back!
DeleteGreat story Kellie. You are inspiring. Continued good health to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Pattie!
DeleteThank you for sharing your story...awesome! All the best in your journey of good health.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sandra!
DeleteGetting healthy is the most important thing, but the weight loss....such a plus!
ReplyDeleteYes it sure is! I enjoy that part every day!
DeleteKellie, thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Amber, thank you for allowing me to!
DeleteYour blog is full of great information about diet food, and diet plans. Today belly fat is main problem of almost everyone. Diet Program.
ReplyDeletevery inspiring! Thinking of cutting out grains for a while myself.
ReplyDeleteYou hit it on the head. Our health and body weight is an individual journey, and something I have discovered recently is - that journey is not perfect. We need to all stop trying to be perfect and love ourselves more. If we really did truly love our self, I believe we would never allow all the junk food to pass our lips.
ReplyDeleteContinued health and success!
M
I want to lose my weight from belly. I hope after reading this topic I could lose it soon.
ReplyDelete