My Fat-Blasting Menu?

My diet made easy.  I eat really simple foods jazzed up with all kinds of spice blends.  My overall diet consists of whole foods grown in nature.  If it has roots, I probably eat it.  Except for okra.  Don’t come for me.  We all have foods that make us shiver with distaste.  Okra in mine.  And no, you cannot deep fry it enough to make me want to eat it!

Fear and Fat!

I started my weight loss journey in the middle of a pandemic.  Nothing like wondering if your body can recover from a deadly virus to make you rethink your health goals.  That’s exactly what I did.  I have been concerned with my classification as an overweight middle-aged female.  I know the risk factors that come with that.  It got real for me when medical professionals said the Corona Virus is more deadly for older adults with underlying conditions.  I know my age was technically one tiptoe outside of the range they are referring to but that tiptoe is too close for comfort.  I had been carrying a good 30-40 extra pounds.  I’m only 5’3”. Which is a lot of visceral belly fat just hanging out causing problems. My official weight at the onset of this journey was 168.8.  Way too much for my 5’3″ frame.

Time to Hustle

Instead of lamenting and living in fear, I shed a few tears, then got up and went to work on myself.  I quickly jumped into the Starch Solution by Dr. John McDougall.  I love his body of work in the medical field.  He opened my eyes to a better way of eating.  Before finding his plan I would have considered myself a plant-based junk food addict.  Below is a picture of my start in October 2020.  I dove into the  Starch Solution for 30 days. On that plan, my back pain slowly disappeared and has yet to return.  I also lost a total of 2 pounds.  I lost those two pounds in the first two weeks.  My weight did not budge after that.  It’s not the  Starch Solution’s fault I didn’t lose more.   I watched a lot of young YouTubers following this plan.  I ate like them by following the 50/50 plate outlined in the book.  I loved immersing myself into potatoes, rice, and non-starchy veggies of every kind.  Alas, I think my proportions of starchy carbs to non-starchy veg was too much for my perimenopausal body.

Cue Dr. Joel Fuhrman

I love that I lost 2 pounds on the Starch Solution but I felt I could do better.  Let’s just pause for a second and appreciate the fact that I was unwilling to give up after failing to lose more than 2 pounds in a month. (Woot, Woot!!) I made a promise to myself that I would keep trying until something stuck. And what stuck was a book I found online at my local library.  It’s called Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman.  Since discovering his book, I have watched his YouTube videos, found his cookbooks, and consumed all things Eat to Live.

Dr. Fuhrman taught me about the power of flax in the fight against cancer, and onions, and mushrooms for immune health. There’s so much more I wish I could share.  He is a wealth of knowledge.  Google him or find him online.  You won’t regret it!

https://www.kimjagwe.com/starch-solution-week-1-update/

First 30 Days

I started his plan in November to the present day.  So far I’ve lost 14+ pounds.  I’m ecstatic with my rate of progress.  Many have said I could lose faster if I just do this or eat that.  In all honesty, I want to lose weight, but I also really want to find figure out how to maintain my weight loss.  I’m making slow purposeful changes I can live with.  My diet needs to be sustainable.  So, slow and steady is perfect for me

Stuck at This Weight!

You may or may not know I eventually hit a plateau in January.  I was in a said plateau for nearly a month.  The funny thing is when the scale moved for the first time it was a 3-pound weight loss. I imagine the weight loss was in the wings waiting for the right time.  If you average out my numbers, I’m trending 1 pound a week lost.

If/When I eventually hit another plateau I will stay the course.  And only when necessary, will I adjust my starchy carb ratio down.  It’s been a game of numbers.  I’ll keep tweaking as needed.  With warmer days ahead, my walks and outdoor exercise naturally increase, allowing me to burn more calories.

I’m On a 30-Pound Weight Loss Journey: Plateau Broken!

Tomorrow…

The future holds a lot of hope for my health.  I will keep logging my numbers, meals, and mental musing on this weight loss journey.

If you are remotely interested in joining me on this road to health be sure to join my Facebook group, God’s Perfect Size: The Journey Continues.  Full disclaimer, this particular group utilizes a faith-based holistic approach to weight loss.  You will be prayed for and encouraged through scripture. If that’s not your cup of tea, it’s okay.  I’m also on YouTube.  Find me there and know that you are always welcome.

God’s Perfect Size Group 

Until our next chat, I wish you blessings and health as you pursue God’s Perfect Size and plan for your life.