Jo in early 2011 and after nearly 100lb weight loss in Sept 2011 (click to enlarge)
Jo Gets Healthy, HAPPY nearly 100 lbs lighter and Insulin FREE
with EET's Guilt Free Fun!
I have been overweight my entire life….puberty started the ‘snowball down the hill’. But the real struggle has been within the last 15 years. I became more aware of my weight and health issues when I was diagnosed with diabetes. And like so many others I did not take it seriously. I knew I needed to lose the weight and get the blood sugar numbers under control, but I really didn’t understand the approach I needed to take in order to accomplish those goals. I tried a few weight loss diets. I first tried it on my own; I reduced portions, watched what I ate, but continued to gain weight and couldn’t control the blood sugars. I was prescribed medications to assist with controlling the numbers to no avail. I gave up on trying it on my own pretty quickly. I then turned to an Atkins type diet, which proved successful for a very short time. I did lose about 20lbs, but quickly grew disgusted and bored with the same foods day in and day out. I stopped trying and rapidly gained the weight plus more back.
I was frustrated that nothing was working, but I know I truly wasn’t embracing the health issues I was experiencing and gave up easily. I felt tired and sick pretty much all the time; I experienced dizziness, clamminess and was lethargic constantly. It was then I turned to Weight Watchers. I tried WW for the longest duration of time. I thought that if I just stuck with the plan I could lose the weight. I experienced the most success when I really thought I gave it my all. I lost 50lbs at one point, but didn’t enjoy what I ate. I yo-yo’d quite a bit, got bored with trying to be ‘good’ all the time, and exercise was a lost art. I stressed out over the weekly plan. I would sabotage myself daily with ‘bad’ foods and would only be on plan for the three days before my next weigh in with hopes of coming in at or under what I weighed the previous week. Over a six year period I lost, gained it back, had to go on more medications for blood sugar control, blood pressure and became insulin dependent after a VERY SERIOUS scare that landed me in the hospital for 11 days. I continued on with Weight Watchers but unsuccessfully. As a diabetic it didn’t help that I wasn’t eating the proper foods in the proper quantities…and at the right time.
In January of this year I experienced a change in my health care plan. I started to panic because a lot more money was going to be coming out of my pocket before health/medication coverage kicked in. Insulin is very expensive and refilling my first prescription of the year was going to cost close to $700 for a ninety-day supply (for ONE medication). I started to feel defeated and that nothing was going to work for me EVER. The weight gain coupled with the cost of medications had me very stressed and worried. I found myself frequently crying on the way home or all of a sudden while at work. At times I couldn’t control the sobbing; emotions would overwhelm me when I started thinking about my health, the weight I continued to gain and my clothes becoming more tight and uncomfortable to wear. I felt like I had no options and nowhere or no one to turn to for help with my diabetes and weight problems. I had given up on thinking WW could help me. I mentally checked out and stopped attending meetings. I had also given up on thinking I could help myself…but didn’t know where to turn. Then in March I received a phone call from my doctor’s office telling me about a 12-week study that was geared to help people with diabetes and weight loss. It was suggested that I attend an introductory meeting explaining this study. I was ready. I was desperately looking for something to fall into; I truly felt this was my last resort. After the phone call I could think of nothing but the meeting; trying to consider the possibilities and what ‘could’ be. Looking back I absolutely believe I had that ‘mental click’ I was waiting for and desperately seeking.
So enter the EET Fitness Plan. I listened to everything Mr. EET had to say about the plan. There were things he said that I just couldn’t believe. Eating, Exercise & Timing!! Who can lose weight eating ice cream? Who could possibly retrain their metabolism by eating foods they loved and foods often deemed prohibited when on a traditional diet. Forbidden foods are a thing of the past? Who knew? There were so many things I didn’t understand but I was willing to give it my all and modify some of my habits and activities to better myself and begin improving my health.
From the very beginning Jon talked about ‘guidelines not rules’. I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to be able to believe there was a plan out there that would work with my lifestyle. I felt like I always had something come up that would break my stride. I was constantly assured that with a forecast and a plan in place that I would see results. And I did!! In the first month I lost nearly 30lbs. It was the hardest month because I didn’t think I was doing it right. I didn’t feel like I was making any major changes so how could these small changes affect me positively. In the first 10 days I started to see lower blood sugar numbers and I was blown away. It had been such a long time since I had experienced lower blood sugar numbers and I really started to believe in EET and everything it had to offer. At the end of every day I emailed my daily EET journals to Jon. He gave me feedback, encouragement and asked me questions about my choices. I certainly had feelings of guilt along the way. I would eat something loaded with carbs at the wrong time without pairing it with some activity and it would cause my blood sugars to go up and I would gain weight. It’s taken me time, but after being asked if I enjoyed eating it (many times) I started to understand that this journey is guilt-free…and Jon always reminding me to ‘minimize the damage’ helped too. I know I can succeed on EET because I can eat guilt-free the foods I love and enjoy every bite. One of the biggest aspects of EET is ensuring it’s SUSTAINABLE. I’ve grown to understand this concept over the last few months. It plays a part in every meal I eat, every forecasting journal I write and into everyday life and situations that pop up. It’s definitely a learning process….I’m still learning even today. Understanding how certain foods affect your body and your metabolism is an ongoing process. For me it’s absolutely crucial to ensure that all the EET fundamentals work together cohesively. For me it has to be FUN and SUSTAINABLE.
Where I am today: almost 6 months in with EET and 90lbs down. Remember I was insulin dependent… I am completely off of one of the insulin medications AND have reduced the other by 50%. I continue to reduce this insulin about every 7 to 10 days. I work out for 30 minutes 3 times a week and take walks in between and I thoroughly enjoy being active! I love, love, LOVE the food I eat! I look forward to the FUN meals & TREAT meals which include my favorite restaurants like Buffalo Wild Wings and Red Robin…oh and I love Sushi. Everything works into my lifestyle and when I plan, I succeed! Not to mention I feel AMAZING!! I have increased energy and I don’t feel tired and lethargic anymore. I take on arduous tasks that I would have easily walked away from before. I walked a 5K in May and dream of doing something bigger soon. I should probably also mention the obvious...I’ve had to purchase new clothes. I’m down close to 4 sizes from where I used to be, and I’m not looking back. I’m excited for the future and what EET has to offer. Although I haven’t set a goal weight (and won’t) continuing on this journey will continue to show positive results in reduced medications, weight loss and overall health. Thank you Mr. EET!!
I was frustrated that nothing was working, but I know I truly wasn’t embracing the health issues I was experiencing and gave up easily. I felt tired and sick pretty much all the time; I experienced dizziness, clamminess and was lethargic constantly. It was then I turned to Weight Watchers. I tried WW for the longest duration of time. I thought that if I just stuck with the plan I could lose the weight. I experienced the most success when I really thought I gave it my all. I lost 50lbs at one point, but didn’t enjoy what I ate. I yo-yo’d quite a bit, got bored with trying to be ‘good’ all the time, and exercise was a lost art. I stressed out over the weekly plan. I would sabotage myself daily with ‘bad’ foods and would only be on plan for the three days before my next weigh in with hopes of coming in at or under what I weighed the previous week. Over a six year period I lost, gained it back, had to go on more medications for blood sugar control, blood pressure and became insulin dependent after a VERY SERIOUS scare that landed me in the hospital for 11 days. I continued on with Weight Watchers but unsuccessfully. As a diabetic it didn’t help that I wasn’t eating the proper foods in the proper quantities…and at the right time.
In January of this year I experienced a change in my health care plan. I started to panic because a lot more money was going to be coming out of my pocket before health/medication coverage kicked in. Insulin is very expensive and refilling my first prescription of the year was going to cost close to $700 for a ninety-day supply (for ONE medication). I started to feel defeated and that nothing was going to work for me EVER. The weight gain coupled with the cost of medications had me very stressed and worried. I found myself frequently crying on the way home or all of a sudden while at work. At times I couldn’t control the sobbing; emotions would overwhelm me when I started thinking about my health, the weight I continued to gain and my clothes becoming more tight and uncomfortable to wear. I felt like I had no options and nowhere or no one to turn to for help with my diabetes and weight problems. I had given up on thinking WW could help me. I mentally checked out and stopped attending meetings. I had also given up on thinking I could help myself…but didn’t know where to turn. Then in March I received a phone call from my doctor’s office telling me about a 12-week study that was geared to help people with diabetes and weight loss. It was suggested that I attend an introductory meeting explaining this study. I was ready. I was desperately looking for something to fall into; I truly felt this was my last resort. After the phone call I could think of nothing but the meeting; trying to consider the possibilities and what ‘could’ be. Looking back I absolutely believe I had that ‘mental click’ I was waiting for and desperately seeking.
So enter the EET Fitness Plan. I listened to everything Mr. EET had to say about the plan. There were things he said that I just couldn’t believe. Eating, Exercise & Timing!! Who can lose weight eating ice cream? Who could possibly retrain their metabolism by eating foods they loved and foods often deemed prohibited when on a traditional diet. Forbidden foods are a thing of the past? Who knew? There were so many things I didn’t understand but I was willing to give it my all and modify some of my habits and activities to better myself and begin improving my health.
From the very beginning Jon talked about ‘guidelines not rules’. I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to be able to believe there was a plan out there that would work with my lifestyle. I felt like I always had something come up that would break my stride. I was constantly assured that with a forecast and a plan in place that I would see results. And I did!! In the first month I lost nearly 30lbs. It was the hardest month because I didn’t think I was doing it right. I didn’t feel like I was making any major changes so how could these small changes affect me positively. In the first 10 days I started to see lower blood sugar numbers and I was blown away. It had been such a long time since I had experienced lower blood sugar numbers and I really started to believe in EET and everything it had to offer. At the end of every day I emailed my daily EET journals to Jon. He gave me feedback, encouragement and asked me questions about my choices. I certainly had feelings of guilt along the way. I would eat something loaded with carbs at the wrong time without pairing it with some activity and it would cause my blood sugars to go up and I would gain weight. It’s taken me time, but after being asked if I enjoyed eating it (many times) I started to understand that this journey is guilt-free…and Jon always reminding me to ‘minimize the damage’ helped too. I know I can succeed on EET because I can eat guilt-free the foods I love and enjoy every bite. One of the biggest aspects of EET is ensuring it’s SUSTAINABLE. I’ve grown to understand this concept over the last few months. It plays a part in every meal I eat, every forecasting journal I write and into everyday life and situations that pop up. It’s definitely a learning process….I’m still learning even today. Understanding how certain foods affect your body and your metabolism is an ongoing process. For me it’s absolutely crucial to ensure that all the EET fundamentals work together cohesively. For me it has to be FUN and SUSTAINABLE.
Where I am today: almost 6 months in with EET and 90lbs down. Remember I was insulin dependent… I am completely off of one of the insulin medications AND have reduced the other by 50%. I continue to reduce this insulin about every 7 to 10 days. I work out for 30 minutes 3 times a week and take walks in between and I thoroughly enjoy being active! I love, love, LOVE the food I eat! I look forward to the FUN meals & TREAT meals which include my favorite restaurants like Buffalo Wild Wings and Red Robin…oh and I love Sushi. Everything works into my lifestyle and when I plan, I succeed! Not to mention I feel AMAZING!! I have increased energy and I don’t feel tired and lethargic anymore. I take on arduous tasks that I would have easily walked away from before. I walked a 5K in May and dream of doing something bigger soon. I should probably also mention the obvious...I’ve had to purchase new clothes. I’m down close to 4 sizes from where I used to be, and I’m not looking back. I’m excited for the future and what EET has to offer. Although I haven’t set a goal weight (and won’t) continuing on this journey will continue to show positive results in reduced medications, weight loss and overall health. Thank you Mr. EET!!