I Didn’t Know How Bad I Felt Before, Until I Started Feeling So Good!
It’s Friday, everyone! And that means another Primal Blueprint Real Life Story from a Mark’s Daily Apple reader. If you have your own success story and would like to share it with me and the Mark’s Daily Apple community please contact me here. I’ll continue to publish these each Friday as long as they keep coming in. Thank you for reading!
Dear Mark,
I am writing to add myself to your list of PB success stories. The pictures I’ve attached above pretty much tell it. The first three were from the last few years, and they show me at my heaviest. The one in the pink gown was taken at about three months into the PB plan, and the last one, of me with the kettlebells, was taken a few days ago, at 7 months into the plan. I am holding 40 pounds worth of kettlebells and that’s how much weight I’ve lost since February of this year, with your help.
I am currently 54 years old, have struggled with weight gain and loss for the last 35 years. The yo-yo started going up and down in college, and I would gain and lose over and over. I have tried every fad diet there is, including starvation, and have done Weight Watchers three times. I was active over the years, but my food intake was typical of the standard American diet you refer to all the time. SAD indeed. I was lazy when it came to food preparation and I ate a lot of cereal, bread products, and protein, power, or granola bars. I would never have thought I could go without it like I do now. Cereal and toast or an English muffin was a favorite breakfast, and dinner of mine. I drank a lot of coke over the years.
I gained more recent weight after I had a hysterectomy in 2005. My hormones got messed up. I had a few job changes, life stressors in excess (sick parents, a son in college, financial issues), and a terrible, wheat, other grains, and sugar filled diet. If I managed to lose some, I would gain it back, plus more. I worked out with a personal trainer for close to a year in 2010. I managed to lose about 18 pounds by counting calories, carbs, protein, and doing excessive cardio, and a very strict lifting schedule. The minute I lost focus, back it came.
I had a physical exam summer of 2011 and I was unhappy with my weight (high 170s) and lab results. My cholesterol and triglycerides were high, and my HgA1C was borderline for Type 2 diabetes. I had asked my doctor to run one, because I wanted to see what my numbers were. As a nurse, I was seeing a huge increase in the number of diabetic patients and it worried me. I felt like I was headed to being a Type 2 diabetic if I didn’t change things. I didn’t feel good, I felt sluggish, and was really self conscious about how I looked.
I moved to Tennessee in August of 2011, (knowing no one, to start a new job) and joined a gym for something to do. I dabbled around at it, then the holidays started and I got heavier, and hit 183, my highest ever. I made a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, yet again. In January 2012, I got a free session with a trainer, who was sympathetic to my tale of woe. She listened to my frustrations, and then she told me she had something for me that she thought would really appeal to me. Her words were, “as a nurse (I’m a registered nurse for 34 years) you will like the science behind this plan.” She wrote your website down for me, and I was interested enough to look at it.
I studied your website for about three weeks. I read every article, every link, several success stories. I signed up for your emails, and started having many “aha” moments. I ordered the 21-Day Total Body Transformation, read it, and committed to trying it. I endured “low carb flu” and detoxed off sugar and learned how to shop differently. I started taking my lunches to work, and got a lot of questions about what many perceive as an odd eating style. Weight did not come off fast at first. I almost gave it up, about four weeks into it, because I was not seeing results like I wanted to see. I remember reading in your books, though, to stick with it and be patient and that eventually, without the constant influx of carbs my body was used to, it would HAVE to start burning my stored fat. At last, slowly but surely, pounds started dropping off.
When I bumped up my exercise by adding two or three Zumba classes a week, and walking more whenever I could, my weight loss accelerated. I noticed how much better my stomach was doing without so much bread and other grains. Over the years, I had been troubled by a lot of abdominal problems, and had one doctor tell me I had IBS. I have suffered lactose intolerance since childhood. I wasn’t having cravings anymore, I wasn’t hungry two or three hours after eating, wasn’t having frequent hypoglycemic episodes like before, and wasn’t desperate to find anything I could find to eat like I had previously.
I tell people I was a good student. I studied your information, and did what you said to do, including the planks, squats, pushups, and working on pull-ups. I started as an 80/20 girl, and I am moving over time more toward 90/10 now. I find that “when I stray, I pay” with the way I feel in my body. I’ve learned to listen to it, and be more attentive to what it’s telling me.
I have gone from 183 pounds to 143 pounds in seven months, from size 16 to size 8, and have lost 11 inches off my total measurements. My skin looks clear and bright, my hair is shinier, I feel so much better. I have more mental clarity. I am very aware of feeling lighter and how much easier movement is. I feel stronger. I have had to buy a whole new wardrobe. Even my shoes don’t fit. My FEET lost weight!
Mark, I read your articles and comments so often I feel like I know you. I want to say thank you. I am so happy that your information was given to me and that I actually looked at it!!! I am hoping very much to attend one of your Primal Conventions. Maybe 2014! The best way I can sum it up is by saying this:
I didn’t know how bad I felt before, until I started feeling so GOOD!
I’ve gone from being a sugar burner to a fat burner, and it’s still coming off. When I tell others about the PB plan, I feel like I’m paying it forward. I have started to give your website information to fellow medical staff and even some patients who ask my advice on nutrition and weight loss. I also gave it to my 23 year old son and told him I regret not feeding him better as a child! I didn’t realize until I really “got it” that food is medicine, and what you put into your body is of utmost importance to good health, and quality longevity. There is a shocking lack of good dietary and nutritional information out there, for the general public. We are still spoon fed what I now consider terribly erroneous information about food in general. I’m trying to help change that in some small way by explaining what I now know to people, and hoping they are interested enough to pursue it for themselves. I stand as an example that it can be done.
Thank you again for life changing information. I will continue to be a fan.
Sincerely,
Lynn
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Posted By: Mark Sisson
Okay. I have to comment on this one. I, too am 54 years old and a nurse. I receive the greatest resistance regarding my PB lifestyle from my medical colleagues. They are proud of their expertise and will instruct me in CW nutrition and practices.My work partner is constantly asking me how many “points” are in my lunch. She worries about my fat intake!
I think I blew some of their minds when I declared that I was planning on hunting my own wild turkey for Thanksgiving. Very non-PC here in Portland Oregon, where a good number of my friends are veggie/vegan.My husband had been vegan for 15 years before meeting me (and bacon). feeling alot better now!
Anyway, thanks for the encouragement. I feel like I have a (successful!) buddy out there!
They still worry about your fat intake when they see how you look? How do they look?
I don’t know in Katherine’s case, but I can tell you that once people are “indoctrinated” into low-fat=healthy the actual results (either Paleo or low-fat) in front of their eyes are meaningless.
For the record, I am blessed that my husband is on board with Paleo. He’s the one that counts.
However, my sister (who has high blood pressure at at the tender age of 36) is completely committed to Weight Watchers. My aunt, a dietician (no less!), has been obese all her life and just had gastric surgery. Her diet is “all things in moderation” which is a default low fat. My father sort of “gets” the whole paleo thing be won’t give up bread. My MIL is 100% low fat all the way (to point where she’s grossed out by fat) and “can’t live without bread”.
That my husband fits into his high school pants, that I’ve kept the weight off for 10 years, our blood work is great, and that not one of the family has any prescriptions has absolutely nothing to do with the way we eat.
If we’re healthy and lean on Paleo, it’s some sort of genetic fluke and that heart attack is still right around the corner. That the low-fat people I know are not 100% feeling well, on prescription meds, and maybe a little flabby has to do with the fact they aren’t perfectly doing a low-fat diet. They just don’t want to acknowledge the (diet) elephant in the living room. I suspect Kathleen will at some point have to ask her colleague point blank to stop commenting on her food, rather waiting for her colleague “get it”.
*sigh*
Sometimes I swear it’s not that they don’t understand or they don’t believe it. Deep down they do, but they are afraid of what the change would imply. Cutting out wheat? No more bread? No more favorite junk foods? People just talk themselves out of it because they have already judged it and don’t want to deprive themselves or make their lives harder. It is simply easier not to believe.
+1
This is so true!
I see how my CW retired folks eat, and the meds they’re on, and think “Not for me, thanks.” If CW is right, how come they’re taking prescriptions for diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma, IBS, GERD, and I’m not,and so many of us reading this blog are not? I guess they won’t believe me until I’m 63 and not on meds, if they live that long. The proof is in the pudding, I say. Pudding with coconut milk and raw cream!
Katherine – Do you have any tips for dealing with the whole vegan/veggie thing with friends? Right now I’m at: don’t discuss because I don’t really want to. It’s hard though when everyone wants to get together for a meal.
Also, did you get the turkey????
It really bugs the docs I work with when I talk about eating bacon and eggs often, especially the bacon part! I also eat avocados often with my lunch at work. They worry that I’m getting too much fat also, yet my numbers are falling (cholesterol and triglycerides) and my weight is falling, and THEY, who avoid those foods and live on bread and diet soda, continue to gain weight. I am standing as an obvious example of what works and they all refuse to see it. It’s very frustrating for me !!! However, I’ll keep doing it. Thanks for the positive comment. Keep up the good work !
You say it bugs the docs? Well, so much for that whole scientific mind thing, eh? Ha ha.
You are an up close and personal, n=1 experiment, they can identify the variables, etc.-yet they can’t acknowledge the results. Sad.
Hi Mark, just wondering… have you ever considered hosting a PrimalCon aimed specifically at medical professionals?
Ooo, that would be cool. And probably impossible with all those grandioso heads in the same room.
I just love your story, and can’t wait to share it with some family! It always pleases me when I see members of the medical community getting on board. Thanks so much for doing your part and sharing the good words about MDA with your staff. The more the “conventionals” know, the better!!!
Great transformation Lynn! You should feel proud of yourself.
There are always issues behind the issues and I see two things being discussed here:
1. Is it ok to be and look like you are in your fifties? I tuned 50 a year ago and was pissed – what the beep? – but the trick is to know that time passes, it just does. Like Bayrider said “isn’t fantasic to be 50 something with a body that is getting more fit every week?” The point is not that Lynn looks 34 but that she’s a smiling, happy 54-year-old.
2. The idea that conventional wisdom is a conspiracy. For many reasons we are at a place in time where the way we eat is just wrong. It took incremental changes to end up here, but it’s not a conspiracy (everyone has to make a living and food manufactures will do what they can to sell food) and doctors/nurses/dieticians just simply don’t know any better. They are not out to get “us.” One of my favorite doctors ever was in front of me in the lunch line last year. He had two cookies wrapped in plastic wrap (ick)and a coke. I wanted to tease him badly and I hadn’t even heard of paleo then. He is an absolutely good guy who was just hungry and rushing back to his patients.
” but it’s not a conspiracy (everyone has to make a living and food manufactures will do what they can to sell food) and doctors/nurses/dieticians just simply don’t know any better. They are not out to get “us.””
Yes, it’s so much happier (for everyone) to realize that the most of the medicos are simply trying their best in an imperfect system in an imperfect world.
Holy s**t! Amazing transformation. Not only did you drop weight, you look like you’ve erased years!
Congratulations and thanks for your great story.
You look younger, happy and simply marvelous. I love Fridays!
Great story. Where are you working out? Is that your garage gym? It look awesome. like the hex bar and safety squat bar.
You are gorgeous and inspirational! Way to be patient and stay at it. Grok on!
I alsways look forward to the Friday success stories. I have been on this journey for 1 month now and like you I also have only lost a few pounds in this month, but reading that I just need to hang in there is great encouragement. I keep waiting for the weight to “melt off”. Your story encouraged me to keep going with the primal plan. I am a RN for 40 years and have had difficulty with the conventional wisdom that I was taught and what I am learning here especially with the saturated fat theories. You look wonderful. Keep up the good work.
You stay with it, you’ll be rewarded. Been 3 months now for me (age 58) and now really starting to look good. I have dropped maybe only 10-12 lbs but I added a lot of muscle with the bodyweight exercises. So your body first will be improving composition wise without necessarily losing lbs. It also seemed I plateaued and even gained a few lbs a couple of times, that was frustrating but then I skipped the bacon a few days, fasted a morning or two and it’s back to the races! One lb per week is about ideal for a sustainable weight loss, you won’t necessarily lose it every week but eventually that average will catch up with you.
From what I heard, it can be very different for women, especially over 30s. Weight loss may not come so easily for some, unfortunately. But you’ll never know unless you stick with it, and the health benefits you will reap regardless will hopefully be worth it.
Awesome Lynn. Way to stick with it, those are amazing results in only 7 months. I hit 6 months today.
Lynn, you look wonderful! Thanks for your inspirational story. I’m close to your age and, in my third week of Primal eating, I am having a hard time sticking to it. I feel better than ever before, but I need the pounds to drop a little faster. Your story gives me hope. Thanks!
Well, it’s been said a few times, but Lynn you look gorgeous and honestly 20 years younger. Bravo to you and thank you for spreading the word in your medical practice.
I love it! What a great story. I totally relate to this as a mother: “I also gave it to my 23 year old son and told him I regret not feeding him better as a child!”
I am an overweight 48 (almost 49) year old woman, so I read this with avid interest. I am so pleased that this worked for you–you really do look incredible! You’re an inspiration to me and your story is very encouraging. Thanks.
You look awesome Lynn, and so much younger!!
You are a beautiful woman! Thanks for sharing your story!
Great story, inspiration to us all, well done!
When I saw your after photo I actually said out loud “Good lord you look like you’re in your twenties!”. Good for you! It goes without saying that you look amazing. Your success story is probably my favorite one I’ve read so far:)
Great story, Lynn! Thank you for sharing it! I was the same way – didn’t realize how badly I felt until I cut the “feel bad” foods. I tell people all the time that you don’t know how badly you feel until you eliminate the stuff that is likely making you feel bad b/c it’s been with you your entire life. It’s all you know! Thank you for solidifying what I tell people by telling your story. I shared it on Facebook so people can see I’m not the only one who says this.
Congratulations on your weight loss!!
…you look great too!
Thanks for sharing your story. I couldn’t believe you were in your fifties in the before pictures. But in the AFTER pictures you look like your own daughter.
Cogratulations.
You tugged on my heart strings a little bit there Lynn, when you told your son you regretted not having fed him better…. Amazing transformation, keep up the awesomeness
))
Congratulations, Lynn! Thank you for setting such a wonderful example. I hope your story helps many others discover their healthy selves as you did so thoroughly.
“When I stray, I pay.” Very well put. I have to re-learn that lesson every once in a while, too!
Wow, Lynn, that is amazing! Congratulations on the weight loss and the FEELING GOOD! I was looking at some before and after pictures of me today (I am 5 months in and have lost 22 lbs and 2 pants sizes) and was amazed at how different I look. I have not gotten into the working out like I should, but that is coming slowly! Congratulations and keep up the great work!
OMG! You look like you’re in your 30s!!
Fantastic! Mind if I ask your height. Just curious:)
MoodyGirl
thanks for the nice comments. My height is 5’7″.
I really DO enjoy looking younger now…i was so happy to be losing weight and I was focused on the body…then realized when i saw pics that my face was looking younger…total bonus.
thanks again.
Lynn
5’7″ (sorry, i just saw that i answered the wrong person before when i did this….oops)
and now, (as of Jan 1) I’m down 47 pounds total, current weight 136.
So happy with Primal lifestyle. Good luck to you also. Thanks for nice comments.
Congratulations, very inspiring, you rock big time, you look great!!!
Congrats!!! You look great!!! It’s so wonderful to see a nurse especially look healthy and strong. You rock.
You look amazing and so young. Great job and way to inspire.
Awesome! You look so young and fit!
Good for you Lynn. Food is the best medicine for most, you’re right!