Guest Blogger Shereen, Hear how she lost 80 lbs on the BFC...

  Before

January 2011 – 215 pounds

After
February 2013 – 135 pounds

I started the Belly Fat Cure at the beginning of August 2011, just after my 48th birthday.  My 30th class reunion was 6 weeks away, and I was 20 pounds heavier that I was at the 25th.  I looked at several diet books that weekend, Dukan, Atkins, South Beach and nothing looked do-able at that point. I saw the BFC book – but couldn't look inside – it was wrapped with the sugar-carb counter. I had lost weight with Jorge’s 8 Minutes in the Morning several years ago, (but never kept it off) – so I bought the book. My starting weight that day was 213 pounds.  (I am 5’6” and was wearing 16/18, 1X.)

I liked that he made it look easy, and I kept telling myself it was only six weeks. I had quit drinking pop in favor of unsweetened iced tea a few years before, so I had already taken the sugared beverages out of my diet. I am single and live alone, so no worries about cooking for anyone else. I honestly just started reading labels – If the sugar/carb count was low enough, it was in, if I didn’t know or couldn't figure it out, it was out. I ate then – and still eat – lots of frozen meals, I just make sure the count is under 5/2. My snacks are usually almonds or one serving of crackers.

Right away, I noticed I was sleeping better. After the first week, I really didn't crave anything.  The pounds were coming off easily. I kept telling myself it was only for 6 weeks. I never said no to one beer or one glass of wine (although, sometimes it was hard to say no to the second one!)  I kept a spreadsheet on the computer, one page was food and one page was weight. I wrote down and counted EVERYTHING that went in my mouth and I weighed every morning. I can tell you that every day was not perfect, but I never let one miss-step be the excuse for a next one.

Eating out was a challenge at first, but I started planning ahead. I look up menus and nutrition guides if they are available. When I can’t look ahead, I stick with omelets (as long as they are not the ones with pancake batter mixed in!), a hamburger with no bun and a salad, or a steak and vegetable with a glass of red wine.
By the reunion I was down the 20 pounds I wanted to lose, and I bought a new size 14W dress (that I was going to wear again to a family wedding in January, I thought.)  I decided that losing that 20 pounds wasn’t so hard and I kept going. I didn't set a number goal of how much to lose, just kept eating the way I was eating. I did have a Christmas cookie or two – but never sat down and sampled the whole tray as I may have in the past. Kept writing things down and kept weighing every day.

The wedding in January didn't happen – but I couldn't have worn the dress! I was down to 170 and bought my first size 10 jeans EVER IN MY LIFE. I decided I could live eating the way I was eating, and I felt good. I was going to just keep doing it and if the weight kept coming off, then it was supposed to!  I never thought I would get under 150. When people would ask and tell me not to lose anymore, I used that as my target – until I passed it in May.  At one year on the BFC, I was at 140 and wearing mostly 6’s and a few 4’s.

I decided that I really didn't need to lose weight anymore, but I needed to do something to get fit. I started walking more and doing yoga twice a week. A friend doing physical therapy after a foot surgery wanted a goal, so I started training to do a half marathon with her. I had done one in January 2011 (walking, not running!), and told myself that I could keep my diet and if I gained weight it was okay – it would be muscle.
The race was a week ago Sunday.

Today I am at 135 pounds, and just bought a pair of size 2 jeans!