Ok, there are just about 4 months left until my daughter's wedding. A week ago, I was almost to my all-time (non-pregnant!) weight. I hate to exercise and love to eat. 2 bad combos!

Anyway, a friend of mine (who has her Master's in microbiology) sells Shaklee products and recommended their "Cinch" program to me. It's based off many other diet plans where you substitute 2 protein shakes and a power bar for breakfast and lunch which is followed by a healthy low-fat dinner. I've done Slimfast and other drinks, but have never been able to stick to them. But I was willing to try (plus I'm getting a bit desperate). The big difference with Shaklee's program is that you take a supplement that contains vitamins and Luceine (sp?) which is supposed to help regulate your blood sugar level so you're not experiencing big highs and lows and also helps your body to burn fat, not muscle. Well, I have stuck to it for 5 days and was thrilled to see that I had lost 5 pounds! (I know a lot of it is water weight, but I FEEL so much better and actually have more energy...I'm actually thinking of going to the gym that we pay membership for every month, but I never use!)

I have had NO ill effects and have not once felt shaky, weak, or light-headed like I do when my blood sugar drops. (I am not a diabetic and do not know if this would be a safe diet for diabetics...just wanted to clarify that.)

I haven't felt this good in years. And I even have a cold at the moment.

I am not familiar with a "stone" but I now know it is equivalent to 14 pounds. I probably could stand to lose 2 stones or about 25 pounds. (That would definitely qualify me for a slinky, sexy dress!) But I will be happy with just losing a stone (or about 15 pounds). One day at a time...

Anyway, that is my gameplan.


Mary

Well, I am very happy to announce that I have lost 15 pounds in 2 months. Yay! I would like to lose about 10 more, mainly for health reasons as heart disease is very prevalent in my family. My blood pressure and cholesterol are fine at this point, but I am hoping to avoid problems in the future by losing a few more. (The Dr.'s always want you so thin when you have heart problems...)

Anyway, I have since found a NEW dress for my daughter's wedding that I love even more. :)

Mary

WELL DONE TO YOU MARY - SOUNDS GREAT - IVE PM`D YOU FOR SOME MORE INFO - HUGS JULES XX

Well done Mary that is awesome.Whatever works for you is great.
I've managed to lose 5lbs in 2 weeks so it's slow going for me.
You will be slim sexy and in that slinky dress before you know it.

Thanks Jules & Liz! :)

I actually bought another dress for the wedding, Liz! DD and DH like it much better than the other one...and frankly, so do I. I just hope it can be taken in because I might need a few alterations. It's simple in its lines, but the material is complicated in the way it was sewn. Guess I should find myself a good seamstress now...

Hey, 5 pounds in 2 weeks is fine, Liz! Really, I have had much experience in losing and gaining weight and the slower and more steady it comes off, the more likely it is to STAY off! So, good work!

Mary

Mary that is great...well done! Its good to have a goal & the thought of that dress is obviously encouraging you

Well done Liz too...its slower but as Mary says more likely to stay off & the recommended loss is 1-2lb per week, so you are on target.

Good luck to you both

Jen x

Well done Mary that is a great loss, hope you get to what you feel comfortable at for the wedding, dont for get the pics

Liz that is brilliant, the professionals in the field reckon we should aim to lose between 1 and 2lb a week for a safe and permanant loss, so you are well on track
I know only too well the trials of losing weight, so i wish everyone on a diet regime all the luck in the world

yay Mary..wow!

i used to sell shaklee and love the stuff...but i could make a living on it as i was my only customer...sadly. BUT I still use the instant protien which they also hads back when I was a kid...only now it is formulated for diet. cool...i like that!

Great job,

Hugs

Elisabeth

Thank you to everyone for their words of encouragement. I really hope that this time I will keep the weight off...The older I get, the more important it becomes to me to avoid any potential health risks in the future.


Mary

YAY! I hit the 20 pound loss marker this a.m.! Have decided I want to lose 10 more by the end of the year. (Mainly to prevent future health complications...heart disease is very prevalent on our family and I even though I don't seem to have any problems now, I would like to keep it that way!) IF I can lose 10 more, I will be what I weighed when we got married, almost 32 year ago. Talk about a miracle!

Wow...well done, so how much have you lost total?

You have done so well, you should be proud of yourself!

Jen x

Well done!!!!! I am trying to lose some punds and have started to eat 6 times a day small portions as I have ate too little!! Funny that isn't it! My daughte was also told that you need to eat cereal or porridge to get the fluids moving first thing in the morning and the days calories you want to eat devide by 6.

I want to get back to the weight I have always been but living a 'good' life here in France hasn't helped!!!

Inspiring to hear what you have done! Keep it up! I haven't heard of shaklee but have sold Herbalife but couldn't make a living from that either :(

yay Mary!

BUT...Dare I say it...and I am NOT being catty....just serious....you are the healthiest slimest and most active person i know on this board. do you NEED to lose another 10 pounds? Will we still be able to SEE you then, hahaha

all joking aside, it is amzing and good luck hon...but you are geogeous no matter how heavy or skinny you are! Keep riding and you will stay healthy....horse therapy! (I am thinking of volunteering nearby this summer to muck stalls and teach lessons so that my daughter and I can get some riding in.

Hugs

Elisabeth

Thank you, Jen & Tiina for your words of encouragement! It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be...the trick is always KEEPING it off...

Elisabeth, you haven't been looking too hard if you think I am the slimmest person on this board! I will admit I am quite physically active, though.



(But I must say, I was flattered by your words - even though I knew they weren't true. I've only been "slim" a couple of times in my life... I have - courtesy of genetics - a naturally muscular build, so "stocky" or "solid" are words that I'm more accustomed to hearing!)

Don't worry...10 more pounds won't make me skinny. It *might* qualify me for slim, though...if I'm wearing all black and hold my tummy in.


Oh, mucking stalls is a good, mindless activity. Doesn't require any thinking, but is a good workout for the ol' muscles. I am sure you would enjoy the time around the horses again...they are a natural sedative, I think. You can't help but feel calm and relaxed around them.

Good luck!

Mary

Well done on the weight loss! I wish loosing weight was as easy as gaining it!!!
I have put on a lot of weight, I dont have a lot of excercise or much mobility because of health reasons, but am now with a Dietician and I have lost half a stone in about 3 months. I do feel better, but this week has seen me slide a lot and I've had about three days this week when I have munched quite a few unhealthy things like crisps.

Having said that I just want to put this week behind me, I guess we all have days or even a week or two when the diet get ditched. I was on the slimfast thingy for about three months before I went to the dietiician. I go back to her in a couple of weeks, so thats one month on from when I last saw her. She recommended a mix of one third protein, one third carbohydrate (which includes potatoes) and one third veg/salad/fruit at meals. When I get it right i am not hungry inbetween meals so dont snack. This though is to balance out the energy levels as well for me, so I am sure it isnt the same for everybody. For me it is supposed to help me loose a little weight as well as keeping energy levels okay throughout the day.

Good luck with it! I envy you with your horses, I agree they have this lovely peaceful aura around them. I had a mare and colt when I was a child and the thing I most love whenever I get close to horses again is their lovely smell (cant even beat the stable smell!!!) - And yes, even mucking out is theraputic. Hard work, but hteraputic!! And when its all done, and all the stable is ready with the new bedding, doesnt it smell and look brilliant too! I remember that feeling. Also the smell when you are cleaning bridles/saddles. Lovely. Lovely memories of happier days. Thanks so much for bringing the memory back to me!