Hello all - -
It's great to be here... my first post ever on a blog or forum of any kind! I just started this program and wondering what to expect and I have a few questions for the folks who have been around a while....... A little history first, so you will know me.
I quit smoking on my own almost a year ago and have gained 30 lbs on top of 20 that I already needed to lose and I have tried approximately 7 diets in the last two years... - - yikes!!!
I grew up with the best metabolism ever - - I was always active, ate no junk and was one of those kids who loved vegetables, no bad snacking, no caffeine or any carbonated drinks except special occasions, hated cookies and sweets (still do for the most part). When I hit my mid-20's and started working in an office environment, the sitting around all day combined with eating what was around the office, I started to gain. My late twenties came and I was obsessed with getting in shape - - I yo-yo dieted as needed through my thirties and now that I am 41 .......... No matter what diet I have tried over the last two years, it wasn't sustainable for one reason or another. I now have huge calves and underlying muscle that I have built up, and want to get back to the right weight for my height and not have to be working out hard doing weights and lots of cardio 7X a week for several hours just to maintain it. This is not sustainable for the next 30+ years....
Once I received this info, it felt right, sounded right, but I am still skeptical.... not sure this plan is the answer for life or not - as the other diets before have claimed this as well. I am starting into my second week of the TSP.
Through all of the above, thankfully, I still have healthy adrenal glands and am still insulin sensitive. I am lucky to have no illnesses, allergies, or diseases. I know Dr. S states that if you follow this your body will go back to it's composition..........(if you build it they will come??).... and a standard weight chart is provided in one of her books. I bought all three books + the cookbook- - which I have been using. I am worried my body will settle somewhere way higher than that because I have about 50 lbs to lose and not sure if the plan for the 25 grams carbs + lower saturated fat section is the plan to get me there. I plan to start excersizing this week, now that I have the foods, food preparation and eating understood.
Some questions I have:
1. How well does this work for people who have the healthy adrenal glands and are insuling senstive? Any success stories to share and timeframes?
2. How realisitic is it to expect to even see the range for 5'4 again?
3. Recipes in the cookbook, are the portions and fat counts for those that are on the maintenance phase... should those in the fat-loss phase be doing something different?
4. Any insight on how long it took some to lose the weight of 50 lbs with heathly adrenal glands and insulin sensitive? I am looking for incentive here.
5. Which of the plans in the programs would you suggest I follow for fat-loss? Do I stay on this until the end?
Any comments or information sharing would be greatly appreciated. I am thankful in advance for your insight!