Miraculous! This is the first thing that comes to mind looking back at the last year. Friends, family, and even daily acquaintances would agree that the person that I am today has changed so much both inside and out. I am moving around, exercising and have an entirely different attitude and affect today than throughout the last 20-25 years, or even my lifetime. Dr. Barry Sears and the staff at MedWell Foods can be given credit. Let's look at a quick overview of my past.
My story is similar to that of many other people. I have been pudgy, overweight, big, fat, obese and many other, often hurtful, descriptions from childhood onward. Diet, deprivation, and sacrifice were a way of life. "Try this", "Are you really going to eat that?" "Maybe if you try harder," and "I have seen great results with that diet," are just a few examples, among many memorable suggestions. These kinds of typical phrases have been delivered generously, all with the best of intentions. The results also were common; steady loss and gain, the yo-yo diet syndrome. None of us wants to live in a constant state of trying to improve ourselves (especially our looks) when it simply ricochets back over and over. Depression, dissatisfaction and unhappiness are the ultimate outcome. Making the situation worse, gaining a little more weight with each yo-yo.
During my mid 20s, I married and began a family, ultimately reaching 303 pounds. This weight may sound terrible, but I seemed relatively healthy. I was reasonably active, had four children, and was basically living the American dream. No more yo-yo dieting, I had had enough. My weight was staying stable along with my attitude. Determined not to raise my family with the 'Diet Lifestyle" that had not worked for me in the past, I kept a seemingly healthy meal plan on the table and diets out of our lives. I accepted that 303 would be my normal weight, and I would have to face that. Unknown to me, the world was about to turn upside down.
Tragically, in my early 30s, a car accident changed everything. My mobility changed overnight, due to significant damage to my pelvis and legs. Lacking the ability to walk for nine months, then limited mobility with chronic pain, I settled into a sedentary lifestyle. I did what I needed to for my family, but limited what I thought could be painful or difficult. I found hobbies and activities that I enjoyed that simply required little to no active movement. My weight continued to stay at 303 pounds for the next decade. No exercise, average eating habits and raising a family without diets continued as regular daily life. Life seemed good and in my household was considered normal.
My early 40s had challenges and stress, the normal changes of an aging family. As time passed, my inactivity led to increasingly poor health. I developed chronic pain, which led to even less movement. Soon, I began to put on additional weight. I started to show signs of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, breathing problems, and ultimately digestive issues including an esophageal ulcer. It became clear that something had to be done. As one close friend put it, "you weren't even comfortable sitting anymore." My weight had ballooned to 387 pounds! How had this happened? I was frustrated and scared. I wondered if my life was at its end.
Enter MedWell Foods. I was introduced to this program and offered the opportunity to participate in October 2008. I actually began November 1, 2008. First, I noticed how much better I started feeling, this was almost immediate. Especially mornings, I was more alert, thought clearer and seemed to have more energy. Having not yet read any of the materials published by Dr. Sears, I didn't recognize the relationship of this change to my altered eating style. It was enough to feel better. By January 2009, I had lost almost 40 pounds. My next physical revealed lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and concern of developing diabetes was greatly diminished. For the first time in many years I had hope. I began to realize the success my new lifestyle was having and became more determined to begin exercise and eat healthy. As I continued on this new path to health, many changes were taking place.
Curiosity and a desire to know why this is working led me to read Toxic Fat, The Zone, and other publications of Dr. Sears. I now understand that the MedWell staff knew all along that these changes would take place as natural results of dietary and hormonal balance. This as a lifestyle change, treated as such, there are no limits. I wish those concerned about the obesity issues in America would invest some time and effort to learn and understand the principles laid out in Dr. Sears' publications. As a recovering obese American, I wish I had known this many years ago.
Today, November 2009, one year after starting this MedWell journey, the miraculous has happened, I have lost 100 pounds. I am obviously not at my goal weight, but I am thrilled and full of hope for my future. I know that there is no limit to what I can accomplish with determination, time, and my new found knowledge. I am still following a blend of primarily MedWell Foods, supplemented by The Zone. I enjoy the taste and convenience of the MedWell products. Supplementing these with great vegetables, spices and condiments like mustards and salsas helps to maintain variety and deliciousness. When enjoying dinners out, following The Zone is easy and fun to do. I would never hesitate to serve the Zone meals to my family and friends because they are enjoyable and beautiful. I also would stress that with this lifestyle, hunger is not ever a problem and deprivation is a thing of the past. Thoughtful, logical eating is the new norm. I love the new norm. Thank you Dr. Sears and staff, you are my heroes.
Cynthia Joseph
Grandville, MI, USA