About a month ago I started a program called Whole30.
And let me tell you that I am in no way affiliated with this program.
But I heard about it, so I decided to try it.
Well okay, at first when I heard about it, I thought no way!
But as I started seeing a pouch on my tummy, I decided I should give it a try.
Because nothing I was doing was working!
Going through menopause, well it sucks!
I was cutting out foods, and exercising more, but still nothing was happening.
I was eating mostly vegetarian, which meant that I was eating lots of carbs.
Here is a before and after photo of me.
Let me say that these are NOT flattering photos of myself, and I am being very brave in sharing so please be kind 😉
Oh yeah, the first photo was before I added a little red to my hair!
I didn’t have a lot of weight to lose, I’ve gained about 15 lbs over the past 8 months or so, and slowly it kept creeping up.
But I can feel the difference and see the difference can you?
It looks like I lost a little neck flab too…yay!
So I started with my weight of 140 lbs….gulp.
And I ended my 30 days with 132 lbs, a total of 8 lbs.
Not exactly where I wanted to be, but I am not going to worry about the scale any longer.
I am seeing my clothes get looser, as my body shrinks.
I have been using weights more in my workouts.
Not a lot of weights, as much as I can handle, but I needed to start toning this old body before it gets too out of shape.
I’ve always been conscious of my weight, so if I gained a few pounds, I would work hard to take it off before it got out of control.
I never, ever had a tummy issue, and since starting Whole3o, my stomach is slowly shrinking.
Not sure if it will ever get flat again, but I don’t feel a jiggle when I walk.
I was also starting to get side ab flab, and that’s pretty much disappeared.
So you are probably wondering if my sugar cravings have gone away.
Yes they have, and I am totally shocked about that one.
I haven’t had any sweets since I started this, and I am not going to.
I still eat fruit, and I will watch out for things that have sugar, but I am not going to get obsessed with that.
Because so many things have sugar, did you know that bacon has sugar?
It’s not listed in the nutrients, but it’s in the ingredients.
I am sure some bacon does not have sugar, but it’s hard finding bacon that doesn’t.
I won’t be able to avoid all sugar.
But I will not be eating candies, cakes, desserts, ice cream, or drinking sodas.
Especially desserts as that will for sure lead me down the path of eating poorly again.
I feel so much better since starting this program.
I am disappointed that my menopause hormonal symptoms haven’t improved.
I was hoping that changing my diet would change that, but it’s still the same.
Now my new challenge, what to cook.
I will be searching and pinning recipes on pinterest, I need simple and delicious dinner recipes.
Every morning I have eggs, I had to get used to that too.
I was a big cereal fan.
And I am also eating more, actually much more than before.
I think I started this program at the right time.
It’s just before the holiday season, with all the sweet treats, I am now prepared and won’t have any issues passing on things that don’t work with my new lifestyle.
I am feeling great, and I think I look pretty darn good for a 49 year old!
Doesn’t it feel good! I lost 100lbs a few years back and returned to the weight I had been all my adult life until I hit 40, had twins, developed a thyroid condition and went through menopause over a five year span. I hope to never experience that again (the weight gain haha} You look great. Congrats
Hi Anne,
Very inspiring. I used to be an athlete. My husband and I both swam in college and our kids all run X-Country. Now that I’m 51, and very active, with a very full life, I want to keep some of the exercise but I don’t want to devote hours to it. There is so much more creative things I want to do! I’m feeling nudged to cut down on sugar. I’m also thinking that what I eat is more important than the exercise at this point. BTW, you may consider biological identical hormone therapy. It’s worked wonders for me. I went through premature menopause, and very quickly. After six children, and breastfeeding all of them, my body said, “NO more!” I wouldn’t trade my motherhood for any thing. I guess you could say, I’m a mother athlete. I follow you on Instagram. Please consider following me @susanswims8. I’m kickin’ it with upcycling thrift store finds with chalk paint too. I’d like to start a business called, “Little blue Truck Redos.” Right now it is a dream that will take a lot of work. Thank you for your inspiration. Susan A..
i think you look lovely !
I think you look wonderful! You go Girl!!
Gosh, girl…..I WISH I could DOWN to 140! lol I’m workin’ on it and the pounds are sloooowwwwly slipping away, but I think that the closer I get to my “set weight”, the more difficult it is for me. I do feel so much better and less “jiggly” even though the scale doesn’t always show what I want it to, and I feel better in my clothes. I have to start lifting weights next (just bought a 20# kettle ball and two 15# hand weights), and combine that with a few minutes on my treadmill. But I am SOOO happy for you, Anne! You look fabulous! ♥
xoxo laurie
You look wonderful, I lost 64 lbs then went on vacation and have had a hard time getting back to my healthy eating mode then saw I gained a few pounds so it’s back to eating less and eating healthy again. it is a vicious cycle. I’m going to be 68 in a little over a month and i’m still having hot flashes, I hope yours don’t last this long it’s not fun is it!!
Sounds like you are doing a good job and you are looking good. Keep up the good work and have a great weekend.
You are rocking it girl…I SOOOO need to do this!! xo
I also lost 8lbs.doing Whole30 last month. I was a little disapointed at first because I was hoping to lose 10, but my stomach seems much flatter (maybe the bloating has gone away). I pigged out a little the first week in October and found….I didn’t enjoy it! So I’m back on track eating a paleo diet and I feel so much better and I’m confident that the weight will keep coming off at a healthy pace. Congratualtions to you on kicking the sugar habit and the weight loss!
I started my menopause at 49 also–it was rather rough for me 15 years ago–wish I knew then what they know now
You look skinny–very trim
I’m going to check out this diet–I eat half a box of cereal in the morning and crave sweets.
I love your haircut–mine is sort of the same but my hair is fine and thin and I lost so much of it during the change–my sister didn’t lose hers–I have Graves disease and that didn’t help.