Jennie's Story — Sugar Addiction and Poor Eating Habits
*Results described are not typical and will vary for each individual.
At 47 years old, I was addicted to sugar and needed a change. It scared me to see my mom give herself an insulin injection. I did not want diabetes, but I felt like I was headed in that direction. My bad eating habits had made me gain weight over the years and I was never successful at losing it permanently. I had tried different plans and found them hard to stick to; I would always go back to my old ways. Over the years, I started having issues with plantar fasciitis, knee and back pain, heartburn that kept me awake at night, headaches, regular sinus problems, heart palpitations, difficulty sleeping and heavy menstrual periods. I just didn't feel very healthy.
Where Jennie’s Journey Began
When my sister, JoAnn Ridout, started working at Nutritional Weight and Wellness, she figured out what foods she was sensitive to and learned which foods might be causing her aches and pains. As she shared what she had learned, the more interested I became.
I started listening to the podcasts on the Nutritional Weight and Wellness website. I started to make a few small changes at a time; using organic coconut oil instead of shortening, olive oil instead of canola oil and cold-pressed organic mayonnaise instead of regular store-bought mayo.
Help! I’m a Sugar Addict!
I admit it...I was a sugar addict. My candy dish was always full. But when I gave up sugar, all of those issues I had been having went away! What most people don't realize is that sugar causes inflammation in your body and inflammation causes joint and back pain, plantar fasciitis, heartburn, headaches, heavy menstrual periods, etc.
Metabolism
I also knew my metabolism was a problem; I had none. I found an article on the Nutritional Weight and Wellness website about how you can restart your metabolism. I didn't think that was possible! It explained how years of eating sugar and processed foods was slowing my metabolism, making me gain weight and making me tired. That was when everything started to make sense.
Even after a couple weeks, I noticed a huge difference. I was using all the real foods that I love: meat, eggs, full fat dairy, nuts, olives, butter, olive oil, fresh fruits and vegetables. Because I was eating protein, good fat, and vegetable carbs 4-5 times a day, the weight started coming off and it became easy to follow. I didn't know I could feel this good! I was motivated to stick with it and never go back to eating junk. At first it took a while for me to wrap my head around all of these new concepts that no one else had ever taught me, but now it makes perfect sense.
I planned to add exercise to my new way of living, but I needed to take one thing at a time, so I concentrated my efforts on nutrition first. Even though I hadn't started a regular exercise plan, I still lost 37 pounds. I even noticed considerable fat loss without hitting the gym, so I knew my metabolism had been kick-started. Now, I have started exercising three times a week and plan to build up from there.
Weight Loss is a Family Affair
As an added bonus, my husband lost 15 pounds (and counting) after I made changes to the way we ate. His biggest change was switching from non-dairy coffee creamer to heavy cream in his coffee. He has watched me go through this transformation and has been supportive of all of my changes. He knows I have been struggling with my weight all these years and I that finally found the answers I was looking for.
Does Jennie’s story sound familiar? Are you battling sugar addiction too? Create your own success story by enrolling in the Nutrition 4 Weight Loss program today. The 12-week program is available in-person or online and includes a consultation with a licensed nutritionist.
