Starting Sole Source Today

I made the decision to jump back on SS for a while to lose the extra pounds I've gained since Oct. We went on vacation and then we had the holidays...well...no explanation needed. My pants are tight and fortunately I have my beloved Cambridge to come to my rescue once again! I just had my first shake for the day, the one I call my "Favorite Blend". I take one full container of 330 Rich Chocolate and mix it in a big Tupperware bowel with a container of 330 Original Dutch Chocolate. This gives me the creamy thick texture of the Rich shake along with the deeper chocolate taste of the Dutch. I add about 1/4 cup of cocoa powder and mix it all together. Voila! Perfection! To make it even more dreamy, I keep a jar of brewed decaf coffee in the fridge and use that along with a couple of ice cubes in place of the water. Now we're talkin'!

So I figure I'm going to give it a couple of weeks and then decide if I want to start adding food back to my diet. I'm looking forward to that wonderful feeling of lightness and clarity that being in ketosis gives. This will be fun!
Cheers!

Sitting Like A Lady

Back in the olden days when I was in elementary school ( mid 60's, to 1970) we were required to wear dresses. It wasn't until my last semester in 6th grade that girls were allowed to start wearing pants. I remember always being uncomfortable in a dress because I was a chubby kid with chubby thighs and sitting with my knees together was down right painful at times. All my thin friends had no problem with this of course and even had the ability to sit ladylike with their legs crossed at the knee, something I only aspired to be able to do. This actually became a lifelong measurement of my femininity, sitting comfortably and relaxed with my legs crossed. I do remember one teacher in particular who would make embarrassing comments whenever she was able to see up my skirt while sitting.

It's funny how even today, at the age of 56, I still am aware of how sitting with my legs crossed is important to me. For several decades the thighs would not cooperate and I was right back to elementary school, trying to sit without sprawling. Now, I can casually cross my legs with no resistance and feel perfectly ladylike and feminine. It's the little rewards sometimes that mean the most when you lose a lot of weight.

Success Story!

Hey guys! I just had to share with you all. I have a customer that I have been working with off and on for the past few years. Like many of us, she'd had a hard time committing to her health and weight loss. Being a single mom of 4, she had a hard time making herself a priority, but after a doctor's appointment last year where she learned that she was diabetic, she had a fire lit under her and she jumped in with both feet, fully committed to getting the weight off and getting her health under control. When she called me last Feb, there were lots of tears (on both our parts!) and she was scared and doubtful, but we got her going again and I am pleased to say, today she reached her goal! She lost a total of 138 pounds and is no longer on any meds for diabetes! She has turned in to a total gym rat and told me that for the first time in her life, she feels excited about what's to come. We talked about dating (she's not ready) and about my skin removal surgery (she has an consult appointment for a tummy tuck and breast lift next week, they call it a "Mommy Makeover" ) and she sounds so happy!

She would be the first to say that this took more emotional momentum then her diabetes Dx alone could maintain. It was her kick-start, but if she hadn't invested time and energy and effort in to creating a new lifestyle along the way, she never would have reached her goal. She had always been one of those who was desperately trying to lose weight for an event. Weddings, reunions, vacations, every time she contacted me it was for an upcoming social gathering that she didn't want to be the "fattest girl in the room" for. This time, she said it was different. Her focus was off of what other people would judge her for, and 100% on giving herself and her kids a better, healthier life. Now, instead of them all sitting in front of the TV and eating, they go out and do stuff!

I asked her if she would come and post her story here on the board, but she isn't one to share on social media. She did give me permission to tell her story for her.

I know some of you have a similar story. Some of you start with the best of intentions, only to lose your momentum and quit until the next attempt. She wanted me to tell people that she now realizes the sacrifice Cambridge requires of us, to forgo regular food for a while, is a tiny price to pay in hindsight. Going in, she felt completely  doubtful that she would be able to stick with it after all her failed attempts, but now..looking back, she realized that like Dorothy in "The Wizard Of Oz" she had the answer all the time right in her own back yard...or, more accurately, within herself. Once she took the focus off of outward influences, and instead focused on her own desires for her life, things fell in to place and she got out of her own way.

I hope her story inspires you to stop and examine your internal dialog, your motivation, your willingness to embrace a new lifestyle, and your belief in your ability to change. Never underestimate your ability to change.

Best Single Serve Blender (in my opinion)

I often get asked what kind of blender I use for mixing my Cambridge shakes. I have been using the same one for over 10 years now...well...not this exact same one, but I've bought the same one a few times . This is a blender that you can find at pretty much every home goods store or department store in their kitchen and dining departments. It may have a different brand name on it, but they are all exactly the same. I have found that Walmart has the best price so I always get mine there. It's usually around $29 and it will be the hardest working appliance in your kitchen if you are SSing. This thing obliterates ice cubes and gives you a wonderfully smooth thick shake! Find it here:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/24685825?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227018188708&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40345209272&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=78310858232&veh=sem

I've Been A Bad Bad Blogger!

Hey people, I've been sadly slacking in my blogging of late. I guess that I've been a bit sluggish due to after Holiday fatigue. The weather is cold and gloomy for Florida and I seem to be one of those people that gets blue when it's grey.

Good news is that I am making progress on my weight loss. No, I'm not weighing, but I am seeing and feeling the difference in the mirror and in how my clothes are fitting. I went off track over the Holidays and got a bit "fluffy" so I had some repair work to do, but things are going well now.

I am really enjoying making my Cambridge ice cream with the machine my son gave me for Christmas. I had Food For Life (FFL) 420 Eggnog ice cream tonight made with a good dash of cinnamon. Totally yummy! I had my delicious pancakes for breakfast and my favorite, my double 330 Rich/Dutch Chocolate Mocha shake made with some ice coffee I had in the fridge and my special blend of Shakes. I dump one whole container of 330 Dutch Chocolate in a gallon zip loc bag with another whole container of the 330 Rich Chocolate. I add about 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder and shake it up. This is the perfect chocolaty thick creamy shake in my opinion! Add the cold coffee and a couple of ice cubes and it's heavenly!

99 days

There are 99 days until my 56th birthday. My (ultimate) goal this year was to be at my high school weight by then. I've made a few half heart'd stabs at it, but I just couldn't stay focused for the long haul. This goal is important to me, both for my health, as well as my sense of accomplishment.

Being married now has put a whole new spin on things. Before I was married, when I would have clients complain about their spouses being a distraction by wanting them to go out to eat or by bringing food home, I never understood the real problem like I do now. By being on a highly restricted diet like Cambridge, you're pretty much demanding that your significant other be on restriction with you, to a certain extent. When my husband has his 3 day weekend, he likes to go exploring, mostly day trips.  We are still newbies here in Florida and there is a lot to see. Being out all day kind of makes it necessary to eat at some point. My husband has a healthy appetite and can eat a full meal and be ready to eat again in an hour! He has no weight problem of course. I know how hard he works and on his days off I don't want to be a party pooper. He won't eat in front of me. He just can't make himself go against the way his Mama raised him. This then condemns him to starving and when he gets hungry, he gets really wobbly, really fast! On top of that, he loves to eat and wants to enjoy that with me. Nothing wrong with that of course.

So here's the problem....I need to do this, but I hate forcing him to limit his recreation on his hard earned days off. He needs that time to decompress and gear up for another miserable week in the Walmart Claims Dept. I've been going 'round and 'round about this for some time now. I get going on my diet, only to feel guilty and go off so he and I can enjoy our time together. Now to be clear, he in no way EVER complains, but he also won't eat if I don't. He's also perfectly happy with the size I am at now and doesn't think I need to lose, other then to improve my health of course.

When I realized last night that I only had 99 days remaining till my B-day, I made the decision that no matter what, I'm sticking to my Cambridge until I either reach my goal, or the 99 days are up. At the age I'm at now, along with my history of diabetes, my digestion is very slow. It's called "delayed gastric emptying" and it makes it so my body has plenty of time to absorb every single calorie. I lose about half as fast as I did 13 years ago, so this will take some uninterrupted time. I printed up three, 100 day countdown charts. I have one on the fridge, one on my bathroom mirror, and one right here in front of me on top of my computer. I will cross off the bathroom one in the AM when I get up, the fridge one after my lunch shake, and my computer one at night before going to bed. I told my husband what I'm doing and he is of course supportive, but I am well aware of the toll it will take on him and I kind of hate that. I am also doing this at the worst possible time with Thanksgiving looming and then of course, Christmas.

If anyone would like to get in on my 99 days SS, please do! I will be posting updates weekly. You can use the comments and I would love to have you along for the adventure!

Wish my luck!

The Road To Health

Many of us want to lose weight to look better. Appearance is important to our self esteem, but
let's not forget the health benefits of weight loss.

I think that our looks are top priority when we are young , but as we get older we realize that our health is far more important and should not be ignored. I have a friend that is about 220 pounds overweight. She is 25 years old and has been overweight most of her life. So far, she hasn't suffered any obvious negative health effects from her weight. She has normal blood pressure, blood sugar, no aches or pains, she can run endlessly and works out like an Olympic athlete! In her mind she sees herself as invincible and it has made it easy for her to justify remaining obese. Don't get me wrong...she is miserable with her weight. The fact that it has prevented her from many opportunities in her life, such as finding a mate is painful for her and so emotionally, she has suffered greatly. When we talk about it and I try to get her to understand the damage that her weight is doing to her she brushes it off by replying how "healthy" she is and that she doesn't want to discuss it. My fear for her is that in most cases serious health damage related to obesity is often invisible until it is too late to correct it. She has had some hormonal problems recently that are weight related, but it is almost like she is waiting for something major to go wrong before she will seriously face her situation.

Most people are not that fortunate. Health issues can kick in with as little as 30 excess pounds. Wear and tear of being overweight is cumulative and should be prevented at all costs. Diabetes, cancer, and heart disease are three of the most common problems, but obesity effects every system of your body. Don't wait for the health crisis to occur to finally commit to your diet. Start walking on the path towards good health and the happiness that comes with it. Cambridge is a gift to those of us who have spent a lifetime dieting with little to show for it. You will get the results you need with Cambridge! You can turn your health around and avoid a future spent trying to do damage control. Don't fool yourself in to thinking that medical science has a pill to correct what may be ahead of you. Prevention is the key to health and it is never too late to start.

Picture yourself walking along a road. You come to a fork and you must choose which way you will go. To the right you see a smooth bright path that leads to a future of robust health, happiness, adventure, fun, fulfillment, and confidence. To the left is a bumpy road full of rocks and potholes. It is dark so you can't always see what is ahead. You constantly stumble on unexpected health crises that require detours to doctors and hospitals. You are scared and ashamed that you choose this path, but you can't find your way out through the maze of confusing and conflicting medical advice that has you convinced that you are hopelessly doomed to this destination. If you have been on the left path, it is not too late to find your way back. I did! Cambridge is the compass pointing to the shortcut. The past 13 years have been the best for me so far and I credit Cambridge for helping me find my way. I would still be 300+ pounds...if I was still alive which is doubtful...and trapped in my misery and pain.

For those of you reading this who are already on your way to losing the weight and regaining your health, congratulations! You have wonderful things ahead of you! If you are still trying to decide what to do then please know this...You CAN lose the weight, you Can take control of your health, and you CAN change the course of your future starting today! With Cambridge the journey is just as exciting as the destination. You will enjoy your experience losing your weight and be excited about the changes you will see and feel every day. It is exhilarating to take control of your life! When you reach your goal you will have the satisfaction and pride of knowing that you did it yourself. There is a lot to be said for taking responsibility for yourself. This is your life and your body. Make it in to what you want it to be and leave the weight behind like a worn out pair of shoes. Your future is waiting!

How To Lose 100 Pounds Fast

Originally Posted by Pam Turner on 03/18/12:
When I research the keywords that draw people to my site, this is the one most often used, "How to lose 100 pounds fast". There are two things to note here, one that being 100+ pounds overweight has become common all over the world and two.. that no one wants to endure the complicated process of trying to lose on a conventional food diet. Most diets can give you 1/2 to 2 pounds at most per week. If you are looking at 100 or more to lose you are also looking at a year or more to do it on a diet like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig . The slow rate of loss coupled with the amount of planning and preparing they require can be discouraging and ultimately the reason to quit. I speak from experience.

I started going to WW when I was 9 years old. I went all through my growing up years and in to adulthood. I would lose some weight, but never get to goal because it took so long, the meetings cost money and I hated the weigh-ins. Like most I employed some dieters tricks to see some loss on the scale. I would cheat throughout the week and then on weigh in day I wouldn't eat anything accept asparagus. Asparagus is a natural diuretic and could usually be good for a half pound or more on the scale of temporary loss. As soon as that meeting let out you would see all the people go across the street to a restaurant to go get ice cream ! In spite of their best efforts to teach everyone how to lose and keep it off, it was all a game for most of us. Get away with what you could and then starve for weigh in day. No lessons learned there. I am often told by prospective clients that the new WW doesn't work for them. Back in the day when they were very specific on what you ate it did work, but now there is too much freedom and it's too easy to make a mistake or cheat.

After a lifetime of dieting and gaining and dieting and gaining I have finally jumped off that track and have spent the past 11 years enjoying my freedom from obesity and food obsession. Had it not been for Cambridge I would still be in that trap...if I were still alive that is. It is likely I would be in a wheelchair by now from all the arthritis and the diabetes and heart disease I had suffered from for most of my late 20's, 30's and entering in to my 40's. I was almost there at the age of 42. Had I not lost the weight and regained my health I shudder to think what I would have gone through by now.

Everything that had plagued me for most of my life could be tracked back to lifestyle choices. That is the case for the majority of you reading this. If you caused it, you can correct it. If you make a mistake writing a letter, do you just say "Oh well, I had nothing to do with that so I guess there is nothing I can do to fix it"? Of course not! You delete or erase and correct it. The choices you have made in your life that have brought you to the point you are at right now are all within your power to change. Your body is designed to forgive the mistakes you make. If you cut your finger, does it not heal? If you break a bone or get a bruise or a sprain... pretty much anything you do to it... your body will make every effort to fix, repair, rebuild and restore to health and balance. In spite of its current challenges in dealing with your weight and the health problems that come with it, you haven't died. Keeping in mind that it is your body itself that has fought to stay alive and functioning, can you imagine what it can do if you begin supporting it in it's efforts? Wow!

Cambridge is not a magic snake oil in a can. It is not a cure for obesity. It has no power to prevent you from going back to your old habits as soon as you lose the weight, only you have that power. What it is, is a method for you to lose your weight at the fastest rate possible. What you will lose is fat and not muscle or bone or other lean tissues. This was documented in the 11 years of research that was done on the product. Typically when people lose weight rapidly through calorie deprivation on a crash type diet they are losing a good amount of things they don't want to lose. Surgical weight loss is a good example of this. These people lose their weight through malnutrition and malabsorption. A good amount of those pounds will be muscle and bone and there is the potential for organ damage etc. On Cambridge you are feeding your body better then you likely are now, but the low calories (keeping in mind that a cal is not a nutrient, but a way to measure how much energy is produced from the food) allow you to burn fat like crazy! It gives your body the chance to do what it does best...heal.

There are lots of ways to lose 100 pounds fast, but only one that I know of that is safe...Cambridge! I lost 94 pounds in 4.5 months and went on to lose a total of 120 11 years ago. I had no reason to think I was capable of accomplishing that in the beginning, but it didn't take long for me to realize that Cambridge was the tool and I had what it took to use it to build my new life. You do too.