Rod & Kathy: “We’re Not Dieting, We’re Eating Healthy!”

As it does every New Year, January 1st 2013 seemed like a great day to start exploring a new lifestyle.  This year, though, Rod and Kathy were really serious, and so they began their adventure into eating healthier.

“Honey, would you order a book for me?” My lovely wife Kathy asked, explains Rod. “It’s called the Smarter Science of Slim.”

“When the book arrived, Kathy wasted no time and quickly dove right in and absorbed all of the gems it had to offer. It was soon after that Kathy began espousing all sorts of strange and sometimes questionable ideas’, Rod said.  “I was convinced she had joined a cult and was looking to recruit me.  But with loving persistence Kathy began to get through to me and I was soon a convert.  I knew Kathy was right; we needed to make some serious lifestyle changes.  At 50 years old I was weighing in at 237 lbs (the highest I’ve ever been in my life) and wearing a size 42 pants….ok maybe 43! But I could squeeze into a 42 so that is the official measurement. I won’t even hazard a guess at Kathy’s starting point as I am happily married and would like to remain that way.”

“Still not completely sure what we were doing, we began by scrubbing the kitchen of all of the processed foods, ingredients, and grains that we could find. Our house became so clear of Chametz (food product made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt, or their derivatives, which have been leavened) that it would make a Hassidic Jewish household pale in comparison. We cleaned out cupboards, drawers, pantry, and refrigerator.  With the deconstruction accomplished it was time to rebuild the kitchen supplies.”

“Kathy and I were so excited about becoming the next super-models—and like obedient cult followers—we quickly assembled our shopping list from the Smarter Science of Slim book and blindly headed out the door. We were on a mission! We looked like a couple of crazed mountain men running a trap line.  We went to Costco, QFC, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and the little produce stand at the local gas station. If we made one more stop I would have had to rent a U-Haul truck.  Later, back at the house, and peering into the empty 22 cubic foot refrigerator against the 60 cubic feet of groceries piled high on the counters, kitchen, and floor, I was wondering how we were going to fit everything in.”

“Are you SURE we need 18 bags of spinach Kathy?”  I asked.  “I’ve learned a lot about Kathy since we’ve been married, but I have to say I never knew she was a Tetris master. She deftly managed to get all the perishables into the refrigerator. Honestly, I’m still not sure if the light in the refrigerator is burned out, or if all of the food is just blocking any light emission from escaping. It took about 2 weeks before I knew the answer to that question.  Slowly the contents of the cupboards and refrigerator began to diminish to normal levels as Kathy and I mixed up strange brews using some new-to-us ingredients. We started off a bit discombobulated, but quickly found a rhythm that seemed to work for us.  SANE green healthy smoothies in the morning, fresh veggies throughout the day – with a protein chaser.  Plenty of water throughout, and lean proteins with steamed veggies, or one of Carrie’s SANE recipes for dinner.  It was good.”

“The first thing we noticed was that we seemed to have more energy, although you wouldn’t have guessed as we collapsed each evening facedown into the couch. How is that having more energy you ask?  We never had the energy to make it to the couch before”, Rod grins.

“We lived with the kitchen counters amassed high with all sorts of bags that had strange ingredients in them such as Chia Seeds, Guar Gum, Ground Flax, and Xylitol. Whenever we wanted to cook something we found ourselves searching for an ingredient among the piles. This simply wouldn’t do if we expected to be successful at eating SANEly.  We needed to get organized!  WWCD? (What Would Carrie Do?).  We consulted her website and saw how nicely organized her cupboards were…..we wanted to be like Carrie…like Carrie…like Carrie”.

“There is a very dangerous combination for me. The first is that I’ve always found it more beneficial to ask for forgiveness than permission, and the second is that I have a credit card and access to the internet. It didn’t take me long to find some really nice storage jars online.  Why yes of course I need three dozen jars of every size you make.  Kathy was very forgiving as I opened up the cupboards to reveal an AWESOME display of well labeled containers that hosted every imaginable ingredient one could possibly use in eating SANEly; and finally we had some control over our kitchen. As we progressed through the weeks we found our new normal – shopping and food prep became second nature and we were making great progress.  I knew that we were making progress when I had to keep cinching in my belt.  It was either that or wear my pants around my knees…and although I hear that is the latest fashion statement in some social circles, I really didn’t want to be confused with a gang member. YES! I actually had to go to my size 40 pants, and soon after that down to my size 38 pants. Well, HELLO toes, I haven’t seen you guys in a long time!.”

“I have had co-workers comment on my transformation over the past few months. Usually they ask what type of diet I am on. My standard reply is, “I’m not on any diet, I am just eating healthier”. Eating SANEly is not dieting, but just eating the way we were meant to eat. I am getting more than I need to eat, I feel better, and I don’t have any of the cravings that I thought I would. I don’t miss the pastries, pastas, or other such carbs.  Kathy and I still have our moments when we decide to just let loose and eat whatever we like. But those moments are the exceptions to the rule. We don’t stress about the days that we eat a little less SANEly.  We don’t throw in the towel and give up because of one weak moment. We allow ourselves a few cheats. Interestingly, our bodies seem to self correct by wanting the SANE foods afterwards. I find that I crave the SANE foods more than the inSANE foods.  And that makes it all so much easier.”

“Up until six weeks ago I was weighing myself once a week to see where I was at (the last time I weighed myself I was at 212) and it was driving me crazy! I would even blow dry my hair after taking a shower before stepping on the scale to make sure I was at my lowest weight possible. Ok, let’s see a show of hands of those of who can have done this. I would eat SANEly all week and find that I either had not lost any weight, or I had…GASP…gained weight! After reading in the omnipotent and wise SSoS book to toss out the scale I haven’t weighed myself since. I find this very liberating as I really don’t care what I weigh. I am now forced to listen to my body. It tells me how I am feeling and whether I am doing the right things.”

“I believe that Kathy and I are successful because we get support from each other, and from Carrie’s and Jonathan’s websites and Facebook pages. We aren’t dieting, we are eating healthy, and we are committed to a lifestyle of healthy choices.  I hear a Greek-yogurt with berries calling my name.”

HUGE CONGRATS to Rod and Kathy, and THANK YOU for sharing your story with us!