a weight loss testimonial

testimonial: n. a written declaration certifying to a person's character, conduct, or qualifications, or to the value, excellence, etc., of a thing.

Last July my mother-in-law, Linda, came out here for a visit. She was cruising along on a weight loss plan (Nutrimirror) that she introduced to Tyler and me. We gave her a high five and thought it was great that she was so dedicated to her cause.

A few months after Linda left, I figured it was probably time to start losing my last 10 pounds of "baby weight." So I logged into Linda's FREE Nutrimirror program and started watching what I ate. I don't remember exactly why, but I didn't keep with the program and fell off the bandwagon.

Then Tyler & I joined a gym, and I noticed some weight loss. But after a few months I just plateaued with my 2-3 pounds of loss. I figured that I was just always going to be at that weight because I was a mom of 3 kids and gaining weight is just what happens. So I gave away a box of college clothes that I was keeping in the back of my closet hoping to fit back into someday.

Then one day in March of this year, my darling sister-in-law, Danica, posted on her blog about the AMAZING results she was experiencing with Nutrimirror (NM). It was the catalyst that I was looking for. I talked with her and determined that I too had to try NM because it undoubtedly was a tool that worked for real people that I knew--Danica was losing her babyweight like nothing else (her baby was just 3 months old!), and my mother-in-law had hit her weight loss goal a few months earlier around Thanksgiving.

I got serious about tracking what I ate and asked Tyler to be my personal trainer. He was such a good sport about helping me get out of bed early in the morning so I could go to the gym before he left for work. He'd give me training tips and goals: "Nats, see if you can do a 1/2 mile of your run at 7 mph today..." and stuff like that. Some ladies would punch their husbands if they were telling them how to lose weight (and some days I wanted to slip back in bed and forget that I asked Tyler to be my personal trainer), but really I loved having Tyler's input and advice.

So with a combination of watching what I ate and exercising more (what a concept, I know!), I have been able to lose 15 pounds over about 3 months. It may not have been noticeable to anyone, but I noticed and it feels good. Sure, logging my food can sometimes be a pain, but the knowledge that I have gained along the way was worth every minute I spent logging.

Some things I learned:
* I can still eat chips and treats, but it's a good idea to count out a serving size before devouring the whole bag.
* A slice of homemade pizza isn't healthier just because I made it myself. (But you better believe I still eat it!)
* Vitamin A & C were lacking in my meals
* I was a carb-a-holic. (I still eat plenty of carbs... it's just now I have balance--about 60% of my daily food is carbs instead of 80%!)
* My post-dinner snacks were usually mindless grazing.
* It was okay to stop eating like a pregnant or nursing mother.

Now that I'm at my goal weight, I haven't stopped using NM. I still use it every day to keep myself in check. My hope in posting this is not to brag; heaven knows if I don't watch it, the weight could be back in no time.

But I thought that maybe someone else might be looking for that little something to help them with their goals. Danica's post helped me; maybe this will prevent someone else from tossing a perfectly good box of old clothes! :)

Nutrimirror really is the best!!