Right off the bat, I lost about 7 pounds in the first week (water retention – this is not unusual). Also, I was already exercising a *lot* (1.5-2 hours of walking a day with the dog and at work, plus intensive weight training three times a week) – my main problem was eating the wrong kinds of foods, plus eating too much.

So changing to the right kinds of foods, and tracking caloric intake vs. expenditure meant that I ended up on the high side of things, perhaps closer to 3 pounds a week. I made sure to keep my carbohydrates between 50-75 g a day, and only from vegetables, fruits and natural sources.

I have not had a scrap of bread, a bowl of cereal, pasta or juice for months. Though most people would not move as rapidly as I did, sometimes that’s because of “treats” once in a while. I’ve not had chips or ice cream or chocolate either, since then. Or pizza. And so on.

Very disciplined, I have become – but I have to, for my health. My blood pressure was very high before Christmas, and it was affecting my vision. My vision has since returned to a clear state.

At this time, I have stabilized around 150 pounds and continue to exchange fat for muscle i.e. I am slowly leaning, but perhaps now gaining weight. I’ve upped my carbs and protein as well, to compensate for the fact that I don’t have as much body fat to burn anymore.

I also fast twice a week for 24 hours, and I have no issues with hunger at all when I do that – I fasted this week on Monday, and today.

I’m sure my doctor would probably think I am crazy, but I’ve never felt better – I believe in listening to my body – and in all the years she was trying to help me, she could never give me any useful advice, and the very last thing she had tried was putting me on pills.

Which made me vomit violently, so I stopped taking them shortly thereafter. No thanks, I’ll fix myself, myself.

I’m not sure I would recommend to anyone to go this fast, though I know other people have and were okay, just as I was – it requires discipline, and you must make sure to listen to your body – if you don’t feel good doing it, don’t do it.

Last year, my doctor put her foot down and said, “lose weight – exercise isn’t working for your blood pressure”.

(It is hereditary – thanks mom, err, grandpa!)

Keep in mind, I had been exercising already – probably 1.5 to 2 hours walking a day, plus weights 3 times a week – but my weight had slowly been creeping up, to dangerous levels.

Now, to put this into perspective, I had always been a “listen to my body” kind of eater, and sadly, my body was telling me to eat the wrong things.

Yes, I know that I was eating too much of the bad stuff (potato chips – my weakness), but also some things that – for me – were not good, that I thought were healthy (hey, the Canada Food Guide says they are!), and that I ate regularly.

Bread. Cereal. Pasta. Juice.

On the advice of a friend and mentor, I changed my whole approach to nutrition and started treating what I ate as fuel for a machine – my body – rather than something to pleasure my taste buds and satisfy cravings.

(Interesting – I learned how to cook, *really* learned – not as good as Mr. Very Right, perhaps! – but in so doing, I can now provide both high-test fuel for the machine, and something that is tasty.)

Another thing, I began paying attention to and tracking what I was eating.

So, I had changed two things – I was controlling what, and how much, I was eating.

The result?

No cravings at all. I get hungry, don’t get me wrong – but it is different. It isn’t a “craving” for (say) a chocolate bar or potato chips or orange juice or milk. It’s just more of a feeling of, “gee, I haven’t eaten in 24 hours, maybe I should go get something”, and then I am able to control myself until I cook something nutritious and delicious.

The result of the result?

I lost 65 pounds and my blood pressure normalized.

I weigh less now than I did when I finished high school, and I’ve almost got a full 6-pack whereas before I had a “keg”.

I didn’t really change my exercise, either – though my energy level is through the roof, so I can do more if I choose.

(My “secret” – and it may not work for everyone – is a Paleo diet.)

So to answer your question:

I am now a proactive eater. I used to be a reactive eater. The difference is night and day – for me.

I’ve found by listening to the body these go together for me: stress and chocolate (or sugary stuff), boredom and popcorn, inadequacy and anything to fill the gut. I’m trying to break up the cycles creating the cravings with more awareness.