Our Pleasure

Happily, we are frequently asked about food choices and weight loss strategies. It gives me great joy that you consider us a source of information on this topic because it’s our passion. These strategies are not new information but since they are David’s Way and I know that some of you may not scour the blog looking for this information, I thought that I would recap the program for you.

No Added Sugar, High Protein, Low Carb, Activity

After being at my Weight Watchers goal for a couple of years, I was still on medications for anxiety, insomnia and high blood pressure. I knew that something was wrong. After asking for David’s help and following his Methodology for just a few weeks, I was able to come off of all of the medications and began to drop weight. I removed all added sugar, and replaced it with our sugar free recipes. They are really, really good. Actually, they are The Bomb! I embraced a high protein, low carb lifestyle. As I lost 20#, I also began adding muscle with strength training. I removed sources of stress from my life and began a journey of recreating myself. A year later, life is good. I work a high stress, full time job in nursing, blog, hike and weight train…and that’s about it. I have made my world small.

Sleep

Rest is essential. My sleep was immediately better, now the only thing required to sleep is to be still, and that’s not always necessary. Removing sugar from my life and strength training rectified the anxiety that contributed to insomnia. I was happy to be able to stop taking anti-anxiety medication. This is not always the case for everyone and I am not advising you to stop any medications without your doctor’s advice. This is simply my story.

Stop Stressing

Lowering the stress in your life will fix a lot of problems. I took some rather drastic steps to do that and I would do it all again tomorrow. After my home was destroyed by a cluster of tornadoes, living in a motel for a while and moving three times, changing jobs two times and one divorce, I am stronger than I’ve ever been, at 62. Stress can kill you, Baby. Gain control of stress or it will gain control of you, and if it is the one in control, you’re going down.

True Self Love

There is always room to up our game. I never stop trying to improve. As we age it’s necessary to become fanatical about self care or the reality is that we’ll go to hell in a hand basket with medications, pain, depression and low self esteem close on our heels. That’s just not my cup of tea. We have choices and we better make good ones if we want to live well. While there are health problems that befall us that we have little control over, there are more that are directly linked to the decisions that we make every day. There is a self love movement which is good as long as we realize that by loving ourselves, we continually spiral upward, improving ourselves. To accept mediocrity is not loving ourselves. Self love is self care.

Write It Down

I believe that the most critical element for maximum health is to forego sugar. Keeping a food diary is a very close second, or it may be tied for first place. Both of these are critical to thriving. If we keep a food diary, we will make progress in all areas because we will fix our diet first and then be better able to make other necessary changes.

David has taught me to keep good records of my workouts also. Since I am a power builder in strength training, I have to keep meticulous records of my weights and reps. I have learned that it’s also critical to keep records of my state of mind while lifting, my calories consumed and my hours of sleep. Along with my calories, I have to know how many grams of protein and carbohydrates I have eaten in order to be ready to lift heavy. This is the first time that I have had to make sure that I eat enough. Since we don’t eat sugar, I seldom get hungry and never have cravings. This is a very pleasant change from always being afraid of eating too much!

Don’t Quit

We promote a healthy lifestyle, not a short term “diet”. If you think you’ve fallen, get up and go again! You no more quit a lifestyle than you quit life itself. If you fall ten times, get up eleven. You will get to your destination if you continue your journey.