Here’s another blog post about case studies. Here are the previous ones, in case you missed them:
Case Study: Lose Weight and Increase Energy
A Case Study on the Treatment of Chronic Migraines Naturally
The Case for Curing IBS Naturally
Meet Kathy
Why she signed up – in her own words:
Looking for a new change in the New Year. I will be working less hours and have more time for this type of change.”
Mandy’s note: Many participants are full-time workers and very busy. So don’t be concerned if you haven’t got “tons” of free time.
Her #1 Goal for the Challenge – in Her own words:
“Weight loss.”
**Note by Mandy** I spoke with Kathy before she began the challenge, as she was skeptical about the challenge’s ability to help her lose weight. She was eating 1200 calories for quite some time, but only lost 1.5lbs. (1200 calories are on the low end ).
What we did:
Weight
We stopped counting calories for Kathy and instead increased her food intake. Your metabolism will slow down if you under-eat, as your body is starving itself. It holds on to fat because it does not know when it will be fed again.
She followed the meal plan in the Wellness Challenge, which focuses on protein and an abundance of vegetables. These meal plans are not low carb, but ensure you get the right amount of complex carbohydrates and the correct portion. You should be aware that not all carbohydrates are the same, and be sure to choose the right for your diet.
She lost 8 pounds in 8 weeks. This is a very good result.
Cravings
Three parts are to our treatment for cravings. As noted above, the first step was to increase her food intake. As previously mentioned, step two is to increase her intake of protein. Step three is to make sure she has healthy snacks on hand for when she gets hungry.
It’s a fact that weight loss and cravings tend to go together. Most people who want to lose weight crave bad foods, which makes it hard. Does this sound familiar to you? 😉
Healthy Travel
Kathy was required to travel to Toronto to work after the challenge. In our Facebook group, Kathy asked how she could stay on track while traveling. Fortunately, I lived in Toronto for many years and knew some healthy spots to recommend. Here are some of the other suggestions that I made.
* Pack some protein powder with a shaker so you can mix it with water and protein in the early morning. Breakfasts on business trips can be croissants or pastries, which is not the best option. You’ll be better prepared for the day if you have some protein. You can also eat eggs!
* Do your research in advance. This is my list of healthy restaurants in Toronto.
* Bring snacks! I suggest the Genuine Health Protein Bars
Here is a complete post about staying healthy when you travel .
In Her Own Words:
It’s going well. I’ve lost 8 pounds, which is amazing considering I’ve not felt hungry. I have never had any digestive issues and I have not noticed any other significant changes except that I don’t like sweets as much anymore. No cravings, and I don’t like sweet or salty foods that are high in calories. It was a new experience for me.
Overall, I am very happy I did it. I’m also glad that it took 8 weeks instead of 4, and I hope to continue the program after this. It’s a great perk to have someone else create your shopping list and plan your menu. You could do nothing but that for me and I would pay you every week all year! You could have me pick out the recipes on your blog, but honestly the best thing is to just be told what to purchase and know that I won’t throw away a fridge full unused of green leafy things at the end week. Although buying so many vegetables is expensive, knowing that I will use everything and not waste anything makes it worth it.
