100 Pounds Gone Forever!!!

[Carlene]

Actually 100.5 pounds since May. It's been a little over 5.5 months. Amazing! I've been 100% simple raw all this time. Can't say it's been a cake walk, but it has been a lot easier than I ever would imagine. I doubt I am as aware of it as I pretend to be - it went so fast. I have exercised a lot, killed myself hiking at times, and yet if feels as if this took no effort.

In May all I could do was take my dogs on six ten minute walks a day. Now I am going on ten mile, 2000 foot elevation gain hikes, and keeping up with enthusiasts. I am thinner than my daughter now, think nothing of squeezing between rocks and cacti, scrambling under barb wire, or pulling myself up rocks.

I found myself walking through the WOMAN's section the other day, you know the large woman's section and it hit me. I can't shop here any more. I fit in regular people clothes now.

The raw journey has been amazing as well. No other diet has ever worked for me. I am always in awe of how quickly raw became natural for me. I don't eat any gourmet food, and try to keep my daily fat intake below 20%, so I think my taste buds retrained quickly. I crave fruit. The other day I went to three grocery stores in a panic looking for oranges. Finally I found barely ripe navels, knowing they would be tart and not caring, I just had to have oranges. That's a far cry from running down to the 711 worried that everyone would know the bag of chips was for me. Oh, and I have a thing for green apples as well. I'll be up climbing that horrible mountain I climb and all of a sudden I'll wonder, did I bring an apple for when I get down. The brain changes with raw. I'll be sitting in front of the TV at night and need a stalk of celery. Who would have guessed?

I still have more weight to lose. I've left obesity, am moving through fat and quickly headed for chubby. By December I will be thin, and then in January skinny. My plan is to get below my optimal weight, keep it off for a year to let my skin catch up, then add a little fat and maybe some gourmet foods back into my diet to gain about five pounds. With raw, I have no doubts about my success.

Thanks again to everyone here on the forum. Having a place to come to daily, I believe is part of the winning process. I couldn't have done this without everyone's support.

I posted a new picture in my journal 9.5 pounds ago.

[Dawn39]

WOW You Glow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly you must feel like a million bucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a testament to RAW.... Talk about the fountain of youth, At the very least you look 20years younger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your my inspiration that I will get the results I seek through eating simple raw ( not just weight but health wise too!)

Good luck and God bless with your journey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dawn

[Autumn]

Carlene,
Fantastic!!! Congratulations!!! You must feel incredibly proud. Your enthusiasm is contagious. How absolutely wonderful!

Autumn

[Ariannah]

Carlene,

I saw your journal pictures, and you look fabulous! I feel so much emotion looking at your before/after pictures, and you've come a LONG way. Your beauty and radiance and constancy with raw are all an inspiration to me.

Ariannah

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Carlene,

You just amaze me!!!! I've been following along in your journal and to see how your activity increased so quickly and the struggles you had, but you were persistant!!!! And it's paid off!!!! I'm extremely proud of you!!

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[fiddler]

Wow, what an inspiration!! I'm inspired both by your recent accomplishments and your determination to succeed in the long term. Your FutureView really does determine the future you!

Congratulations, gil

[tglasco4]

Wow........I mean WOW! From that Oct '03 picture to now? Unbelievable. The pictures say it all. Carlene, don't let ANYTHING stop you from continuing your journey! What you are doing with raw is beyond words. I am so happy for you and proud of you!!

Peace and blessings to you on your journey.

Todd

[I~Wanna~RAWk]

The change is INCREDIBLE, you will be an inspiration to so many, both in your life and here on the boards. You look beautiful, keep up the good work!!

[kmik]

Carlene,

I wish every person struggling with obesity could read your story! But I'm sure many will find their way to it, and you will touch and change many lives.

You're my hero!

[emmaann]

GIRL YOU ARE DOING FANTASTIC!!! What a wonderful story and testimony!! You are living proof of success!!!

Congrats and BEST TO YOU!!

Rawesome!!

smiles,

ac

[ReneeSC]

What's impressed me more about your losing the weight is HOW you've lost it. You really WORKED, and that's so important in keeping it off for the rest of your life.

I come from a family of half over-weights and half-tinies. We've lost people out of our family trying to have a gastric reduction. I remember only one woman who kept her weight off - and she was an avid exerciser. She said she was a "junkie". LOL I can appreciate that endophine feeling.

THE WOMAN CLIMBS MOUNTAINS.

When Alissa publishes her next book - I hope you're in there, Carlene.

Our Douglas is coming up next!

[brookegoeden]

You look amazing!! WOW! What a testament to Raw Food's power..
keep it up!

[Jamie]

WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! You are doing so great!!! Amazing,, you look beautiful! I am so glad that you are on this site and journaling for us all to be inspired and encouraged and to give us hope.

You have truly done well :)

Jamie

[Beth]

Hi Carlene,
Wow, you must feel great! I enjoyed reading your journal. I know it sometimes isn't easy. You look fabulous!

I'm also in your geographic area, I was curious about the the Tree of Life Cafe, thanks for writing about it.

[Kris]

Carlene, you are gorgeous!! I am completely stunned at the change in your photos -- you are such an inspiration. And, I have to say, that blue is fabulous on you! Way to go!!! :)