Kris: Today, Gloria Hieser shares her very inspiring success story. If you would like to share your own story, click here. These will be published on Fridays as long as they keep coming.
Finally I Feel Healthy!
by Gloria Hieser
For decades I endeavored to be healthy, however, all I accomplished was the opposite.
My trying and frustrating journey with health and losing weight started when I changed my eating habits after relocating to the USA from South America.
It was a very unwise thing to do, especially since I had had a bout with viral thyroiditis.
But in an effort to prevent any further thyroid problems, I began to listen to health “experts” that touted eating according to the Food Pyramid.
Ultimately, the conventional wisdom was eat less, move more, and when you eat, eat low fat (vegetable fats) and high carbohydrates/fruits.
Within just a few short months of living the way the experts were advising, I started gaining weight and feeling tired, hungry and blah.
Thinking that I was not doing it right I was enticed to become a vegan so as to cut out all the “bad” calories (animal fats/products). Months went by and my weight was not better; I was getting more symptomatic and heavier.
I developed more thyroid problems, was constantly tired (which I attributed to working-out) and felt depressed and frustrated. Around that time, I also started experiencing skin rashes, irritable bowel syndrome, cravings for sweets and more weight gain.
When I became pregnant (a miracle in it and of itself, because I discovered that my fertility had been profoundly impacted), I ended my veganism and started consuming some animal protein like eggs, chicken and some fish.
I would not consume beef for many more years and would not get close to butter or cream or whole milk for even more years.
All the while, I continued to incorporate exercise in my weekly routine increasing the intensity and frequency to include jogging/running (ran 5K races) and trained for and ran a half marathon. But I was getting heavier.
After repeated Weight Watchers attempts, I took weight loss medications under a doctor’s supervision and when that didn’t work I tried fasting for prolonged periods of time. Nothing worked! My health and my weight were in such sorry states I didn’t know what to do.
My health issues would go on to become more complex and more numerous: food allergies and sensitivities, leaky gut syndrome, menstrual cycle problems, fibroid tumors in the uterus and the scariest one of all was a total blackout seizure.
My doctors couldn’t find any physiological explanation for my symptoms and my seizure. A few months later I had a total hysterectomy. So, in the course of approximately 20 years or so I experienced weight problems and serious health issues.
Thankfully, I came across the Weston A. Price Foundation’s website where I read and learned all I know about eating whole foods, animal products and various health issues. I read an excellent book by Dr. Mary Enig, which promoted whole foods and healthy animal fats and coconut oil, all of which had been vilified over the last 2 or 3 decades.
I read up on coconut oil and now it is my go-to oil for cooking. I now eat more animal products like beef, poultry, fish/seafood, butter, cream, whole milk cheese, bacon, lard, and feel great! I continue to exercise and have seen great results with the program offered by Teresa Tapp, the inventor of the T-Tapp system, a great approach for women’s issues and health.
By eating natural and fresh whole foods, by cooking all my meals(not eating out), by adding as many of the healthy animal fats as possible, by consuming coconut oil and most important of all, by cutting all starchy carbohydrates and fruits from my diet, I have been able to lose inches.
I have lost a whole dress size in a month and a half time and I continue to lose. I feel good. I feel healthy. My advice for losing weight is eat whole foods (nothing processed) and cut out all starchy carbohydrates (be it grains or vegetables or fruits) and cut out vegetable/seed/nut oils; they are highly processed and oxidized.
Incorporate fresh animal products and animal fat, coconut oil (great for thyroid function and energy), consume green leafy vegetables and/or low starch vegetables.
At 52 years of age I feel the healthiest I have ever felt!
Thank you Kris for giving me the opportunity to share my testimony.
I am thrilled to continue to lose weight and feel great; this morning I tried on slacks that a couple of months ago would not fit at all. Yay!!!
I am looking forward to better and more vibrant health! :)
Thanks for sharing such an inspiring story, Gloria :)
well done Gloria, i’m going to give it a go too, i feel really stuck at the moment, i’m eating too much and am just not feeling good about myself in general, i had minced lamb earlier cooked in kerrygold butter with a sprinkle of sea salt and some grated full fat cheddar cheese, i can’t believe how full i felt after, and 5 hours later i have none of the usual urges to eat so i’m really hoping i have nailed it this time, i want to lose a stone (14 pounds), i just hope i can keep it going this time, thanks again Irene
Hi Gloria, thank you for an inspiring story. I struggled with similar issues for some time and have been following a high protein low carb eat plan for a few months now. I’ve gone down from a size 42 to a 38 and still going strong. It is one of the most empowering feelings when you fit into that pant or dress and it actually looks kinda nice on you. The most amazing thing about eating whole foods is the increased energy and the general feeling of wellbeing. Even after a month fallling off the wagon during my exams I felt excited to start eating the better choices again, and you feel the difference when you eat wrong and when you eat right. So it just becomes easier to say no to those prossed nonsense ;-) good luck with your journey.
Irene – It is amazing to me how much more filling AND satisfying it is to eat real food. Your minced lamb meal sounds delish! :)
When I was eating high-carbs/low fat I always felt deprived and half-starved.
I wish you all the best in your health journey and may those 14 lbs. be gone and stay gone!!! :)
Jackie – Congratulations on your weight loss! You are right, it does feel empowering to be able to fit into smaller size clothes. I am so excited to be able to fit into clothes I couldn’t for years – and things are beginning to fit without cutting my circulation. I, like you, have enjoyed a surge in my energy level and I can go, go, go!
I also wish you all the best in your health journey! :)
Another Weight Watchers survivor! Glad to hear your story. Keeping it simple is what counts. Thanks for sharing and good luck with the rest of your journey!
Oh, Gloria, thank you so much for sharing your inspiring story. I started about 2 months ago, to do the low carb high protien/ less prepared foods/ and ABSOLUTELY NO sugar!!!! I lost 6 lbs in the first month or so, I want to lose around 20-30 total. I am not in a hurry though. I need to start some exercise! I have quit all the bad stuff, now I need to make some healthy habits! :) So proud for you!
Great work Gloria! You cant beat clean eating! Well done.
Good advice Gloria. I love reading your story. Thanks for share this and keep it up.
Good advice everyone
My doctor just told me I need to take Vitamin D. My blood was low for Vitamin D. I have been feeling tired, cannot lose weight, don’t feel like working out. Could Vitamin D deficiency cause this.
Great story, Gloria. So happy for you that you have finally found true health! Congratulations!!
For years I was well over weight so I then decided to do something about it…and that’s when I come up with a plan of if I cut down my and eat healthy and exercise then I have to lose weight..!!! Sure as first was so hungry so drank a lot of water to fill me up, this sure did the trick…! After about 6 months I lost about 3 stone…the key to this was keeping it going I know that it was a winning formula, but many never stick to it…My advice to anyone it we all know that we have to eat healthy and exercise.!!! We just have to do it long enough to show results..! I sure got the bug for exercise so I went on to do 10k, 1/2 Marathons and full Marathons so there sure if no stopping you Now!!! Best of luck to you all :-)