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Part of me isn’t sure that I’m qualified to write this blog post. After all, I’m about the furthest thing from a perfect THM poster child you could find (just read about my latest transgression in this Vanilla Frappe post). However, I have survived four years of this business, and despite my occasional transgressions, I’m in better health than I was four years ago and I intend to continue eating this way for the foreseeable future. Why? Keep reading and you’ll find out. 😉
My Story
I apologize in advance for how much of a let-down this may be for some of you, but my story is nothing earthshattering. I came from a Mennonite family who ate normal food. We ate home-cooked meals, planted a garden, and used white flour and sugar in moderate quantities. I wasn’t skinny (and probably never will be), but I wasn’t much overweight either. Fast forward to the summer of 2013, when I worked for my grandparents out of state for a few weeks right after I graduated (age 17). I ate more junk food than usual, thinking I was burning it off by carting half-bushel boxes of peaches around all day long, but lo and behold, I started growing out of my clothes. It was either lose weight or sew a new wardrobe. When I got home I found out that my mom had gotten started with a new fad going around called “Trim Healthy Mama.” (All that was available back then was the huge original book, not the trim plan book we have today. That monster was a classic and I highly recommend it.) I was highly skeptical of it, but out of necessity (and a good deal of curiosity, I admit), I joined my mom on this new diet plan. What did I have to lose? (Pardon the pun.) To my surprise, it worked, and I lost the ten-or-so pounds that had filled out my dresses.
I actually lost about twenty pounds at the beginning and was about two pounds from goal weight, but then I attended a youth Bible school for seven weeks and put ten of those pounds back on. I’ve never lost them again – and here I am three years later, only a few pounds below where I originally started. Does that surprise you? I told you I’m no poster child. 😛 Truth is, I have traveled so much during the past four years that it seems like I’m either in damage-control mode while traveling or trying to lose new weight after traveling. Also, I was working on my cookbook for a year and a half, and the combination of the long hours at a desk, lack of sleep, and large quantity of food I was testing (and felt obligated to eat) did not help my physique. Only now, seven months after the book’s release, do I feel like I’m finally making downward progress again. Part of that progress is due to some things I’ve learned recently, which I’ll share below.
2013 – 17 years old – right before graduation:
(This was in May. I started Trim Healthy Mama in July, then started blogging in November.)
So Have I Actually Made Any Progress?
Yes. Absolutely yes.
- I have a much higher concentration of muscle than I did before. Trim Healthy Mama centers around protein, and this definitely promotes a leaner, “denser” body.
- My skin is healthier. Less acne, and just more “glow” in general.
- I feel clean inside. Oh, not when I eat the occasional sugary treat, trust me. I usually regret going off plan because my body just can’t handle sugar and a bunch of flour anymore. This feeling is enough to keep me from binging most of the time.
- I’m healthier because of what I feed myself on a regular basis. When I travel, eating healthy can be hard and sometimes I just have to eat what’s served in the interest of maintaining relationships and not causing a fuss. However, I have learned how to eat smart and not sweat the small stuff. Go for the meat and veggies, skip the carby fillers and desserts, and don’t worry too much about whether or not there’s some sugar in the already-dressed salad. Is it ideal? No. But when you go home you can eat on plan, and for now, you do the best you can. I have navigated many choir tours like this in the last three years (including three weeks in South Africa in February), and I have learned that if I’m careful while I’m gone, whatever weight I do gain comes off fairly easily when I get home. I’ve traveled enough that I haven’t been able to make significant downward progress, but I am below where I started.
(Please note: you can travel and stick to the THM plan more diligently than I do if you do more prep work ahead of time. I tend to fly by the seat of my pants…er…dress, and I adore minimalism, so I generally just do the best I can by winging it. But this doesn’t have to be your strategy, and if it’s not, you’ll probably lose more weight than I do.)
2017 – 21 years old:
Where I Hope to Go
I hope to gain more lean muscle and lose some more weight, but I’ve come to realize that with the amount of traveling I do and the fact that my body doesn’t release weight as easily as some, my progress will be slow. (I’m what we call an “easy keeper” in the horse world. It’s a term used to describe those horses that can gain weight on tree bark.) Any small step in the right direction is progress, and with some recent breakthroughs I’ve made, I’ve been seeing more and more baby steps! That’s exciting, and I look forward to what I’ll be able to share next year if I do a progress report.
Recent Personal Breakthroughs
- Be more calorie-conscious. | Let me start out by saying that Trim Healthy Mama is not about counting calories! You can eat plenty of food and still lose weight! However, some of us have to be more mindful of our calorie intakes than others, and I am one of those people. Constant S meals and lots of peanut butter stall my weight loss big time, so I’ve recently started incorporating a lot more E and FP meals into my rotation. Sometimes I’ll go a few days in a row eating only one S meal a day instead of only one E or FP meal a day as had been my norm. Fats are much more calorie-dense than carbs and protein, so it only makes sense to switch up S, E, and FP to balance your calorie intake, eh? Took me awhile to figure this out (even though Pearl and Serene mention it a lot in their books and podcasts!). When I do have S meals, I’ve been focusing more on veggies and meat with foundational fat sources like butter, coconut oil, and eggs, and going easier on things like cheese, Ranch dressing, and peanut butter. Sometimes I omit cheese entirely and sometimes I use just a sprinkling, and I always thin down my Ranch dressing with some water to stretch it further with fewer calories. (It actually coats the lettuce better this way.) Side note: the longer I go on plan, the more E meals fill me up. My body doesn’t burn through them as fast as it used to. (A lot of people complain about being hungry after an E meal. Make sure you center it around plenty of lean protein, add veggies to fill you up, and don’t be afraid to top off the meal with a FP glucomannan shake or pudding to fill in the cracks.)
- Easy on the desserts | I’ve discovered that I probably shouldn’t eat dessert at every meal. Desserts often include very calorie-dense things like cream cheese, heavy cream, and peanut butter, and tacking a heavy dessert onto a heavy meal twice a day (like I have been known to do) is not a recipe for success! Now I’m a foodie and I blog for a living. It’s really tempting to constantly post heavy, decadent recipes because those get the most traffic! But this isn’t good for me, and it’s not good for you, so I’ve been trying to take a more balanced approach to the recipes I post. I want to feed y’all what I feed myself! Tip: skip dessert after a meal and use it as your snack three hours later instead. I had a habit of eating a big meal plus a heavy dessert, then adding a snack on top of that! I didn’t really need all that, and I wasn’t really hungry. I just wanted dessert. Self control is good for the soul.
- Chew slowly. | I know you’ve heard it before. Just try to remember to do it. It really does work. You will eat less.
- Eat more veggies! | This goes hand-in-hand with the more calorie-conscious approach. Veggies will fill you up with few calories, plus they’re full of all the fiber and vitamins you need to function properly!
- Exercise | This has been huge for me. With as much catch-up work as I find myself doing because of all my traveling, I knew I needed an extra boost to make headway on losing weight. Enter running. Now I’m no exercise freak, but to my utter surprise, once I forced myself to run consistently, I grew to enjoy it and now I don’t feel right if I don’t do it. I don’t do anything spectacular – just two miles four or five times a week, but it’s the added edge I needed and it’s shaping my muscles and speeding up my metabolism.
- Don’t eat heavy stuff late at night. | Since I’m usually running in the evenings, I like to have some sweetened, flavored Greek yogurt as a post-workout snack. It’s light and protein-centered, and it works well for me. Sometimes I’ll do something a little heavier (like that dessert I didn’t eat at supper), but in general, I do better with less in the evening.
Can You Identify?
Where are you at in your journey? Can you identify with anything I said here? I definitely intend to continue eating like this for life and I find it to be very sustainable, but as you’ve seen in this post, we all need to find out own personal success strategies because our bodies are all different! If you’ve found something that really works for you, please share in the comments below!
Some Resources You Might Find to Be Helpful:
- My recipe index (it’s organized by pictures!)
- My recipes indexed by fuel type, allergy info, and theme
- Sample menus
- Starting THM – answers to FAQs and lists of ingredients I use and where to find them
- When You’re Overwhelmed on THM
- Dos and Don’ts from a THM Veteran
- Food Freedom vs. Gluttony
Housekeeping Details:
The new little man has a name!
Halal’s Flame Prince
“Flame Prince” is a great Southern peach variety that fits his color and also references some local forest fires we experienced while Peaches was in foal.
Thank you all so much for your name suggestions! Click here to see the foal pictures if you missed them.
The giveaway has ended and the winner has been notified. Thank you to all who participated! The giveaway included:
Autographed copy of Necessary Food, my cookbook | defatted peanut flour | vegetable glycerin
Want to save this post for later or share with your friends? Use this image to pin!
Becky Hallam says
I was reading your story of how you started on THM and was wondering how your Mom did with the plan ?
Briana Thomas Burkholder says
When she sticks with it she does well. 😉 My sister and I are more faithful with it.
Kim Millett says
I just found your website after a hard day on THM and your site brightened my day. You are a delightful girl. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Kim Millett (Utah)
Briana Thomas Burkholder says
Welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed being here!
Stacey says
Briana, thank you for sharing and being transparent. This 41 year old relates. I have been on the THM band wagon for about 3 years now, and actually, I have GAINED through this process (stupid scale)! HOWEVER – although the scale says one thing, I thank God for finding THM since I found it right in the middle of my autoimmune diagnoses (yes, plural – I have 5 AI diseases). I know that if I hadn’t found THM, I would be in a much, MUCH bigger body fighting a losing battle.
Thank you also for the reminder about portions, balancing out S, E, and FP meals. Since I am gluten free (and love S meals in general), I tend to gravitate towards those denser meals, and frankly, it’s just easy to pull out some meat and cheese and create something yummy! But to throw in more E & FP meals as well as to chew slower (aren’t we all in a hurry?!?) and add more veggies….thanks for the reminder.
I just got your cookbook and want to try all these delish recipes, but I have to remind myself not to do it all in one day! Guess I need to learn how to meal plan…. By the way, I love the cookbook. The pictures are amazing, and I just love it overall. Great job! God’s blessings upon you.
Briana Thomas says
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Stacey! You have a really good perspective on this. I’m so glad you like the cookbook!
Sandy says
Thanks for sharing you story. You have not only done a great job of teaching yourself a new healthier way to eat and live but have graciously sharing your knowledge wirh us. I have made and enjoyed many delicious recipes from your cookbook. So many new veggies I have tried and flavors that my body now craves instead of chemical junk foods. Who would have ever thought that Pearl and Serene could have started such a truly delicious healthy AND weight loss plan that has blessed so many of us!! God is so good to us and the warm caring folks I have met on my journey are dear to me. I only had 25 lbs. to lose and I am a totally different person now. No meds now and healthy and happier I am and plan to stay that way!! Thanks for your beautiful smile and your love for God that you continue to share with the world!! What a blessing you are to me!!
Briana Thomas says
Thank YOU, Sandy! I’m so glad to hear your story!
Mélanie Camirand Landry says
Thank you for all the good tips you share in this article! Since last october, I lost 71 pounds and I still have 150 to lose. I recognize myself on many things you said. I was always on plan until june. In June, I went in vacation and it was harder… I was becoming more and more angry as eating salad as in restaurants it seemed the most cheapest thing. So I understand how hard it could be to travel like you do. During my vacation, I went to a marriage and without asking me if I want that greek pastry, someone put one in front of me and leave as quickly. I knew the married couple was not fortunate but paid a lot for those pastry and was a bit guilty to waste it so I taste 2 bites before giving it to one of my kids. I regret those bites for hours as I really didn’t felt well. My body was not accustom anymore to these amount of sugar. How you manage to eat at other’s place and eating part of their meal? Do you bring something with you in case they don’t serve veggies and meat? Thanks again for your great article!
Briana Thomas says
Hi Melanie! Thank you for sharing your story. In your situation, I would’ve done the same thing. When I’m traveling, I usually just eat what is served (and try to be as smart as possible about it by avoiding bread, pasta, and that kind of thing). Sometimes your options are limited, though! I’m traveling right now, and just yesterday I was eating the dinner that was served after church. All that was available was lasagna, salad, and bread, so I had lasagna and salad. Do I feel good afterward? Not really. But I just try to take a small amount – just enough to keep me going until I can eat again. If you really wanted to, you could take your own food along, but I have personally found that I prefer to do things the simple way and just do the best I can with what is put in front of me. If I worry too much about taking my own food along, I tend to focus too much on food and not enough on the people that I am with. That’s just me though, and I know that there are people who feel very comfortable taking their own things to someone else’s house to eat. Depending on the situation, I would do this too (bring a healthy dish for everyone, not just for myself), but this weekend I was staying at a friend’s house and busy singing with a small ensemble, so I didn’t have any extra time and resources to work with. So I usually just do the best I can with what I’m given and focus on being 100% on plan when I’m at home. 🙂
LJ says
^ lol, I meant “live off of gluccie”, not love off it 🙂
LJ says
Thank you for sharing your story with us! My THM experience has been somewhat similar: I started at 170 or 175 almost two years ago and was down to below 145 in about 8 more months. A year after I started, life got somewhat busier and more stressful, and I began eating way more non-THM food and was up to 165 within a couple of months and couldn’t fit in some of my clothes. Now I’m about 160, and hope to lose more. Doing THM has really let me get to know my habits and will-power, so realistically I don’t think I’ll get below 150 even though I’d like to be around 140.
For me it seems that THM does still take enough willpower, and is just unsatisfying enough, that life has to be pretty stress-free for me to sustain it. And even then, while I LOVED THM food at first and practically wanted to love off of gluccie smoothies, now there’s quite a lot of THM food that honestly repels me a bit :0 And it’s the ingredients, not the recipes; I almost wonder if eating THM isn’t sustainable, or if a body is missing something eating like that long-term? Of course I have no idea. All I know is that it’s very useful for me and I’ll still with SOME of it for life, but I don’t have the. . . willpower? will? to keep at my “dream weight”, I don’t think. But who knows where I’ll be in two more years? 🙂
That was an epistle. Thanks again for your story, and the above comments that it generated! Loved reading them, too.
Briana Thomas says
Thank you for sharing! It’s always interesting to hear stories and perspectives!
Wendy says
Good job! I kept thinking while reading that even though you may not have lost as much as you would have liked you didn’t go the other way either! If you weren’t on THM you would be in a much worse position! I have only been on THM for almost a year and am also realizing that I am more satisfied with E meals (your creamy chicken and quinoa is awesome by the way!) Great tips, thanks!
Briana Thomas says
That is so true!
Chrissy says
Congratulations on your success and thank you for sharing with us. Sometimes we feel like “we” are the only ones who struggle in this/that area. What you shared is literally LIFE and it has hills and valley’s. I am more encouraged to keep moving forward no matter what. ?
Briana Thomas says
I’m so glad to hear that, Chrissy!
Lisa says
Thank you for this post! I have (mostly) been following THM since the “Big Book” came out. (With numerous binges on the side.) I have realized that I tend to stay in the S rut way too much. Breakfast as a E meal is easy for me. But then the rest of the day I just want S meals and snacks. You are right – we need to mix those meals all up better! (I don’t know why I tend to ignore Serene and Pearl on that!) That is so interesting (and helpful) to hear that you don’t get so hungry after E meals any more. Thank you also for your book – I don’t remember how I came across it but I ordered it earlier this year and LOVE it. Your cookbook and the THM cookbooks are the only ones I use anymore. Every Friday, my 4 year old son picks a dessert out of your cookbook for us to make. He takes great delight in that and it’s been a very tasty activity for us to do together. I found your blog through your cookbook and really appreciate what you post. God bless you!
Briana Thomas says
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing, Lisa!
Lori Wear says
Thank you thank you thank you!! I really needed to hear this real life personal account, fails and all. I can relate so much with your THM journey. Knowing that someone else struggles but continues to find their way back to plan inspires me to keep going! Thanks again!!
Nancy Fauth says
I’m bordering on overweight and have trouble fitting in my clothes. Im also over 50, bordering on menopause. I want to stay thin, healthy, active and happy. I travel and go to celebrations a lot.
Geneva Atchison says
You are adorable and inspiring! 🙂 I am still new to THM, but I have much enjoyed your blog posts and recipes over the last month. Blessings to you!
Melanie Englund says
I just got the cook book and have about 100 recipes tagged to try. I appreciate that u included pictures…and the emphasis on what real food we need (God). I also like your common-sense approach to the plan…this will be a life long journey for us…and part of His plan is to enjoy the process. Oh, and I love the blog…
Dianne says
Thank you for sharing your journey. I joined the THM lifestyle January 2017 thru April 1, 2017. Stopped because high dose steroids for 6 weeks fuels my hunger, cravings and made me feel like I was starving even though I had just eaten a full meal. Enter June 1 and I re-committed to the lifestyle. I am not perfect at meal planning and still goof and eat crossovers when I did not intend, but hey we are only human, right? I have given myself grace and have enjoyed an occasional treat, like Chinese takeout when we had all our boys (4) home, plus one wife and one girlfriend. I did get steamed broccoli and chicken with the sauce on the side, one egg roll and one crab Rangoon – nothing compared to what I would normally order. What has been rewarding is that my 19 year old is really following THM closely with me. He did not need to loose weight, but wanted to eat healthy and support me. My 18 year old son, who also does not need to loose weight, will check with me to make sure what he is eating is healthy. My dear husband has decreased his portion sizes and all three of them will eat whatever THM meal I prepare. If physically, I am unable to prepare our meals (I have psoriatic arthritis and spends days unable to walk, sit, or stand), my family now makes sure they serve me something within the THM guidelines. My older sons, when they visit, are also comfortable eating this way, again not needing to loose weight, but wanting to eat healthy. All that being said, I give thanks for my supportive family. Also, from 1/2/2017 to 6/1/2017, I did not loose one pound. From 6/1- today, I have lost almost 14 pounds. What’s the difference? Desserts only 1-2 times. Limiting dairy and baked goods, as well as watching portion sizes. I guess I took “food freedom” a bit too far,and was eating more calories than my body needed.
Thank you Briana for sharing your journey. I told my sons about you. They said to that you also because it was good to hear of another young person being healthy on THM. They also wanted me to thank you for writing the cookbook as they enjoy the desserts and foods you have created.
Briana Thomas says
Thanks for sharing your story, Dianne! It’s encouraging to hear about families working together in this.
Rebecca Pechin says
Thank you for this post and your honesty, Brianna. Your THM journey is similar to mine – even though I am a 60 year old California “girl”, and other things about us are very different. We share a common faith, however, and I felt like I could relate to your story on many levels. I am a retired educator (public school district leader), but keep being pulled back into the work world and traveling also. Traveling – for work or for pleasure – is challenging. It’s doable, as you and others have pointed out, but it definitely takes planning and discipline to a whole new level! I sometimes feel that everyone else but me on this THM journey is a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom, and that is far from my reality. So, I found your tips about desserts and snacks helpful, and even though I’ve read those very hints from Pearl and Serene, I needed to hear them again this morning. Last thing…as one of your followers, I do chuckle sometimes at how different we are, you and I, but first and foremost, we share a faith in God, and I love your smarts, dedication, and recipes! You go girl, and keep it coming. Grateful for you!
Briana Thomas says
Thanks so much for your kind encouragement, Rebecca. It’s great to have you here. 😉
Debb DeFord says
Thank you for sharing! I will be starting THM ~again~ after my surgery this month (80 plus pounds to lose). I’ve been taking chemo and had to just eat what I could during treatments, and that included lots of high calorie foods when my body could handle it. I have enjoyed your blog for a while now, and I also really enjoy the horses! Congrats on 4 years and thanks again!
Glenda says
It’s a joy to hear your story and to see the wisdom you’ve gained. I started THM June 30, 2016 and now as I’ve begun year 2 the learning will continue. I agree with you about being aware of our own body needs and how to juggle the meals to meet our needs. I’m grateful for all you have shared on your blog and cookbook as you helped me so much in my first year on THM! Thank you!
Dana says
Always an inspiration! My first Trim-a-versary is in 3 weeks. I haven’t lost as much as I’d hoped, but I’m healthier overall, cutting down & even out prescription medications. Both my husband and I pay the next day when we go off plan like we did last night celebrating Independence Day with our kids & Grandkids. But like you said, eating what’s served “in the interest of maintaining relationships and not causing a fuss” has it’s own rewards. Your recent breakthroughs are similar to mine and apparently many others who to!low your blog.
Oh, and I second what Cindy Bailey posted: Titus 2 definitely can work both ways and I’m so grateful for your faith and your blog!
May God keep blessing you and your family.
Kaye Thompson says
Briana, I really enjoyed the story of your THM journey. It is very encouraging for “lifers” like me–was 2 years in May 2017. I have lost 102-maximum and at this point I am gaining a few pounds and losing it back off too. I intend to lose about 60 more pounds if I can. I am 65 years old and been fat to some degree all of my life. Now I have some health issues that get in the way somewhat with exercise and losing but have been very successful up to this point. Being a lifelong overeater I still struggle with just overeating THM good on plan foods but I am working on it. The things that you pointed out in this most recent blog are things that I have begun to realize about my journey as well. Your cook book and blogs are very helpful and encoraging in my lifelong journey as it continues. Congratulations for starting your journey so early in life. God bless you in your future endeavors and the sharing you do so well.
Briana Thomas says
Thank you for sharing your story, Kaye!
LaRae says
Love your honesty and can totally relate. My THM journey started 3 1/2 years ago, and yes, I can relate to much of your struggles! I quickly lost 33 lbs, having started out in a ‘bursting at the seams” size 12, down to a size 6 (probably just vanity size 6 as I would only buy the size 6 pants that would fit, haha!) A year ago today, my mom passed away, and as her caretaker right through home hospice, I wasn’t able to exercise much, and certainly struggled to keep on plan with many extended hospital stays with her towards the end (she had dementia along with other physical issues) so I ended up gaining back around 10-15 lbs, depending on the time of month I check in. However…my pants size did not go back up as rapidly as my weight did; now only in a size 8 and maintaining! This amazes me. I am with you in the goal to add more muscle, which will add more weight, but who cares what we weigh anyway! I can identify with your love for desserts and am guilty of stacking on top of the heavy S meals also…so will try to scale back and do more FP’s and also portion control! (THM food is GOOD, especially with your recipes!) I also am trying to include more quick bursts of cardio throughout the day, as the THM sisters point out that ” less is more” if you do interval training, and pair with some weight training. Thanks for all your posts. They are helpful, funny and inspiring!
Briana Thomas says
Yes, it sounds like we’ve experienced some of the same “revelations”! It sounds like you’ve made a lot of progress – keep hanging in there and we’ll both hope we can hit that goal in the end. Hey, we have the rest of our lives to work on it! Thanks for reading!
Sandy says
I started thm a year ago and I love your recipes and the story you tell along the journey. I am glad to know an honest down to earth “southern girl ” to create delicious foods .Love the foal, just beautiful. Sincerely, Sandy from east Tennessee
Briana Thomas says
Hi Sandy! Thanks so much for following along! Blessings from a fellow southerner. 😉
Kristen Walden says
Thank you for your encouraging post. I have lost 23 lbs. since starting in Jan. 2017. The first 10 came off easily. The last 13 not so easy. I am what Pearl and Serene describe as a “turtle” loser. I am not at my goal weight, but have made tremendous steps in the right direction and have been able to share my testimony and my THM plan book. The thing that keeps me on track is planning and eating only every 3 hours. I teach 1st grade and I used to snack all the time. Now I snack only on what I bring to work and only within the 3 hour mark from my last meal. Adding protein to every meal has also helped me feel full and not starving 1 hour after I eat. I went on my first vaca after loosing the first 15 lbs. I was so scared I would gain back all that I had lost. We ate out every night, but I found it easy to stick to plan with salads and protein. I went shopping to get the healthy snacks I needed. I lost 3 lbs that week. The 2nd vaca I took since being on plan, I planned a little better and was able to take items needed to make my morning shakes. I did not loose, but I did not gain. I also ate a lot of fresh fish this 2nd vaca. I am going on my 3rd vaca since being on plan and have my plan in place. Things I can’t buy at local stores there, I am having shipped to where I am staying. I am flying and do not want my protein and collagen confiscated at the airport. I am a THM girl for life as well!
Briana Thomas says
Congratulations on your success and planning, Kristen! It sounds like you have a great plan in place.
Joan Van Santen says
Just a tip on flying with THM … I put my collagen in a Stevia jar which is much smaller, and have never had it removed… have traveled to both China and Ecuador this way this past year 🙂
Connie Vellekoop says
Thank you for this post — it’s encouraging to me, age 71, mostly in a wheelchair (post-polio–1947) and very much a Turtle loser. I lost 20 lbs, but have maintained the same weight (up and down 3 lbs) for 2 years or so. I also find the desserts cause weight gain, as well as cheese, peanut butter. I’m about 5 lbs away from my goal weight and have a really hard time getting there! Am heading to Mexico with hubby for a month in August for ministry and am a bit concerned about all that wonderful Mexican food!! Am taking whey protein, collagen, Truvia packets, and Pure’ Stevia, to try to off-set the other.
Briana Thomas says
Wow, it sounds like you are super close and have made wonderful progress, Connie! Hang in there – it’ll come.
Tamara says
Love, love, LOVE this!! I totally identify with many of the things you mentioned in this post! Thank you so much for being real and honest with us. You have no idea how encouraging this was to me!
Briana Thomas says
Good! I’m so glad to hear that, Tamara!
Janis Combs says
Congratulations on your fourth anniversary!
Judy says
Good morning. Thank you for your testimony. I enjoy reading your post. It encourages me and gives information I use. God is good!!! I have been on them since March and have lost 30 pounds and feel wonderful?
Briana Thomas says
I’m so happy to hear that, Judy!
Cyndi says
Congratulations on your four year journey. It is so refreshing to see an honest, real blog post about THM and the struggles we face. IF the truth were know, your journey reflects most of our journey’s. It is a journey not a destination. I think my big issue is consistency and dilgence with planning. I, too, am like you, I fly by the seat of my “dress”. Thanks for the encouragement.
Briana Thomas says
“It is a journey, not a destination.” You hit it spot on. Thank you, Cyndi!
Ann Werner says
Enjoyed reading your story. While you didn’t have a lot to lose, THM is about healthy eating and is a way of life. I still have about 50 to lose and it might take me another couple years but with all the good recipes I’ll get there. I feel great and yes I need to follow your idea about more E and FP.
Briana Thomas says
You’re definitely on the right track, Ann! Blessings to you in your journey. Slow and steady wins the race, after all.
Cindy Bailey says
Thanks so much for sharing. I can imagine your weight and worse yet, your health if you had not had THM to return to after traveling. Some of your comments remind me of conversation during a recent Bible Study I led. The 2 chapters were entitled At Liberty and A Sophron(greek word for self control) state of mind. Liberty to eat anything does not mean we should. You gave some great guidance on being sophron. This 60 year old greatly appreciated learning from a young woman in her 20’s. Titus 2 works both ways. Thanks again.
Briana Thomas says
Thanks for sharing, Cindy! I thought of that too – who knows where I’d be if I didn’t have the THM basics to go by while traveling and upon returning home!