The Journey Begins

Today is the day that Marina helps herself finally lose the weight she has so wanted to lose.

Those that know her have seen the amazing things she can do when she puts her mind to it. She's strong, determined and focused singularly on the goals she sets out to reach. This time is no different. This time she'll reach her goal and maintain it. As she says, she isn't getting any younger. This is the time, the place, and the right approach for her to succeed, and I believe her.

We've seen successes before. Anyone that has known her the past 20 years has seen what she can achieve, but they've also seen what happens when she lets go of her goals. She said yesterday that she was tired of yo-yoing and I can understand that. Losing and then gaining it all back, plus some, isn't the way anyone wants to live. I've seen Marina fight the demons and lose more often than win, but I know this time is different. She's seen the successes of others and she knows if she has problems or questions that there are answers at a click or a phone call away. The support isn't from one or two people but from a multitude of sources. She has the determination, the fight, the desire and that makes me as hopeful as her.

We all know the "why" for Marina so let me explain the how. The program she is going on is called "Ideal Protein". Without going into huge volumes of who, what, where, and why this plan came about I'll make it simple and in point form.

• High protein, low carb
• Use of inexpensive vitamin supplements that we all should be taking even if we are not on this plan.
• No exercise for the first few weeks so she can get used to the detoxing of all the crap we normally eat on a day to day basis. (I am just as bad as all the rest out there, refined carbs, high fats, empty calories, low nutritional food items designed to satisfy the taste buds but not the body)
• Normal loss is 3 to 7 pounds a week for women, higher for men.
• Lean proteins that she eats 3 times a day and a protein of her choice at supper.
• More veggies than the average Canadian eats in a day. Her plan has a minimum of 4 cups of veggies plus unlimited lettuce. Ask yourself the last time you at 4 cups of veggies everyday for a period of time.
• Minimum of 8 glasses of water everyday. I think we all miss out on that one (can't count pop or coffee as part of your eight glasses)
• Weigh in once a week.

It's as simple as that.


So there we go, day one has started.