After reading it, I realized for the first time that I’ve acquired the unhealthy habit of overeating at the dinner table. I clean my plate every meal. It’s a habit, and I don’t even consider whether I feel full or not. I also feel like this shows appreciation to the cook (even when it’s me) by eating every single bite. And to further express my gratitude, I go back for seconds.

I also realized I still have the mentality that I’m eating for two — because for most of the past decade, I’ve been either pregnant or nursing. Especially during my pregnancies, I was more likely to overeat because I wanted to be sure my baby got all the nutrients possible. During the first trimester, it’s crucial to get the vitamins your infant needs as his or her brain and major organs are developing. So my motto became “More is more, just in case.”

Now I’m only eating for one, so I should notice when I feel full and then stop, whether or not my plate is clean or I’ve had seconds. Susan Leach also chews her food slowly. Part of my overeating habit comes from being famished before I sit down, then eating too fast.

Susan posts a rant every month on her website, Bariatric Eating. Here’s an excerpt from a horrible weekend she spent because she was surrounded by unhealthy food:

We sang ‘Happy Birthday’ and a plate with a very large square of birthday cake was handed to me. I stared at it for a moment, looked at the picnic table of unhealthy food and knew why their entire family was unhealthy and obese. To make things worse, they noticed that I didn’t touch my cake and one of ‘the Aunts’ made her second comment about there being something wrong with the food.

I have a long way to go, but thanks to this book, I’m more aware of how saying “no” to poor food choices and overeating means saying “yes” to healthier living. This is the secret, I’m sure, to permanent weight loss: eat only what your body needs.

Post from: Blisstree

The Secret to Permanent Weight Loss

Actually, somebody in cover design did a great job because skinny Susan in her black dress and killer shoes, set against the bright pink cover drew my eyes to this book immediately.

I confess I’d never thought about weight loss surgery before, so this book was eye-opening for me. After a lifetime of being chubby as a child and morbidly obese as an adult, Susan underwent gastric bypass surgery, dropping from 278 pounds to a mere 135 pounds within a year or two. She’s a living success story. This book documents her decision-making process, and how the surgery changed her life afterward, including over 100 of Susan’s original low carb, high-protein recipes. You can learn more by visiting her website, Bariatric Eating.

I loved this book! I loved Susan’s positive, can-do attitude and her willingness to reveal details of her incredible journey to help others. She is a magnificent cook, and just reading her recipes made me want to get out my blender and whip up one of her healthy protein shakes. For those who choose to undergo bariatric surgery, it’s a matter of life and death to avoid sugar, greasy foods, and overeating. Forever. There’s no going back. Yet shouldn’t we ALL be doing this?

I’ve seen the same type of “before & after” pictures of women who have succeeded in long-term weight loss by working out at Curves and completely changing their lifestyle habits. The change occurs first in the MIND — with an attitude of “I care about myself, so I’m going to take care of this one body I have.” Susan’s extreme measure is only one example. Reading this book has already impacted one MAJOR change in my own life, which I’ll tell you about in my next post.

Post from: Blisstree

Before & After, by Susan Maria Leach