The Battle of The Bulge, Part 357

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will be well aware of my battle with the scale, specifically the fact that I can't seem to lose this pesky 40 LB's of unsightly adipose that makes me look like the Pillsbury Dough Mommy. I have tried almost everything, but with my insulin resistance and PCOS, I have finally realized that the only way for me to lose this weight is to go (insert dramatic music here) LOW CARB FOR LIFE.

How depressing is that? Seriously, what kind of life is one in which you can't have big bowls of pasta and steaming hot french bread, bagels overflowing with cream cheese and ice cream with hot fudge melting its icy goodness...oh man, I just drooled on my computer keyboard.

But I had to step back and take a good, long look at what I wanted from my life. Did I want to keep gaining weight until I couldn't get off the couch without someone pulling my hand to assist me? Did I want to find myself with diabetes in 20 years from being fifty pounds overweight and ignoring my predisposition to the disease by eating too many carbs and indulging in sugary treats? Did I want to continue to shy away from letting my husband see me naked with the lights on because I am so ashamed of the cellulite rolls and the fact that my thighs can't even remember the day when they weren't rubbing together like two animals trying to stay warm?

In a word, NO.

And I know if I don't lose this weight and get pregnant again within the next year like I am hoping to, that I will find myself 90 or a hundred pounds overweight after giving birth again, rather than the 40 I am right now. Many of my friends have said "why not just finish having kids and THEN lose weight so you won't gain it back?" To that I say that I am pretty sure it is easier to lose 40 pounds twice than a hundred pounds once. I could be wrong, but I would much rather start my pregnancy at a healthy weight, plus I don't want to put myself at risk for gestational diabetes by being overweight when I get pregnant.

So you know what all this means right? Yup, it means that Dr. Atkins and I have started a very intimate relationship. One that is not going to only last until I lose the desired amount of weight, then commence in an awkward break-up and lots of emotional eating until I gain all the weight back; but a true, lasting, lifelong relationship, in which I change the way I eat and look at food. I didn't want to do it. I resisted, I tried to convince myself that I could do it my own way, but really, I was in denial. So I have decided to get off this disastrous, dangerous rollercoaster they call "dieting" and do what has to be done.

And of course I will continue working out almost every day, feeling the burn and building that much needed sinew. That is the part of the equation that never changes. But now, instead of working out and working out to no avail and only feeling stronger but not seeing any results on the scale or my waistline, this time I have the magic recipe for feeling strong AND losing the fat. I have already lost five pounds since I started last week, so I know this is what I should be doing.

Now comes the surprising part--It's not as hard as I thought it would be. I'm not miserable, I am not craving sugar and carbs, nor am I ravenously hungry. Every other time I have tried to cut carbs out of my diet, I have been a moody, emotional mess and couldn't look at a piece of bread without bursting into tears. It's not like that this time. And I finally figured out why.

This time is different. I have made the committment to change my life, my health and my body so completely and fully that it is as if my mind will not allow me to stray from my proposed plan. Realistically, I know that in a week and a half, I can have some carbs again, and in a few months I will even be able to have whole grain breads and pastas. Will I ever be able to binge on my favorite foods on a regular basis? No. But I am finally able to look at it and realize that it is a small price to pay to find the woman inside that I know is hiding under all the folds and rolls of fat.

I want to live a long, active life with my children and I want to proudly strip naked for my husband in the bright lights of day. I want to put on a bathing suit without tears and wear shorts in the summer when it's hot instead of roasting in long pants because I can't stand to show my legs. And finally, I want to look in the mirror and see a body that is strong and lean, one that I am proud of and makes me feel powerful and like I can do anything.

Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? So tell me, what is something YOU have been wanting to do, something you know you NEED to do, that you have been putting off because you think it will be too hard? Maybe you just need to take a long look at the alternative and then make the committment. Sometimes, just changing your attitude and looking at things from a different angle can be exactly what you need. If I can do it, you can do it.

So here's to hoping I can do it...who's taking bets?

Muffin Top Be Gone: Captain Fat Blaster to the Rescue!

Well, as most of my readers know, I have been fighting the muffin top and trying to lose a few (OK, MANY) pounds ever since I had my daughter *ahem* two and a half years ago. It has been an ongoing struggle for me, mostly because I work from home, run my blog and have two kids, a husband, a dog, and an old falling down house to deal with. Yeah, basically, my life is BUSY with a capital "B" and I feel like I just don't have the time or energy to exercise. Well, my good friend Ed from Fit Dad has a fitness and nutrition ebook that he is promoting this week and I told him I would check it out and let my readers know about it. Ed is AWESOME and he has really motivated me to get into shape with his material and his workouts, which are only 10 minutes a day, five days a week!!

The program is called Fat Loss To Go: 10 Minute Workouts for The Busiest Wonder Moms and Super Dads. Ed just turned 30 (which is right around the corner for me--EEK!), so he revamped the program and added a BUNCH of bonuses, so you get a total of 30 weeks' worth of workouts at the original price. Here is what you get when you download the ebook:

-10 Minute a Day, 5 Day a Week Fat Loss To Go book
-Fat Loss To Go Nutrition Guide

Bonuses:

-15 extra weeks of workouts
-Add-on Workouts for Trouble Spots
-Add-on Workouts Just for Abs
-Eating Right Made Simple Book
-Gourmet Nutrition Dessert Book
-Dumbbell/Body Weight 8-Week Program
-Mom Only 4-Week Program
-30-Day Posture Improvement Book

Ed is determined to help all us flabby moms and dads reach the fitness levels we should be at, by teaching us how to become Wonder Moms and Super Dads through his programs, and I for one, am ready for it! He has also turned his fat loss crusade into a funny ongoing story of Captain Fat Blaster, the weight loss superhero who is battling his nemesis, the evil Dr. Fatty and his henchmen Laze and the Time Sucker. If you haven't read the story of these comic book characters, head over to The Fit Dad's blog and read all about them. And while you are at it, check out the ebooks, which are going to be available with all the bonuses for a mere $39.95 only until 11:59 on December 17th.

Thank you Fit Dad for helping me get off my rear end and start the journey to becoming the Wonder-Mom that I know I am!

And everyone else, go check out his blog and his programs so Dr. Fatty doesn't win the battle of the bulge!

Are You a Mommy or Did You EAT One?

Well, it has officially gotten out of hand. The Halloween candy eating, that is. And now I stare in the mirror and dissect my less than perfect body, zeroing in on the lumps, bumps and cottage cheesy flesh that hang from my skeleton like unwanted baggage. Like those saddlebags, for instance...I don't know about you, but I don't ride horses all that often (except in those dreams where I am riding bareback down the beach with...um, well, nevermind) so I certainly do not need those. And, although it sounds yummy and delicious, my muffin top is anything but. Which brings me to the topic of my BUTT. What can I say, J-Lo's got nothing on me. But instead of my ass drawing media attention for it's curvy sex appeal, mine just functions really well for sitting on it at the computer ALL THE TIME. Something's gotta give. And today is the day that I have decided I am going to do something that will motivate me to become the hot momma that I know I really am inside this fat suit. First of all, I joined The Muffin Top Killers, started by Jamie over at My Suburban Can Run Over Your Minivan...and Will. It is an awesome private blog for those of us mommies looking to squash the muffin top and become all sexy, all the time. Secondly, I am posting a picture of my muffin top for all to see--yes people, I am going to show you something that I never allow--a picture of me from the neck down.

This is something that has not been seen by human eyes for at least three years--since before I got pregnant with my daughter and my body got taken over by aliens (it's the only explanation I can come up with). So here it is:
Sorry about the fuzziness, but my daughter takes a really shitty picture (usually of up my nose or part of my ear) so I had to use the good old mirror trick. But you get the general idea. The lighting is perfect for you to see that bulge right above the waistband of my jeans; the famous muffin top. There's mine, in full color. Actually, it feels kinda liberating to get it out there--I HAVE A MUFFIN TOP, AND HERE IT IS. Below the muffin top, you can see the evidence of the chubby thighs squeezed into the jeans, but thank GOD, my knees look great, don't they? Thankfully this picture doesn't show my wings (and we're not talking the ones that can fly) because they are hidden by my long sleeved shirt. But trust me, they are there. And when I wave goodbye, WATCH OUT--you might get slapped with the flap!

So in the spirit of motivation, here is what I would LIKE to look like:

Oh wait, wrong picture. How did THAT get on my computer...

Here's the right one (you're welcome to the four guys that read my blog):

You know, I don't have completely unrealistic expectations or anything...

But really, I know I will never look like this woman (aside from getting massive amounts of plastic surgery and obtaining a personal trainer, a personal nutritionist and a stylist). But I want to look in the mirror and say "Damn girl, you be bangin'!" instead of "Dang lady, are you a mommy or did you EAT one? I want to pull on my pants and button them without straining and pulling in my gut until it hurts, only to have the fat spill out over the top as soon as I get them fastened.

So...I am going to rededicate myself to working out, eating right, drinking water, and stopping the constant shoveling of candy into my piehole...mmm, pie...ergh, sorry...got a little distracted there...

I think I have my work cut out for me...

I Stress;Therefore, I'm FAT

I stress eat. Anyone else in this awful little boat with me? You know, the one that throws you around in the raging sea of your hunger until you give in, jump into the water and eat yourself into a food coma? Yeah, that's the one I'm in too. And it ain't no pleasure cruise, let me tell you.

Life has been a little stressful lately. I guess "little" is an understatement. Between waiting for my house to be finished, the kids, work, trying to stay afloat in this vicious economy, and some family "issues," I have been, we shall say for the sake of not calling myself anything hideous, "on edge." OK, OK, basically I have been a raving bitchy lunatic. But there is one thing that pulls me out of my stress-induced insanity, and that is ICE CREAM. Lately, at the end of a "pull your hair out, want to run away from home and put your kids on the curb" day, all I want is a big bowl of cold, creamy goodness smothered in chocolate syrup. I can feel it come on just after dinner. It's a little nagging feeling that can't be ignored. I deserve it, I tell myself. It will ease the pain of the stressful day (yes, I actually momentarily believe this to be true).

However, there is a catch to this little solution to my stress. After I eat this delicious, delectable and delightful treat...I FEEL SO MUCH WORSE.

Because the next stage in the sick little cycle is that I feel horribly guilty for pigging out and wish that I hadn't. You would think, being the intelligent and level-headed woman that I am, that I would be able to outsmart the cycle and realize before I eat the food that it is NOT going to make me feel better and that I am going to regret it after, so I may as well not eat it. Yes, you would think so. But tragically, no. It is as if I am possessed by the chocolate devil and somehow all past memories of the aftermath of the ice cream are sucked out of my head, leaving behind it a trail of rationalizations that assure me that YES, this ice cream will make it aaaaallllllll better.

So after the regretted eating of the ice cream, I tell myself NOT to do it again and that tomorrow will be different. But so far, every tomorrow is the same. When I stress, I eat to make it go away. And it doesn't, and I start all over again. How do I break this evil and manipulative cycle that is playing mind games with me to the point that I am almost done caring? What is it that is going to fill that void that I try to stuff with ice cream and cookies until I explode? I was loved as a kid. I get enough affection from my husband (when he's around) and I am trying to love myself. Aside from eliminating my life of all stressors (which, who are we kidding, is impossible), I am at a loss as to how to nip this in the bud.

I am seriously considering some shock therapy or hypnosis, but then with my luck, every time someone said ice cream, I would take off all my clothes and cluck like a chicken.

Has anyone else conquered this beast? Does anyone have any pearls of wisdom to help me eliminate this monkey on my back that foils my attempts at weight loss again and again? I am fully open to suggestion. Here is the suggestion box; start filling it up!

Today You are in Happily-Ever-After-Land--You're Welcome!

My lovely friend Jennifer from Happily-Ever-After-Land has agreed to guest post for me today, so everyone enjoy her and play nice while I go gaze at the sharks and penguins at the Aquarium, OK? Now what did I say? You're going to play nice, right? Good. Now that we have that settled, with no further ado, heeeeeeeere's Jennifer!

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The Wise (*Young*) Mommy has deserted you to go gallivanting around with some Brit. In the interim, she has left you in the care of ME, The Not-So-Wise (*A Little Less Young*) Mommy of Happily-Ever-After-Land, to entertain you hooligans until she gets back (hopefully not reeking of cheap martinis, but let’s not hold our breath)!

So today I finally caved. I have had a love/hate relationship with my post-baby body ever since, well, actually, since BEFORE I was pregnant! But said relationship has certainly become more tumultuous since baby’s arrival.

First, I stayed in my maternity wear for WAY too long. Nothing makes you feel more like you’re still pregnant then a pair of those awful jeans with the stretchy waistband that give you that oh-so-attractive “poopy-butt” look.

But, lo and behold, after a couple months, I managed to fit in my (previously considered) “fat jeans.” Hallelujah!

That lasted about a second, and then a few more pounds crept back to my rear section.

By then, I was alright with purchasing a couple pairs of jeans in my new *correct* size. No worries, I thought, I’ll be back to my old weight in no time!

After about a year (I am nothing if not stubborn) of trying to squeeze my poor body into all my old Junior’s Section clothes, I faced up to reality and finally bought some clothes that fit.

And yes, that included the dreaded “Mom Jeans.”

However, there was one item that I held out on. The very last article of clothing that contained my self-esteem…..that contained the hope I still clung to of a lighter version of myself…..that contained my ass.

That’s right ladies (and probably one dude out there, Hi Honey!), I’ve bought New Underwear.

And that underwear is ONE SIZE LARGER.

Yes, I know, take a moment to feel my defeat.

Oddly enough, I’m OK with this newest purchase. I mean, it’s not like I didn’t see it coming. Everything else is a size larger (or two, but I’m not admitting to it!). And I had become irritated with the Triple Bump Lump.

What’s that, Petra-Devotees? You were not aware of the Triple Bump Lump? Well, then, let me educate you!

According to the Official Dictionary of Happily-Ever-After-Land, the Triple Bump Lump is when the elastic of one’s underwear digs into the fatty areas of one’s hips and thighs, so as to create a lump at the upper thigh (where bottom elastic of underwear is stretched to its limit), a bump where the hip is trying desperately to free itself from said bondage (aka: underwear), and a second lump at the hip bone (where top elastic of underwear is holding on for dear life - in some circles, known as a “muffin top”).

This is not to be confused with the Quadruple Lump Bumps, which is when the cups of one’s bra dig into each breast, so as to create a “quadra-boob” look. Not a problem for me, but one that my sister is intimately aware of.

My Triple Bump Lump was grossly out of control. Somewhere, Victoria Secret was in a corner crying for me, and asking God, “WHY?”

But, alas, no more! The latest trip to Target saw a purchase of some brand new undies, one size UP, thank you very much.

Mind you, they were very cheap undergarments, and the old ones are still resting comfortably in my dresser drawer. A girl can’t lose ALL hope that those 20 pounds will melt themselves away!

Now, now, dry your tears. Our beloved Petra will be returning shortly, and you won’t have to be subjected to underwear humor or made-up dictionary entries anymore! Of course, she’ll probably be speaking drunken British by then, so who knows if any of us will be able to understand her!

Toddler Jam

First of all, a big patronizing pat on the back for ME! You wanna know why? Because I did Turbo Sculpt and got through the whole sweaty, agonizing 50 minutes WHILE my daughter was awake and in the same room. It was Toddler Jam time in my house, and she lifted 2 pound weights, did squats and got down on the floor with me and did ab work. Intermittently she would sigh, wipe her brow and say "whew, this is too hard," and switch to tending to her baby dolls, but that was fine with me. And I didn't even mind that I had to pause the DVD a few times to help her put a shirt on her dolly, change a doll's diaper and wipe up spilled orange juice from the cup she found in the kitchen. I may be on to something here. If I can get her to work out "with" me, maybe I can actually make time every day to do it. Wouldn't that be a miracle? What I would give to see my waistline again and to be able to wave without worrying about my jiggling arms hitting someone in the head.

And I have been pondering something...how much do you think I would have to exercise in order to be able to eat anything I wanted and still lose weight? I know you've all wondered. So many times I have heard those skinny bitches, I mean atheletic moms, say that they eat whatever they want because they run seventeen kazillion miles a day or attend hot sauna yoga-lates five times a week. If they can do it, so can I right?

It's just a thought. And it's not like I want to eat 3,000 calories a day and be a skinny bitch. You know, a carton of Ben and Jerry's here and there and some Oreos or chocolate chip cookies on a daily basis would work for me. Oh yeah, and don't forget the one or two glasses of red wine at night. I want to be able to indulge myself in the foods that I love (MMM..pasta, bread, FRENCH FRIES!) without wanting to kill myself after ingesting them. Is that so much to ask? How much of my day would I be willing to sacrifice to working out in order to have this ability? I'm not sure, but I am willing to look into it.

Changing gears. I just realized that most of my posts have to do with weight loss and self-image. I suppose this says a lot about me, eh? (That was my Canadian accent for my friends up north. I like to mix it up and make everyone feel at home.) I hope that my obsession with these issues isn't boring to my audience, but they always say "write what you know," so I guess that's what I know. I hope I don't have to change the blog's name to The Wise (Fat) Mommy or The Wise (Neurotic and Obsessed) Mommy. But the day will come when I am no longer young, so the name will have to be changed eventually. I am hoping at that point I will still be smokin' hot and will have reached all my weight loss goals and I can name it The Wise Cougar Mommy (makes sexy purring sound--(even though I can't even do that in real life)).

Well, I have digressed. The point of the post is that my 2-year-old is now a fitness junkie in training and I'm pretty pumped. I will look at this as mother/daughter bonding, not that I am passing on my neurotic obsessions to the next generation. That will make me feel better about it, I think. God forbid I send my baby to therapy where she tells her therapist that her mother forced her to tone and sculpt at such a young age that she can't even look at a barbell without needing a Xanax.

*Sigh. Keeping your kids out of therapy is tough man!

I Have Met the Devil...

...and her name is Jillian Michaels...you'll have to excuse me, I am still trying to catch my breath and stop the pounding in my chest...

OK, so I just did Level 1 of The 30 Day Shred, and all I have to say is LEVEL 1 MY ASS! I guess I am a LOT more out of shape than I thought I was, because about 2 minutes in I was ready to collapse. This work-out is INTENSE with a capital WTF? Since it is only 20 minutes long (the longest 20 minutes of my life!), there are NO breaks, not even for water, so as the sweat was POURING off my face, I couldn't even swallow my throat was so dry and I thought my limbs were going to give out on me. I began to hate, and I mean really hate, Jillian Michaels. I was compelled to jump right through the television (because in my little fantasy world, I can do that) and strangle her muscular little neck.

But lo and behold, even though I had to take little five second breaks here and there, I made it through to the end. Here I sit, in a puddle of my own perspiration, thinking "how in the world am I going to be able to do that again tomorrow?" But I must stay positive and believe in myself that I will find the strength to do it again. I do feel slightly energized and more than a little proud of myself for finally getting back up on that horse. (And I think a glass of wine later on to congratulate myself will make it all worth it as well).

But to Jillian Michaels, at this point in time, I would like to say "GO TO HELL YOU EXERCISE WHORE!"

I feel much better now.

My Butt Isn't Getting Any Smaller

I did not work out today. Just like yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that. It has probably been at least a month since I did, something I am not proud to admit. I have had very good intentions of working out, really I have. I swear. It's just (turns on whiny voice) so haaaaaard. I am finding it extremely difficult to motivate myself to find even 30 minutes during the day in which to get my butt moving to burn some calories. This, in my opinion, is pathetic. I should be able to squeeze in 30 minutes, shouldn't I? But I just keep finding myself using those 30 minutes to do ANYTHING else that needs to be done (or doesn't actually NEED to be done, such as obsessively blogging). I am not sure what happened to me. I used to be a pilates instructor for Gary's sake! (By the way, I don't know who Gary is, so don't ask). I worked out about three hours a day, and I liked it. Now I avoid it like a bikini wax, and my butt is paying the price.

I desperately want to be one of those moms that gets up early in the morning, straps her toddler into the jogging stroller and runs five miles before breakfast. I see those mommies out on the road in their spandex shorts and baseball caps and think "what motivates them to do this?" When I wake up in the morning, you know what I want to do? Go back to sleep. Yes, that's right, the LAST thing I want to do is get up and EXERT myself, after such a long, exhausting night of not sleeping because my mind just won't shut off and I can't stop writing blog posts and making lists in my head. Lists of what, you might ask. The answer is ANYTHING. I just make lists in my head--to-do lists, grocery lists, goals I want to set for myself (including working out regularly and losing weight), and anything else that can be listed in a list. (You already know I am crazy, why are you surprised?) So yeah, working out in the morning--not so much.

So the next suggestion you might make would be to work out while my daughter takes her nap. This would be a good suggestion, except for a couple of facts. 1. I never know whether she is actually going to nap or not and 2. When she does, I am so excited that I want to celebrate by doing stuff that I can't do when she is awake. The things that fall into this category are: cleaning the bathroom, folding laundry, reading, working, and writing without interruption. Today I had EVERY intention of working out as soon as I put Baby Girl down for her nap, but I got caught up writing, commenting and dropping entrecards and before I knew it, she was awake. DAMN ME! If I were a good little girl, I would have put her to bed and immediately changed into my work out clothes to start my new 30 Day Shred DVD. Yes, I received it two days ago and have yet to break the plastic seal.

The last option is, of course, at night. HA. Yeah right. By 6 p.m. I am lucky that I can carry on a conversation, nevermind work up a sweat. I never realized how completely EXHAUSTING being a mother is, but fo' sho' it is. In the evening, I concentrate on trying to bathe the baby, putting together some semblance of dinner and keeping myself from curling up on the couch at 7 after I put her to bed. Not to mention that a lot of evenings, I like to congratulate myself on making it through one more day of motherhood with a nice glass of wine, and we all know that drinking and exercising just don't mix!

So how am I going to get myself to drop the lazy mommy act and work on finding my waist again? Maybe I should make myself an incentive chart like we used to use for Big Boy when he wouldn't do ANYTHING that we asked him to. He got stars for doing things like brushing his teeth, cleaning his room and following directions. Perhaps I can earn stickers for working out and after I get so many, I can get myself something nice. Or maybe I need someone to call me every day and give me a guilt trip. (Don't everybody volunteer here, I'm just throwing out ideas). I've heard of people putting up pictures of them at their heaviest to "motivate" them, but I'm afraid that would just depress me and make me eat a pint of Ben and Jerry's, thus defeating the purpose.

I would love to hear from all of you on how you motivate yourselves to exercise, and when you fit it in. Just remember, I am currently going through my "lazy" period, so anything that involves a lot of effort isn't going to be considered. But feel free to suggest anything that cuts corners, saves time or requires minimal effort on my part :-) Thanks.

P.S. Anyone that takes this post completely seriously and feels compelled to leave me a comment about not being able to see results without putting in effort, blah-de-blah-de-blah, please keep your comments to yourself, because I know that silly, I am trying to be entertaining here! Thanks again.

Top Ten Reasons I Have a Muffin Top

OK, so I fell off the diet wagon--HARD. Luckily, my ass is so fat that it broke my fall and it barely hurt at all. But, it did get me thinking of all the reasons why I just can't seem to lose these extra pounds that are clinging to me for dear life. So I have come up with a list--The Top Ten Reasons I Have a Muffin Top. (For those of you that don't know what a muffin top is, put on a pair of jeans that are too tight and top it off with a spandex shirt and you will quickly learn what it is.)

# 10. I was going for a J-Lo booty and just went too far...

# 9. Watching FitTv doesn't actually burn calories...

# 8. Whenever I have free time, I choose to take a shower over exercising...

# 7. Although it makes me sweat profusely, paying bills is not actually exercise...

# 6. I feel it necessary to finish the uneaten food on my children's plates, because in this economy, who am I to waste food??

# 5. I spend all day sitting around with my feet up eating bon-bons (HA! Yeah right!)

# 4. I love Ben and Jerry's. 'Nuff said.

# 3. I spend so much time in front of my computer that the radioactive waves coming off the device are mutating my genetics in such a way that makes it impossible for me to lose weight...

# 2. I don't want my husband to feel insecure that I will leave him if I get a rockin' bod...

And the # 1 reason I have a muffin top--

BLOGGING DOES NOT COUNT AS EXERCISE!!!

A Weight Loss Supplement that Actually Works--With NO Side Effects--Hallelujah!

I will admit it, I am a slave to the "diet." I try to convince myself that I "just want to be healthy" (which I do, of course), but most importantly I really want to shed those baby pounds that are stubbornly sticking to my belly, butt, thighs...OK, everywhere! I have tried pretty much everything to lose weight over the years. I have tried all the diet pills (including those ultra naughty ones with ephedra) and have done most of the work-outs. One of my biggest problems is my lack of time to exercise. I am a realist; I know that if I just worked out every day for about an hour doing high impact cardio that I would probably lose the weight in no time. But I just don't have that kind of time on my hands (what mother does?). So I try to squeeze in a half hour of some kind of exercise--my favorites being yoga and pilates for their gentleness on my knees--and I try to eat sensibly. The last component of my diet is always some kind of supplement because I tend to do a lot of research on natural ways to enhance or support your weight loss. In my extensive research and experience over the years, I find that I lose weight best while following a low-carb, low glycemic index diet (which pretty much means almost no sugar and no white refined carbs). As for the supplements, cinnamon is supposed to help with maintaining blood glucose levels, which in turn helps in the body's ability to process sugar properly. I just recently learned about raspberry ketones, which help with cravings and sugar processing. But the best thing I found recently was Tonalin CLA.

According to the Tonalin CLA web site:

CLA stands for conjugated linoleic acid—a fatty acid known for promoting good health. CLA is already in the foods we eat. But there’s less of it now. Beef and dairy used to be our biggest source of CLA. But diets have changed over the past 30 years. We eat more low-fat dairy now. And cows eat more grain than grass. These changes have drastically reduced the amount of CLA we all consume.

Today, the recommended daily dose of CLA is 3.4 grams. To achieve that level through your diet, you would have to consume more than 4 gallons of ice cream, seven pounds of beef, or almost 4 gallons of whole milk. Every day.

Fortunately, scientists developed a proprietary process to convert the linoleic acid of pure safflower oil into CLA (conjugated linoleic acid)—making it easy to take advantage of CLA’s many benefits. Be sure to ask for TONALIN® CLA, the highest form of all CLAs available."

I did my own research and found Tonalin CLA to be getting good reviews on multiple other fitness/weight loss web sites. UltimateFatBurner.com included CLA as one of their recommended weight loss products (and they are VERY picky about what they endorse!). Below is their full review.

CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) Review

CLA, or Conjugated Linoleic Acid, is a non-essential fatty acid found primarily in meat and dairy products. CLA is found in the highest concentrations in the meat of animals that chew their cud. Cows and sheep are good examples of such animals.

There is some decent data indicating that CLA, taken in doses from .7 to 4.5 grams daily, can decrease body fat mass in obese and overweight people (the optimal dose seems to be about 3.2 grams daily -- see Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 May;85(5):1203-11). CLA appears to work by inhibiting the action of the enzyme lipoprotein lipase (LPL) -- the enzyme that is responsible for transferring fat from the blood stream to the fat cells.

There is also some evidence that indicates higher doses of CLA can increase lean body mass. This contributes to an elevated metabolism, which is a good thing for weight loss! (J Nutr. 2007 May;137(5):1188-93.)

Unfortunately, it's impossible to get the beneficial effects of CLA directly from meat and cheese.

Why?

This fatty acid is available naturally in very low concentrations. In other words, you'd need to consume a huge amount of high-fat foods to obtain a reasonable amount of this supplement. By doing this, of course, you'd negate any positive benefits.

That's why it's necessary to supplement with CLA. Research has shown that CLA has great potential as a diet aid -- helping to prevent additional weight gain, and spurring on lean muscle growth.

In fact, several double-blind, placebo-controlled studies (see above) have confirmed that CLA reduces fat and preserves muscle tissue. And that's not all!

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) Benefits...

• Displays powerful anti-carcinogenic properties.
• Helps diabetics control blood sugar levels.
• Acts as an anti-oxidant.
• Encourages muscle growth
• Regulates and controls fat metabolism
• Improves good cholesterol levels
• Reduces the incidence of heart disease
• Accelerates fat weight loss

Even better, side effects associated with the use of the conjugated linoleic acid supplement are extremely rare, and when they do occur they're usually mild (often manifesting themselves as mild gastro-intestinal maladies).

Considering the controversy surrounding stimulant based fat burners, the CLA supplement represents a healthy and effective alternative. We especially like CLA for those who are sensitive to stimulants, or for seniors.

Dosage should start at a minimum of 3 grams per day for women, and 4 grams for men up to 200 lbs. Men over 200 lbs. will experience greater results with 5 grams per day.

When you're looking for a quality CLA supplement, look for the "Tonalin™" name somewhere on the label. While not absolutely necessary, Tonalin is the patented form of Conjugated Linoleic Acid that was used in the studies determining the effectiveness of this supplement.

I purchased Tonalin CLA on e-bay for $18 with free shipping from Club Natural, a well-known and reliable e-bay seller. You can find it in various other places, such as BodyBuilding.com, where they sell Primaforce Max CLA for about $16 a bottle plus shipping. Basically, for under $20, you can get started with CLA.


OK, now for my review. I started taking CLA about three weeks ago. I take 1200 mg three times a day, with each meal. Within a few days, I could notice a difference in my belly. It felt slimmer and tighter somehow. Taking the CLA was the only thing that I had changed, so my interest was immediately peaked. Over the next couple of weeks, my clothes started fitting better and my arms started looking much more toned. I hadn't exercised once this entire time! (I have been very busy, don't look at me like that!) But seriously, I had lost about five pounds and my body looked and felt like I had lost much more. I am attributing this to the CLA, since it was the only new thing in my diet regime. The very best part is that I have had absolutely NO side effects whatsoever. One of the worst things about other diet supplements for me has always been the jitteriness, insomnia or (worst of all) explosive diarrhea! CLA did none of this, but also has seemed to curb my cravings for sugar and carbs (my two diet nemeses).


I would like to add that this is NOT a paid advertisement and I am not receiving anything from this company for promoting this product. I just know so many women (especially moms) who are struggling to lose weight and could use a leg-up any way they can get it. Yes, we should all be exercising and eating lots of fresh veggies and whole grains, but at the end of the day, sometimes that is just not enough.