Skeptic converted

[LastWomanStanding]

This is week 5 for me, and I have lost 7 pounds so far.

I am a 37 year old mother of two -- 5'6" and started at 191 -- the heaviest I have ever been in my non-pregnant life, with a BMI that fell in the "obese" category.  I heard about Shangri-La from another woman, whom I dislike.  I thought the whole thing sounded ridiculous, so I set out to prove her wrong.  I replaced the two sodas I used to drink each day with two cups of sugar water, each 12 oz and 140 calories, exactly the same as the soda.  This meant I was not changing my diet at all (other than removing the caffeine, sodium, colors and flavoring in the soda).  I didn't purposely reduce my calorie intake, and I didn't change my exercise habits.

I'm amazed at the results.  I'm much less hungry.  I don't crave sweets or soda (the way I have my entire life) -- in fact, I haven't had a soda in weeks now and I don't miss it.  I'm eating a reasonable portion size at meals and it's easy.  My BMI has dropped into the "overweight" category.  Wow, now I owe this acquaintance not only an apology but a thank you!

My goal is to use a combination of Shangri-La and additional exercise to lose another 30 pounds, which would get me back to a healthy weight for my height.

[losing-it]

Very cool. Welcome to Shagrii-La, converted skeptic woman. Stick with it. You'll do fine.

[Tandoori Trilobite]

Welcome aboard, LastWomanStanding!  Fortunately, humble pie raises neither your weight nor your set point!

[frenata]

I heard about Shangri-La from another woman, whom I dislike.  I thought the whole thing sounded ridiculous, so I set out to prove her wrong.

Haha! I love this part! Who says being vindictive doesn't pay dividends?

Incidentally, you're an interesting data point -- though Seth lost most of his weight on sugarwater, most of us use oil (because it's easier and quicker and has side-benefits like softer skin). A few even find sugarwater increased appetite. Me, I tried it and just found it...gross. Which is weird, as I used to have a sweet tooth.

Anyway, a significant success story on sugarwater. Excellent! Welcome to the group.

[losing-it]

Where is our convert, Last woman standing...? (Sounds like a Navaho name, to me!) If you are still here, woman, send some smoke signals and let us know how you are doing. Your initial post was classic: beautiful, as perceptive as a fine haiku and as funny as a great senryu, haiku's non-poetry cousin:

to prove how stupid
that silly woman's diet—
trying it, I lost!

losing-it