I have decided to move my blog to a place where we can begin anew. My new blog entiteld "The Journey" will be a place where we can inspire, encourage, and lift each other up throughout our weight loss, maintenance and lifetime journeys together. I hope that you will join me. It's going to be an exciting ride.
I first wanted to thank everyone so much for the tremendous outpouring of care, concern and support that I have received over this last week after announcing my decision to leave the Kimkins program. I want to assure you all now that I am still in very good health. Many were concerned about my previous post's statements regarding the side effects that I encountered due to my quick weight loss. The doctor's bill of clean health that I received approx a month ago was accurate and not manipulated. All of my symptoms have been addressed and corrected. My hair is no longer falling out, and I have lots and lots of new growth. My mensus are normal now as well after working with my OBGYN to regulate my cycle.
I know there are lots of questions flying around for me and my friends as to why we did what we did in regards to the Kimkins program. I wanted to clarify something for those of you who may think we have an "inside" and know things that led us to our decisions. This is not the case. In my instance it was a lack and refusal of information which brought me to the decision that I felt was necessary to make.
As the Public Relations representative for Kimkins I had compiled a list, from my own experience and concerns, of questions for Kimmer. I felt as the PR rep for Kimkins I could ask these questions for my own clarification and need to be able to address any issues that may arise. I do not feel at this time that it would be appropriate for me to publish the questions that I asked because I do not want to add to speculation or gossip that seems to be abounding right now. Maybe in time if it becomes relevant I will summarize them. However, I asked my questions and Kimmer's immediate response instead of answering me, was to terminate our relationship with me as the Public Relations director for Kimkins, with an offer to continue as a moderator which I refused and left.
Again, I want to appologize to anyone I may have hurt or discouraged in my departure. It was the people of Kimkins that kept me going many many times. You are all wonderful and I love you very much. Please know that my leaving had nothing to do with you. I still believe in the program as a valid basis and foundation for what has the potential with some modification to be a good dietary regime.
I am still out of town vacationing with my family and will write more when I have the opportunity. Take care my friends, and continue the journey with strength!
To all my dear friends at Kimkins,
Over the last several weeks I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching, researching, praying, crying, reading, and reaching to confirm and determine for myself thoughts and viewpoints that are my own. God places each of us specifically where He wants us to be at given points in time so that, unknowingly even, we can have tremendous impact on this world. Such a time came for me when I discovered Kimkins.
I was at a point of desperation that many if not most of you know all too well. I had lost control of my life and my eating habits. I was centered in a lifestyle that served me. I ate what I wanted because it felt good. I turned to food as a comfort and a friend when I should have been looking up. I titled my blog when it began “My Total Transformation” because I truly believed that is what the Lord was going to be doing through me. And it has been.
I do not and have not ever denied that Kimkins worked for me. I was elated that it worked. FAST! I followed the plan to the letter, measuring weighing, counting carbs, proteins, fats, and yes even calories. The quick loss just fueled my motivation to want more. The compliments flew at me as quickly as the pounds were flying off and my head swelled. People were noticing me and I wasn’t hiding any longer. People liked what they saw when they saw me. For those of you who have struggled for so long like I have, you know what an amazing feeling that must be. But, what was I doing? Really? Had I traded one selfish obsession for another?
My reasoning was that because the program was working so fast that it had to be good. Never having low carb dieted before I never even considered doing “research” and blindly accepted the first thing that sounded reasonable to me. After all, we’ve all been raised that Low Fat is good, and now Low Carb is the way to go to really get those pounds off. But, I also have discovered that I believe there is a certain order to the way that God created our bodies to function. He would not create something for us that was not healthy. After all… didn’t He look at His creation and say “IT IS GOOD.” So while I do agree and whole heartedly support that there is everything to be said for protein sources to be lean, and eating fresh vegetables, there is also something to the fact that God created things like whole grains and fruit for our bodies as well. However, I saw those things as a short term sacrifice for a long term gain. But sacrifice at what cost?
I must confess to you at this time that I did have some side effects of my drastic weight loss. Neither one was of concern to my doctors and were reasoned out and treated. But, I feel as if I do not disclose them to you, it would not be honest. My hair began falling out the month before I began maintenance. I upped my biotin intake to no avail. Becoming concerned I started asking different stylists and they recommended a certain scalp treatment which after increasing my biotin levels even further seem to have stopped my hair loss. The other side effect I had due to the loss of estrogen was a loss of my monthly cycle for about 5 months. Again, this has been corrected by my doctor and is no longer of concern.
My time with Kimkins was filled with love, support, encouragement, and most of all friends. I love you all dearly and I hope at this time you can accept my reasons for needing to move on, some of which are my own. I want to encourage you all though. Do not let my leaving discourage your weight loss efforts. Many, many of you have told me that I inspired you and showed you that there is hope that you can lose weight and finally have a chance at a “normal” life. This doesn’t have to change. Please continue in your journey, however, I do want you to be safe. Please make sure you run your eating plan by your doctor. Show him your menus and guidelines. Just because you are eating low carb does not mean starving yourself. Your body does have certain needs which for your health you cannot ignore. Low carb does not mean high fat. It does not mean no fat either, though. Really look at how I inspired you. It was your heart, the way you view weight loss. I showed you that it is possible, but YOU have done the rest. You made up your mind and determined that this would be your time. It still is. Don’t lose hope, you can make a better healthier life for yourself.
God brought Kimkins into my life at just the right time. He taught so much from my time there, things that are good that I had never known or forgotten. Portion control, learning to listen to my body, and the phenomenal strength there comes in numbers are just a few of the amazing things that I discovered during my journey. Believe me when I tell you that God has used each of you to touch my life in a way I never dreamed possible. I know that with each of your support maintaining my weight loss is not just a pipe dream, but a reality.
Weight loss maintenance is not about the program. It is about the person. True maintenance begins in your heart. Learn to listen to your body and feed it what you know is good for you. Know what will only take you back down the path that you do not want to go.
There is so much more to say, but I do not feel this is the time or place.
I am not leaving my friends. Please do continue to contact me through my blog here, and via email. I would love to speak with you. This is not the end…. But a bright new beginning. I have so many things that God is working in my heart to share with you all. I am excited and joyful over what He is going to accomplish in my life. I will eventually find a new home to begin posting on again, but for now, I am going to take some valuable reflection time with my family and a time to discover all that He is bringing to me. I look forward to a new journey with all of you!
I love you all,
Christin
