Time to Celebrate

About a year ago a new program began. Thinlicious–a new way of eating to target health needs of middle-age women. Right now, the summer Thinlicious Healthy Belly challenge is happening. It seems like a good time to celebrate.

Pink ombre card with strip of patterned paper with colorful slated dashes. Topped with sentiment circle with multi-colored stripes that says, "One Happy Day" and a smaller rectangle label that says "you can do this." There are also five tinsel dot embellishments.

I did not jump on the bandwagon when I initially heard about Thinlicious. But, with newly diagnosed health challenges, I decided the Fall 2023 Challenge was the time for me to check this out.

It has made such a difference in my life, I wanted to share it with all of you. Here is my story.

Thinlicious Essay

“Your labs are perfect.”

This was not the sentence I was used to hearing at my doctors’ appointments. Hoping for, yes. Hearing, no.

This was the moment I knew for sure the Thinlicious program was not a hoax or a fly-by-night program designed to get everyone all excited for a moment and then fail to provide long-lasting results.

Usually, I heard things from the doctor like:

“We don’t know what the long-term effects of your traumatic brain injury and nerve damage will be.”

“You’re in a wheelchair for the rest of your life.”

“You have breast cancer.”

“Your blood pressure is too high.”

“Your A1C is 8.7. You are a Type II diabetic.”

And it usually came with a treatment plan that involved prescription medication and no real talk about the type of food I consume.

The last diagnosis of diabetes sent me on a quest to find a healthy, natural way to manage this. Isn’t a type 2 diabetes diagnosis chronic and lifelong? Doesn’t it mean medication for the rest of my life? I was immediately put on a prescription (Metformin) and directed to cut added sugar from my diet. A few months into my new diagnosis, I was frustrated that my blood sugar levels were still higher than normal, but were considered “normal” or “manageable” for a type 2 diabetic. That wasn’t good enough for me. I didn’t want to be in the manageable range, which still left me with an increased risk for organ failure. What could get me back to normal? I had met friends who had beat diabetes. Why couldn’t I?

Thinlicious had started a few months before my diabetes diagnosis, and originally, I wasn’t interested in what I thought was another weight loss plan. But upon digging in further, I saw the exciting possibility of health benefits including balancing sugar levels and possibly reversing diabetes. I thought, “Why not?” I still didn’t fully believe it would work, but I decided to go all-in on the 28-day reset and just see what happened. I was mentally prepared for another program that didn’t work for me.

I was wrong. I ended up losing about 45 pounds. I am three dress sizes smaller than I was upon starting the program in September 2022. My wedding dress is only one size smaller than I currently wear. J And that is the smallest I’ve been in my adult life.

Best of all, the weight loss was just a bonus on top of the real health benefits. By my January 2023 lab work, my A1C was down to 5.0. We were able to discontinue the Metformin. And now six months later, with no prescription help, my A1C has stayed at normal levels—5.1. I am no longer at an increased danger for organ failure. I am no longer considered diabetic.

That was my goal when I joined Thinlicious. There have been other unexpected benefits. My cholesterol level decreased overall with my good cholesterol level increasing. My blood pressure is back in the normal range. Three more prescriptions are gone from my daily life.

I have not had feelings of hunger since my car accident in 2004. In fact, when people talk about “listening to your body,” I didn’t think my body talked to me at all anymore. Well, I have started feeling hunger again. My digestive system appears to be working properly for the first time in 20 years.

Things I thought were part of my new normal since the accident-caused TBI and nerve damage have changed. I have more energy. I no longer need a nap to get through my day. My brain seems to be firing on all cylinders much more of the time.

What I learned through the Thinlicious program has changed my life, both in ways I hoped and ways I did not even imagine could be possible. This is not a diet – this is truly a lifestyle. It is something I can do for the rest of my life. Thank you for opening my eyes and changing my life.

That’s my story. Thinlicious has changed my life. It truly is a lifestyle change. I have more energy and feel better than I have in a long time. If this peaks your interest, check it out at Thinlicious.com.

Before and After Photos

Me wearing pink with my sister and cousin both wearing black at my Grandma's 95th birthday — Before–August 2022

Card Details

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Green ombre inside of card. Diagonal dashes of color at bottom of card. Sentiment says, "Congrats. You deserve it."

This card was created with the Bright & Beautiful Memories & More Pack as well as the coordinating Bright & Beautiful Notecards & Envelopes. You can be sure they all coordinate together perfectly and will make a gorgeous card.

Click here to see and purchase products used to create this card.

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Layering Circles Dies (Retired)