Deb’s Diet

Hi Deb
Gotta tell you….today is definitely a “red banner day” for me!  After 8 months with you and 4 Health’s Sake, I’m at my goal weight….35 pounds lighter…Yahoo!  Meeting with you and bonding with the other members at Charlotte’s has been such a blessing.  On the one hand, no one can do the weight loss for you; on the other hand, it surely helps to have a committed and fun leader and friends who truly understand what you’re going through and appreciate your success - almost as much as you do.  Having dogged determination and having totally made the promise to myself that I would reach goal is a big part of my success; however, I know I could never have done it on my own.  Thank God for the tracker….it kept me honest.  The weeks when I didn’t lose or gained a bit (if I’m totally honest) were because I got too lazy to measure and weigh…thinking I could “eyeball” my portions.  NO WAY!   Now I have to figure out how many darts are safe in maintenance….so I don’t lose more weight and, more importantly, don’t regain any of what I’ve lost.  I’ll still be at meetings every Thursday….now my focus will be to enjoy my updated and more “svelt” body and keep encouraging my friends to keep on keepin’ on.  At 62, I really don’t remember when I’ve felt this good or this healthy.  And, seriously, isn’t this a much better way to enjoy retirement?
Love ya! Ann DeVico

My story begins over a year and half ago when I came to Debbie.  I had a couple friends who lost tons of weight with 4Health’s Sake and I wanted to be like them.  I had tried other diet programs that just didn’t work for me.  I knew I needed to get healthy, for my sake and for my kids’. I found myself not being able to keep up with them and nearly having a panic attack about public situations because of my size.  I was not the kind of mom I wanted to be and it was time to change.  It has taken me long time to get to where I am, mostly because like most people I stopped for awhile thinking I could do it myself.  Well also like most people I cannot do it on my own.  I needed help and Debbie was the one to give it.  But, here I am now nearly 40 pounds lighter and feeling GREAT.  One of the most important lessons I have learned from Debbie and my fellow Warriors is that you will NOT lose every week and it IS okay.  Life happens and we should enjoy those times, then we need to get right back on the wagon.  I don’t think of this as a diet but rather as a change in lifestyle.  I have more work to do but looking forward to it.  I have had the chance to share my knowledge with the people closest to me and bring them into “the party”.  I am very excited about what the future holds for me and for them.  I could not have done it without Debbie’s encouragement and motivation.  I owe her for my success…but not as much as I owe myself…We ALL need to remember that we owe ourselves for the hard work we put in!!!

Crisi Walls
I joined 4-Healths Sake in April of 2008.  This program has been the best weight loss program that I’ve attended.  I’ve been a member of the “W.W.W.” since I graduated from grade school.  Please note:  “W.W.W.” is not “Wonderful World of Wrestling”…..it’s “Woeful World of Weight”.  My very first diet involved using Ayds, that wonderful chocolate or caramel diet aid.  It did help me lose a few pounds before I went into high school. Then there was trying to diet on my own…..TOPS…..dieting on my own….Weight Watchers….dieting on my own.  AND then there was 4-Health’s Sake. I finally found my niche in the dieting world.  I’ve finally accepted the fact that for me to be successful, I must attend meetings regularly and I must journal everyday.  We’ve been told this for years, but it has taken me oh so many years to finally see the light.  What an amazing breakthrough!  Not that I’m a slow learner or anything like that.  (Ha-ha) Since joining 4-Health’s Sake, I’ve found that dieting has become a comfortable part of my life.  The fact that I know how many darts (calories) I can consume each day has made my life so much easier.  Going grocery shopping isn’t the chore it use to be under some of the other programs that I’ve used.  I just check the nutrition label…..if I feel the grocery item is worth the darts I want to expend, the item goes into my shopping cart.  Now, how simple can that be.
The fellowship that the members of 4-Health’s Sake provides is fantastic.  Sharing the ups and downs of losing weight with the other members makes it so much easier to keep going.  Anyone who has had a weight problem knows that group support is an essential tool to reaching your goal.
It took me a year to reach my goal at 4-Health’s Sake.  Perhaps that sounds like a long time but it actually didn’t seem that long.  I’ve maintained my loss for almost nine months.  With the help and support of Debi and the other members, I have an excellent chance of maintaining my weight loss.
My hat goes off to Diva Debi for being such a caring weight loss coach!  Thanks Deb!
Pat Swingle

Dear Debi,
  First of all, thank you!  Who knew eating could help you lose weight?  When Joyce first told me about you and what you do, I was very skeptical.  But, I decided to check it out…what the heck?!  Well, after having my metabolism checked and finding out that I basically have been starving myself….I got on the wagon!  No one ever told me about the “starving yourself and your body turns food to fat” thing….boy was I surprised!  I’ve been with you since November 4, 2009 and have lost 15 pounds!  Yeah… it was 16, but the sugar cookies and fudge got me!  I truly thank the Lord for your knowledge and putting you in my life.  Now…if I could only get rid of the hot flashes!!!!! lol.  Take care and thank you!  Mary Vandenberg

Well Deb with you and your diet I made it through Christmas without a gain, I actually had a 5 pound loss( I even ate cookies).  This is an amazing program, just track your food and stay within your darts and you’ll lose.  And with you as our coach we’ll reach our goal.  I have a long way to go but I know I’ll reach it eventually.  Thanks Deb for your great diet and coaching(even when I go out to eat your face is there on placemats, have to be good then) Joyce Stonebraker

Debs Diet works!  It is S O O O O easy….once you find out what your metabolism is, you’ll know exactly how many calories (DARTS, Darlin’) to consume.  Eat the total amount of darts within your weight lose zone and in no time, you’ll shed those pounds.  DON’T expect it right away!!!!  It takes time and patience and changing eating habits to get there.  It took me about a year to lose 30 lbs. and then another 6 months or so to lose another 10 lbs.  That’s 40 lbs!!!!  I hit my goal in July and have been on maintenance ever since.  And I feel good and I think I look pretty good.  I found out that taking in the right amount of darts DOES burn calories.  For me, I have to spread my intake throughout the day by eating low calorie meals (breakfast, lunch and supper) and then snacking in-between - I cannot lose weight by eating all my calories in 3 meals. (But each one of us are different so you have to experiment for yourself - and Deb will provide hints and suggestions along the way.)  It’s very important to write down everything you consume AND to weigh in each week - it’s ONLY 30 minutes and there are so many different times and days for your convenience.  It’s all about accountability!!!  There have been very few meetings I’ve missed.  It’s so easy to think you can do it on your own, without Debs help.  But let’s get serious, if we could do it on our own - would we be in the shape we’re in now???? !!!! So, here in a nutshell, is what makes Debs Diet so successful:1st - knowing your metabolism (Deb is the only coach I’ve know who does this); 2nd - eating the total amount of darts in your weight lose zone;3rd - spreading out your dart intake throughout the day with 3 sensible meals and light snacks in-between;4th - WRITING DOWN everything that goes in your mouth - for without this, you’ll not know if you’re eating the right amount of darts;5th - Weighing in EACH AND EVERY WEEK - be accountable;  and 6th - NEVER giving up…. Deb is there to help you through, plus, she’s so o o o o ENTERTAINING AND FUNNY! Who loves ya, darlin’ - Deb does!!! Janet Myers