2007 Slim Body Challenge Round Three Runner Up!
Congratulations to Barbara Craig,
Our Round Three Runner Up in the Slim Body Challenge!
See what Barbara Craig, our First Runner Up,
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Barbara Craig (screenname bebus), a 57-year-old woman from McKeesport, Pennsylvania, lost 88 LBS and improved her overall physical condition and stamina. |
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1. What primary reason motivated you to start and finish the Challenge? I was motivated to start the challenge because after I had three massive hemorrhagic stroke on August 20, 2000. I was confined to a wheel chair, and was severely depressed. I then binged on sweets for comfort. With my newly sedentary lifestyle, I did not burn those excess calories. I quickly gained 100 pounds, leading to further depression and disgust with my body. Then I received a life changing e-mail from Josh and decided to try the Slim Body Matrix Shakes, I have been using them ever since, then I continued contact with the slim body coach community and use of slim body site and seeing the successful participants convinced me to follow the plan, and add other supplements. This proved to be one of the best health and appearance decisions of my life. I knew I needed to lose weight, and I decided to try the Slim Body Coach approach because of it's sensible, hunger free eating and exercise plans, scientifically-proven supplements, and specific for activities, it's incredibly supportive community, invaluable tools, all available at my convenience along with the success described by existing members. The challenge sounded like a good way to maintain my journey toward my health goals and to lose weight sensibly; with it's balanced normal meals, without starvation or even hunger, I entered the challenge because competition is helpful in encouraging oneself to maintain and continue striving towards goals. I have dieted successfully many times, but each time, I have regained the weight quickly, by binging as soon as I reached my weight goal and felt that my diet was over. Slim Body Coach is a lifestyle change, not a diet which has changed my life and I will continue to follow for the rest of my life. 2. What were your results - how many inches, pounds, dress sizes, or pant sizes did you lose? Moreover, did you have nay changes in health indicators, such as cholesterol levels or blood pressure? Did your energy levels change? My blood pressure and cholesterol levels decreased to such an extent that my doctor decreased both my medications by half. I lost a total of eighty-eight pounds overall, and my pants size decreased by four sizes from 22-16. My bra size also decreased by six sizes, from 44D to 38C, I have also changed to a smaller wheelchair, one that is 2" narrower. When I did not take my supplements, because they ran out, I woke feeling tired, when I returned to taking slim seduction, I arose wide awake and ready to begin my day. After dropping 88 pounds on the SBC plan I am more confident in my physical activities, I walk faster and farther. I can feel a huge transformation in my attiude since improving my health with the slim body coach helath plan. I can walk more confidently and at a faster, smoother pace. I can do actions that once frightened me, walking to the side and back, I now do easily and without a second thought. I am also more confident about walking in open enviroments and even walking caneless.
I am more confident in my therapy. During the course of the Slim Body Challenge, I move farther and more easily, I am easier to lift. I have walked 17 feet without an assistive device, something I have not done since August 2000, and never expected to do again. I now have a greater drive to exercise daily as I strive to increase my physical abilities and stamina, and improve my overall physical condition.
I feel better about the size and shape of my body, especially since my husband keeps making positive comments like "I guess you can wear a bikini this year." Or in bed he places his hand on my abdomen, and says, "I can really tell you've lost weight" and "I can feel your ribs", I love to hear this! Especially from my husband who has seen me at my worst, and fattest. I know that I have a way to go, but I am encouraged by my husbands comments, and compliments from others. The decreasing sizes in my clothes and having dropped a significant amount of weight, a total of 88 pounds. I feel great abount my body transformation. I am no longer self conscious about wearing shorts because my cellulite has diminished greatly, thanks to fat loss and Lipo matrix. I was motivated to finish the Challenge, in round 2, because, I did not reach my goals in the previous rounds, and I still have not. Therefore I will continue to eat and exercise according to plan, untill I reach my goal weight. I did reach my goal of buying jeans at a store for "normal" size women (not Lane Bryant) that fit comfortably, I bought a pair at Old Navy. I still have not reached all of my goals, because my true weight goal in the Slim Body Challenge is to lose the 100 pounds I gained after the strokes. I have not lost the drive to regain my pre-stroke appearance and size. So I will remain on the Slim Body Challenge program because I have lost ( 88 paunds ) a significant amount nearly painlessly, without temptation to eat "forbidden foods". The plan has improved the benefits of my physical therapy. The Program Community has been encouraging and supportive beyond my wildest expectations. Often the positive results I posted were therapy related not only weight loss related. None the less, the forum participants cheered me on, congrtulated me and offered advice. I was able to intertwine my weight loss success with my therapy success, strength and stamina, of course, as I lose weight, it is easier for me to move, and for my husband and attendant to push me in my wheelchair. I will remain on the slim body coach program until I have lost one hundred pounds and can again wear the clothes I wore before the strokes. I exercised daily, and read and received support and encouragement and posted advice, support and encouragement in the forums daily. I drank at least one slim body matrix shake in place of a meal daily. I would not have the ability, or will power to lose the weight that I have, without the slim body matrix shakes and the encouragement of my slim body buddies. The satisfied my hunger until my next meal so that, I was not tempted to snack between meals. They also satisfied my sweet tooth, so that I did not suffer from sweet cravings, or chocolate cravings, really a bonus and a boost on the road to success. The mini-challenges including the Women Virtual Walking Challenge were a source of additional control of eating and/or increased exercise, faster weight loss and inches lost. Also, I kept attemting to try on a favorite article of clothing that fit me before my strokes, and finally it fits!! I have had to overcome one major obstacle while participating in this contest – my disabilities. Because of my disabilities, I was unable to exercise in most typical ways, or in ways I enjoyed before my strokes. I could not walk, cycle, swim, or do yoga. Of the exercising I could do, I needed another person to "spot me" for safety. On most week days my therapist or my attendant is at my home to exercise with me. I should be a winner because, I have marshaled all my abilities to overcome permanent disabilities that no other contestant had to overcome; I had to exercise dispite my limited options, and had to discover new ways to exercise. My constant struggle was apparently an inspiration to the particiapnts. I have been a source of inspiration to a number of slim body coach members (see attachments) and listen to my phone conversation with coach Molly on May 31, 2006, in which she comlimented me on inspiring other members. Because of my dedication to success and finding appropiate exercise tools. I have tried to encourage and support other disabled members by opening an exercises for disabled topic and designed a mini-challenge for the disabled members. Also, a disabeld spokesperson for SBC would open a new marketing segment for the plan and GNS products. I used most, if not all of the tools available to me on the site. I encouraged and praised many other contestants through the forums. I have done as much, if not more than any other contestant participating in this round of the challenge. The activities and food diaries used in combination were definitely the most helpful tools for me. It required me to reconsider what I had eaten through the day, and provided me with a total calories consumed figure that I could compare with calories burned figure from my activities diary. With an eye toward planning my next day's intake with more calories burned, I also went to the forums daily, where I could always find a listening ear, or a load of encouragement. I always enjoyed reading and writing in the forums to either give or receive support, information or just a friendly voice. I used shakes throughout my program. I used them to replace at least one meal each day. They helped me by filling me and keeping me satisfied until my next meal. Because there are so many delicious flavors, and can be blended with a variety of fruits, nuts, juices, and berries. I never became bored with them. Only recently, I began to use Slim Seduction and Lipo Matrix and I believe much of my weight loss and loss of cellulite is attributed to these products. However, my energy level has increased dramatically, since I began using slim seduction supplements. |
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You have the chance to begin your own journey of transformation starting now!
All you have to do is follow the 2007 guidelines concerning product selection and how to take "before" photos, and you can begin the 2008 Slim Body Challenge. The guide will be updated soon for 2008, but all the same rules still apply from 2007. Please note: The entry dates for each round and the prizes for 2008 are yet to be determined, and will become official once posted on this website.
The complete 2007 rules and regulations can be found here: |
All aspects of my mobility have improved, I am more motivated to walk, and exercise otherwise and to build my strength. It's easier for me to walk, and move in general. I am more highly motivated to exercise daily. I have received many compliments on my improved appearance which motivates me to continue even more.