I had struggled with my weight all of my adult life. I was big as a teen, but not obese. During my first pregnancy, I gained over 80 pounds, and never lost all of it. I became pregnant again and gained another 80 pounds, and again only lost a little bit of that. I then had two more children and kept the fat from those pregnancies, too. I tried so many things to lose weight, Atkins, Weight Watchers....

My THM journey began Oct of 1998. I finally figured out that dairy was making me sick. Every time I ate it I was in the bathroom immediately. It can ruin a night out with friends or a special date. I also had a big scare and went for a colonoscopy- at age 23! Thank goodness it showed nothing abnormal. It was enough for me to make a big change. I decided to do some research and one day at the book ....

I have been doing THM now for 4 years...wow how time flies. But 5 years ago I had a major life changing event happen. I was hit by a drunk driver... I was air lifted to the hospital, family told I would not make it. Well I did! They also said I would never walk again without a cane or walker. Not only did I prove the doctors wrong... but I did a lot more in my recovery than walk!

In my year of ....

I just celebrated my 55th birthday January 21st, and I feel fabulous! I am now older than my parents when they each had their first heart attacks in their early 50s. Both died of heart disease. Without knowing it, I began my THM journey in 1988 when my mother was lying in the critical care unit after her quadruple bypass surgery. I gave up red meat that day.

Gradually I became diet soda free i....

I found Marilu.com via Body Victory in April 2007. I've been making so many positive changes in such a short time. Since then, I have given up dairy, red meat, poultry, sugar, and caffeine. I have lost 35 lbs, am no longer an insomniac and know that I will never go back. By taking one step at a time, I have made so many positive changes that have become habits!

I have also incorporated THM prin....

Before I learned of THM in 1998, I was the type of person who needed a pot of coffee to be brewing before I could muster the energy to get out of bed. Not only did I rely on caffeine to wake me up but my breakfast choices were, more often than not, a sugary Danish or donut - or both! I figured this was a normal way to start the day. I considered myself fit because I exercised and I ate relatively ....

Before: 170+ lbs. (April, 2000)
After: 126 lbs. (January, 2001)

Nothing hurts worse than when you are trying to hide being fat and someone notices. I was the queen of long tailed, over sized shirts, and leggings--all that fit me at the time. My 3 year old was the only one brave enough to be brutally honest...she said "mommy your tummy is as big as daddy's..."

She was right...I looked 5 mont....

Growing up I never really had a weight problem. I ate a lot but was so active that I never gained weight... until I got married five years ago. Inactivity, eating too much, and a pregnancy led me to gain 30 pounds. 30 pounds may not sound like a lot, but on my small 5'4" frame, I looked FAT. The pounds crept up so slowly that I didn't even notice I had a weight problem until it was too late. It's ....