My Story

Hi, my name is Emily and I am a food addict.

I am addicted to food. Seriously. I love to bake, cook and most importantly, eat. ​I am a second year law student and after getting engaged this past December, I have decided to restart the Ideal Protein Program.

The first time that I started Ideal Protein, I was a senior in college. After gaining 50 pounds in undergrad, I decided it was time to change. I decided to take control of my life and my body.

I learned the hard way that I use eating to emotionally comfort myself. My junior year was awful. I lived with a girl who was disrespectful of my space and caused major conflict and tension in my apartment. I found myself not ever wanting to be at the apartment alone or even come out of my room. After classes I would go to McDonalds, Chipotle, Cane's or any fast food restaurant to get food for the night. I would bring the food home, go directly in my room eat. I would literally barracade myself behind the four walls of my bedroom. I was overweight, unhappy, and my grades were slipping.
With some friends junior year...I'm on the right.

I would drive three hours home almost every weekend and my parents started noticing my weight gain. My mom would make subtle comments about the weight I had put on. I have always struggled with weight loss and dieting, but she knew that this was an all time low for me. She knew I didn't feel good about myself at my current state. Parents are always right.

Boyfriend and I fat and "happy" on my 21st birthday, April 2013

I went abroad to Spain the summer after my hellacious junior year and gained even more weight. I was enjoying eating fried tapas and drinking Sangria. I ignored how unhappy I was with how I looked because I didn't want that to ruin my trip. In Madrid after a night of going out with my friends, a man in the street commented on how we all looked. My friends he said were "bella," but to me, he pointed and said, "gorda." I tried to laugh it off, but that comment really hurt.

Heaviest Weight. Trying to hide behind my bag
I got home from my trip to find my boyfriend of three years, whom had happily packed on 100 pounds with me, had lost over 50 pounds while I was gone. I almost didn't recognize him at baggage claim! His weight loss was eye-opening to me, but it made me feel uncomfortable being around him and I couldn't truly share in his joy of successful weight loss. I went on a popular diet for the first semester of my senior year. The diet required supplements and shakes that made me sick almost every day. I got tired of vomiting and got off of the diet. After another unsuccessful diet attempt and studying for the LSAT, I began to eat whatever I wanted.

Boyfriend after losing over 50 pounds and me still fat in November 2013
I was asked to be a bridesmaid in my cousins wedding, sent in my measurements over the phone, and Christmas break was the time I needed to pick up my dress. I went to the dress shop, tried on my dress, and it didn't fit. By not fitting I mean it didn't even zip up at all. I left the dress shop with my dress, but I was too embarrassed to say that it didn't fit! My dad started Ideal Protein the day I tried on my dress and after a difficult conversation about my weight, I decided to go on the diet with him.
Weekend before starting Ideal Protein 

When I started Ideal Protein on January 13, 2014, I weighed 178.8 pounds. That was the most I had ever weighed in my life. I am 5'3, small framed, and almost 180 pounds is a lot for my body to carry around.

The first time I noticed the difference in my weight! Left: November 2013, Right: February 2014 (1 month on Ideal Protein)

Left: December 2013, Right: March 2014


Left: Day before diet- January 2014, Right: April 2014

Left: January 2014, Right: May 2014

The success I had on Ideal Protein the first time was amazing. I gained about 75% of the weight that I had lost the first time back in the first year and a half of law school. I moved away from my family, friends, and fiancé and ate to comfort myself. I didn't phase off of the program when I got to my new town because there wasn't a clinic near me and beginning law school is no easy feat. After I got engaged this past December, my dad got back on Ideal Protein. He had gained all of his weight back and more. He encouraged me to get back on it with him so that we can support and help each other just like last time.

I was reluctant at first, but after finding out there is a new Ideal Protein clinic near me, I finally decided it's time to take control of my life again. I don't want my weight to be a factor in what dress I choose. I don't want to look back on wedding and engagement pictures with regret. I don't want to feel uncomfortable on the best day of my life. I am restarting the diet for me, my future husband, my future kids, and my future life.

While I am looking forward to success on Ideal Protein again, but restarting something that you feel like you failed at is hard. I am not going to focus on what got me to where I am today, but focus on little successes along the way. I am going to be my best self on my wedding day and I am going to reach my goal weight.

I restarted Ideal Protein on January 19, 2016. My starting weight was 165.8. My goal weight is 125. I hope this blog inspires you to never give up on your goals and not to be afraid to start over.


Happy dieting!

-E

Comments

  1. I have not read this before now. Wow! What a struggle and success on the other side.

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  2. You look amazing - you are beautiful and an inspiration to young girls.

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  3. Your story is an inspiration to oldsters as well, Emily! I am 5'7" and on April 29, 2014 I was declared medically obese at 208 - an all-time high that took me to an all-time low on the self esteem scale. A friend recommended IP so because I felt truly desperate I checked it out. Since then I've lost 53 lbs and I'm down from a pants size of 18 to 10.

    My goal weight is 140. My rate of weight & inches lost seems to be slowing down. Have you had this experience in the final stretch? What is your plan for maintaining the loss?

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    Replies
    1. When I got closer to my goal weight, it took a little longer for the pounds to fall off. I would ask your coach if there is something more you can do, like no restricted Ideal Protein foods or the nova cleanse. I haven't done the cleanse, but I have heard great things.

      As far as maintenance, I phased off of Ideal Protein in July to go on vacation with my family and to move to school. I have half-heartedly done the diet at times and also have had my share of ice cream and burgers since then. Since July I have gained 10 pounds, which I would say is a success because I have not been trying to eat healthily and I have become more sedentary starting law school.

      I am going back on Phase 1 tomorrow and starting full protocol again to lose the pounds I gained and I've adjusted my goal to 115, just to see if I can get down to that because I am on the short side.

      Good luck with everything! It sounds like you are doing great!! Keep it up!

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  4. I somehow stumbled across this blog, and this is so inspirational!! I'm currently 5'2" and weigh 160 (guessing I'm about your age). I, too, like to hide from pictures, and I'm just not comfortable in my own skin. I'm hoping to start some kind of meal prep soon and hopefully that will give me the jump start I need!!! Thank you!

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  5. I just started IP, I am on my 4th day and I already feel amazing, my starting weight was 184lbs, which is so discouraging considering I am BARELY 5'2! I am not going to weigh myself again until I have completed my second week! Thank you for sharing something so private with the rest of us struggling to feel comfortable in our own skin!
    You look great and congratulations on Law School!

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  6. Hi Emily, I noticed you haven't blogged in recent months. However, I happened to stumble across your blog through a Pinterest recipe and Instagram. I started IP in March during Spring Break and lost 25 lbs by Early May. I'm normally a very focused and goal oriented girl but something about summer vacation has thrown me off my game. I'm finding it difficult to stay strict on the protocol when I'm out of town with friends and family every weekend. I'm also starting to date and don't want to be "that girl" who painstakingly decomposes the menu with endless questions and boring meals. So I've had a bit of a backwards slide. I need to focus again and find ways to make the protocol work within my very active social life this summer because I just don't see it slowing down for awhile. Your blog came as inspiration! I hope you start writing again to share your re-journey into Ideal Protein World...with those of us who have also fallen off the bandwagon.

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  7. HI Emily - As a lifetime dieter, I just wanted to tell you that if you can lose the weight once, you can do it again, but the key to keeping it off (which is a daily struggle for me too) is finding an exercise you love and eating fruits/veggies/proteins instead of dairy and carbs. It's a lesson I constantly have to remind myself of, but it's possible to fuel your body and be happy and healthy. I'm reminding myself of that now, and starting IP when I get back from a trip in a couple of weeks. I feel like my life would be so different if I also didn't have to struggle with food addiction every day, but this is what life has dealt us. It's our other job, and we can do it! :)

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  8. Love your story and recipes! How are you doing now?

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