by Janette Craig

Created on: November 02, 2008   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

Like many people, I have tried the low fat diet, the low carb diet, the high protein diet, the different fasts that have been around, including the Lemonade diet, not to mention almost every weight loss pill known to man, and I have lost weight every time, but I have been unable to keep it off.

Because I felt I needed to lose 35 pounds, I began doing my research, and I saw that there have been many blogs about the sensational Fat Loss 4 Idiots. Up until four weeks ago, I had never heard of it, and it was only while I was looking on Google for some sort of miraculous weight loss program that I came across a post that took me to You Tube, for my introduction to this wonderful eating program.

I am attending my granddaughter's wedding in the middle of October, and really wanted to look good (and skinny of course) in the photos, so I did some rapid calculation as to how many pounds I would be able to lose before the big event. At 9 pounds every 11 days, with 3 days off, basically meant I would lose 9 pounds every two weeks. I was ecstatic when I realized I could potentially lose 36 pounds before the wedding! I purchased the program immediately, and read all the literature I could find. The company is using something called "Calorie Shifting", which is a way of eating carbs and proteins on a daily basis to confuse the metabolism. This is all explained in the accompanying "Diet Handbook". The program is easy to follow, and a "Generator" spits out your 11 day program after you mark off the foods you want to eat. It is much easier to follow a plan in black and white, rather than have to think of something for dinner. You are trained to eat 4 times a day. You also get 3 cheat days off at the end of every 11 day cycle. This is important and necessary because it will force more fat burning during the next 11 day program.

The first thing I noticed was that I should not have a cocktail on the program. Well, not exactly true. It does say that if a person has to, one glass of wine a day is optional, but no problem there. I would just stay away from Happy Hour. The second thing I noticed was that the program did not require any exercise. This got me to thinking, that if I did do some exercise, I could lose more weight, and also, losing fat on a mature (nice way of saying senior citizen) body, would leave my poor old bones unsupported, so I decided to also do a 2 kilometer fast walk every day, as well as a wonderful low impact program for 1/2 hour every day to strengthen my muscles. Also, if proper exercise is used during a diet program, you will lose an extra 4 to 8 pounds a month.

In this short time, I cannot believe what has happened to my body. The exercise program states that in 10 days I would feel the difference and in 20 days I would see the difference. They weren't lying!

Over the last 25 days, I have lost 25 pounds. A pound a day! It is really quite unbelievable. I went into this whole program with an open mind, but also knowing that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. This time I was totally wrong. This is good and this is true.

Unfortunately, I didn't take any measurements, but I am wearing pants that are two sizes smaller. I have been skinny without muscles, I have been fat, and I have been in shape with muscles (albeit when I was 23). Believe me; in shape with muscles is better and I feel I am on my way there again. I can see, even at my age that I am going to be quite fit. I am in the process of developing a maintenance program, to make sure the weight stays off. This is a very structured program, and you will lose weight if you follow the exact program.

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