Hi Doug,
We met on a flight out of Asheville SC. You handed me a copy of your book because, you saw I needed it. Not only do I love the book but it is my story too. I, however, went to Marsh’s Men’s Store in Huntington Long Island, not only for my special (spelled husky) jeans, but for my special (spelled husky) boy scout uniform. My mother also told me I was not fat, just big boned!
I did manage to knock off 50 LBS at the age of 18 with the help of a diet pill and a 1200 calorie diet. I kept the weight off for several years thanks to Uncle Sam’s idea of daily activity and the sweat boxes called San Antonio and Amarillo Texas and then Alexandria Louisiana. After the Air Force I was 6’ 1” and 215 lbs. of muscle. Imagine my shock when I was turned down for a job with Addressograph Co. because I was “obese”! the doctor, by the way, weighed in over 300 lbs and had a pint of Jack Daniels in his desk drawer to keep his red nose from turning pink again.
Anyhow, I got another job and a second and third job (short order cook) to support the wife, new baby and new mortgage – I was working too hard to put on weight -----. I found that I did not play well in the sandbox with others so I went into business and developed a commercial roofing company with a friend. THAT kept me thin too. I could eat whatever I wanted and not gain an ounce. As soon as we were big enough to get me off the roof or kettle or what ever, I slowly started to gain. The less exercise I got, the more I gained. After a series of other non athletic businesses I ended up weighing over 375 lbs. with type 2 diabetes and a distinct aversion to exercise – it was painful, sweaty and more unpleasant the fatter I got. Add a detached ACL on one leg and a ruptured Achilles tendon on the other and I had 2 more good excuses not to exercise. I bought into the BS that my body had a natural set point for me and it was 350+ lbs. Ain’t denial a wonderful thing?
I tried a couple of diets (even the half grapefruit – black coffee etc and soon decided that it wouldn’t make me live any longer – it would just feel that way.
Weight watchers did work but for personal reasons I dropped out and within 3 years put back the 42 LBs I lost.
I don’t believe in coincidences. When you handed me that book it was just after a conversation with my girlfriend that if I wanted to live I HAD to do something about my weight FOR ME. I was totally at a loss as to what.
Well, along came Doug and handed me a book which has changed my life. For the first time I understand WHY I wasn’t losing weignt. Now, everything I look at that is edible I convert to spoons of sugar and am beginning to gag at the thought of eating that much sugar. I shared the book with a close friend and we both attacked the system. (she tried to buy your book on the internet but it was not yet in print).
I am down 36 LBs Yesterday I weighed in at 346.2 = that is lower than the lowest weight watchers mark that took a year and a half to hit. It is not difficult and I still have not implemented your full plan. Just eliminating the carbs and sugars is getting it done. It also dropped my daily blood sugar from the 130s – to 140s down to between 80 and 115 and even if I cheat (Sunday is my cheat a little day) and have a Domino’s Thin Crust Pizza at 11:00 at night, my blood sugar was only 124 the next morning at 7:30.
Doug, I know it was not a coincidence, but I want to thank you for seeing my distress and giving me your wonderful gift of weight control. I will stay in touch to keep you up to date.
May your book hit the NY Slimes “Best Seller List” and stay there for a year. Best wishes and a thousand thanks.
Neil
PS – my friend Paula lost about 18 lbs too.
