By Diana Sunshine
Once upon a time, I was a ballet dancer with an unhealthy relationship with my bathroom scale. Every day, I weighed myself anytime I passed it. The scale determined my self-worth, mood, and meals. By the age of 19, I broke up with my scale for good, determined to live free from its tyranny. For 38 years, I succeeded, refusing to let numbers define me.
Fast forward to my 25th wedding anniversary. We planned a celebration in the tropics, and I pondered how I would look in a bathing suit. I dusted off the old scale, stepped on, and gasped—I had gained 16 pounds since my wedding day. Now, brides are typically underweight, and I was no exception. But the numbers staring back at me were surprising.
So, I casually embarked on a solo mission to shed seven pounds four weeks out from the trip. Despite my discipline—a gluten-free, keto, and no-alcohol diet with intermittent fasting—my weight vacillated back and forth resulting in no weight loss. At the same time, my husband, who wasn’t even trying to lose weight, actually did it by cutting carbs. That just fueled my frustration.
Six months later, my friend, Laura Docter, PhD, shared her experience on my blog, Big Retired Life, about losing 70 pounds in seven months. Intrigued and inspired, I decided to work with her as the information on my blog is as much for me as it is for my audience. In tech lingo, that’s called “dogfooding”—testing your own product. So I retained Laura for a 10-week program.
The Journey with Laura Docter
After working with Laura for 10 weeks, I lost five pounds. Although I had hoped to lose seven pounds, five was a victory nonetheless. Here’s what I learned:
1. Have a Plan
Laura requested I measure and record everything I ate. The daily goal: 100 grams of protein, six servings of vegetables, and eight glasses of water. At the same time, I did not consume sugar, gluten, or alcohol. This required planning and effort.
2. Timing of meals
Before working with Laura, I ate only two meals a day: lunch and dinner. She had me change to six small meals. Eating every 2 to 3 hours meant I never felt hungry; ultimately leading to eating less. My key insight was that although I was previously eating a super healthy diet of whole foods, my protein serving sizes were simply too big, especially at the end of the day.
3. Write it All Down
Recording my intake revealed gaps in my diet. I wasn’t consuming enough fresh vegetables or drinking enough water. Writing everything down was eye-opening and essential for staying on track.
4. Be Patient
Be patient; it’s hard to lose weight, especially post-menopause. I weighed myself just once a week. My progress was slow, yet steady—about half a pound per week. While Laura had experienced more rapid weight loss, my journey was different. Still, losing five pounds equated to about 4% of my total body weight—a meaningful achievement.
5. Have a Coach
Accountability to Laura was crucial. We devised a plan together, and I didn’t want to disappoint either of us. Her support kept me motivated and focused.
6. Non-Scale Victories
Surprisingly, no one noticed my weight loss—except my husband. But I felt the difference. My clothes fit better, and I felt smaller. Laura had me take my measurements pre- and post-diet. I lost about 2.5 inches around my waist and an average of 6% across all my measurements. Laura called these “non-scale victories,” and they were incredibly validating.
Reflections
Weight loss is more than just numbers on a scale. It’s about feeling better in your own skin, making healthier choices, and finding a sustainable balance. The discipline I learned as a ballet dancer served me well, but this time it was about self-care, not self-criticism.
If you’re inspired by my story and want to embark on your own journey, Laura is available to help. Email her at asyourselfhealth@gmail.com and tell her Big Retired Life sent you. Now that I’ve successfully tested her program, I’ll be embarking on two other 10-week challenges: bodybuilding like Bill Nighan and decluttering like Sandie Timm. Stay tuned for my progress updates.
Here’s to eating your own dog-food. 🙂
Diana Sunshine is the founder of Big Retired Life. She’s a mission-driven, community builder with 20+ years experience in EdTech, Fundraising, and Non-Profit management.
Throughout the “Top Priorities” section of this blog, we will provide data-backed insights for a long, active retirement.