I love getting these emails:
Hi Fred!
I am a 64-year-old post menopausal (obviously) obese woman who is on a mission. (I am also a mother, grandmother, artist and wife, among other things.)
Starting in January of this year, I belatedly started turning my life around. I FINALLY got the right information on diet and a good scare to give me the motivation. It started with Jorge Cruise, and then via Gary Taubes and a bunch of other low-carb pundits, I am now on a self-directed Eades/Atkins/Paleo way of eating, which has helped me make remarkable changes in my life. I am now on an ongoing quest for health and fitness and am tweaking all aspects of my life in the process.
In early January, I was a 5'6-1/2", 235 pounds (actually down from a high of almost 250,) insulin resistant, sedentary, very low energy, depressed woman. I was fat, miserable and unhealthy. In mid-January, I cut out all grains (including corn and rice,) legumes, and processed carbs. Since then, I have settled into a 20-30 grams of carbs daily, moderate protein, good fats diet which works for me.
Today, August 8, I am still 5'6-1/2", but at 203 pounds. I am undoubtedly still insulin-resistant and metabolically challenged to a degree, and still pretty sedentary, but I have a lot more energy. I'm also thinking much more clearly and I'm not depressed. I have lost 13" around my apple belly and a total of 40-something inches over all. All this without exercise.
Realistically, I figure I am about 30-35 pounds from my appropriate weight and a long way from where I want to be in strength and flexibility. I know the missing component in my personal transformation is exercise. Smart exercise. (Other things I need to work on are: reduced alcohol, caffeine, and dairy and more sleep.)
Somewhere along the line, I discovered Fred Hahn. I bought your book, your iPhone app, your videos. I believe in your method. It syncs right in with everything I have read and experienced since January. Intuitively, I know you're right. I know this will work for me. I have tried doing this on my own. I'm having difficulty. I don't understand some things. I don't know if I'm doing other things correctly. I have been sedentary for a long, long time. I need to do the most modified versions of everything. I'm struggling. I desperately want to do this.
My son lives in Brooklyn. We are going to visit in October - probably around the 6th-9th. Is there any remote possibility of setting up an appointment with you around that time for a training session and consultation? I could change my visit around those general dates if there is a chance of seeing you.
Thank you for considering this. Please let me know as soon as possible. We need to make travel arrangements shortly.
Most sincerely,
Hope S.
Fantastic. And strength training will indeed help boost her progress. I will, of course, help her all I can.
I hope this story helps others get the process going!
