Here are our winners:
1st Place: heatherb2nd Place: beth
3rd Place (tie): donetta & vixladyfox
Some entries were sent by regular mail and those are being scanned. I'll post the winning entries with photos today. Awesome job ladies! Thanks so much to everyone who entered and we'll be having another contest for Fall 2009 (ideas anyone?)
1st Place: heatherb
I would love to say Kimkins is an awesome diet but I can’t. The word diet brings up horrific self depriving images and implies only a short term in which you can’t wait to go back to the way you were, trust me, I know!
I’ve tried so many diets that I truly lost count. You name it, I tried it. I wanted to be able to pop a pill and eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted and never understood why it didn’t work for me. Truth is, THERE IS NO MAGIC PILL. There, I said it! It took me years for that simple little statement to sink in; simple words, but they say alot when your looking for the weight loss answer.
I’ll never forget the day I was standing in line and saw the Woman’s World magazine displaying a lady who lost so much weight so quickly. I grabbed the magazine and immediately thumbed to the article to find her secret and was amazed at how simple and easy it sounded. “I can do this,” I thought and bought the magazine without hesitation. I couldn’t wait to get home to finish reading, so I sat in my parked car and read the whole article … twice!
When I checked the Kimkins site I became so excited about all the information and success stories that I had no choice but to become a member. The more I read, the more I was sure that this was for me, but doubt once again reared its ugly head and I began questioning myself; that’s exactly what overweight people do. Believe me when I say low self esteem and low self confidence was an everyday occurrence in my life.
Although I was a member and checked the site every day, I never joined a group, convinced I could do it on my own, but somehow that always got put off till another day … there was ALWAYS a birthday or holiday or some special occasion where I just couldn’t diet at the time but promised myself “tomorrow or next week” for sure.
Then one morning I got up, looked at myself in the mirror and decided enough was enough! There would be no more excuses for me, no more putting things off for tomorrow. So I immediately went back to the Kimkins site with a new mind that was set and determined to succeed no matter what. I joined a group and found an awesome group of ladies that have meant the world to me! We stuck together month after month, encouraging, motivating and calling each other out when the time came and it has made all the difference! Knowing that you have to report in and be there for someone else everyday, sharing your struggles and your victories is simply inspiring.
When I cheated I felt more horrible about disappointing my friends than I did to myself, but they were always there to help dust me off after I fell off the wagon and were always, ALWAYS there to cheer me on when I lost, even if it was only a half a pound … off is off!
I have lost a total of 92.5 pounds in a 7 month time and I’m not done yet. I started Kimkins weighing 252.5 with a goal weight of 150 and I now weigh 160 and have reset my goal to 140 simply because I know I can and will make it! I went from a size 20/22 to a size 8!
I remember walking into the kitchen to tell my husband how excited I was, how serious and determined I was to make this work and since he’d already heard me say this a thousand times before. I got the skeptical “of course you are dear” look that we all know and hate. But guess what … the first week alone I lost 13 pounds and in one month's time I had lost 23 pounds!!! To say that I made him eat that look and those words are an understatement!
I am now smaller than when we got married (then a size 14) and now on June 11th we will have our 15th wedding anniversary and I cant think of a better gift for myself than to be able to look and feel the way I finally want to!
It’s amazing how fast the weight seems to melt off; one week you're in a size 18, and the next your clothes are loose and baggy and then your having to reach for a smaller size! There is no greater feeling than when you go shopping and realize you can no longer shop in the plus section because they’re ALL too big!!! It’s an absolutely, positively, overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and you feel ready to break out in a little happy dance right there in the isle … oh wait, I think I actually did!!!
That’s why I can’t call Kimkins a diet because it’s not … it’s a life change! It teaches you how to eat and what to eat so that you look and feel your very best. It completely changes the way you see food.
I feel great and my body feels like it’s running cleaner, smoother and I feel so powerful, like there isn’t anything I can’t do! I have more energy, self confidence and will power than I have had in my entire life!
Kimkins has helped me learn to love myself again and gave me the ability to see the me on the outside match the me on the inside. It has taught me a new self awareness of my strengths. I know that my life will be forever changed because of Kimkins. I am now a much happier and healthier person and there is no way I can ever thank Kimkins enough for helping me change my life around. I feel like a totally new person and I know that none of this would have ever happened without Kimkins!
Kimkins is a way of life … PERIOD!
2nd Place: beth
For several years, I used to lie in bed (after a late-night snack, of course) and wish and pray and imagine that somehow, some way I could lose a lot of weight and look and feel great again. You know, show up at a party not having to be the funny one or be the one who will sing at karaoke (although that is really, really cool). I wished I could walk into a room not being self-conscious of my weight and appearance and have people go, “Wow! Who is that?”
Summer 2007. 5’5” and 228 pounds. Grumpy, grouchy, frumpy and dumpy. I was 38 years old with 3 young boys (7, 5 and 3) and married to a handsome, fit-looking stud. For at least 5 years I had high-cholesterol and high-triglycerides and I had been taking medication. I had blood-sugar “spikes” when I would overeat (you know … wanting to nap and drool 20 minutes after a meal). I was gestational diabetic for my middle pregnancy. My mother was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes in early 2007 (I was doomed!) My BMI (Body Mass Index) was 38- defined as OBESE.
I was becoming increasingly anti-social (not wanting to hang-out with old friends and not wanting to make new ones, not going to work-functions with my husband, lying to friends about wanting to stay home). My self-esteem and confidence were at an all-time low. I was depressed and did not really know it!
On top of all that, I had let myself go in regards to my appearance (I didn’t wear jewelry or make-up anymore, wore a bandana over my hair most of the time, and baggy jeans and t-shirts were a majority of my wardrobe). I just did not care.
September 2007. I am not sure what exactly happened, but found myself sitting at my computer desk with my head down and crying. I was frustrated and tired of being out-of-shape, unhealthy, fat and unattractive. I Googled low-fat/low-carb diets and Kimkins was one of the hits. I clicked on it, read some success stories, got my Visa Card out and signed up.
My weight-loss party had started! I had never dieted before, but found Kimkins to be simple and straight-forward. Other than my husband, no one knew that I was dieting. Therefore, the Kimkins website was (and still is) a very important part of my success! I read everything I could! The personal journals, the before and after pictures and the success stories kept me motivated and inspired. The ability to post questions and read other folks’ input was very valuable and I strongly encourage anyone who does Kimkins to utilize the website! I still go to the website daily!
In the first 40 days I lost 38 pounds. My cholesterol and triglycerides dropped to normal levels within the first 12 weeks and the doctor took me off of meds! By April 2008 I had lost 88 pounds on Kimkins and had dropped from a size 20 pant size to a size 4! Today, May 2009, I find myself 95 pounds lighter, much more toned-up and wearing Junior Pant sizes of 3 or 5! (In case you did not know, the major difference between Junior and Misses pants is curves in the hip and rear area ... unfortunately, I have never had a shapely behind, but nonetheless enjoy wearing Junior sizes!)
My doctor said that the October 2008 results are terrific and reflect a stabilization of my diet and I should just keep on doing what I am doing! While my overall cholesterol is up, my HDLs are above average and outweigh the overall increase in cholesterol.
There is far too much to list what has changed for me, but here are a few:
- a new wardrobe
- I can run and jump with my boys
- I can cross my legs without getting out of breath
- I have made a couple of new friends
- my boys can get their arms around me to hug me
- I want to go out in public again
- I got a (No Peep) tattoo on my new-found hipbone to commemorate 90 pounds gone (dang … I still love those marshmallow creatures)
- I ran in a 5K run last July
- I volunteer at school
- my husband and I went backpacking for the first time in 11 years
- I have my own business with a great, new friend
- I am off of medication
- I have normal cholesterol levels
- normal triglyceride levels
- normal blood-sugar levels
- a BMI of 22.1 (normal!)
- I can wear high-heels again without my bunions killing me
- I am an assistant coach for soccer
- I like to go clothes shopping again
- I laugh more; I smile more
- I am not grouchy (well, not as much anyways)
- I have been called “petite” or “cute”, even “tiny” (what the …?)
- I have run into people I have known for years that did not recognize me ... at all (that is way, way fun)
- and the list goes on and on ... it is truly fun to be me these days!
3rd Place (tie): donetta
Actually I do not like Kimkins ... I love Kimkins! This is the one and only diet that has turned my life around. My name is Donetta Workman. With the help of Kimkins I have lost 115 pounds. I am a 53 year old mother/wife/secretary. I have tried numerous diets in my 53 years, and have had little success. I have had a weight problem since I was a child. My entire life has consisted of diet after diet. For years now I had given up on dieting. I had quit caring about myself and the weight kept piling on.
It all began in February of February 2008. I was at my "wits end". I was so large that I could barely walk, due to my bd knees. I was depressed over my weight and was tired all the time. I felt that I didn't enjoy life becasue I was embarrassed to be in public or around people. This may sound silly, but I heard a song on the radio called "Wasted" by Carrie Underwood. It talked about wasting your life. I cried because I felt like I was waiting my life not be able to do the things that I wanted to do because of my weight. I have watched my daughter grow up and have not enjoyed lots of things with her because of my weight.
I know that it was up to me to make a change. No one could do it for me. I began to pay that God would help me. I am a devout Christian and I know that God would help me if I helped myself.
My mother bought a copy of a woman's magazine [Woman's World] and she told me to read the article about Kimkins. I read it and it was like God spoke to me and said that I could do it. I began on the program but I also promised God that I would not eat sweets or carb related snacks, crackers, breads for one year. I believe that you not make a vow and break it. I know myself, I have to make promises because I am an addict when sweets are concerned.
The weight loss has been gradual and actually quite easy. In a year I have lost 115 pounds. I still have quite a lot of weight to lose but I am thankful for my new outlook on life. I feel that God used the Kimkins diet, along with my faith in him to help me. I know if I can do it, anyone can do it! Sometimes at your lowest point is when you find strength.
I went from size 28/30 to an 18/20 in one year. I have so much more energy and I actually feel good about myself. People says that they don't recognize me. I have had people pass me by because they did not know me. My 16 year old daughter says "I'm hot".
I want to encourage anyone that has tried and failed not to give up. With Kimkins, and a change of mind, you can do it. It all comes from the inside. You have to really want to change, take one day at a time, and work towards a goal.
I won't lie and say that I have not messed up. I have had days that I wasn't quite happy with myself and I felt that I ate too much. You have to get back up and try a little harder. Don't expect a miracle in a few days. The change gradually comes. While you are losing, try to think on things that make you happy, like friends, family and every day blessings.
I would love to be able to help others and encourage them to keep pressing on toward their goal. Never give up.
3rd Place (tie): vixladyfox
I am 33 years old 5’’ tall (ok ok 4’11’’ don’t judge me! Haha!), last year I tipped the scales at 207 pounds!! 200+ pounds on a 5 foot; I mean 4’11’’ frame is nothing pretty! I was truly in denial about how heavy I was. My life has been blessed with a loving partner and a little girl who just couldn’t be any sweeter ... why worry about my weight?
Well one day I was cleaning up the house, listening to my little girl play in her room. My daughter runs into the kitchen asking for a snack. I asked her if she wanted something that was a bit of a treat and she hurried towards me with a smile on her face and threw her arms around me! She said “Mommy you are the best Mommy in the world!” At that moment she said “Hey I can’t touch my fingers together.” WHAT? Honestly my brain didn’t compute what she had just said. She squeezed me as hard as she could and with a strained voice said it AGAIN!!! I told her to stop as I got her snack together and hurried her on her way. She walked out of my kitchen and I burst into tears! I tried to cry quietly into a dishtowel. I leaned over the sink howling like a banshee trying to get a handle on my emotions but I couldn’t stop!! I was doing that trying to catch your breath breathing thing that you do when you start crying really hard. I looked up and saw my reflection in the window!! I stopped crying ... I stood staring at myself looking at my double chin and my rosy red cheeks. I was looking at a person that I didn’t recognize. I guess I must have been standing there for a while because before I knew it my beloved and daughter were standing behind me. “Did you hear me?” my love asked. I said NO and told them I had to go to the bathroom and off I ran!!
That day was one of my lowest days in my life and today right now in this moment as I type this … is one of the BEST days! Today thanks to Kimkins I am 153 pounds and losing!!! I found Kimkins and read the success stories and thought to myself “IF THEY CAN DO IT I CAN TOO”!! Now 7 months later I am 54 pounds lighter and have a whole new outlook on food!! I have tried every diet out there and Kimkins is the only thing that has worked for me. It not only worked it has taught me how to eat sensibly to sustain my loss and live a healthy life. I am no longer “Living to eat” I am now “Eating to LIVE”.
The encouragement and support I have found here with Kimkins saved my life!! The friendships I have made are relationships that I will keep close to my heart for years to come. I went back and forth fighting with myself about staying on plan. My personal journal helped me though that. Posting my feelings and thoughts opened me up to the Kimkins community. They embraced me all 200 + pounds of me with out judgment. I also went into the chat room and was welcomed with open arms! I found a community of people all striving for the same goals. The information, encouragement, and acceptance I found with Kimkins changed my life for the better ... I will never go back to being that girl who was crying in the kitchen ever AGAIN!!
Soon after I found Kimkins something wonderful happened ... my love PROPOSED!! We are getting married October 11th 2009. I am working towards the ultimate “after” picture. The one where I stand confident, happy and beautiful next to the man of my dreams in my wedding dress!!! I post “before and after” pictures often in my journal too keep myself focused ... looking ahead is the only way to go!
Thank you, Kimmer, for helping me through all the “cheats”, and questions. Thank you for giving me back the chance to run and play with my daughter and the ability to feel sexy in my own skin. Thank you for helping me realize how strong I am and opening up a whole new world to my family and I ... and making me understand that I can NEVER FAIL IF I DON’T STOP TRYING!!!
Peace~Love~Light
Vix
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