Frequently asked questions
I get a lot of emails and facebook private messages asking tons of questions all the time. Tonight I decided to try and answer a bunch of them publicly in my blog. As always if you have further questions please do not hesitate to contact me with them, antter95@yahoo.com is the best place to do that.
Q- Terry why didn’t you just have one of the bariatric surgery?
A- In 2005 and 06 I WAS actively pursuing the RNY surgery, which is where they cut your stomach to a small pouch and then take out several feet of your intestines. I jumped thru every hoop the surgery center and my insurance company asked me to. Including having a blood clot filter installed in my inferior vena cava. After everything I had been thru for more than 8 months, my insurance company ruled that since I had not had a significant cardiac event – the surgery was not medically necessary. I was devastated and cried for 3 days straight. Now a days I am so glad I didn’t have it done. That surgery has been around for about 12 years now, and more and more I hear about the complications people are developing from digestive disorders, to brittle bones, to death. I lost a dear friend in the fall because of complications of the RNY surgery he had 11 years before. One of the biggest issues is that folks have the surgery thinking that it will fix everything and never learn how to eat right.
Q- Have you tried Protein diets?
A- Yes and honestly, liquid protein diets were always my favorite weight loss methods. You name it I have done it. Here is the deal with the liquid protein diets- they work incredible well while you are on them, but you cannot stay on them forever, and once you stop the deprivation of the other things to your body the pounds come back quickly and they bring friends alone for the fun of it. There are several issues, 1 your body cannot live on protein alone, it’s a big component to you metabolism but it’s not everything, so while you are on the regimen you deprive your body of the other componets of nutrients it needs, and once again unless you have learned how to eat right while on the regimen you are going to gain the weight back once you stop.
Q- Do you do protein drinks/shakes now?
A- Yes I do, I use them as a supplement to my meals. Typically since I try to eat every 3 hours, I use a protein drink/shake as my at the desk or in the car meal. They are also incredible helpful when healing from injury or surgery. In fact when I had my tonsils out for the second time in 2009 I lived on them for 2 weeks while my throat healed. BUT I do eat really, healthy foods 3 or 4 times a day as well as the shakes.
Q- Why do you work out at 5 am?
A- It’s the time of day that fits into my day. Several days a week I work 11 hour days, at of those days I am tired and want to come home and relax. So my commitment to myself called for me to workout, 5am was and is what works best for me.
Q- How do you manage to get up at 5am, and be at work on time?
A- Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. I prepare, my gym bag gets packed with what I need for work and the gym before I go to bed, and I keep a canister of protein at the office. I make it work for me.
Q- Is there anything you won’t talk about in your blog and talks?
A- YES- there is a big part of my life that I keep private, as I feel like that is mine and keep it to myself.
Q- Why do you always recommend a coach?
A- Ever see a team make it to the super bowl or World Series without one? Honestly all great athletes have coaches, all great teams have coaches, I have a great 1 and he is part of my success. I now help others be successful. My life is just as important as a Super bowl, no there will be no Lombardi trophy , but trust me doing some of things I have been able to do is more than that trophy will ever be.
Q- What would you say are the most essential items to have to make this work?
A- A good coach, a protein supplement mix you like, several good blender ball bottles, a physical activity you like- it doesn’t matter if its swimming, walking, dancing, etc… you need to move and sweat daily. A commitment to yourself, to get healthy and stay healthy, and a willingness to be coachable.
Q- Isn’t having to keep a food journal a pain?
A- NO it helps me keep accountable, it makes me be a conscious eat, having my coach review it and make suggestions helps me be successful, and lastly it keeps me honest to myself.
Q- How can you just give up so many things?
A- Ok yes I have given up Pop Tarts , Fried Chicken, and a few other things, but really I don’t miss them, and when I am craving something I remember how sick the Popeye’s chicken breast made me a few years ago, or how the chocolate malted I craved for a month last summer made me feel after I had 1. BUT most importantly I think about the fact that I have given up shoving a needle into my belly every night, or given up low back pain just taking a shower. I dwell on the things I gained, not what I have given up.
Q- How much has this weight loss cost you?
A- Less than you think. My first workout equipment was a hool a hoop I bought for $2 at 5 and below, my second was a Go-Fit pro gym band set for like 30 bucks and I still use this regularly, there was a 20 or 30 dollar Richard Simmons DVD which I also still use. My Gym membership cost less than 50 dollars a month, buying health foods does cost less than eating Pizza and Mac and cheese every night. But most importantly I AM WORTH WHAT EVER IT MIGHT COST!
Q- Why do you always say this is a lifestyle NOT a diet?
A- Because diets are a short term thing you do to lose a set amount of weight, I am living a healthy life, not dieting. I have goals and dreams to achieve in this lifetime, so I need to lead the lifestyle to support them.
Q- When will you stop?
A- The day I die….. This is for real and for the long term. I have 4 amazing nephews, 2 of which are adults, 2 are still young, and the youngest is 11. I want to dance at his wedding, and be around to see him have a son that give him the grey hair he is giving my brother and sister in law and I want him to take his sweet ole time getting there.
Q- What motivated you to start, and what keeps you motivated?
A- I watched my late husband die a slow and painful death, being bedridden and unable to do anything for himself, and never want to end up like that. That, those nephews I just spoke about and the desire to be around a long time. I read a lot , so of the books I recommend are any of the Don Miguel Ruiz books, The 100 Year Lifestyle by Dr. Eric Plasker, Excuses be gone by Dr. Wayne Dryer, and Younger next year. Lastly, the love and respect I have for all of you that cheer me on every day.
Q- Why are you such an advocate for Chiropractic?
A- A couple of reasons: Chiropractic saved my life, I had been told I had 18-22 months to live, that was in 1993, I just turned 48 and it was the chiropractors in my life that got me to this point. #2- They body needs less than 5 pound change up or down to alter how his carries itself. Carry around a 1 gallon bottle of water for a while and see how you feel, it takes less than that to throw your bodies structure off. Chiropractors and only chiropractors are trained to removed the central nervous system interference this weight change causes. #3- Its natural, safe and it works.
Q- Do you always do what your coach tells you to do?
A- I want to say yes always, but I am sure there are things he has suggested that I have not done, but he does tell me regularly that he plants seeds and watches them grow. I hope he likes the garden that is blooming these days, I think he does. All seeds take time to grow; I’m growing, as I lose.
So there you have the big questions I get asked regularly. I’m here to help you plant your garden, so please do not hesitate to ask for my assistance.
As I walk this journey I find beautiful gardens blooming around each bend.
Love and Laughter
Hoorah
Terry
Interest vs commitment
Nick about age 4 playing in the pool with Edward
Mom and Dad a few months before she passed away
Where does your life begin?
