Trim Healthy Mama Plan Read Online Free Page A

with honey, of course. Not sure what is going on with us, must be aging.” Jane takes her seat to a round of smattered applause and a look of relief from Fred.
    There are some “Hi, Janes” from the circle of IDA members as the next new member gets ready to share.
Drive Thru Sue (andFast Food Dude)
    Sue’s turn. She shyly asks if she can just share while sitting down, she’s not comfortable with public speaking. The circle erupts in encouragement: “Just as you are, Sue!”
    “You can do it, Sue!”
    “That’s why we’re here, Sue. Bare your heart. Take your time!”
    “I’m Sue. I’m twenty-nine; the big three-o is right around the corner. Married, two children, first just started second grade, the other is in preschool. My husband is not here today. He has never had to worry about his weight a day in his life and he eats circles around me.”
    “Not fair!” someone yells in good-natured support.
    Sue takes a deep breath. “But I brought my brother with me—Fast Food Dude. We both have some issues, as you can see.” She chuckles and holds up her Big Gulp full of pop. Dude does the same with a shy smile but lets his sister continue. “And it’s not just the two of us; there are a lot of weight and health issues in our family tree.”
    Sue pauses to find the right words. “I’m completely confused by which diet I should do but I’ve been ignoring the red flags too long and it’s past time. I used to skip meals in high school and college, and that worked back then, but as you can see”—Sue reddens uncomfortably—“it’s not working now. I haven’t even climbed on the scale this year because…well, it’s far too depressing. I joined Pound Trackers some years ago, lost some but gained it all back. Counting points all day is not my thing, that I do know. I was miserable.”
    Sue chokes a little on her words and glances at her brother. “Our father passed away from complications from Type 2 diabetes three years ago. He was in his early sixties. My doctor recently told me that I could end up like him if I don’t lose this weight. It’s affecting every part of my life but my doctor’s most concerned about my blood sugar. I have to take pills to help control my blood-sugar numbers and I’m not even thirty yet.” Sue takes a long pause, trying to gain composure, and wipes her eyes.
    “We’re all here for you, Sue,” someone from the circle encourages.
    Sue finds her voice. “I look at my children and my heart squeezes. I want to be there for them. No, I want more than that. I want the energy to be able to toss them the ball, push them on a swing, or chase them at the park without being winded.”
    Sue pauses, then continues with more strength. “Somehow, I want to stop this weight from climbing but more important, I want to be healthy. I don’t want my children to go through the heartache of losing a parent too early like I did.”
    Sue wipes her eyes, chuckles a little. “I’m not much of a cook. Guess I’m an expert at ordering pizza or making mac and cheese from a box. But I want more for my kids. I want to get healthy for me and pass it along to them so this family cycle can finally be broken. I dragged my brother here with me because we need to support each other in this.”
    Sue gets a long hug from the woman sitting next to her, who then gets up to introduce herself.
Farm Fresh Tess (and Organic Only Tony)
    Tess lets go of Sue with a final pat on her arm, wipes her eyes with a tissue, and introduces herself and her husband, Organic Only Tony. She shares that they are living their dream on thirty acres. They raise grass-fed cows and goats for meat and milk, gather eggs from their free-range hens, and grow a big, four-season garden. Tess doesn’t trust most grocery stores because she can’t see what goes into the food.
    Tess is in her forties. She has a lot of bubbling energy and begins to chuckle a little as she takes out some notes that she has prepared. “Have to remind myself