Update: September 12, 2017 POP Take Two

By Laura Williams
The faceless morphing body in these articles below is me! I really loved the POP experience and I did manage to keep the lbs off for at least a year by simply (and happily) sticking with their style of eating. It took planning and focus so when unforeseen and super challenging life events came into play, I fell off my game and the pounds slowly crept back on. After several failed attempts on my own (and one dreadful Whole30 later) I marched myself back into Pop this summer and got back to it. It’s been a little over a month and I’ve lost nearly 10 lbs. There is no deprivation and if you falter a little, you just pull in the reins. Weekly check-ins and weigh-ins with Kara (Pop OS’s nutritionist) ensure accountability. She’s a great listener and full of inspiring menu ideas. For The E List readers: One month FREE when you sign up for 3 or 6 months.

January 12, 2015

We’ve been hearing good things about POP Weight Loss and decided we should give it a go for the New Year. I could use to lose the same stubborn 10 pounds, but all the stuffing-of-face I do for The E List keeps me off a strict regimen. So I asked my friend “L” (yes, she would prefer to remain anonymous!) if she’d be up to the task. She’s a forty-something mother of a toddler, who has had no luck in shedding her baby weight. I get it…I’m still blaming my daughter for mine and she’s 19! She signed up for a three month program and is hoping to lose 20 – 25 pounds with their healthy eating program (no gimmicks, no powders, no fake food) and we’re going to follow along with updates and pictures of her progress. Here’s her “before” shot and her first installment:

 What “L” had to say:

I am a busy, modern woman ie; 40-something-with-a-toddler. I run a small business, I practice yoga, I eat quinoa, I own a VitaMix. When it comes to weight loss, I’m not a fan of fad diets, but I have counted calories and points and grams. I know all about gluten-free, raw, dairy-free, paleo, vegan. I’ve dabbled in each but not simultaneously. At this time of year, just considering all these options, makes my head spin.  And my metabolism appears to be at a dead stop.

Attempting a healthy kick-off to 2015, I headed to POP Weight Loss for a little professional guidance. I was greeted by every staff member in the cozy office and then connected with Kara, one of Pop’s nutritionists. Not only was I captivated by Kara’s calm nature, but I spied some favorites on her office’s book shelves – Wheat Belly by William Davis, a collection of Michael Pollen books; In Defense of Food, Omnivore’s Dilemma and real (non-GMO food-based) supplements like Acidophilus and Omega 3. I was in the right place.

Kara’s non-salesy approach made me feel like I was chatting with a friend (with a Masters Degree in Human Nutrition). I learned that POP includes no gimmicks, no counting, no supplementing, no “giving up” and all of that really speaks to me. So, I signed up! Nothing to lose but a bunch of pounds.

Kara designed a custom eating plan for me right away, consisting of real, whole food, based on my lifestyle and preferences. So, while I’m eating the foods I’ve always considered “healthy”, what I’m realizing, already, is proportion and timing is very important.  I’m keeping a morsel-for-morsel food journal and I will report to her for a weekly weigh-in. She’s provided some tasty (new!) recipes, tips and vitamins and is available for questions any time.

Wish me luck!

L.

Find out more at: www.popweightloss.com

Another Update From “L”: 10 lbs in Four Weeks!

2/09/2015
Two more weeks down on the POP plan! And despite the continued stormy weather, I have managed just fine. I tell myself that if I can stick with this plan in the throes of a New England winter, I can do this kind of eating and exercising any time with ease.The fact that the sidewalks are buried in two feet of dirty snow and every Zumba or yoga class I hope to attend is cancelled hasn’t put a damper on my daily cardio fulfillment. My strategy: Jillian Michaels and Tracy Anderson on YouTube.  And when faced with a SuperBowl Party, three family birthday parties and a Girls’ Night Out at a burger joint, I stayed focused on the plan by bringing my own “party food” and ordering a trusty burger on a salad. Reporting to Kara once a week (when weather permits!), obviously, helps to keep me on the ball. It’s been exactly one month. I’ve lost 10 lbs!

6 Week Update and a Recipe

2/25/2015

Six weeks in. I’ve now lost a total of 13.2 lbs! Things got a bit rough as they often do mid-February around here. I won’t bore you with the details of the two separate strains of flu that plagued our household or my lower back issue that crept back in as a result of couch dwelling. Instead, I’ll simply explain how I coped. Comfort Food. Warm, cozy, tasty and Pop approved. I’m sharing one of my favorites. I am an improvisational cook so, I did my best to recall this “recipe”. Feel free to ramp up any of the aromatic vegetables as suits you. Enjoy!

Chicken Fried Rice (Cauliflower)

1 Head Cauliflower

1-2 Cups of Chicken – from a roasted or rotisserie chicken

2 Tbl Sesame Oil

2 Celery Stalks — chopped

2 Green Onions – chopped

1 Shallot – diced

2 Garlic Cloves – minced

1 Inch Ginger Root — grated

4 Baby Bell Peppers — orange, red, yellow – chopped

¼ Cup of Low Sodium Soy Sauce

1 cup of Low Sodium Chicken Stock

Sriracha Sauce – to taste

Remove leaves from cauliflower and chop in food processor until it resembles rice. Place in a saucepan. Add some water – not covering the cauliflower but just about ½ way to the top of the cauliflower. Cover and steam for about 10 min. Drain any remaining water and remove from heat. Keep covered. Set aside.

Heat a large saute pan or wok and add sesame oil. Once heated, add celery, green onions, shallot, garlic, ginger and bell peppers. Cook until they begin to soften. Add soy sauce and once incorporated add the stock. Cook uncovered on medium for a few minutes and add the cauliflower. Mix. Add some Sriracha if you like a little kick.

tags: diet, weight loss, old saybrook, nutritionist