Jamerrill Stewart's weight loss journey is an inspiring story of how she discovered and embraced the Trim Healthy Mama (THM) lifestyle. This article delves into her experiences, challenges, and successes with THM, offering insights and tips for those seeking a similar path.
Discovering Trim Healthy Mama
Jamerrill's journey began in February 2014, after a year of unsuccessful dieting attempts that had taken a toll on her metabolism. Initially hesitant, she found encouragement in a friend's post that explored the pros and cons of Trim Healthy Mama.
Erin also shared her journey, explaining that she began the Trim Healthy Mama way of eating in January 2019 after realizing her BMI categorized her as obese! After having three babies in four years, she packed on the pounds to a weight she never imagined possible. Growing up, she was naturally thin, and the baby weight easily melted off her 20-something body after giving birth to her first child. It took her a year to “bounce back” the second time around. But after having her third and fourth babies in her 30s and suffering through gestational diabetes during her pregnancies, the weight wouldn’t budge.
What is Trim Healthy Mama?
Trim Healthy Mama is a unique eating plan that focuses on balancing blood sugar levels. The core principle is to separate fuel sources - fats and carbohydrates - at each meal, preventing blood sugar spikes that can lead to weight gain. The THM plan allows you to eat from all of the food groups while never spiking your blood sugar.
Early Success and Pregnancy
Once on Trim Healthy Mama Jamerrill quickly lost over 20 pounds before her pregnancy. Daniel Joel was her first Trim Healthy Mama pregnancy and baby! Born 12-18-14 and weighing 9.14.
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During her pregnancy with Daniel, Jamerrill followed the Trim Healthy Mama plan about 3/4 of the time. In the first trimester, she experienced some queasiness, prioritizing eating something over strict adherence to the plan. By the second trimester, she was able to enjoy many of her favorite THM meals and recipes, experiencing increased energy levels. By the end of her pregnancy, she had gained about 30 pounds.
Breastfeeding and Maintaining Weight Loss
While exclusively breastfeeding baby Daniel, Jamerrill continued to follow the Trim Healthy Mama plan. Although she didn't initially see significant changes on the scale, she noticed inches coming off.
Erin's THM Journey
Before conceiving her fourth child, Erin discovered Trim Healthy Mama. She quickly fell in love with this low-glycemic way of eating. Whereas other diets confused her, this plan made sense! She didn’t feel deprived, and she could even eat sweets without compromising her blood sugar. She lost 25 pounds before conceiving baby #4.
While she initially came home from the hospital at only ten pounds heavier than her pre-pregnancy weight, the stress of having a newborn with some medical issues, parenting three other children, and running her business consumed her during her son’s first two years of life. Instead of sticking with the healthful, Trim Healthy Mama way of eating, she succumbed to binging on “light” popcorn and “organic” cheese puffs-or downing whatever snack she could get her hands on after going hours and hours without eating.
She could feel her blood sugar fluctuating via mood swings, shakiness, and fatigue, and there was even one time when she nearly dropped her newborn son when her blood sugar became dangerously low.
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By the time her son was 22 months old, in December 2018, she knew something had to change. She got on the scale that month for the first time since he was born, and her heart sunk when she realized she had gained 30 pounds in the nearly two years after his birth! She took pictures of herself in a mirror, and she nearly broke into tears when she saw her reflection. She already knew she was high risk for type 2 diabetes because of a strong family history, past case of gestational diabetes, and her age. When she saw her belly fat, she thought: “I look like diabetes or heart disease waiting to happen!” This terrified her. She calculated her BMI and faced the hard truth that she was no longer just overweight. She was obese.
She knew what she needed to do: She could choose to a healthy, low-glycemic way of eating now, or she would be forced to eat this way later because of disease. She chose the former and hasn’t looked back. She lost 30 pounds in 2019, and she’s committed to eating the Trim Healthy Mama way-for life.
Her eating habits are better than they’ve ever been, and she has the tools she needs to make wise foods choices both now and in the future.
Non-Scale Victories
On top of losing weight, Erin’s experienced many NSVs-Non-Scale Victories-because of Trim Healthy Mama. She’s seen her energy levels increase, her anxiety diminish, and her cholesterol and blood sugar levels stabilize.
And, yes, she’s gone down several sizes and can fit into those jeans she had moved to the back of the closet!
Read also: Stewart's Diet and Exercise
Resources for Starting Trim Healthy Mama
Gwen at Gwen’s Nest has a wealth of Trim Healthy Mama resources available.