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Trim Healthy Mama Book Review and Giveaway!

Melissa Beene Ford/ Trim Healthy Mama

 
I struggled with how to begin this blog post, because I’m certainly not the ideal person to talk about this book. This book, without a doubt, is amazing. 




Wanna know how I know? Because dozens of my Facebook friends have read it, are following the plan, and dropping weight at an iNCReDiBLe rate. Like, so incredible that I’m JEALOUS. JEALOUS because they keep posting before and after pictures of themselves, the ‘before’ pics looking like, well, moms, and the ‘after’ pics looking like pretty little college girls, darn them.

Yes, I’m talking about you, Kim. And YOU, Jessica. And so many others; you know who you are. And this is JUST WITHIN THE LAST 2-4 MONTHS. I’m jealous, and I don’t like you very much right now. So it’s not the book’s fault that my own story isn’t the best possible Trim Healthy Mama example.

It’s my own dang fault. I’m the world’s worst dieter, and if you’ve followed my blog for any length of time you KNOW this. I LOVE to bake. Baking is my stress-reliever. And if you know me, I don’t have to explain to you why there have been way too many cups of butter and sugar and white flour in this here house, know what I’m sayin’? And my hubby loves to cook red meat and bacon, and my family loves to eat real, satisfying food. HOW I’m not 500 pounds at this point, I DO NOT KNOW.

I’m not, but having just had a baby {you can say ‘just had a baby’ for the first year, FYI} I have some pounds I’d like to lose. I also have a wicked, powerful, all-consuming craving for SUGAR that ONLY happens when I’m nursing a baby. Seriously… all {ok, most} other times, sugar is not my downfall… but these last five months, I’m like an alien in an Edgar suit chugging sugar water out of hummingbird feeders.

I can stick to the Trim Healthy Mama plan SO faithfully for three days, and WHAM… I’m getting the shakes and falling out on the floor in spasms and sweating and dry-heaving until somebody holds my tongue back and pours refined white sugar down my throat.

Not really. 

But in my overactive imagination, yes, I. MUST. HAVE. SUGAR. 

And it does make it rather difficult to stick to the plan.

And THAT, my friends, is why I didn’t know how to begin this blog post: I was waiting until I could do this thing perfectly. I wanted to get it right, post this review with my own fabulous ‘after’ picture of myself.

Or maybe a slow-motion video of myself running down the beach in a red Baywatch swimsuit… 

THAT thought just made me laugh out loud, right before I threw up in my mouth a little. Don’t worry; I’m not gonna. But a girl can dream, right?

That does, however, bring me to one of the best features of this book and it’s plan. You don’t HAVE to do it perfectly to see results. In fact, sometimes ‘cheating’ spurs your body on to drop a chunk of pounds. I’ve lost weight with other diets, but a ‘cheat’ on other plans TOTALLY derails you, because OTHER diets say you MUST eat nine perfect meals in a row before it ‘works.’ NINE. That’s three days of perfect eating, and I can’t do that for a lifetime. I just can’t.

But in spite of my more-frequent-than-they-should-be sugary cheats on the Trim Healthy Mama plan, I’ve lost twelve pounds since I got my book.

*But don’t do what I do, ok? DON’T. Let ME be your example of what NOT to do… I just want to encourage you that THIS IS DOABLE. Even for big fat cheaters like me.

Another thing I love: NO food groups are excluded. God made them all, and you are to eat all of them for optimum health. Which is WONDERFUL, because I’ve tried the low-fat thing back when I was in college. We would go to a Mexican restaurant and eat nothing but rice by the plate full. Or a big bowl of lettuce with no dressing. And it was torture because I couldn’t have butter, not to mention horrible for my blood sugar. 

Then I tried the low-carb thing 15 years ago, and ate bacon and cream cheese by the plate full, and it was equally torturous because I couldn’t have my Red Lobster biscuits. NOBODY can cut out an entire food group all the time and be HAPPY about it. I’ve never known ANYBODY who made that work, and I daresay you haven’t either. SO REJOICE, BECAUSE YOU GET TO EAT FROM ALL THE FOOD GROUPS, HALLELUJAH!   

BUT. The premise is, you don’t eat them all at the same time. 

Protein is the basis of all meals, and with your protein you eat EITHER healthy carbs OR healthy fats. It makes sense when you think about it; your body can burn one primary fuel at a time, and will store the other one when you give it two fuels to choose from, resulting in extra padding for YOU. Trim Healthy Mama is all about keeping your blood sugar stable with no dips and spikes in your insulin. And that’s the WAY oversimplified explanation, of course.

Another thing I love? All the support. One of the book’s authors has become a Facebook friend. And there are forums. And Facebook support groups. I’m a member of more than one Trim Healthy Mama support group. You are never, ever in this alone!

More pluses: 
* You will NOT feel deprived.
* You do NOT count calories.
* You can fall off, then immediately get back on the plan.
* You can tailor favorite recipes to be THM-friendly.
* Chapters on hormones, supplements, and motivation.

I won’t go into any further detail, because the book goes into 600 … pages… of… detail….

Which brings me to the ‘cons’ of this plan. It wouldn’t be a fair book review if I didn’t include a few ‘cons,’ right? Most notably, it’s LONG. It’s a LOT of reading, which you MUST GET THROUGH in order to have a real grasp on how this plan is done.

The recipes aren’t all ‘complete,’ I guess is the word? At times they left out an ingredient, or something, and thus you sort of have to tweak a recipe to work for you, or guess at amounts. None of that bothers me too badly, because I tend to be a recipe-tweaker anyway, but it is a complaint I’ve heard around the inter-webs. 

Then a couple of the recipes, well, I haven’t been just ‘wowed’ over. The crackers that are supposed to taste like Wheat Thins… NO. Just no. Those went in the garbage. But maybe that was just me and I did something wrong, but I’ve had a few other ‘flops,’ though some of that may be due to the Stevia. Stevia is definitely a guessing game and an acquired taste. But for every one I haven’t liked, there have been six that I really did.

And lastly, you really do need to buy a few special ingredients if you want to delve off into this 100%, Stevia for one, Glucomannan for another. They say you can do the plan without those things, but in all reality…. you need those things. And Glucomannan is pretty dang hard to find; I had to order it online.

So there you have it. A drop in the bucket of all I COULD say about this book. I wholeheartedly recommend it, though. After all, I’ve lost twelve pounds all while being a voracious cheater, and if I can do that, anyone with a mustard seed worth of discipline could REALLY make this work. 

So JOIN ME AND LET’S DO THIS THING! 

Check out the Trim Healthy Mama link here to buy the book. OR… enter my giveaway for a chance to win an e-version of it, sponsored by the book’s authors! And just so you know, they gave me an ebook for my very own for hosting this giveaway, but all the opinions are my own!

To enter the giveaway click the Rafflecopter link HERE —>

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nadine says

    March 28, 2013 at 5:00 am

    And how do I enter the giveaway?

    Reply
  2. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 28, 2013 at 5:29 am

    Love the review! Totally relate able 🙂 I'm a crazy cheater too. Still. Even with the learning curve and chocolate chip binges…loosing weight !! Huge bonus, no more headaches and major joint pain…thank you refined flour and sugar, you are done torturing me ! down 16 lbs since Jan. eating butter! (and other yummy food)

    Reply
  3. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 28, 2013 at 10:43 am

    Good blog Melissa!! I am not a Mama trying to lose weight, but a Grandma that should have done this when I WAS a Mama. How do I enter your give away?? Love reading your writings and hearing about your family.

    Reply
  4. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 28, 2013 at 10:44 am

    By the way, that "seirra47" is not going to tell you a think about who I am! This is Marleen Eastin!

    Reply
  5. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 28, 2013 at 11:18 am

    Do I just leave a comment to enter? I am slow to jump on the bandwagon, but am getting there. Having no extra $ right now, a giveaway is my only hope. Pick me Pick me!!! 🙂 Great post by the way. I find it hard to stick to things past a few days as well. You inspire me!<br />Kerri

    Reply
  6. Michelle says

    March 28, 2013 at 11:47 am

    Great, honest review! I still cant believe how much yummy stuff we get to eat and still lose weight! That&#39;s not even including the amazing health changes I&#39;m seeing!

    Reply
  7. Michelle says

    March 28, 2013 at 11:48 am

    Great, honest review! I can&#39;t believe we get to eat all this yummy stuff and still lose weight! That&#39;s not even speaking to the amazing health benefits I&#39;ve noticed!

    Reply
  8. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 28, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    I am excited about this book because of many of your pro comments. 🙂 I am on a get-healthy-journey and this book looked like a good resource!

    Reply
  9. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 28, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    It&#39;s a great resource, the absolute most &#39;doable&#39; diet I know of that works AND is doable in the long term! Good luck! 🙂

    Reply
  10. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 28, 2013 at 1:26 pm

    I&#39;m sorry, you have to click on the rafflecopter link to enter! I have no idea what I&#39;ve done wrong… this rafflecopter thing is new to me…. but I thought there would be a BOX with instructions to make it easy to know what to do!

    Reply
  11. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 28, 2013 at 1:26 pm

    Thanks Marleen!! You need to click on the rafflecopter link at the end of the post to enter! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 28, 2013 at 1:27 pm

    Congrats on 16 pounds since January!! Wow!! See, stories like that inspire me. So far today, though, I&#39;ve done amazingly well! But it&#39;s not 3pm yet…

    Reply
  13. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 28, 2013 at 4:14 pm

    Bummer, I&#39;m not on FB so I can&#39;t enter…<br /><br /><br />Sounds like a good book. I&#39;ll be watching for your updates on your progress. It sounds encouraging that you can cheat a little and still have good results.

    Reply
  14. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 28, 2013 at 4:23 pm

    Great work on the review! I&#39;m a bad cheater too… also nursing, which does make for some serious cravings!!! But I&#39;m down a little more than 25lbs in a little less than 4 months! Woot!

    Reply
  15. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 28, 2013 at 4:46 pm

    WOOHOO! Congrats Rachel!

    Reply
  16. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 28, 2013 at 4:47 pm

    OH SHOOT!! I didn&#39;t even think about people NOT being on Facebook! How do you even live? 🙂 Just kidding. I&#39;ll see if I can change the entry details….

    Reply
  17. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 28, 2013 at 5:06 pm

    I love that this plan uses REAL food and that I&#39;m watching my friends lose weight and get healthier!

    Reply
  18. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 29, 2013 at 12:54 am

    I&#39;m so excited to learn more about this book! Sounds perfect for me in, oh, about 9 weeks! 🙂

    Reply
  19. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 29, 2013 at 6:04 am

    I&#39;m excited about this book because I am a part of 2 of the THM support groups on facebook and share a number of your successful THM friends. <br />I&#39;m crossing my fingers, toes, and every little hair on my head in hopes I can win a copy of this book, since I haven&#39;t been able to afford it yet. All the stories of folks reaching their highschool weight are giving me hope. After 7

    Reply
  20. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 29, 2013 at 6:19 am

    Hmm – I tried to post where I shared this on fb in the rafflecopter, but accidentally hit enter too soon. Here&#39;s the post: https://www.facebook.com/julie.cox.180072/posts/426969487392767

    Reply
  21. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 30, 2013 at 8:31 pm

    I&#39;m excited about the book too and even though glucomannan was hard to find at first, I&#39;ve really, really enjoyed the puddings with it. I can&#39;t have dairy and one of the things I really missed and had trouble finding a substitute for was pudding! Our whole family loves the different kinds and my ten-year-old sister requested THM&#39;s choco pudding with skinny chocolate for her dirt

    Reply
  22. Melissa from the Blue House says

    March 31, 2013 at 3:39 am

    I have been wanting this book. I have a friend who has dropped several sizes by following this diet. I want to try it, too.

    Reply
  23. Melissa from the Blue House says

    April 1, 2013 at 6:54 pm

    It is worth a try! 🙂

    Reply
  24. Melissa from the Blue House says

    April 2, 2013 at 1:24 am

    It&#39;s a lifestyle not a diet! I like that!

    Reply
  25. Melissa from the Blue House says

    April 2, 2013 at 5:35 pm

    This is exactly what us ladies have been looking for in a &quot;diet&quot;. I love that you get to eat real foods and SWEETS!!! 🙂

    Reply
  26. Melissa from the Blue House says

    April 2, 2013 at 9:48 pm

    Wow, thanks for giving us non-facebookers a chance, too! <br /><br /><br /><br />As to how I live, it&#39;s fairly drama-free, which in my circle of friends seems unusual unless you don&#39;t do facebook. 😉

    Reply
  27. Melissa from the Blue House says

    April 3, 2013 at 4:02 pm

    Like you, I LOVE to bake! And like you I &quot;just&quot; had a baby (well she&#39;s 8 now!)!. And like you, my friends are losing weight right and left with this book. So, I&quot;d like to give it a try! HOPING I win!

    Reply
  28. Melissa from the Blue House says

    April 3, 2013 at 5:21 pm

    I have heard so many great things about this book and have wanted to purchase it for a while…just haven&#39;t had the &quot;extra&quot; financial ability to do so. I did join their Facebook &quot;group&quot; though, and have read and learned many things about the book by being a part of the group. Now, I just need the book, and I&#39;ll be set, right?!? Hope I win!!!

    Reply
  29. Melissa from the Blue House says

    April 4, 2013 at 3:08 am

    I&#39;d love to win it…your testimony about your friends losing weight sounds great to me!

    Reply
  30. Melissa from the Blue House says

    April 4, 2013 at 2:22 pm

    I&#39;m actually the world&#39;s worst dieter, and that is why I&#39;m thankful for THM. NO MORE DIETS! <br />(and i might sneak a red lobster biscuit every now and then too, but with this plan, i&#39;m still losing)

    Reply
  31. Melissa from the Blue House says

    April 4, 2013 at 4:22 pm

    A friend of mine has been talking about this book. I am realizing that I need to make healthier choices. I like the concept of this book……….you can make healthy choices and it impacts your life – you do not have to overhaul your entire life in 24 hours. 🙂 Much more doable.

    Reply
  32. Melissa from the Blue House says

    April 4, 2013 at 4:28 pm

    You are the first reviewer that made me actually want to buy this book LOL. Would love to win it though. From another baker/sugar addict, thank you for the chance! 🙂

    Reply
  33. Melissa from the Blue House says

    April 4, 2013 at 4:57 pm

    My only hiccup would be the &quot;extra&quot; things you have to buy, especially the one you had to get online. What IS it? And Stevia, I know it is the &quot;new&quot; healthy sugar replacement, but I&#39;m now burned and skeptical of any new sugar replacements. Years and years ago when I was not managing my hypoglycemia (i.e. dr. pepper and snickers for breakfast) I had a wake up call while

    Reply
  34. Melissa from the Blue House says

    April 4, 2013 at 5:06 pm

    Great post! You had me smiling and wanting to read this book! I can so relate to baking being my stress relief….why can&#39;t it be running? 🙂

    Reply
  35. Melissa from the Blue House says

    April 4, 2013 at 6:08 pm

    I think you would be very surprised and delighted with what you learn from this book. I can pretty much guarantee you that your health would be vastly improved using the information found within.<br />I&#39;m thrilled to hear you got off diet soda, as that truly is deadly.<br />Please continue to do research for your health, as well as for the health of your loved ones. Research stevia. It&#39

    Reply

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About Me


Hey there... I'm Melissa! Texas girl. Mom to three + one goldendoodle. Believer. Old house fanatic. Creating a happy + healthy home with purpose is my passion. I'm so glad you're here!

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I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 years of paint off of this door down to the wood and start over… but that person has no business starting new projects. 😅 My neighbors must have thought this project would never end. *I* thought this project would never end. 😰 If you’re thinking of doing this yourself? Just don’t, ok? Throw the whole door away and buy a new one. 😂🤣 Just kidding.  Old house weirdos like me… we can’t just do things the easy way. Anyhoo… after some trial and error, @sherwinwilliams Celestial is what I landed on, and I have to say… I like it. Periwinkle-ish blue looks great with the yellow house and will look even better when the azaleas are in bloom. Was it all worth it? That’s not important right now. 🤭 Will I do this all again in two years? The magic eight ball says… without a doubt. 👏🏻 I’ve already picked the next color. #gluttonforpunishment #somefoolsneverlearn #oldhouselove #oldhomelove #makinghome #southernliving #gardenandgun #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in an 80-year-old house completely worth it … what broken pipes, icy hardwood floors and drafty windows? 🤔 I forgot already. #comeonspring #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Happy Saturday ☀️ Happy Saturday ☀️
Salt Lake City is always magical ✨ Salt Lake City is always magical ✨
2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrollin 2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrolling through my pics from the last twelve months made me realize how blessed and content I am. Prosperity, love, and peace have been ours in abundance, in spite of the pain of losing my dad. The second picture is the last picture of him… the last time I saw him. 💔 But God has been good to my family this year and 2022 is ending far better than it began. 😄 #2022inreview #thanksforthememories
Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍ Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍♀️
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That’s it. That’s the tour. (Slide two). 
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It’s a new trend I’m starting: bare Christmas tree. Lowe’s tag still attached (so quirky and unexpected)! Christmas ornaments still in boxes. Coming soon to an Anthropologie window display near you. 
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Every year I think, “next year I’ll do better. Next year I’ll have it together.” And then, here we are on the SIXTH Christmas that we’ve been in this house, the sixth Christmas I’ve dragged our chaotic bunch of Christmas mess out of a chaotic garage I still haven’t unpacked from our move six years ago. 
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Maybe this year is the year I’ll organize it all and put it back neatly so that by Christmas number 7, it will be smooth sailing. People will flock to my social media to see how I’ve pulled everything off SO PERFECTLY. Next year will be my year. 
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Seems every year there’s less and less bandwidth for all these things. There’s more grief and stress, less money. More demands, less grace. 
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I put this sign on the wall in my office so I could keep it in front of my eyes: Love. Joy. Peace. And all that. I am SO unlike Jesus most days. So lacking in all of these character qualities. And that’s WITH waking up most mornings and spending my first 30 minutes with God Himself. 
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How lost would I be without that? Geez. I can’t fathom. I REQUIRE being transformed by renewing my mind every single morning, and even then, responding to people and life with love, joy, peace and patience doesn’t come naturally. 
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It’s the goal, though. 
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This weary world needs that from us Believers during this season, more than ever… even more than an Anthropologie-window-display worthy Christmas home tour. 
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I’m working on both.
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