Today I’m thrilled to share an inspiring conversation with Jennie, a dedicated Sugar Free Mom Tribe member who went from 196 pounds to 148 pounds and dropped from a size 16 to a size 8. Not only has she reached her goals, but she’s successfully maintained them. Her story is proof that lasting success is possible when you have the right tools, mindset, and support.
Can you start by telling us a little bit about yourself—where you’re from, what brought you to the tribe, and what your life looked like before this journey began?
My Name is Jennie Walker I am 53 years old. I live in Michigan with my husband Matt of 33 years. I have two boys. Trent is 30 and Brendan is 26. I also have two miniature Schnauzers, Monty and Lewy.
My journey into my sugar free world started on March 11, 2024.
The November before I did an Amazon order for Christmas and I remember looking at the 30- Day Sugar Elimination Book but did not realize I put it in my cart. So, when I received my order the book came with it. I did think about returning but instead I started reading it.
Then on March 9, 2024, I asked my husband if he wanted to try this Sugar Free diet with me and use this cool book that tells us what to eat and why we are eating it. He agreed and we started on March 11, 2024.
After 30 days and completing the book, we really knew what to do to continue. I was down 17 pounds, and he was down 21.
Being a former Weight Watcher customer and leader I was petrified to not have support.
Once I got to the back of the book and learned Brenda had a Tribe I immediately went and
talked to my doctor. She did not care what I was doing, just glad I was doing it and wrote me a letter to provide to my HSA so that they would cover the cost of being in the Tribe.
I have been a member since and I am officially in Maintenance. I Started at 196 and got to my goal of 148.
My Husband Matt started at 297 and now weighs 213. I can say that this is a lifetime change for us we will never go back. Read more here on their personal weight loss.
How many times have you attempted weight loss in the past, and what would you say made those attempts fall short in terms of maintenance?
It really has been on and off again my whole life. I have exercised I mean really alot of exercise for years. Exercise always dictated how and what I could eat. I have always been part of Weight Watchers.
I was a Lifetime member and a Leader at one point. The reason why I could not hold onto my weight loss is because Weight Watchers never explained why they did what they did.
You just followed it and hoped for the best. Brenda explained the science behind why it works and how it works in her books. This gave me more faith in believing what I was doing this time
around would really work.
What was your biggest fear about maintenance before joining the SFM Tribe?
My biggest fear is that I would lose it!!!!! It is so easy to happen. You do not get the excitement about losing weight any longer.
Bad habits are easy to fall back into because you are where you should be and you know it won’t hurt you. I am just so afraid that will happen.
I just do not want to wake up every day ever again and not have the feeling I have when I am putting what serves me best into my body.
What shifted for you in this program that helped you finally maintain instead of starting over again?
On the day that I could go into my closet and pick things out that I had not worn in years (THEY FIT). The energy I had every day.
The sleep good god I sleep so goooooood! The thing is we realized that we really enjoyed eating like this and how it made me feel. I have never been on any other diet where I felt as good as I did.
How did the tribe support your mindset and habits during the transition from weight loss to maintenance?
The best part of the Tribe is that you have access to so many people that are going through the same thing you are.
The Facebook page, the separate chats in messenger and the meetings we have every week really provide support. The biggest thing are the challenges that Brenda does every month.
This helps me stay in check and reminds me what I must do to stay in Maintenance. It makes me accountable to myself. When people in our group tell me how good I am doing I cannot let them down.
Were there specific tools, routines, or mindset shifts that made the biggest difference for you during maintenance?
I use the Carb Manager and Eato App to track my food calories and macros. I can tell you my 30-day Sugar Elimination book has been loved a lot. I use it almost every day.
I had to replace the routines that did not work for me. Every day when I would come home from work I go into the pantry, grab a bag of chips and eat the whole bag.
Now when I come home from work I immediately walk out to my garden or water my flowers. I find some activity until dinner time then I make a dinner that will serve me and not harm me.
I never thought about what I was putting into my body. Once I understood what was in processed food and how I felt when I did not eat it any longer is when I knew I could do this.
People say it’s impossible to take sugar, gluten and processed food out of your diet, but we did it and if you know how that makes you feel there is no going back to it.
Was there a moment you realized, “I’m actually maintaining!”? What did that feel like?
I remember when I did the first monthly challenge after I hit my goal, and I stayed the same or lost 1 pound that is when I knew I was Maintaining.
How do you define success now, compared to when you were focused solely on losing weight?
When you go and get your blood work done and your doctor tells you that you are the definition of good health.
I just had mine done and he told me that he does not very often have results where he does not see anything wrong and that everything was within a normal level. I never realized how excited that made me.
At 53 years old my doctor told me I am the definition of good health. What!!!!!!!!!!!
How do you handle fluctuations on the scale now versus before?
I am very used to going up a few pounds then going down a few pounds. Someone once told me that for people in maintenance this is normal.
So, I give myself grace with 5 pounds. I never stress if I go up or down 5 pounds. It really has become second hand for me now. I love it! The fact that Brenda also addresses and explains why you may stall or notice fluctuations was also very helpful.
What beliefs about food, your body, or weight have changed the most since maintaining?
Thanks to Brenda I have a full understanding of what Sugar Gluten and Processed food does to me because of that I have never felt so determined to keep the muck out of my body. I went from 196 to 148 because I keep it out of my body. I went from a size 16 to and 8 and I wear medium shirts.
Not to mention people tell me I glow, my skin looks so much healthier, and my hair has changed so much no more shedding. It is absolutely true what my grandma always told me you truly are what you eat!
How has your day-to-day life changed now that you are in maintenance?
It really has not changed at all. I was afraid to change anything. Change is very unsettling to me. I did not want slip back into old habits.
We still follow what the 30- day sugar elimination book taught us. We plan out what we eat every day to make sure what we eat serves us best. The best part is that my husband and I are accountable to each other.
I do not want to let him down and he does not want to let me down. I just think it helps your marriage as well it is a good thing to feel good in your own skin. It creates confidence.
What does you’re eating and movement routine look like now? Is it different than during weight loss?
My eating routine and movement have not changed. After a year in a half, we are still sugar free and I make sure I get movement every day, I do mix it up though I either run, do Zumba or ride my bike. Or simply go for a walk.
Every day my goal is to burn 500 calories. I also make sure I get 20 minutes of sunshine. Vitamin D does amazing things for me.
Are there foods or habits you have learned to include sustainably instead of feeling like you’re “on or off” something?
I have added fruits back into my diet. But I rarely go outside of what I normally do. If I do I make sure to check what it is doing to my blood sugar if it spikes it I know that is one thing I cannot add in.
Like Watermelon, I love it and I really think it has never made anyone fat but when I eat it, I feel terrible. You get that sugar high then you crash.
What was the most surprising challenge during maintenance, and how did you overcome it?
Dealing with not having the excitement of losing weight. You will find that other things like doctor reports goals you set for yourself is what makes you happy. And the biggest was getting through special occasions.
For me this hard because if you are in maintenance one day out of the month is not going to hurt you. So, I have been working on that for sure especially this summer with all the vacations. I have set a goal to not indulge during special occasions.
What do you do when you notice old habits trying to sneak back in?
I own it! We are not perfect! I just remind myself of how I feel when I stay on my plan and do better.
Old Habits are hard to stop good lord we all know that, but I make it my goal to not go back to them. It really helps that I do not bring anything that will tempt me into my house.
If you could go back and talk to your past self, the one who always regained the
weight—what would you say?
You are an idiot to keep trying these diets that do not work. I mean is it ok to eat thirty oreos and hit your twenty-three points and be done for the day Weight Watchers says its ok well no it is not.
I knew how taking sugar gluten and processed food out of my body did for me. If I could bottle that up and sell it, I would be rich. I just try to think about how I felt when I was so unhealthy and that is all I need.
What would you say to a tribe member who is afraid of maintenance or doubts that they can do it too?
I would say that they just need to stay in the lane they are in, and maintenance is not that hard.
I certainly thought it was, but you must just make it your lifestyle and to look at it like I have been doing this the whole time to get here why not just keep doing what got you there so you can stay there.
What is one thing that you think everyone needs to understand about maintenance that no one really talks about?
Yes, you will not have that excitement around losing weight any longer but so many other events will prove that being in maintenance is exciting.
That trip to the doctor every year is huge for me just to see the look on his face. The clothes you can wear. The way your husband looks at you. Trust me, it is wonderful.
Is there a personal mantra or belief that has helped you keep going, even when things felt hard?
This is for me, I want to be around for my family and the way my husband tells me I look, my goodness I can live off that.
What is next for you in this journey—goals, mindset, or otherwise?
My goal is to be the best I can be. I am so thankful that I found Brenda, Angie, and this Tribe. This is something I will never NOT be part of.
My goal is to make maintenance be just what I do and not something I struggle with, and I am winning at that for sure. I have found something that works and is sustainable.