Transforming Together: How We Shed 60 Pounds on Our Health Journey

By Ron Neumann & Barb Coxworth

Hello dear friends,

We hope this message finds you well and enjoying the beauty that Georgian Bay has to offer. Today, we want to share a very personal chapter of our lives with you—our journey toward better health through weight loss. Over several months, we lost over 60 pounds between the two of us, and we’d like to tell you how we did it together. It has now been over a year, and this approach is still working for us. 

It all started at a point in our lives when Barb was recovering from some surgery and both her and Ron had become less active.  Ron recalls seeing a picture of himself on Dec 28th 2023 and realizing that he has gained a lot of weight.  Barb was also unhappy with her situation since she had lost her very active lifestyle while dealing with other issues.

Trying Many Paths

Like many, we’ve experimented with various approaches to weight loss over the years. From slow-carb diets to different exercise regimens, we’ve explored numerous methods in search of something that truly worked for us. What we realized is that the key wasn’t just in finding the right diet but in discovering a sustainable lifestyle change that we could embrace together.

Finding a Sustainable Approach

After much trial and error, we settled on a combination of strategies that complemented each other and fit seamlessly into our daily lives. Our major approach consisted of two main components:

Intermittent Fasting (16:8 Method)

Healthy Eating and Drinking Habits

Intermittent Fasting: Embracing the 16:8 Method

We adopted the 16:8 fasting schedule, which means we fast for 16 hours each day and eat during an 8-hour window. This approach helped regulate our eating patterns and made us more mindful of our food choices.  Normally we only eat in the window from 12:00 to 8:00 pm.  

Bulletproof Coffee to Start the Day

Our mornings begin around 8:00 am with a cup of Bulletproof Coffee, a delicious blend that keeps us satisfied and energized.  This keeps our body in fasting mode.  Purists will tell you that this choice is not a true fast, and some people call it “dirty fasting”, but we can tell you that this approach worked for us to lose weight.  It gave us energy and we were not hungry until lunch.  We prepare our special blend with:

MCT Oil and Collagen: Adding these boosts healthy fats and protein.

Blending: We blend it until it’s frothy and creamy—a real treat!

See a detailed post on Bulletproof Coffee here.

Protein Shake for Lunch

For lunch, we enjoy a nutrient-packed protein shake that includes:

PreBiotics Protein: The brand of protein mix we use is Canadian-made from Schinoussa – New Zealand Protein – 100& whey isolate.  It has 25 grams of Protein in each scoop. 

Avocado: We use one large or two small avocados for both of us, adding creaminess and healthy fats.

Superfood Additions: Small amounts of cacao, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper, and moringa for extra nutrients and flavour.

Healthy Eating and Drinking Habits

Our focus wasn’t just on when we eat but also on what we eat.

Reducing Sugars and Starches

We eliminated fruits high in sugar and incorporated more beans for fibre and protein.

Starches were reduced, making room for more nutrient-dense foods.

Mindful Calorie Intake

Paying attention to calories without obsessing allowed us to enjoy our meals while staying on track.

One Main Meal a Day

We savour our main meal at the end of the day, which typically includes:

Protein: Such as fish, chicken, or lean meats.

Green Vegetables: Broccoli, spinach, kale, and other greens provide essential vitamins.

Kimchi: This fermented food adds probiotics for gut health and a flavorful kick.

Exploring Non-Alcoholic Options

We eliminated or significantly reduced alcohol, which not only reduced our calorie intake but also opened us up to a world of non-alcoholic beverages.

Non-Alcoholic Beers and Cocktails

Water and tea are great, but Ron still enjoys Sober Carpenter beers for a treat.  These are found at the local Foodland or even Food Basics now carries them. 

Barbara loves her zero-calorie, zero-alcohol margaritas.

These alternatives have become regular fixtures in our routine, allowing us to enjoy social occasions with a special drink and without the extra calories.

Supplementing Wisely

While we plan to discuss vitamins in a future post, we incorporated a few essential supplements to support our health during this journey.

Flexibility and Options

We found it important to keep our plan flexible:

• Switching Meals
• Occasionally, we have a larger, healthy lunch and enjoy our protein shake in the evening.
• Occasional Indulgences
• We allow ourselves an occasional glass of red wine.
• Smaller desserts satisfy our sweet tooth without derailing our progress.

Reflections on Our Journey

Appreciating Good Food

This experience has taught us to savour and truly appreciate wholesome, delicious food.

Eating Out Is Still Possible

We’ve learned to make smart choices at restaurants, proving that you don’t have to give up social dining.

Shopping is Easier… and we are Saving Money

We now buy fewer groceries and spend more on protein powder and additives.  We seem to be running out to get ripe avocados many days. Overall, our costs are down week to week from where they were.  We like shopping at the local butcher for our meats and getting good deals for our vegetables at Food Basics.  We have also noticed that there is less wasted food. 

Monitoring Progress

Watching our weight daily helped us stay accountable and make necessary adjustments.

Remarkable Results

By sticking to our program, we lost most of the 60 pounds between us in just four months.  On one day it was as high as 70 pounds, but our maintenance weight has been closer to 60 pounds.  We’ve also successfully maintained the weight loss for several months since including a few trips away to the UK, Portugal, Morocco and Costa Rica.

Ron had a recent checkup, and the doctor said he was in excellent health.  He also said that his LDL cholesterol had come down significantly.  “Whatever you are doing…. just keep doing it”. He said.

Looking Ahead

This journey hasn’t just been about losing weight; it’s been about embracing a new way of living. We’re excited to continue this lifestyle, focusing on health, happiness, and purpose. It’s not a diet but a sustainable approach to living our best lives.

Join Us on This Path

We hope our story inspires you to embark on your own journey toward better health. Remember, it’s about finding what works for you and making sustainable changes that enhance your life.  Remember, we are not providing this as medical advice. You should still check with your doctor to ensure that this type of diet is good for you. 

As always, we’re here to support each other in this wonderful community we’ve built together.

Warmly,

Ron & Barb

Stay connected with Seize the Bay for more insights, tips, and shared experiences. Together, we’ll continue to explore ways to live healthier, happier, and more purposeful lives here in beautiful Georgian Bay.