Meredith’s initial essay before the Challenge began:

“I was born fat. I am the successful business owner, outstanding member/President of almost every activity I have ever been involved in since I can remember. However, I am a failure at controlling my weight. I am the healthiest fat girl you will ever meet and a Pennington workup substantiates that comment. I have tried every weight loss fad – from Optifast to the cabbage soup diet – you can’t name one that I have not tried. I thought Phen-Phen was great even knowing it could kill me. At least I would die skinny. I am approaching 50, (my Mom died at 50), and every day I look in the mirror and struggle. Everyone in business and my personal life thinks that I am a confident person. If they only knew that I struggle each and every day with my appearance. I never again want to hear these words, “She has such a beautiful face and eyes.” I really need to enter this Challenge and get my life back.”

What she had to say after completing the Louisiana Weight Loss NOW Challenge:

“This journey has truly transformed my life. The first and foremost insight was the realization that the stress of my everyday life, from professional obligations to family and personal obligations, drives me to seek comfort in food. The Weight Off NOW Self-Hypnosis Home Study System™ manual’s approach encouraged me to look back to when I first used food as a comfort and I discovered that I developed this habit as a reward for pleasing others.

When I completed a task, which my inner voice usually had me worked up into a major stress level, I rewarded myself with food. And so the trend followed into my adulthood and on a more intense level due to the increased stress that balancing work and personal life brings.

Linda’s program first made me aware of the issue and then took a systematic approach to the beginning of my transformation. I learned to reduce my stress by way of hypnosis and to change my subconscious thoughts and behaviors by way of hypnosis and positive thinking. Once I adopted this new way of thinking, then the rest of the program was simple. I learned that habits can be changed if and only if I was open to the possibilities and willing to visualize. Habits and my inner voice have been retrained as a result. I recognize that the continued use of the CDs will keep me from letting that old ‘inner critic’ and habits return. All of this takes the focus off of using food as a reward. Therefore, eating is used to sustain myself – not for rewarding myself for good deeds.

The nutrition and exercise education part of the program I had heard before, but had failed to listen to over the years. However, since Linda took me to a place where I no longer needed food as a reward, making healthy choices became simple. In the past, I never changed internally. Loosing weight meant being on a ‘diet.’ I would lose some weight then turn around and eat whatever I wanted… again. Over and over.

So far I’ve lost 25 pounds, 3 dress sizes, and 2 pant sizes, along with 21 inches in total. My new positive thinking and relaxed feelings drove me to exercise even more. My inner voice is now positive and free of guilt. The amazing part of this experience was never feeling like I was on a diet and I never once fought myself at the table. The change in my eating habits was natural. This program will be in my life forever. Thanks Linda!”

– Meredith Eicher

Congratulations again Meredith on your achievement!

Highlight any portion you want: