Donna Simpson
The Whole Truth
The Madness of Get Thin Quick Schemes
Published by Donna in The Journey • 10/11/2011 12:10:09 AM
Like many people these days, I’ve always had a weight problem. Traditional diets have never worked for me and I’ve tried some pretty outlandish tactics through the years. Back in March of 2010, Dr. Sanford Siegal sent me an e-mail offering me $50,000 to stop what I was doing and try to lose weight using his new cookie diet http://www.cookiediet.com/index-en.html. I declined his offer since I was more concerned with gaining weight at the time. A couple of days later, I received another e-mail concerning the cookie diet. This time it was from Dr. Siegal’s son Matthew Siegal, President and CEO of Dr. Siegal’s Direct Nutritionals. He said he was willing to double the offer and pay me $100,000 to go on the cookie diet. He sent over a couple of boxes of cookies for me to try. I would have preferred chocolate chip or even peanut butter but he sent oatmeal raisin. The cookies were ok, but each cookie was 90 calories. I could eat about 50 in one sitting and that would be 4,500 calories just in cookies. I decided that the cookie diet wouldn’t work and the payment was contingent on my losing weight, so I again turned down the offer.
As a young adult I really wanted to be thin more than anything else and when I was about 22 years old I weighed roughly 325 Lbs. I was making very good money working as a caregiver/therapist at the state run Broadview Developmental Center just outside of Cleveland. They took in mentally challenged people from institutions that treated them like animals. My job was to try and teach them how to eat, how to brush their teeth, and other personal hygiene tasks. I grew up in the suburbs of Akron and wasn’t really aware that there were some seedy neighborhoods nearby. At the time my roommate and I were living in a pretty bad part of town but it never dawned on me until I noticed all the skinny drug addicts running around. An acquaintance of mine who worked at a bank was telling me how the people who smoked crack never ate. Now this seemed like a great risk/reward situation. My parents thought I was going to die from being overweight and I figured they would rather bury a thin daughter than a fat one. My suddenly unemployed and much thinner friend from the bank helped me score my first bag of rock cocaine. I smoked up a $20 bag in about an hour and although I was still hungry, I decided to get more. I wound up smoking about $120 worth every day. Throughout a six month period I smoked crack daily and it never decreased my appetite. I would work at the development center during the day and clean my house at night. I never lost any weight, but my house was immaculate. I should have known better since the diet pills that my step mom forced me to take had the same result. I decided that it wasn’t going to work and that was the end of my days on the pipe.
Nothing I’ve ever tried had been successful for me, I felt like I would always be fat. Still, I was always looking for some get thin quick scheme. Not too long after my crack smoking period I started hanging out with a friend who worked as a physical therapist. His name was Paul and he also was looking for an easy way to lose weight. Paul told me about a strange new phenomenon that people were trying instead of going on a diet. It was known as the “Tapeworm Trend.” That’s right, tapeworms. Quite simply, the idea was to ingest a live tapeworm and it would live in your intestines. You could eat anything you wanted as often as you like and the worm would consume most of the food. At this point I was ready to try anything, so I told Paul to get me one and I would swallow the worm. As it turned out, Paul wasn’t able to locate one and I never got the chance to try the parasite diet. Too bad, it really sounded promising.
I need to take long hard look at all the crazy things I’ve done in my life. Seriously, I am not a youngster anymore and I have a family to think of. I really need help. At well over 500 Lbs. and with my health issues, I need some realistic treatment. I know I should be in counseling and I’ve got to get out of this rut. My children need me and I don’t want to let them down, I wouldn’t want them to wind up in therapy because of my mistakes.
This past week I watched my son Devin become very upset after hearing about a 14 year old boy who committed suicide after being bullied for being gay. This story really hit home for him since it is happening at his school too http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2095423,00.html. Devin is just a year older and I guess he can identify with this young man. He’s been very active with his classmates trying to fight this epidemic. I’m proud of him for getting involved in something he feels strongly about and I very much want to make him proud of me. I’ve got to get my life back under control so I can be a better mother to both Devin and Jacqueline.
Love, Donna
As a young adult I really wanted to be thin more than anything else and when I was about 22 years old I weighed roughly 325 Lbs. I was making very good money working as a caregiver/therapist at the state run Broadview Developmental Center just outside of Cleveland. They took in mentally challenged people from institutions that treated them like animals. My job was to try and teach them how to eat, how to brush their teeth, and other personal hygiene tasks. I grew up in the suburbs of Akron and wasn’t really aware that there were some seedy neighborhoods nearby. At the time my roommate and I were living in a pretty bad part of town but it never dawned on me until I noticed all the skinny drug addicts running around. An acquaintance of mine who worked at a bank was telling me how the people who smoked crack never ate. Now this seemed like a great risk/reward situation. My parents thought I was going to die from being overweight and I figured they would rather bury a thin daughter than a fat one. My suddenly unemployed and much thinner friend from the bank helped me score my first bag of rock cocaine. I smoked up a $20 bag in about an hour and although I was still hungry, I decided to get more. I wound up smoking about $120 worth every day. Throughout a six month period I smoked crack daily and it never decreased my appetite. I would work at the development center during the day and clean my house at night. I never lost any weight, but my house was immaculate. I should have known better since the diet pills that my step mom forced me to take had the same result. I decided that it wasn’t going to work and that was the end of my days on the pipe.
Nothing I’ve ever tried had been successful for me, I felt like I would always be fat. Still, I was always looking for some get thin quick scheme. Not too long after my crack smoking period I started hanging out with a friend who worked as a physical therapist. His name was Paul and he also was looking for an easy way to lose weight. Paul told me about a strange new phenomenon that people were trying instead of going on a diet. It was known as the “Tapeworm Trend.” That’s right, tapeworms. Quite simply, the idea was to ingest a live tapeworm and it would live in your intestines. You could eat anything you wanted as often as you like and the worm would consume most of the food. At this point I was ready to try anything, so I told Paul to get me one and I would swallow the worm. As it turned out, Paul wasn’t able to locate one and I never got the chance to try the parasite diet. Too bad, it really sounded promising.
I need to take long hard look at all the crazy things I’ve done in my life. Seriously, I am not a youngster anymore and I have a family to think of. I really need help. At well over 500 Lbs. and with my health issues, I need some realistic treatment. I know I should be in counseling and I’ve got to get out of this rut. My children need me and I don’t want to let them down, I wouldn’t want them to wind up in therapy because of my mistakes.
This past week I watched my son Devin become very upset after hearing about a 14 year old boy who committed suicide after being bullied for being gay. This story really hit home for him since it is happening at his school too http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2095423,00.html. Devin is just a year older and I guess he can identify with this young man. He’s been very active with his classmates trying to fight this epidemic. I’m proud of him for getting involved in something he feels strongly about and I very much want to make him proud of me. I’ve got to get my life back under control so I can be a better mother to both Devin and Jacqueline.
Love, Donna
17 comments
J.B.
Donna:
Losing 10lbs or losing 400 lbs, it's all the same thing. It takes only three things that you already know:
1. Eat less
2. Move more
3. Baby steps that you are committed to taking.
So take that first baby step. No one says you have to lose all the weight like they do on the biggest loser - you can lose it one pound a week. So if it takes you 400 weeks you are still getting healthy every single week.
Good luck, God speed and take care of YOU.
JB
Losing 10lbs or losing 400 lbs, it's all the same thing. It takes only three things that you already know:
1. Eat less
2. Move more
3. Baby steps that you are committed to taking.
So take that first baby step. No one says you have to lose all the weight like they do on the biggest loser - you can lose it one pound a week. So if it takes you 400 weeks you are still getting healthy every single week.
Good luck, God speed and take care of YOU.
JB
12/10/2011 16.40.56
EM
Congrats on making a change in your life. You seem like a wonderful person and a wonderful Mom. Don't pay attention to people who bash you pr put you down. Stay true to yourself and love yourself and get healthy!
13/10/2011 19.45.29
mary fletcher
Hi Donna, I suffer the same as you. I don't think its our 'fault' we are unable to turn off the satiety part of our brains. Something has gone awry up there, and we just don't have a 'turn off' valve!!! the bigger we get, the more horrid the feeling of exercise. I have tried eating less, and moving more. Just standing or lying down is better for me than sitting. I am trying to stay away from sugar. It helps. But not much. I think one day science will catch up with what turns off that part of our brain, so we never feel 'full'. My husband is thin, and he never eats breakfast, or in between lunch or dinner; and he never eats at night! So I am watching how thin people eat and trying to TRYING to, eat like they do. NOT easy. Like you, I want to keep eating and eating. I am never full. Isn't that odd that we never feel full? I admire YOU for all you have done, even the drastic measures...and I am gonna pray for you, and me and others, that we find out what is going on here, physically. Love ya,
Mary
Mary
28/10/2011 10.58.55
George
Hi Donna! You made me quite happy today knowing that you want to be healthy. Well I wouldn't recommend any diets - I recommend that you read this; http://kateharding.net/faq/but-dont-you-realize-fat-is-unhealthy/
You could download this documentary about a girl who was abused. I think it's inspirational http://www.filestube.com/f340ccafaf5b461503e9,g/The-Dark-Side-Of-Porn-E09-The-Real-Animal-Farm.html
It made me care a lot. I think exercise is very important, but I wouldn't recommend much aerobic exercise, weight training is very good, also really quick exercise is good. Please don't use treadmills, they won't help much.
You could download this documentary about a girl who was abused. I think it's inspirational http://www.filestube.com/f340ccafaf5b461503e9,g/The-Dark-Side-Of-Porn-E09-The-Real-Animal-Farm.html
It made me care a lot. I think exercise is very important, but I wouldn't recommend much aerobic exercise, weight training is very good, also really quick exercise is good. Please don't use treadmills, they won't help much.
01/11/2011 09.34.16
I believe in you. Take care about yourself.
08/11/2011 07.15.18
CHRISTINA
It took me 2 years to lose all the weight. As hare as it was, I have never regretted making the decision. Good luck with all your efforts.
16/11/2011 14.02.39
Helen
Donna- you don't need to wait for "the right doctors" so you can start dieting. For one thing- dieting doesn't work! You have to decide 3 things:
1) To eat healthy natural foods- fruits, veggies, whole grains.
2) To move every day, even if it's doing seated exercises at first.
3) Be consistent.
If you need help and support, I suggest you have a look at sparkpeople.com. It's a free website with all the tools you need to get yourself on the right track- with TONS of support from other people all trying to get healthy with you!
1) To eat healthy natural foods- fruits, veggies, whole grains.
2) To move every day, even if it's doing seated exercises at first.
3) Be consistent.
If you need help and support, I suggest you have a look at sparkpeople.com. It's a free website with all the tools you need to get yourself on the right track- with TONS of support from other people all trying to get healthy with you!
13/12/2011 18.03.30
Silvia
Hello Donna,
My name is Silvia and I come from Italy. I've always been fat, and for this reason I have always been stigmatized by people around me. Unable to change, however, fall into victimhood and with so many problems behind, I did nothing but gain weight. I said "true beauty is within us," I am committed to school and with my family but there was always the silent pain of not being skinny, not to be myself. The butterfly was and is still enclosed in its cocoon. I sank into depression. My father died without seeing realized our dream: to see me graduate and lean. But above all happy. I had no other than my mother and my best friend. Then my mother, she began to feel bad. What a great feeling of helplessness! "What can you do fat impotent and failed?" I told myself. Then I met my boyfriend, a good and sensible boy, he was orphaned of his father, who was also obese. "I love you for who you are in and out" still tells me. But I am not loved, I hated it. And fattening. I began to have more serious health problems. I just wanted to close my eyes and disappear. All the love in the world is not enough if you do not know love. If you have no reason to live, you do not have the strength to change. One day, locked in their movements because of a crush of a vertebra, I went for a scan.The doctors told me to turn to the hospital in my town. I could not stand more
with the back but at the same time I did not want to be helped by doctors. Then, I said I was better informed about their treatment. I tell you that if they talked about bariatric bypass I would have run like hell! I did not want and I can not hear about operations! I thought it was too simplistic a way to solve a physical problem but first of all psychological. On the website I read that behavioral therapy were about eating disorders. What convinced me. I went there and I was very lucky to find people who are deeply human, persons who are with me still, doctors and friends for me. Sometimes you are lucky and I of doctors specializing in diseases of the metabolism, I have seen many. Discovered to be very anxious (I already knew but now it was scientifically proven) and that all the pain vented about food, my only consolation, a friend you do not ever say no and that I had turned into an enemy! I started behavioral therapy and to follow the first rule to regain possession of myself move. Do you know an hour of movement a day is more important to care for your health. Balances hormones and metabolism. I know I did not move ever.I slowly started to move. Now I can make 12 miles a day, but Donna are things that are made gradually, it takes time. You have to think that every day that you fight for riappropriation itself is a battle won is a step closer to victory finally be yourself. On a psychological level it is important to have a reason: and I think you do. This motivation are your children. You have two beautiful children, it would be nice to play with them, take walks, have fun together? I think you know this already. But their love is not enough Donna, I love you, you must find in you a love that builds your true essence, or whatever you want to be. I started to lose weight after the accepted myself but especially after they begin to love me. And this new power I tried to forward it to my boyfriend. He too is changing, is finding new motivation, moving and changing her lifestyle. I have lost weight due to the change of my lifestyle: I started regolazzare meals, to make meals that contain all the food groups, not to deprive me of nothing but lessen the amount, making days with different caloric loads, plan my power, to move, to find ways to download anger and frustration from the different food, speak with people who had and have the same problem. Donna You know, it is not a fast road easier, are in principle very simple things but unless you have a great motivation and support the slip is always around the corner. Today I read your previous statements about food and what you were doing before your turn: I was really angry with you. Representative Office all the clichés about the obese, and I said "He can not do these things and think seriously!" Then this afternoon I started to read your story and I said to you, the most serious of all of us obese, you needed to be helped. So I write these lines, that it will not delete your pounds but maybe my understanding that you will lose weight and take ownership of a healthy lifestyle is the only way to build your happiness with your loved ones.
Now I leave you, I have an exam tomorrow.
Please open the butterfly from its cocoon.
Silvia
My name is Silvia and I come from Italy. I've always been fat, and for this reason I have always been stigmatized by people around me. Unable to change, however, fall into victimhood and with so many problems behind, I did nothing but gain weight. I said "true beauty is within us," I am committed to school and with my family but there was always the silent pain of not being skinny, not to be myself. The butterfly was and is still enclosed in its cocoon. I sank into depression. My father died without seeing realized our dream: to see me graduate and lean. But above all happy. I had no other than my mother and my best friend. Then my mother, she began to feel bad. What a great feeling of helplessness! "What can you do fat impotent and failed?" I told myself. Then I met my boyfriend, a good and sensible boy, he was orphaned of his father, who was also obese. "I love you for who you are in and out" still tells me. But I am not loved, I hated it. And fattening. I began to have more serious health problems. I just wanted to close my eyes and disappear. All the love in the world is not enough if you do not know love. If you have no reason to live, you do not have the strength to change. One day, locked in their movements because of a crush of a vertebra, I went for a scan.The doctors told me to turn to the hospital in my town. I could not stand more
with the back but at the same time I did not want to be helped by doctors. Then, I said I was better informed about their treatment. I tell you that if they talked about bariatric bypass I would have run like hell! I did not want and I can not hear about operations! I thought it was too simplistic a way to solve a physical problem but first of all psychological. On the website I read that behavioral therapy were about eating disorders. What convinced me. I went there and I was very lucky to find people who are deeply human, persons who are with me still, doctors and friends for me. Sometimes you are lucky and I of doctors specializing in diseases of the metabolism, I have seen many. Discovered to be very anxious (I already knew but now it was scientifically proven) and that all the pain vented about food, my only consolation, a friend you do not ever say no and that I had turned into an enemy! I started behavioral therapy and to follow the first rule to regain possession of myself move. Do you know an hour of movement a day is more important to care for your health. Balances hormones and metabolism. I know I did not move ever.I slowly started to move. Now I can make 12 miles a day, but Donna are things that are made gradually, it takes time. You have to think that every day that you fight for riappropriation itself is a battle won is a step closer to victory finally be yourself. On a psychological level it is important to have a reason: and I think you do. This motivation are your children. You have two beautiful children, it would be nice to play with them, take walks, have fun together? I think you know this already. But their love is not enough Donna, I love you, you must find in you a love that builds your true essence, or whatever you want to be. I started to lose weight after the accepted myself but especially after they begin to love me. And this new power I tried to forward it to my boyfriend. He too is changing, is finding new motivation, moving and changing her lifestyle. I have lost weight due to the change of my lifestyle: I started regolazzare meals, to make meals that contain all the food groups, not to deprive me of nothing but lessen the amount, making days with different caloric loads, plan my power, to move, to find ways to download anger and frustration from the different food, speak with people who had and have the same problem. Donna You know, it is not a fast road easier, are in principle very simple things but unless you have a great motivation and support the slip is always around the corner. Today I read your previous statements about food and what you were doing before your turn: I was really angry with you. Representative Office all the clichés about the obese, and I said "He can not do these things and think seriously!" Then this afternoon I started to read your story and I said to you, the most serious of all of us obese, you needed to be helped. So I write these lines, that it will not delete your pounds but maybe my understanding that you will lose weight and take ownership of a healthy lifestyle is the only way to build your happiness with your loved ones.
Now I leave you, I have an exam tomorrow.
Please open the butterfly from its cocoon.
Silvia
20/12/2011 11.00.45
Mary
Dear Donna,
Congratulations on taking the first steps in realising there was a problem and being able to get away from it. For that, I admire you. It proves what a strong woman you really are. There are a lot of women out there stuck in emotionally abusive relationships and have no way of recognizing or getting out of it. You have a long road ahead of you, please don't give up or ever think that there are people out there that don't love you for the brave, inspiring woman that you are.
What I wanted to do was two things, which was recommend a lady to you who inspired me to eat healthier. Her name is Andrea Albright and her this is one of her videos : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jag0D7il5Fo
I am sure that if you contact her, she just might be the 'therapist' you're after. Second, I wanted to recommend a video to you called "Forks Over Knives". It was a really inspiring documentary, I highly suggest you check out the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ijukNzlUg
Well I'll sign off now. I really do wish you all the best.
Kindest regards,
Mary, Melbourne Australia.
Congratulations on taking the first steps in realising there was a problem and being able to get away from it. For that, I admire you. It proves what a strong woman you really are. There are a lot of women out there stuck in emotionally abusive relationships and have no way of recognizing or getting out of it. You have a long road ahead of you, please don't give up or ever think that there are people out there that don't love you for the brave, inspiring woman that you are.
What I wanted to do was two things, which was recommend a lady to you who inspired me to eat healthier. Her name is Andrea Albright and her this is one of her videos : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jag0D7il5Fo
I am sure that if you contact her, she just might be the 'therapist' you're after. Second, I wanted to recommend a video to you called "Forks Over Knives". It was a really inspiring documentary, I highly suggest you check out the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ijukNzlUg
Well I'll sign off now. I really do wish you all the best.
Kindest regards,
Mary, Melbourne Australia.
25/12/2011 07.01.01
amie nogrady
Donna,
I am so happy that you are taking steps to get your health back! Best of luck to you and your family!
I am so happy that you are taking steps to get your health back! Best of luck to you and your family!
30/12/2011 01.04.12
karebear
I want to applaud you for taking the active steps you need to be healthy, not only physically, but on a 'holistic' level-mind, body and soul. You have two children that you have to live for, you have a future and a hope! :) Yes, sadly you are the affection of a fantasy, it's not a real love, you are being used, abused. It's time to Re-claim You-for restoration and healing, Best wishes and God bless.
30/12/2011 09.38.15
alicia
hi I can relate I suffer from bulimia but I weight 350lbs people told me oh you can't have eating disorder but after inpatient treatment i learned that it was true that i was in fact in danger with my eating disorder.. i'm really excited that you want to turn your life around. I live in akron and found your story on the news.. wish i could meet you maybe get to know you exchange stories.. wheat i read is powerful.. i know some community resources if you need counseling.. i know its expensive.. just keep going never give up one day at a time.. one minute at a time.. if you get discouraged remember recovery is about progress not perfection.. weight loss doesn't happen over night..
30/12/2011 15.28.19
Hi Donna, I didn't know about you until today, when I read an article about you wanting to get healthier. I want to invite you to join us at HealthnBeauty.com. We are all following The Living Well Plan and overcoming our struggles together. I am a CPC with an expertise in health and wellness. No charge and no strings attached.
All the best to you in 2012,
Rachel
All the best to you in 2012,
Rachel
30/12/2011 16.27.53
Kimberly
I just read your story. And now I have just read the previous comments, and the 1st (J.B.) was absolutely right.
It is that simple, with one addition - drink LOTs of water. Dehydration is half of the battle - I learned that from a personal trainer that used to work with me. She told me once to drink 64 oz. of water per day before I could have any other drink - whether fruit juice, diet soda, tea, or whatever. And whatever amount I drank had to be followed by that same amount of water.
Something as simple as water is never mentioned in any diet - yet the key ingredient to helping you lose (otherwise, your body is going to fight you hard on any pounds you lose!) Doctors are getting smarter and starting to see that we are "drinking" way too many of our calories! They are right... heck, they are even getting ready to change the food pyramid to allow for the additonal calories being taken in through what we drink!
You can do this girl! You do not need special equipment, food, or instructions. It is slow, but it will work longterm. I have gained and dropped over 100 lbs. following those simple "rules" with the additional knowledge of water. And yep, I had tried every fad diet, pill, you-name-it out there before - none of them worked.
I absolutely support you 100% in making this decision to have a better life for yourself and your children!
Happy New 2012 Year!
Hugs & Love,
Kim
It is that simple, with one addition - drink LOTs of water. Dehydration is half of the battle - I learned that from a personal trainer that used to work with me. She told me once to drink 64 oz. of water per day before I could have any other drink - whether fruit juice, diet soda, tea, or whatever. And whatever amount I drank had to be followed by that same amount of water.
Something as simple as water is never mentioned in any diet - yet the key ingredient to helping you lose (otherwise, your body is going to fight you hard on any pounds you lose!) Doctors are getting smarter and starting to see that we are "drinking" way too many of our calories! They are right... heck, they are even getting ready to change the food pyramid to allow for the additonal calories being taken in through what we drink!
You can do this girl! You do not need special equipment, food, or instructions. It is slow, but it will work longterm. I have gained and dropped over 100 lbs. following those simple "rules" with the additional knowledge of water. And yep, I had tried every fad diet, pill, you-name-it out there before - none of them worked.
I absolutely support you 100% in making this decision to have a better life for yourself and your children!
Happy New 2012 Year!
Hugs & Love,
Kim
31/12/2011 23.30.19
'lissa
Most important, keep focus on the reasons as to why you are wanting to lose the weight. Not only to be healthy but to be ALIVE and WELL for your daughter. Being a parent is the most important job in the world and a child needs their parent. I have two sons, ages 16 and 12. They are the reasons as to why I strive to have a healthy lifestyle. Our unhealthy patterns of eating are being watched by our children and will only continue the cycle of over-eating and not exercising regularly which increases health risks. Keep up the great work and for everyone else that also working on themselves.....you can do it.
01/01/2012 20.30.26
Jamie
Donna,
It is so inspiring to read your stories! I'm still young - only 19. In high school, I always had problems with my image, although I only weighed 140. I was very athlectic, but I wanted to be "skinny" So I tried to make myself not eat, or throw up what I ate, but I could not do it. I got pregnant my senior year, and only gained 30 lbs during my pregnancy, but after, I packed on almost 70 lbs. Now I weigh 210 lbs, and just can't seem to shake the weight, even when I try, it seems like everytime i get on the scale, that number goes up instead of down. I feel beautiful on the inside, and I love who I am, but I just want to feel pretty on the outside also. I'm going to keep reading your stories for inspiration. You're such an amazing woman!
It is so inspiring to read your stories! I'm still young - only 19. In high school, I always had problems with my image, although I only weighed 140. I was very athlectic, but I wanted to be "skinny" So I tried to make myself not eat, or throw up what I ate, but I could not do it. I got pregnant my senior year, and only gained 30 lbs during my pregnancy, but after, I packed on almost 70 lbs. Now I weigh 210 lbs, and just can't seem to shake the weight, even when I try, it seems like everytime i get on the scale, that number goes up instead of down. I feel beautiful on the inside, and I love who I am, but I just want to feel pretty on the outside also. I'm going to keep reading your stories for inspiration. You're such an amazing woman!
03/01/2012 14.32.07
Hello, I check your blog regularly. Your story-telling style is awesome, keep up the good work!
10/12/2012 15.46.53