What’s the craziest diet, nutrition or exercise gimmick you’ve ever tried? What did you think of the experience? NorthBay biz asked some of its readers this question, and here’s a selection of their answers—some fun, some serious, all interesting!
Not Sure About Sherry
When I was 17, my sister Kathy and I landed summer jobs at the Necco candy factory in Cambridge, Mass. The only fringe benefit: all the free candy we could consume while at work. Naturally, we plumped up and wanted to lose a few pounds. Our chosen regimen was to subsist on three meals daily of one hard-boiled egg and a glass of sherry. Being under age, I found the sherry immensely appealing—but not for long. The second day, Kathy and I awoke to headaches so intense we brought the diet to an immediate halt. Did we eat something sensible after that? Of course not! We split a banana cream pie.
Laura McHale Holland
Author of Reversible Skirt and The Ice Cream Vendor’s Song
Owner of Wordforest, a publishing company
Extreme Makeover
Three years ago, I tried P90X, the 90-day, extreme home fitness program by exercise guru Tony Horton. The high-intensity workouts were one hour per day. I completed a full 41 days toward the 90-day goal, but blew out my neck—and then my back—trying to keep up with the countless pull ups and chin ups being done by the people in the P90X video. I made many visits to my chiropractor in the weeks that followed. Since then, going to the gym and running around Spring Lake is more than extreme enough for me.
Christopher W. Silva
President & CEO
One Day at a Time
The craziest thing I’ve tried was recommended by my trainer, Christmas Stewart, at Santa Rosa Strength: “Eliminate grains and starches and work out at Santa Rosa Strength one day per week.” Sounds crazy, right? It worked. I lost 55 pounds the first year and I’m on pace for another 20 this year. More important, I have more energy and I just feel better! Definitely a lifestyle change, but a positive and healthy one.
Gregory R. Culley
Santa Rosa
Pack of Eight, Please!
I decided I wanted to be in the best shape of my life, which meant six-pack city! Time to get sleek and sexy, I told my wife, as I pushed the rice and wine aside. I started each day with a high-protein, nonfat smoothie. Lunch consisted of a nonfat, high-protein meal with some light carbs to avoid passing out at my desk; and finally a zero-carb dinner. That diet, coupled with an intense, cardio-based workout, actually gave me an eight-pack! But it came with a heavy dose of cranky, a mild case of “dude looks like a chick” and a general pumpkin-on-a-toothpick vibe… No wine in Wine Country and no balance in my diet… “Derp,” as my wife says.
Ian White
Wine Country Director
Metropolitan Media
Take a Shot
When I was in high school, my parents let me do the “shots” diet. I’d drive to the “doctor’s” office every morning for a weigh in and a shot in my behind. The rest of the diet was 800 calories, so of course, the weight fell off. I think the shot was supposed to have nutrients that made up for the lack of food and an appetite suppressant to help stick to the food plan. I’ve also lost weight on Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers, but the shots diet was by far the craziest!
Laura Bertolli, CEO
No Work Required
It must have been 20 years or more ago…
I went to a workout place in Napa where you went through a series of machines that worked out parts of your body without you actually doing anything! No resistance, no increased heart rate, and so forth. You’d sit in a machine while it moved your arms or legs. I didn’t go very long, because it didn’t work—darn it!
Lisa Batto
General Manager
Two Weeks
The summer before my senior year, I got into a crazy, self-imposed, two-week diet of watermelon, milk and TCBY yogurt. I did lose weight, but I could only sustain it for two weeks, which is probably good. It ended on July 4. I was craving protein so bad I almost cried over how delicious the barbecue burgers were—so that ended that!
Lisa Wittke Schaffner
Executive Director
Bag It
When I was about 18 (and really into working out, nutrition and keeping my weight down), I went to see a nutritionist. The nutritionist wanted to see what I was eating, so he told me bring in a little of everything I was eating in a day so he could see it. I thought that sounded a little weird, but I did it. Sure enough, the next day, when I brought him the bag with a little burrito, cereal, turkey, bread, spaghetti and so forth—it was so gross! But he observed the day-old bag and gave his recommendations.
Lori Harkey
Going UP
I received a Jawbone “UP” band from my husband for Christmas. He’s had one for a while. It tracks daily movement (steps and exercise) and sleep and lets you set and track goals on a daily basis. It’s easy to use through a phone app. The band is a little clunky and it might not be the best thing for people who don’t sleep well (a daily reminder that you didn’t get enough sleep). But it’s been great for me as a reminder to get up and move. I’ve always walked a lot, but now try to build in opportunities to walk more, to get in my five miles each day. I haven’t lost those five pounds yet, but….
Nancy Light
Vice President, Communications
Good Vibrations
I thought it was crazy at first, but I tried Whole Body Vibration at Zaaz studios at their ribbon cutting. Since then, I go there a few times per week and my back pain has been much more manageable and I’m hitting the golf ball 20 yards longer.
Rick Wells
President/CEO
Thinking on Her Feet
I’m in meetings, serving clients and on the phone much of my day. It’s great to have an option to get some physical activity using my treadmill desk while I’m actually doing office stuff. I feel better, I get my blood circulating and I think clearly. It’s made a big difference in how I feel after work, too. Some days I walk as much as two to four hours!
Carol O’Hara
CPA and Managing Partner
Burr Pilger Mayer (BPM)’s North Bay Offices
Oh, Kale!
I’m always trying some new food or herb that might help me live a healthier, longer life. Turmeric for improved memory? Count me in. Cinnamon to reduce the risk of diabetes? One tablespoon per day, please. Kale? Yep. Blueberries? Yes sir! But I also know we don’t always know what we’re talking about. Remember margarine? Eggs the scourge of the earth, but now considered the “new” miracle food? But kale will never be bad for us. Right? Wait, there was a New York Times article in February on the risks of kale! Oh well, at least we can count on soy….
Tim Carl
Co-founder
Going Raw
I went over to raw foods full-board for a few months. I sure felt good: lots of veggies, fruit, kale smoothies (and others), nuts—but I just missed the comfort of hot soup and breads (even if they’re gluten-free). Honestly, I don’t do gluten-free 100 percent, either. I still find it funny that I got so into the raw food thing almost overnight (like a “quest”!), and making my own “nut” milks and such. What my kids and I benefitted from it is a great vegetable dryer and a platter of raw vegetables every night. I’ve continued doing the kale smoothies, too.
Viveka Rydell
CEO
Pediatric Dental Initiative (PDI Surgery Center)
Wino Words
How about an all wine diet? Ha!
Bill Smart
Director of Marketing and Communications
My wife and I have been on a “wine only” diet for the past several years.
We haven’t lost any weight, but we don’t seem to care….
Squire and Suzy Fridell
