Monday, September 17, 2007

After a lot of soul searching and reading many things online, I think for a while one of my main topics here is going to have to be the Kimkins diet and web site. maybe I should start at the beginning.

I started to read about the Kimkins diet on LCF because it had all the info for free, but then I found Kimkin's web site. For a small price (or so it seemed) I could join their forum and have access to personal replies from "Kimmer" the fouder and woman who created the diet. She said that she had lost almost 200 pounds in something like less than a year and has managed to keep it off going on 6 years. Sounded wonderful and just what I needed. I paid my fee and joined. There were great friends made there, great admins ect. But I must say it bothered me when I read a lot of the advice given. I started following th plan and when I asked a question, most of the time it was someone ether than kimmer answering. Fine I could live with that. These people seemed to know what they were doing. I took everything at face value and yes I did drop pounds and at a rapid speed. But I was having side effects. If I were to ask about them, I was told This is normal... you are loosing so well, don't worry about the small things, everything will correct itself and you will be so much healthier skinny then when you were obese. I played this diet game for a little over 5 months and I have to say yes I lost a lot of weight, but I was not feeling at all healthy, fit or attractive. I had no energy, my hair was falling out and my Husband pretty much had to force me to eat and then I would feel the guilt after I ate. Looking back I now see that I was (and still am) dealing with an eating disorder I developed while doing Kimkins. The last starw was when I passed out at my child's soccer game and my Husband had to call 911. I spent 4 days in the hospital because I was dehydrated, my heart had an abnormal beat and I was made to meet with a nutritonalist counsler before they would release me. I was told that the way of eating that I was following would damage my heart, gall bladder, kidneys, brain function and hormonal levels along with a list of many other possible side effects if I kept it up. This was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. I was following this WOE to become helthy, to have more energy so I could chase my kids around and play with them, to feel more attractive and to improve myself.
But in the truth, I seen that I was damaging myself and those around me. Sure I lost over 70 pounds. but at what cost? I could hardly get out of bed some days. I was moody all the time. I couldn't give my Husband and children the attention they needed. Now 3 months later, I am still going to my doctor every few weeks and getting blood work done. I have had scans and tests on every part of my body (and it feels like my soul too) I am sure there is some damage done that can't be seen right now and it may show itself in the future. But even with the remains of the damage I had done I still see it when I look in the mirror everyday. Yes my hair is starting to grow back, but to deal with so much hair loss, I felt like a freak and didn't want to be seen by anyone. I lived in hats (and still do most of the time) So much of my life has been taken away by Kimkins, and all I wanted from it was to get my life back.

16 comments:

Mimi said...

{{{{{{Kendra}}}}}}} Bless you for speaking out for the truth. Here's hoping you're on your way to recovering your health and your happiness.

Mimi

Anonymous said...

Thank God you got help! Prayers for healing and recovery. Have you signed up for Jeanessa's lawsuit on
LCF's??

Hugs...Carolyn

Anonymous said...

Come on lady-5 months to develop an eating disorder? I think you suffered some kind of problem before you started Kimkins. The damage you're talking about happens over the long term-5 months is not very long at all.

Anonymous said...

Bless your heart! I hope you fully recover with no long term health issues.

Please consider joining the lawsuit, details of which can be found at http://kimkinslawsuit.wordpress.com/2007/09/19/we-need-you/

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your Kimkins experience with us and I hope you will continue on the road to good health. There have been so many people who have gotten sick from this dangerous way of eating and Heidi/Kimmer needs to be brought to justice!

Anonymous said...

Kendra, my heart goes out to you. I hope they don't find anymore damage done. Thank God you have an astute doctor who recognized this horrible sham of a WOE for what it was and is helping you get better. {{{hugs}}} from another Ex-KKer.

HoneyBee said...

Kendra
Thank you for sharing your story and letting others KNOW that this diet is dangerous. At first the diet makes you think you have found the answer to any weight problems because of the appetite suppression, but the potential danger is there lurking. I am afraid we will be hearing about the fallout from this WOE more as time moves forward...I am walking with you in this journey as well and the unknown of the future is very concerning for all of us.
I will add you to my blogroll to help spread the word and add my blog if you would.
take care,
HoneyBee
http://honeybeesblog.wordpress.com/

Mayberryfan said...

Kendra,

A great number of people including myself were scammed into trying Kimkins. I sincerely hope you will heal now and find a more healthy way of taking the weight off. Just give yourself time to heal before trying to diet again! Best of luck to you!!

Kendra said...

"Anonymous said...
Come on lady-5 months to develop an eating disorder? I think you suffered some kind of problem before you started Kimkins. The damage you're talking about happens over the long term-5 months is not very long at all."

It is nice to have you come leave your 2 cents about ED. Remind me where it was thatyou got your medical degree.
I was going to delete your comment but decided against it.
I wanted to touch one one part of your comment "I think you suffered some kind of problem before you started Kimkins" I have to say that if any of us didn't suffer from some for of eating disorder before kimkins, there would not have been any reason for anyone of us to join. People who eat healthy and normal diets do not become overweight.

Becky said...

Kendra -I am so very sorry to hear of your ill effects, and heartbroken to think I had any part of supporting a place and a plan that would do that to anyone. Please accept my deepest regrets. I ask your forgiveness.

Anonymous said...

Kendra---thank you so much for taking the time to share this heart wrenching story. Also I want to applaud your comment to anonymous--"I have to say that if any of us didn't suffer from some for of eating disorder before kimkins, there would not have been any reason for anyone of us to join. People who eat healthy and normal diets do not become overweight."

BRAVO!!!

. said...

I hope things get better for you soon Kendra!!!

And to the idiot that posted this: Anonymous said...

Come on lady-5 months to develop an eating disorder? I think you suffered some kind of problem before you started Kimkins. The damage you're talking about happens over the long term-5 months is not very long at all.

September 25, 2007 3:51 PM


Funny that, considering I could not even count on my fingers/toes the amount of stories from Ex-kimkinites whom are ALL experiencing issues with their eating with both my hands and feet as well as my children's hand's and feet!

I think I would have better luck counting ones whom don't have some form of an eating disorder after kimkins!

. said...

PS: Honeybee you should add your website to your blogger profile, might help more people find you :)

Anonymous said...

q17pWe You have a talant! Write more!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

thank you for blogging about the dangers of Kimkins.com diet being sold by Kimmer

I hope you have made a full recovery