Monday, April 23, 2012

And here I am.

As you all have been able to see, I have seemingly disappeared.  Well, I am still here.  I just have not been quite sure on how to transition and explain everything.

My time on the SugarFree Protocol was enlightening while being very engulfing.  I had no problems with the protocol and the diet.  The only thing I can say about the protocol itself is that you better be prepared for an all-consuming endeavor.  Although, I managed to get everything timed just right it was difficult... and you eat a lot of food- a lot.  I have maintained insanely well.  However, I have just moved to following Paleo-Lifestyle principles.  I eat when I want (one main meal, sometimes a second small one), some days I do fast-- and there is such a wealth of information out there you could become obsessed. :)  Topics for future posts, I suppose.  I am having difficulty though preparing my mind to go down in weight and measurement again.  I want to, I just don't feel ready.

Anyway, the reason why I disappeared from the Protocol was a personal and professional issue I had with the Protocol's author and coach.  I could go into great detail about many frustrations I had, but I will leave it as simply this:  Three days before I was to go onto Maintenance she informed me I needed to send another $200.  So, I already paid $200 in the beginning that was made clear to be my only cost to her.  From the start she should have told me it will cost $400- half to be paid now and the other half to be paid before Maintenance.  I would have known and been able to make an decision from there.  Instead I had become fully invested and then right at the last minute and really for the most important part I was surprised with a new additional fee.  We ultimately, went back and forth and I was going to pay $100 for Maintenance, but then over the weekend I just couldn't muster paying even this.  When we make mistakes in our business we take the full responsibility and don't get irritated or snippy with our clients.  I just could not go on with her.  This was the "straw that broke the camel's back" for me.  I could put up with a lot and be patient, tolerant because I had much at stake, but there are just some things that aren't worth it.  I would rather take on a very complicated situation on my own rather than pay any more out of principle.

So, that is what I did.  And here I am.

Where do I want to go from here?  I am not exactly sure.  I keep wondering what I should do with this blog, but ultimately abandonment is not an option.  I guess it, and all of you hold a special place in my heart through all the ups and downs.  I think I will just figure out how to incorporate all the things I want to say here- under what kind of banner, I am not sure yet?  

Hope all are well wherever you may be!        

3 comments:

  1. Caitlin,

    I also used to be on the Protocol. I did not mind the food, or the eating, or even the fee. But there were too many inconsistencies. I had to pay for my own blood work. At first, I needed Cytomel which I had to persuade my family Doctor who reluctantly prescribed it to me. Then after a while I needed Metformin and was asked to ask my Doctor who, by that time was semi-convinced I was a hypochondriac. Then there were the daily phone chats which at times could have been avoided by an short e-mail. At times I felt was being treated like a child who needed to be monitored all the time. The reporting had to be typed a certain way otherwise it was another nasty phone call (I realized later she was parsing the stats onto her own database for some kind of thesis, hence the meticulous editing) At times it got testy. I am a military service member and my line of work requires long hours and Yes high intensity exercise to which SF opposed vehemently. She insisted I was doing the protocol incorrectly but other had stats worse than mine and were just fine. The comments online were not commensurate with the confrontational phone conversations, they were sometimes dismissive. She even decided I had anger issues and needed to do Yoga... I could go on... So, I mastered enough of it to just keep going on my own, and I was out of it.

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  2. OMG I am so in the same boat as you both, every ounce of me wants Lisa Grants shut down but I want her knowledgein the hands of someone who can share it with grace, kindness and compassion! Im stuck coming off protocol and what in the heck to eat in maintenance. I have been searching the web for paticipants since she is so good at keeping them under wraps as well!

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  3. I just had to add to these posts. I interviewed with her to do the protocol but decided not to do it because I don’t need to be abused! Her fee is now 750. I had several phone conversations with her and among other insane details that I’ll leave out here, I was ultimately told I had psychological problems. She made me believe I was about to keel over dead if I didn't get her help so I panicked. I consulted with my (naturopathic) doctor who gave me a clean bill of health after my lipid profile. I went back for my leptin panel and another clean bill of health (other than very slight elevated tsh levels for which they gave me a supplement). I haven't been able to find any information on her. She is a very sick person who just wants to be paid to control people, and remain anonymous. I thank God I never sent her any money, and I'm praying for all the people who are stuck under her control. Hopefully they will research her and find this blog, since this seems to be the only thing out there on her.

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