Feeding My Soul (and Peeing All Night)

Why does Program work? That’s a question I’ve asked myself before—and answered many times over. I know it works. I’ve seen the results in the past, and I’m living the results now.

I’ve tried other diets. Pills. Injections. I even gave Ozempic a shot (or maybe a knockoff version—I’m still not sure). And guess what? I actually gained weight on it. I didn’t even know that was possible. But every time I follow Program truthfully—even imperfectly—I lose something. Even if it’s just a pound, it’s something.

In my opinion (and yes, this is just my opinion), Thin’s In works because it’s realistic. You get to enjoy real food—a lot of it, if you plan it right. You’re not counting down the minutes to your next protein bar or sad frozen meal. You're enjoying fresh, flavorful meals that actually satisfy.

And it’s not just food. One thing I love? You’re not limited on what you drink (and no, I don’t mean alcohol). You can have juice, Crystal Light, diet sodas, flavored waters, coffee, tea—on top of your daily water goal. And that brings me to this week’s behavior modification technique:

“Each day drink six-8oz glasses of water.”

So… I challenged myself to hit all 48 oz of water each day this past week.

Let me just say—it was hard. Water is boring. There were two nights I was up until 11 p.m. trying to choke down those last few ounces. I came to a startling realization: I don’t even drink 48 oz of anything most days, let alone plain water.

I know some people love water. I am not one of those people. Unless it’s falling from the sky or connected to a beach? Hard pass. But I dug deep, grabbed my largest water bottle (it holds 40 oz—bless it), filled it to the brim each morning, and made it my mission. Once I finished that, all I needed was one more can of Bubly or Polar to hit my 48 oz.

I did it!...

And I peed more this week than I have in my previous 33 years combined.

But here’s the good news: Thin’s In isn’t just generous with hydration. It lets you enjoy full, satisfying meals too.

Because I skip breakfast (my workday starts early), I usually have larger lunches and dinners to make sure I get in all 15 layaways. This does two things:

1. It keeps my meals balanced and on plan so I lose weight.

2. It satisfies my inner foodie who still wants to eat real food, not rabbit scraps.

   
   

Lately, I’ve been leaning into the Protein Choice Group Two options in the Blue Book—what I like to call the “two-ounce proteins.” Think: bison, veal, chicken, cod, lobster (yes, please!).

Need an example of a full, Thin’s In–friendly meal?

Tuesday night dinner: The most delicious and filling meal I’ve had in ages.

I had:

Isn’t she glorious?!?

• 4 proteins

• 1 bread

• 1 limited vegetable

• 2 milks

• 1 fruit

• All my fats

• Plus a side salad

  
  

And yes, I tracked everything.

Here’s what was on the plate:

• 6 oz of freshly steamed lobster (thank you, Stop & Shop!)

• 6 pieces of sushi (also Stop & Shop)

• 4 oz of crispy, oven-baked potatoes (using my Thin’s In potato hack)

• A fresh garden salad

• And a sinless strawberry milkshake (get the recipe on Thin’s In’s homepage)

But you don’t have to save all your layaways for dinner to eat like this. You can also enhance your meals using freebies.

One of my favorite examples? A big, satisfying taco salad.

Start with a mountain of veggies (they’re free!), then brown up a two-ounce protein like veal or buffalo with onions, peppers, and taco seasoning. Pile the seasoned meat on your salad, top it with salsa (also a freebie!), and boom—lunch or dinner is served.

I like mine with ranch dressing, so I stretch it by mixing in more salsa for a zesty, spicy ranch that covers a huge salad without going over on fats.

Want to be fancy? Pour your sparkling water in a wine glass. Cheers!

Now, after all that eating, you'd think I might’ve stayed the same—or even gained. But guess what?

Au contraire my friends! I lost 3 pounds this week!

It’s not the volume—it’s the balance. When we eat unhealthy or unbalanced, the weight creeps on. But when we eat colorful, varied, and satisfying meals—and stay hydrated, even begrudgingly—we set ourselves up to lose the right way.

So, eat well. Stay full. Stay hydrated. And keep that blue book close.

Total lost: 14 pounds.