How Craig and Sari Ness Lost 52 Pounds Together in 10 Weeks

Have you ever had a spiritual moment and you feel like something greater than yourself is at play?  I felt that way when Craig Ness, the Director of the TV show Making It Grow drove me (unexpectedly) to the airport in April…

I was on his Public Television Show ‘Making It Grow’ to film two cooking segments.  As the Director, he watched (and worked) live as we filmed.  Once we finished filming (that’s a wrap!), my original ride to the airport asked Craig (whom I had just met) to take me instead.  The airport was on Craig’s way from Sumter, to his home in Lexington, South Carolina.   

The most beautiful thing happened on that car ride (that was never supposed to happen!)...

Craig, on his own accord, started opening up about his health and weight concerns.  He was concerned with 75+ pounds of weight, medications, and a lack of energy (he couldn’t mow his grass anymore).  He was worried about being able to be around for a long-time for this son (and fingers crossed, grandchild one day).

We chatted about his concerns, goals, what he’d tried before and his health history for an hour straight.  One week later, from that car ride, Craig and his wife hired me as their Nutritionist.  Well, it’s been ten weeks since they did and WOW, just WOW look at this…

Craig and Sari have lost 52 pounds together as a couple in 10 weeks! A-MAZING!  

Watch Craig and Sari Ness’ interview here…

They lost 52 pounds together in 10 weeks from eating optimally.  There was NO counting, weighing or measuring of food.  There was no “weight loss” pill, product or shot they had to buy.  

They learned an effective lifestyle change where they were told to EAT and to EAT more food – optimal food, that they liked or loved.  No need to eat anything they didn’t like.

Here’s even more health results Craig and Sari achieved in 10 weeks (and as I tell them, this is just the beginning!)...

Craig:

• Lost 30 pounds without counting, weighing or measuring food and there’s no buying any weight loss pills, shots or products.  He ate food that filled him up and supported his health!

• Regained his energy, improved his self esteem, and his ability to be active (more workouts!)

• His clothes keep getting smaller! Lol even his shirt in the video!

Sari:

• Lost 22 pounds in 9.5 weeks (woo hoo!)

• Loves to dance and can do 30 minute Zumba classes again! She’s shocked she’s looking forward to exercising now!  She wouldn’t have believed that 10 weeks ago.

• She’s less critical of herself and is learning how to stop negative thoughts and turn her mentality around to help herself,

Craig and Sari’s favorite weekend meal – optimal whole-grain waffles with maple syrup 🙂

Craig said in our interview…  

“I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel because I'm shedding the weight, exercising, and I'm regaining that energy that I've lacked.” 

What a blessing and a miracle meeting and working with these two have been 🩷

Want to see if having me as your Nutritionist can help you Shed Pounds Sustainably too?  Schedule a time to chat with me here.  We’ll chat like I did with Craig for an hour before he hired me (lol just not in a car driving to the airport!). Schedule a time here. 

TAKE CONTROL NOW

What resonates with or inspires you the most in Craig and Sari’s interview?  Comment below.

In Your Corner,

Trish

Easy Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Cookies from Making It Grow

I had the honor of flying to South Carolina to film two cooking segments on the Public Television show Making It Grow.  I adore this show (they teach you all about plants!).  I LOVE to cook plants and help people Shed Pounds Sustainably by eating A LOT of them (without counting, weighing or measuring!).

On this segment, I show you how to make Easy Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Cookies.

Here’s why you want to watch…

• These cookies are SO easy and simple. 

• My favorite part – before these are cookies, it’s just oatmeal from the microwave!  So, it’s actually two recipes in one! 

• Once the microwaved oatmeal is done, you can eat it as is or bake it as bars or cookies!

Click play below to watch the episode and keep scrolling for the recipe! My segment starts at 16:51 (if you don’t want to watch the whole hour show although I do recommend it — especially if you like gardening!).

Onto the recipe…

Easy Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Cookies  

By: Nutritionist, Trisha Mandes, MPHN

Ingredients

• 1 cup regular rolled oats

• 1 cup banana sliced (about one large banana)

• ¼-½ cup blueberries (frozen or fresh!)

• 3 TB maple syrup OR date syrup

• Cinnamon

• Water

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Put 1 cup of rolled oats into shallow dish or bowl

3. Add the sliced banana and blueberries to the bowl

4. Coat up to the top of mixture with water so top of ingredients are covered and moistened

5. Microwave mixture for 2-3 minutes to soften. Add more water if needed

6. Use fork to smash up fruit to release juices to sweeten dish

7. Add maple syrup and cinnamon on top

8. Mix all ingredients together

9. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper

10. Use a spoon full of ingredients to form cookies

11. Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes 

12. Let cool before serving 

These are excellent as a mini-meal (a snack), for breakfast or a daily dessert.

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Interested in seeing if/how Trisha can help you Shed Pounds Sustainably even if you can’t exercise or have additional health concerns? Schedule a time to chat with her here. She’d love to talk to see if she can help you Shed Pounds Sustainably just like her clients.

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Take Control Now

Comment below and share… would you make these cookies!? 

How to make the daily dessert recipe Ambrosia Fruit Salad from Making It Grow

I had the honor of flying to South Carolina to film two cooking segments on the Public Television show Making It Grow.  I adore this show (they teach you all about plants!).  I LOVE to cook plants and help people Shed Pounds Sustainably by eating A LOT of them (without counting, weighing or measuring!). 

Click play below to watch the episode and keep scrolling for the recipe!

Onto the recipe…

Ambrosia Fruit Salad 
By: Nutritionist, Trisha Mandes, MPHN

Ingredients

• Two oranges, peeled and sliced into wedges

• One can pineapple rings (unsweetened, in fruit juice). Keep the juice from the can

• ¼ cup Juice from the pineapple rings can

• Two bananas, sliced

• 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded dried coconut (optional)

• One cup purple grapes, rinsed and cut in half 

• 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine the oranges, pineapple, banana and grapes in a large bowl (if not serving right away, don’t add the banana.  Add the banana right before serving otherwise it browns).

2. Combine the pineapple juice and optional almond extract in a small bowl and mix.

3. Pour the juice mixture over the fruit and toss until evenly distributed. 

4. Transfer to a smaller serving bowl.

5. Sprinkle coconut on top.

This is a simple and refreshing daily dessert (you can eat it everyday!) and is perfect for entertaining as well. 

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Interested in seeing if/how Trisha can help you Shed Pounds Sustainably even if you can’t exercise or have additional health concerns? Schedule a time to chat with her here. She’d love to talk to see if she can help you Shed Pounds Sustainably just like her clients.

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Take Control Now

Comment below and share… would you make this optimal fruit salad!?