The Total LIFE Diet™ - Success Stories

Here are some success stories from clients who have followed my program either in the form of individual consultations or the group program. These testimonials are in my clients own words.

“In November 2005 my blood report showed my cholesterol level to be 7.0. My GP advised me to consult a dietitian and recommended Shamala Ratnesar. She put me on an immediate action plan for change. In 4 months, with her recommended healthy eating habits and regular walking my cholesterol dropped to 4.9. I now feel so much more energetic. Thank you Shamala for putting me on the right track”.

“Thanks to Shamala Ratnesar's dietary plan I now have a better quality of life.

When I was first referred to Shamala by my local GP, I had an iron level of 750, my blood cholesterol was 6.2 and my blood glucose level was 6.2 (pre-diabetes level).

My iron level has now returned back to normal, my cholesterol has also been reduced considerably and my blood glucose level is now normal!

I had been referred to several dietitians and tried countless of their dietary plans but none matched Shamala Ratnesar's successful dietary plan.

The special thing about Shamala as a professional is her incredible passion and inspirational drive combined with her articulated dietary plan formulated to your suitability that helps you to strive to better yourself.

It is ONLY due to her successful dietary formula that Shamala Ratnesar is able to achieve such positive results!”

“When my doctor suggested to me that I was overweight and should see a dietitian I was dismayed.

I had always been up and down with my weight and was nearly 70 years old and had never needed to “diet”.

I very quickly listened to what I was being told when the doctor explained that I had impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) and was pre-diabetic.

In no time at all I had an appointment with Shamala and had begun changing my eating habits which has resulted in not only losing weight but my IFG (pre-diabetes) is now back to normal.

Without Shamala's guidance I believe I would not be as healthy as I am now. I still have more weight to lose but having lost 20 cm from my waist (and I didn't think I had a problem) I'm certainly looking forward to the next few months and the rest of my life”.

“For a second time in October 2007, Shamala was recommended to me by my doctor.

The first time was early in 2003, when I was a borderline diabetic. I saw Shamala for 9 weeks, lost 3 kg and over 8 cm from my waist and unfortunately did not go back to her after a long holiday to Sri Lanka, where I gained all the weight I had previously lost.

Then in October 2007, the inevitable happened. Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed. My bad eating habits and lack of exercise caught up with me. For a second time Shamala took me under her wing and I have now, at the time of writing - lost 6kg and 10½ cm from my waist.

Shamala taught me the correct eating habits. I now have breakfast (which I would normally skip) lunch and dinner, and 2 snacks in between the mains, which keep me satisfied during the day. (I used to eat only when hungry, and then over-eat!) Exercise was part of the plan, which was really hard for me to get into, but knowing that I, and I alone, could change my situation from going from tablets, good eating habits and exercise to the dreaded daily insulin injections. This I am sure I have achieved, as the results of my last three monthly blood tests have shown.

I have a new lease on life; I have been given a second chance, which I will embrace. I have had the pleasant experience of giving away my FAT clothes, and enjoying the experience of shopping for clothes that are two sizes smaller than before!!!

I have two children, who will one day get married and have children. I want, as a mother to be healthy, to enjoy the grandchildren. With what I've learnt from Shamala, I know I can achieve that goal. The best part of all this is, I can still eat most of the foods I love, but now I know how to eat these foods.

It is only 7 months since I started my program with Shamala. My appointments with her are now spread over a longer period than when I first started seeing her. My weight does fluctuate now and again, but very slightly. I know not to stress over it, I just get back to basics, and I'm back on track! I walk on average 5 days per week, which surprisingly I now enjoy. I have enjoyed all my sessions with Shamala, as they have a very positive outcome.

I recommend Shamala to anyone wanting to learn more about diabetes, be taught all about the correct eating habits, learn to read and understand food labels and most of all enjoy the journey to a healthier you!!”.

“I have written the following testimonial after having just completed your 12 week, 6 class group diet and weight loss course.

I must admit that I did have a little scepticism before I commenced the course that it would prove to be fully effective, but I find that now, having just completed the final class, I have in fact lost almost 10 kilos (almost 22 pounds) and 10 cm (4 inches) through following your diet and exercise guidelines.

The dieting regime is not harsh by any means and has not left me hungry at any stage and I have been relieved that I have not had to abandon favourite foods like chocolate, dessert and KFC, but merely cut them back to a reasonable level. In other words, I have not achieved this weight loss by taking the joy out of life and indeed this is a significant part of what you express to the group – that if a weight reduction can only be brought about with an austere diet and a demanding exercise regime, that nobody will be able to maintain the process for very long and will soon revert to their former unhealthy eating and non-exercising habits.

Right through the course you have always given clear and helpful information on proteins, carbs, omega-3 and good fats and bad fats in general, serve sizes and so on, and on reasonable non-demanding exercise, and you have also fostered a relaxed atmosphere within the group with plenty of camaraderie, which has made the already quite easy course even easier to follow.

You have a very evident passion for your work and this enthusiasm is certainly passed on to those who follow your courses, be they group or individual consultations.

I am continuing to lose weight and I am confident that I will find it easy to continue with my new healthy lifestyle.

I can truthfully say, that I would recommend unhesitatingly, your individual and group courses to anyone who wants to lose weight or simply lead a healthier lifestyle”.

David, Sydney.

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"I chose to see a dietitian over a weight loss clinic as I did not want a "fad" or short-term diet; I wanted a diet for life that was easy to maintain. Being vegetarian, I knew that individual consultation would address all my nutritional needs and Shamala came recommended to me. In a short (and healthy) period of time I had lost around 14kg and was feeling healthier for it, not only this but the diet was easily manageable, I didn't feel hungry and I didn't have to do exorbitant amounts of exercise to lose or maintain the weight. There are an overwhelming amount of dietitians in the Yellow Pages and Shamala is one that I can recommend.

"As a 55 year old woman, in a very sedentary office job, who has tried many 'diets' over the years with varying degrees of success, to be referred by my local G.P. to "The Omega 3" revolution has been a revelation in itself.

I attended the group education session with 4 others. I found the interactive approach very useful, learning from the experiences of others which enhanced the process of change.

I have found the inclusion of eggs and/or fish in my diet on a daily basis has proved very easy. I have increased my input of fruit, both fresh and canned, which has not only assisted me in losing kilos and centimetres around my waist, but given my skin a healthy glow. Without really noticing I have also decreased my portion sizes without once feeling any hunger pangs.

For years I have suffered severely from reflux, but since my change to this eating plan I have reduced the number of attacks dramatically.

Exercise was not something I did willingly in the past, but after initially finding it hard to make time for my 40 minute walk each day, I now program it in and get rather cranky when something prevents me from getting out to do my walk.

I have found energy I never knew I had and a desire to eat healthily without becoming obsessive about it".

“I was given Shamala's name through my GP and as I had never been to a dietitian before I thought it was worth a try as I had put on weight and was finding it difficult to get motivated to lose it.

The reason I wanted to lose weight is I felt strongly that I wanted to prevent the diseases that seemed to plague people like me in middle age like diabetes, heart disease and arthritis.

I have dieted on and off for most of my life and always managed to lose weight but always managed to gain it plus more (what I call yo yo dieting)

I got to the point where I didn't want to be overweight anymore but I also didn't want to strive to be thin. I wanted to be able to be at a healthy weight and be able to maintain that weight once I lost it.

Both my husband and I decided to do this together as we both felt it would only improve our chances of losing weight and keeping it off. I wanted to make sure this was a lifestyle change and not a diet as diets do not work for me.

I started to lose small amounts of weight quite quickly - but overall weight loss was slow which was at times quite frustrating - as I was used to losing larger amounts of weight more quickly.

I now realize that the rapid weight loss in the past was probably not such a good idea.

I never felt hungry and I felt that for me my eating habits did not have to change too much. I became more aware of portion sizes and the amount of carbohydrate that I could eat.

One of the most valuable things that I learned was to eat something appropriate for both morning and afternoon tea which seemed to sustain my appetite especially when I went home at 5pm before dinner.

I stopped feeling guilty if I ate something I thought was ”bad” as I just continued to follow the eating plan, instead of what I used to do and continue to eat “bad” things for the rest of the week and would say “I'll start again on Monday” diet mentality.

It had to fit in with my lifestyle otherwise it wouldn't have worked and it has.

I lost 12 kg in total which doesn't seem very much but it has made a big difference to how I feel.

It is over a year now and I have kept the weight off only fluctuating small amounts which I accept as being normal. I also walk every day which makes me feel more energetic and I think exercise is a really important part in any lifestyle change.

I still see Shamala on a regular basis but the appointments are getting further and further apart.

It has been really worth it and I don't know why I didn't go and see a dietitian earlier.

I have definitely benefited by doing this together with my husband as we have supported each other to stay both committed and motivated.

“I have always had a weight problem and been to a few dietitians over the years. I found Shamala in the phone book and decided to give her a call. She actually answered the phone herself, which I thought was a refreshing change to what I had been used to with other dietitians. I made an appointment to see her and have never looked back!

I cannot speak highly enough of Shamala and her fantastic program, I only wish I had found her sooner. She incorporated diet, lifestyle and motivation in her program and has catered it to all my needs. She has given me the tools I need to take into my everyday life and she has done this by using an easy to understand approach. She is very practical and she is always giving me endless suggestions to easy meal ideas that are healthy and tasty!

I have both Shamala's books and they are a fantastic reference and back up to our sessions. Shamala is a fantastic teacher. You actually learn why you are eating certain foods not just told to eat certain foods. You also learn how they affect your body functioning, in an interesting and easily understood way.

I reached my first goal to be under 100kg and have also got to my second goal being under 90kg. I have lost 13 kg and 14 cm from my waist! I could not be happier. Shamala has kept me on track with her motivational ideas and practical ways to keep me going ‘I will not give up!' I am still seeing Shamala but I am about to embark on a new journey with her through my pregnancy. I know that having her with me in this journey will ensure that I am a healthy, happy person throughout my pregnancy.

I want other people to benefit as I have! I say do yourself and your body a favour and take the journey with Shamala to become a ‘healthy, happy slim person!'