What Is This Episode About…

Erica had a whole host of excuses. It was one right after another. But after her vacation was ruined from massive GI pain, she finally said “ENOUGH” and joined a challenge. 

The 100 lb weight loss is just the tip of the iceberg to the host of benefits she received from following the 10-pound takedown challenge rules and the Code Red Revolution book.

Her IBS and the gastrointestinal issues are completely gone. She’s had patellofemoral syndrome, which is a knee clicking and grinding and all of that. So it makes it hard to like say run or do anything. 

Stairs were hard, but she also weighed 100 more pounds, so that didn’t help that situation. So that is completely gone. And now, she gets so many compliments not only about her weight but also about how happy she is.

Mentally, she’s so much happier. She’s smiling more they’re like, “You’re like a whole new person.”

And just to remind you, she did it just with a 10-pound takedown and just with the Code Red Revolution book and with no bullcrap excuses. This can be you. So stay tuned to know more.

Key Points of Discussion

• What life was like before Code Red for Erica (5:06)
• She tried a different program that was kind of more supplements and things of that nature (6:08)
• It was so bad and that was her turning point… (6:56)
• How she heard about Code Red (8:49)
• A shocker about starting on the 10-pound takedown challenge: Losing two and a half pounds right off the bat (12:20)
• It definitely wasn’t easy, and the sugar detox was tough (15:00)
• The non-scale victories that have happened since she’s taken control (16:00)
• Her reply to the naysayers (18:30)
• Her husband has noticed how Code Red works and how amazingly it works. He’s not part of Code Red, but he’s lost weight just by making better choices (19:39)

Learn More About The Content Discussed…

Get the Code Red On-The-Go Guide here.

Join the next 10-Pound Takedown Challenge here.

When Was It Released…

This episode was released March 4, 2020

Episode Transcript…

The Transcript Is Auto-Generated And May Contain Spelling And Grammar Errors

Cristy (00:00):

Welcome, welcome, welcome to Rebel Weight Loss and Lifestyle. I am your host, Cristy Code Red Nickel, author, entrepreneur, retired professional boxer. I’m so excited to have you on here. Let me start really quick by reading a rating. You can see I have it right here. Look at that. 488 ratings. Five out of five stars so far, my Lord, look at that. Look at that. I’m holding that up in front of the camera. For those of you who are listening, podcast number 43 got five stars. This is from somebody called lighter for life. Thanks, Cristy. What a great subject. I’ve been a rebel since January of 2018. I’ve lost 92 pounds. I’m always having someone say, are you still on your diet or you can’t eat that on your diet? I always say it’s not a diet. It’s a lifestyle change. I can eat that, but I choose not to eat sweets.

Cristy (00:53):

Thank you again, Cristy and Cari. Thank you. Lighter for life for such an awesome, well I almost like, Ooh, I wanted to read another one, but no, I’m not going to overwhelm you with a whole bunch of these. So many great ratings and reviews. Thank you so much. But what we’ve heard back from the viewers is that they don’t want me to go on and on and on at the beginning of these podcasts with all these and it’s great. It’s just too many sometimes and I can drone on and on, you know me, but I do want to thank all of you for the ratings and the reviews. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, it doesn’t go unnoticed, none of that. I read all of them. All right. Excited to bring you this interview from this girl named Erica.

Cristy (01:31):

So Erica posted in our Code Red Life group, which is our big community group, where everybody who does a challenge or anybody who comes through me on one of my ads, you get put in the Code Red Life group and that is a great place to get support, education information in love. But Eric has post was so and when we get, we have you know, tens of thousands of people in this group and so we get posts every day, but something about her post was so unique. It was so raw and real and direct and honest and it cut through all the bull crap and it got right to the heart of the issue. Spoiler alert, she lost over a hundred pounds, but that’s the least of what happened to her. So listen to this interview that I’m going to have with her. Listen to her story and you’ll see that the weight loss was so far down the list compared to all the healing that she received, but she had to cut through her own excuses.

Cristy (02:24):

She had to get sick of hearing herself complain and hearing herself and she had to get Jeremy here. Well see, I always do this. I want to tell you what happened. I’m not going to tell you what happened. I’m going to let you listen to it. Thank you again and listen to this. And of course, everything’s in the show notes. If you need links, don’t click and drive. Guys, if you’re driving right now, please both hands on the wheel, listen, eyes on the road, just listen to Erica’s story, be inspired. It is absolutely incredible and I know that a lot of you guys have felt the same way and this is going to really bring some serious hope and healing. So here we go. Interview with Erica. Absolutely incredible. Thanks, guys.

Cristy (03:08):

I’m Cristy Code Red and you’re listening to Rebel Weight Loss and Lifestyle where we believe food holds the power to heal or poison and we believe our society has been misled regarding proper nutrition and weight loss. You’re in the right place if you’re looking for some straight-up truth because I’m here to shed light on the lies and brainwashing that has taken place over the past five decades. Thanks so much for listening.

Cristy (03:36):

Welcome. Welcome you guys. Hello to all of you. Cristy Code Red here, author, entrepreneur, retired professional boxer. It’s hard to shadowbox while I’m sitting down, I’m sitting down on my little stool here. I have got a guest with me and you know I love it because I can preach Code Red over and over and over and over to you guys and I’m like ABA it in. I tell you this and I tell you that. But hearing it from somebody else really is the key. Hearing how it changed somebody else’s life is the key. And I’m just going to jump right in. And you know Erica, I know your name is Erica, but then when I saw your name pop up it said, Rica. Did you what? W which one is your name?

Erica (04:14):

No, it’s Erica and my fingers.

Cristy (04:19):

I was like Rica. That’s pretty cool. So I have Erica here with me and you know Erica, I read on the Code Red Life group with our Code Red Life group is our big giant community of over 20,000 people. And I read a post that you put up and you were just like, there were a lot of things that you had to, that you were, that were against you. Let’s just say that. And you had to overcome in order to lose so much weight. But before you tell us that, can you take us back before your weight loss and kind of tell us what life was like and up until your turning point and what the heck was going on with you cause you lost like over a hundred pounds. Yeah. Well take us back and explain to us what life was like before Code Red and what made you make this decision.

Erica (05:06):

Yeah, like I was just kind of living life. I wasn’t living it to its fullest potential or living it well. I had to have my gallbladder out about five years ago cause I had gallstones and I think a year after I developed IBS just as like a complication to that surgery that can happen. So I was always having digestive issues. I’ve been a vegetarian for 20 years as well so you can get sidetracked and get into a more carb-heavy, you know, really starchy foods as opposed to like salads all the time. And I was also drinking a lot of beers as well from Vermont. So beer is huge in Vermont and just really over-indulging and eating like late-night snacks, waking up and just feeling like crap. When I’d have my you, my gastrointestinal flare-ups, it would cause me so much pain, like keeling over and pain just from either eating too much or eating crappy food.

Erica (06:08):

So then, you know, I wanted to try to lose weight and I tried a different program that was kind of more supplements and things of that nature. Supposed to be really healthy and good for you. And I lost about 20 pounds on that and that was a couple of years ago, but then automatically gained it right back. Just wasn’t sustainable. And then I went to Vegas, which is the first picture that I took that was a trip from Vegas and I couldn’t eat for the first four days that I was there because I was having, I had the worst IBS symptoms that ever had in my entire life. I was 250 pounds. I was just my stomach, everything. I couldn’t even eat. Not a little piece of cracker and not a little bit of rice. It was so bad and that was my turning point. That was the point where I was like, I’m on vacation, I can’t have this happen ever again. I can’t do this. And I just reached that low over. I was like, alright, I’m ready. Like I need to do this. I need to see it through because that pissed me off so much that I couldn’t eat anything for four days and then found Code Red and started on the challenge shortly after May 15th challenge is when I started and I had just had it, I was fed up.

Cristy (07:30):

You know, I was vegan from September 07 to September 08. So I, I wanted to see what was like, and so I put an entire year, I feel pretty crappy. Did anybody and I, I’m not going to talk about vegan or vegetarian, I’m not gonna debate that with anybody yet. That’s your total choice. But did anybody, did any doctor ever sit you down and say, Erica, you are feeling crappy because you are eating like crap. Did anybody say that to you?

Erica (07:56):

So they did. And I actually saw a nutritionist as well, but it’s 100% my fault. I knew exactly what I needed to do, but at that time I just wasn’t ready. A couple of years ago or even last year, I was like, I know I need to do this but I don’t, I don’t want to right now or I need, I’m making excuses. And it was like, you know, I’m just not, I didn’t reach that low point. I didn’t reach that point where I was just like, alright, I’ve had enough. I’m doing this, this is it. And I reached that in April of last year and then did the challenge, cause I just, you know, in my opinion, I could try everything, but if I’m not ready to commit and I’m not ready to say no excuses to be held to that standard, I wouldn’t have succeeded.

Cristy (08:45):

So how did you hear about Code Red?

Erica (08:49):

So I heard about Code Red. Somebody that I knew on Facebook had done it when she had success with it. And so I said, Hey, you know what? I’m going to look into it when it kind of see what it’s about. And the biggest thing for me, it was real food, straight guidelines, and there was no pills, no shakes, no, you know, working out for two hours a day, which just isn’t something that I could too, you know, with work and everything and it was real food. Just you have this food list, this is what you get and that’s what you can have. So super easy to follow and super easy to make that happen.

Cristy (09:27):

So when you did see a nutritionist or any of the gastroenterologists, anybody, what about your IBS? Did your doctor say or your nutritionist or somebody say stop eating grains. It’s causing inflammation, that’s what’s causing the IBS flare-up?

Erica (09:41):

No, never. It was all a balanced diet. The food pyramid, it was never anything. A lot of it was no alcohol, but it’s like, okay, but now you know, now that I’m more knowledge great at all of that, you know, it just,

Cristy (09:55):

Yes, I had IBS pretty bad too, and I was on medication. So I know exactly how that feels. So before the plan that you did that you lost 20 pounds on, had you tried other things to lose weight?

Erica (10:08):

I had tried just programming. I think they were doing it. My friend was a rep for a different weight loss program, I guess if you call it that nutritional program. And so I was like, you know, Hey what the heck? I think it was like $150 $200. I was like, I’ll just give it a try and tried it. But it was all, you know, here’s your packet of supplements that you take here and here’s your shake you have to have for breakfast. And then it was just, it wasn’t real food and that I just didn’t feel good on it. Like I, after a couple of days I was like, no, my stomach doesn’t feel right. I don’t feel right. And like I did lose a little bit and then 20 pounds. But that’s the only one that I’ve done. I haven’t, other than trying to control my IBS cause I didn’t take medication for that. So just trying to control it with my diet. But ultimately during that period of my life, I just didn’t care enough about myself.

Cristy (11:01):

That’s so interesting to me cause I’m looking at you. You’re young, you’re so pretty. And it’s like, but you, you didn’t, you just didn’t have that, I guess self-respect or you just weren’t at that were you, did you know you need to lose a hundred pounds?

Erica (11:17):

I knew that I needed to lose, cause I’ve always been around the 240-250 about five years ago. So I am also, I’m perimenopausal and so I was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure about five years ago. And so they were all like, Oh you have to lose weight, you know, to have a kid. And then, but I just didn’t, you know, life got a hold of me in life, held me. I was life. Life had its claws in me and it wasn’t the other way around. So there was other obstacles that I’ve just kind of gave up in certain aspects of life overall. So it was a whole, you know, of just, you know, not caring and not giving a crap about, about anything.

Cristy (12:00):

You know, I’m wearing a shirt right now and I won’t show you guys. But on the back, it says 100% in control and that, and you are not 100% in control back then.

Erica (12:09):

Not at all. No.

Cristy (12:11):

And so what, so you start on the challenge and what was the biggest shocker about starting on the 10-pound takedown challenge for you?

Erica (12:20):

So the biggest shocker about starting on it, I would say the constant. So I started losing, wait right off the bat. I mean I was lose two pounds, two and a half pounds right off the bat. And I also did you know the big thing about even that post was no excuses. I wasn’t going to make an excuse of Oh maybe I can have this or maybe, I can’t know. Like I did it so strictly. I cut out the processed foods, everything you’re not supposed to, you know, eat and just ate right off of that food list. I mean in the beginning, it wasn’t easy, but every day I stepped on that scale. I would like to chuckle to myself. I’ll be like, how is this happening? Like, how am I losing two and a half pounds a day in the beginning? I mean it was just unfathomable and I’d tell my husband and he, he was just floored by the whole thing and he goes, you’re eating these huge salads and they’re eating all this stuff, like what is going on? So that, I guess that was the most satisfying too.

Cristy (13:20):

Totally. The weight was just coming off of you. And what I noticed about your post was that you just lined out, it’s like you kind of called everybody, but really it was yourself, but you called everybody out on their bull crap excuses. You just said this, this, this, this. I mean this happened, this happened and no, you didn’t let anything stop you.

Erica (13:39):

Nope. And that’s one thing I wanted to make sure to point out in the post because, in the Code Red group I see, you know, people, why do I have a gallbladder? Can I do this? And I’m like, you’re making excuses. Like, stop it. You’re just like, you’re not, maybe you’re not ready. Maybe if other obstacles to overcome, but like, no, like stop making excuses. And just do it. And just, and like, you know, one thing that you had said that was really inspiring and the first of the 30-day challenge, you’re like, just give me 30 days, give me 30 days to see if this is the program for you. And that was one thing that I held to my heart and I was like, all right, I, you know, spent the money to do the challenge. And then I bought the book with it and then which I love the book because it gave me so many tools and something to reference. And then it was like, you know, 30 days, what’s 30 days? It’s a month. It’s totally worth it. And then now to go from that point where I was to where I am now, it’s just unbelievable.

Cristy (14:38):

To look at your before and after pictures is staggering. I mean, I could not believe it and I can, cause we see it every day, but still, I mean, you’re sitting there with your hands on your waist and you’ve got this little tiny waist, I mean a hundred pounds down with no custom program. You were following challenge rules and the Code Red revolution book. You absolutely nailed it.

Erica (15:00):

Thank you. It definitely wasn’t, you know, and I didn’t expect it to be easy, you know, and the sugar detox was tough, you know, it wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns the whole time. You know, you have to adjust and you learn things along the way, but over 100% worth every part of it. And that challenge was the one that really kicked it off because you learned so much in that and I just maintain on what I learned in the challenge. I just use that throughout the entire eight months and lost over a hundred pounds. So it is doable. You just, you have to have the right mindset. You have to know that you’re worth it and you have to be at that, okay, I’m fed up, I’m done. And no excuses.

Cristy (15:47):

Yeah, I’m sick of the seatbelt extender. So not only do you lose and we keep bringing up the weight, but I think you said something about not having headaches anymore, not having, what are the things, have you noticed that or non-skilled victories that have happened since you’ve taken control?

Erica (16:00):

My IBS and the gastrointestinal issues are completely gone, like 0%. That’s unbelievable because that was so much pain that I had that is completely gone. I’ve had patellofemoral syndrome, which is a knee, knee clicking and grinding and all of that. So it makes it hard to like say run or do anything. Stairs were hard, but I also weighed a hundred more pounds so that didn’t help that situation. So that is completely gone. Being able to hike up four flights of stairs, you know, I visit my family in Germany, they have all stairs everywhere. So I’m like, I’m finally not out of breath. Like I remember going up the stairs last year and I was like, you know, just the heavy breathing and just, you know, for me at least I get so many compliments own not only my weight but how happy I am. Oh, just mentally, I’m so much happier. I’m smiling more the time and just, they’re like, you’re like a whole new person. You’re just, you have this like gleam off of you now. It’s cause you know, I just, I feel so much better about my body. I feel so much better about myself. I’m not struggling with the IVs and the gastro issues. So overall, just my, the positive body image that I have of myself is skyrocketed.

Cristy (17:23):

That’s just incredible. And so we’re talking about like, it is just, it has gone out to every area of your life, your coworker’s relationship, your husband, your relationship with your husband, your relationship with your family. Just the way you view everything is different.

Erica (17:36):

Yeah, absolutely. And the one thing I do have to say that I don’t think people mention a lot on code red is how much better the sex is. Oh, now that I’ve lost weight. Yeah.

Cristy (17:50):

I mean you’re right. Nobody ever talks about Pat.

Erica (17:54):

Yeah. It’s 100% true. And even he notices that he’s more excited, you know, I’m more excited, you know, just cause I’m just feeling so much more confident in so much more better about myself. That’s a big non-scale victory for me as well.

Cristy (18:09):

Yeah, totally. You know that is so incredible. What would you say to people, and I know you’ve had to combat this, you know, people say things to you all the time. I know they do. Where you’ll, you’ll, they’ll say, Oh my gosh, Erica, look at you. What are you doing? And you’ll tell them, well, I’m doing real food, water, and sleep. And then they say crap like, well, I could never do that. How do you reply to the naysayers?

Erica (18:30):

So for the naysayers, you know, unlike, all right, well really what I say is that you’re not ready, but that’s okay. It’s okay that you’re not ready. But when you reach that point, I’ll be there for you. You come and see me because you can’t tell somebody they’re ready. They have to be 100% ready and their mind to do this. So I just, you know, it’s almost like a little waiting game. You gave him information and I give them information to men. What they do with it, you know, is their choice. I have some coworkers that you know come to me and they’re like, Oh my gosh, write that down for me. What does that call then? So I’m like, okay, you know, and so I’m like, I’m like, here’s my phone number. You call me when you’re ready. When you want to do this, I will support you 100%

Cristy (19:17):

I mean, Erica, your ripple effect is huge. I don’t think you really like they say just because they don’t follow you doesn’t mean they don’t follow you. So they’re watching you, everybody’s watching you. Has your husband, I don’t know if he had any lose weight to lose her. It has he lost any weight residual or just from maybe what you guys are bringing in the house or what you’re cooking or does he, has anything changed with him because of this?

Erica (19:39):

He has noticed how Code Red works and how amazingly it works. He is floored by the results I have or I’ll show him other, you know, rebels that post stuff on Code Red and I’m like, Oh my gosh, look at this person. I lost 150 pounds. And you know at first it’s really hard to believe but this is all 100% truth. It’s all true. And you know he’s not part of Code Red but he’s lost weight just by making better choices. You know him, Roger and I had this discussion and he usually eats like an English muffin with an egg and some other, you know like grains and stuff for breakfast. And he goes and he goes, I’m hungry, you know, two hours later and I’m like, yeah, case you’re eating essentially you’re eating sugar, you’re going to be hungry two hours later. So then he tried to salad with like steak tips and some asparagus and I was like, where are you full until lunchtime? He goes, Oh yeah, he goes, I ate at like one o’clock cause I was hungry. And I’m like, exactly. He’s losing the weight as well. And just learning more about eating real food and eating well.

Cristy (20:45):

Yeah, the proper human you know, Erica, you guys, she started with a 10-pound takedown challenge and she read the Code Red Revolution book. She never got a custom program. So if you think I’m all, I’m just out here. Ah, Cristy’s just money hungry and trying to sell custom programs. No, look at Erica, she did a hundred pounds plus healed herself. I mean, she said it. She said I’m complete, I have no more medical issues. Yeah. You know, and I don’t know if you’re still thinking about maybe having a baby, but who knows what could happen now that your body is healing itself? I don’t know. I dunno if maybe we could get a little mini, a mini Code Red baby, you know, a little Code Red baby. That’d be awesome. You know? What would you say in closing to people that are listening, what would you like to say to people who are thinking about jumping in and they just don’t know?

Erica (21:34):

So I would definitely say it’s only 30 days. What is 30 days? It’s nothing.

Erica (21:41):

You’re investing in something that could change your life, could change your future in ways that you don’t even know. I didn’t even know the ways that it could change my life. I didn’t realize how happy I could be. I just thought that that’s how I was. You’re worth more than 30 frickin days. If you put your mind to it and you’re ready to go, just jump in, be ready, make no excuses, and you will do awesome. Whether you’re a vegetarian or vegan, don’t want to hear that excuse either. You just need to do it and you’ve got gotta be ready.

Cristy (22:16):

I love that. Erica, thank you so much for sharing your story with me. You guys, a hundred pounds gone and her medical issues are gone. It’s absolutely a miracle. She did it just with a 10-pound takedown and just with the Code Red revolution book and just with no bullcrap excuses. This can be you. I will put the link down below so that you can join as well. Erica, thank you so much for joining me today. I sure appreciate it.

Erica (22:42):

Yeah, you’re welcome. Thank you.

Cristy (22:45):

Thanks so much for listening to this episode of Rebel Weight Loss and Lifestyle. Do you have a question that you’d like me to answer raw and uncut on the podcast? Then all you have to do is head over to Apple Podcast on your phone or computer and do three simple things. Leave a rating and review telling me what you think of the podcast and in that review, ask anything you want related to help, weight loss or mindset. And if you want a shout-out, leave your Instagram handle or name. That’s all. Then listen in to hear your question answered, live, raw and uncut on the next Q and A episode. So see you on the next episode of Rebel Weight Loss and Lifestyle.