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| 02/27/12 Wilmot, NH |
I was away most of the weekend and I wasn't able to write as I had hoped. I see there are a few more questions, I'll do my best to respond to later this week. It's exciting to see more newcomers to this blog. Welcome everyone!
I pulled photos together to show my first year of weight loss and made a video. I've been hesitant to post it, but it shows the progress I made in Year One on this program, so I decided to add it tonight, with the promise that when I make Year Two, it will be better. I had creative ideas I wanted to do to this video, but I don't have the time, so here goes....
06/27/13 update: Sorry - I didn't use royalty free music in the video so it was removed by YouTube.
You look amazing, I am inspired everyday by your success. I go for my first appointment on March 5, I am so glad to see that there is a network of people to turn to for support and reasurance. Congratulations on your first year and to your continued success:)
ReplyDeleteMarch 5 is finally here tomorrow. Keep our networking alive by writing about your first session. We would all love to hear.
DeleteFANTASTIC! I LOVE the video!! You are so clever!!!!!! I have been collecting pictures of myself along the 'weigh', just not brave enough yet to post!!
ReplyDeleteKeep OFF the good work Theresa!! And EVERYONE else!!! Hope to see more befores and afters on here!! They are so inspiring like anonymous posted! I LOVE success stories and pictures!!!!
I could see a change in you in all your pictures. You even look like you feel good. I give you so much credit for doing this video. I am inspired by you and admire everything about you and I dont even know you. I got a call today from the secretary over there and she asked if I was interested in a refresher class (this would be my 2nd since December) and I said sure. She said it will be $150 this time and to park in the parking lot next door where the building has the blue awning. I feel this will be my last class because I now have this blog to keep me going and I only have one size left to get down to but I still need to start the walking out doors more. So thanks again for sharing and I look forward to everyones blogs.
DeleteI've been lurking for awhile. I saw Julie on July 18, 2011(my wedding anniversary lol). I was faithful for four full months-right until Thanksgiving. I went from a size 20 to a size 12 in that time frame. My goal was to be a 10/12 for Disney-and I was!! Then Disney came and well...lol. I was off the diet for two full months, went back for a refresher on January 18.
ReplyDeleteI lost the weight I gained in that time frame that I was off. I have been really good again, having had two cheat days or what have you when my aunt passed away last week. However, I went right back on it with no problems.
I go to the gym every other day and am training for a 5K. I am now running 25 minutes each time I go to the gym. However, I feel like nothing is happening. I'm still in size 12. I wanted to be an 8 by April and I just think I am at a standstill.
My birthday is next week and I want a cheat day. I just don't know. I want the sweet, but I would love a pizza too. I guess if I were to cheat, having a carb would be better vs a sugar. The internal debate is awful!
So any words of advice? I may give the ladies a call and see what they say. My husband has his last class on Thursday with his mom. And his sister just had her last class as well. So we are all doing it over here!
Keep up the great work ladies! I can post a before/after photo if I figure out how to!
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DeleteHi Twinglesmomma! Sounds like you have been doing well-Don't know if your birthday has already come and gone? If so, Happy Birthday! You asked for some words of advice-I would not give in to a cheat day. The food you suggested for your "cheat day" will completely stop any and all weight loss. Sweet or carb, doesn't matter. Once you eat that, you are done. Julie's words, not mine! If you did call the office, that is what you will hear probably. I had a refresher 2/21, and I couldn't get over how many people gave into temptation. Once you do, you have to go back to her and start all over again. Julie stated in my December refresher "don't you want to do this right the first time? Or do you want to keep starting over"? My birthday was in November (5 months into the program) and I "celebrated" with Shrimp Cocktail! And it was AWESOME! Then Thanksgiving, meat meat meat! And Christmas, with all of the goodies-I didn't touch one, and instead embraced family and friends, as well as shopping at TJMaxx! lol! I chose to listen to Julie's "One and Done" advice, and I don't allow myself to celebrate with food. I find other ways instead. "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels" is a Weight Watchers motto I learned long ago. I couldn't follow it then, but I choose to follow it now. It just isn't worth it. Allow yourself the understanding that you have been hypnotized, and you want to use that tool to the best of its ability. She gave it to you so you could step away from food, and use it as fuel only. There are other ways of celebrating! And they are way more fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope this gets you thinking more about letting go the idea of "cheating" and just living within the realm of where she put you. It truly does work if you let it! :-)
DeleteTheresa, you are fantastic! Thanks so much for posting your pictures! I really enjoy all of the support on your blog!!!!!!!!! Keep going strong! And stay out of those grey areas! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Everyone - April here (again) - Theresa you look "maaaarvelous". I had to laugh when I read the comment from Twinglesmomma about not knowing how to post a picture because I don't even do email. I'm an old fart for sure. Anyway, the idea about getting answers from Linda was great. I have tons of questions, but as I stated previously, don't even consider calling. To that end, was it ever explained to any of you why we do not read labels. I still have the same problem of knowing what's in something that I might want to try. For instance, in our class we were told we could never have cheese (even at the last session) and it wasn't until someone pushed the issue that Julie said we could have it only very very sparingly. I then asked (since I'm used to buying only lo-cal and lo-fat or no-fat foods) how I would know when picking up a new cheese product if it was the "real mccoy". For instance I asked about Velveeta cheese and was told that of course I couldn't have that because it was processesd. Maybe I'm ignorant, but that was my point exactly - that without being able to read the label (ingredients, etc) how would we know. That was, I guess, the wrong question because Julie said that she certainly didn't have time to go over every food with us. That was not at all what I had intended -- and why I thought we should read the labels. I have done whatever she has suggested; and, therefore, I'm still not reading labels, but I do have high blood pressure and would like to check sodium content. She also said at our last session (after she told as that any kind of milk was "free" and someone asked again about whole milk - that we had to watch our fats. Does that mean that we are better off with fat free milk. HELP!!! I get so confused. I loved this program and love what Julie has done for me, but just wish there was more structure about explaining exactly what we should be eating when it comes to anything besides plain meat and veggies. I know why we're not supposed to get on the scale, but does anyone know of the reason we're not supposed to read labels. How do the rest of you address this issue. Any help would be appreciated. I don't mean to be pain about this, but it was very intimidating to ask questions in our class (quite a few people had these exact sentiments) and if you're standing in the market trying to decdide on a particulare food, you certainly don't have the time to be calling and office and waiting for an answer a day or two later. OK, I've wined enough. Theresa, it seems like you have some rapport with the office. If the oppertunity ever arises perhaps you could ask for a little more insight. I know Julie said you have to make intelligent choices and that she was not going to tell us what to eat. I'm only curious as to how you make those choices without having the best info you can have (i.e. label reading). As always, thanks for any insight.
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DeleteI have figured out (sort of) that Julie doesn't want us reading labels because she wants us eating meat and veggies! If you "perimiter shop", you bypass most everything that would have a label-She allows condiments b/c it would be too boring otherwise. I spend very little time having anything that has a label on it-And I thoroughly enjoy the foods she has said we can have-for instance, meatballs and meatloaf, and beef jerkey. They may be high in sodium, so you should use very sparingly. And use organic meat, they don't add sodium to "plump them up". Perimiter shopping = very little sodium, because these things are "less processed". BTW, I too had high blood pressure when I started, was on Diovan for a long time, and 5 months after I started this program, I was off of it. Just sayin!!!!!!
DeleteThe label reading I think has to deal with carbs and sugar contents-like your sauces and dressings. That's the way I tooTk it at least. You can have them-just use sparingly. I don't think she wants you getting stuck up on numbers.
ReplyDeleteAs for cheese-it's my biggest downfall. I've lost the weight with it, but I did tell my husband I won't buy anymore. No velveeta! I buy land o lakes at the deli, the shredded packaged kind, or cracker barrel/Cabot cheese. Cheese is my new sugar. Lol!
So meat and veggies, use cheese like a condiment. Have your dressings, but cut back on them. And your ketchup, BBQ sauce, etc-use it, but cut back. Again, a downfall for me.
But I did just make some delicious roasted veggies and I am not a veggie person at all! There is still hope for me yet!
april again(see I'm such a dinosaur that I don't even have an account. Just want to say thank you to you ladies for your responses. I guess I'm just so afraid to fail that I want to be as perfect as possible (a fault of mine I know). I would love to cook some ribs, but since BBQ sauce is to use sparingly I guess marinating them in it would be a "no-no". I'm getting a little bored, but will persevere. Thanks again and especially thanks to Theresa for starting this. As we go forward hopefully we call can gain insight and lose weight.
ReplyDeleteMy girlfriend and I both have eaten BBQ ribs and chicken-both marinated, and, of course cooked on the grill is best-Most of it cooks out/off we figure. Don't do it every day, but, certainly we have both enjoyed-and between she and I we have lost a combined 120 pounds. So, enjoy your ribs! (We have even been known to lick our fingers!!!!!!! :-0 )
DeleteAnd, I should add we have estimated our weight loss through the sizes we have lost, not by getting on the scale! I have not weighed myself!
DeleteHi all,
ReplyDeleteI am on the waiting list to start this program. I know several people who have lost lots of weight and this blog is also very inspiring. I am aware that the basics are eating only meat and veggies. I am sooo conflicted about this. It goes against everything i have researched and learned when trying to adapt a healthy heart friendly diet. I have lowered my blood pressure and cholesterol significantly by adopting a primarily plant based diet..with meat used as a condiment. BUT.. I have not lost much weight, which I need to do. So, my question is, Has Julie addressed the extensive esearch that shows too much meat is unhealthy/cancer related? I sooo want to lose the weight and realize how successful this program is, but am having a hard time reconciling what studies show, and what this program asks us to eat. Thanks for any insight.
Julie makes it clear to eat organic and grass fed food. Stay away from processed meat, use a lot of organic chicken and fish. I use processed meat like pepperoni only when I go to someone's house, and they have only flour and sugar foods to choose from. Then I know I am in control. I actually don't eat very much anymore just because I figure my stomach has shrunk-So a little chicken and a few bites of veggies seem to go a long way! I will have to google the research you are talking about-I haven't really read much about it. Only about how foods are processed-that is why she recommends organic/grass fed. I also buy meat at my local Farmer's Market when I can-That is about as clean/healthy as you can get. May be expensive, but, I know they aren't using chemicals to process the meat. My doctor has followed me throughout my entire time with Julie, and she has been thrilled with how I have responded, so, that is why I still choose to follow it. I figure going to Taco Bell and McDonalds is way worse than cooking a chicken breast and eating it with corn! Just a thought, hope this helps......
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