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| Skunk Cabbage. Photo by Theresa. |
You are right, Julie said we shouldn't be dependent on her. She has also said her goal is to help those of us who need her help before bringing in more clients, which is why newbies now have such a long wait to start the program. I'm scheduled for a refresh later this week, and, based on what everyone has posted recently, I may get a call from the office any time now telling me I need to reschedule.
Mathematically this had to happen sooner or later. And here we are. Julie has an incredibly long list of people who want to go back and with only Julie to run a limited number of people per session (the room is small) and a limited number of sessions per day, it had to catch up with her at some point. I'm guessing that Julie knew this point would come too, which is why she found a new location, where she can see more people and where she can train others to help more of her clients.
There isn't a secret to scheduling a refresher session and they do not penalized people because they didn't go in for a refresh. I believe they are truly backlogged and your timing is such that right now it is nearly impossible to get in to see her. My experience has been that when they pass around the sheet to sign up for a refresh, I signed up for a call back for a refresh about three months out. Sometimes I called and asked for an earlier date and if they had a class that wasn't full, I was able to get in earlier. Other times, I could not get in sooner and I had to wait until they called me with a later date.
I am not aware of a "higher priority" list. I am as anonymous in the room as anyone else. The only reason Julie or her staff know I am the "blogger woman" is because I told them before the class started at my last session. I expect the next session I go to, they won't remember this about me, because they see so many clients. I don't have a special connections with Julie or her staff. When I was last in to see Julie, she offered to review the recipes on this blog, but she never replied to me about the ones I sent her. I wasn't surprised, because she already has a full-time job. Her intentions were good, but the reality is she doesn't have time to work with people in this way.
I have questioned myself about whether I need a refresh session. Am I being too dependent on Julie? Six months ago I planned to wait a year before I went in again, so I could learn to rely on myself more. That wasn't how it turned out, but this year I'm going to make my refresh dates further apart. By the sounds of things, since there is such a long wait list, this may be a good plan.
Thanks for your questions and sharing your experiences on this blog. This isn't a substitute for seeing Julie, but it is helpful having a place to share our journey. Keep up the good work everyone - at home and on this blog!
Ahhh...the refresher questions! I'm currently debating that myself. I'm at my original goal. I'm in a size 10, down from a size 20. I'm more than thrilled. I started in July of 2011, and went off for the months of November and December. I saw Julie in January for a refresher and was fine. I've had a lot of personal stuff the last few weeks, and I've gone off the diet-but for no more than 2-3 days. I'm always able to get right back on with no problems, unlike back at the holidays!
ReplyDeleteMy thinking, which is probably wrong, is that I won't be able to lose the last bit of weight without seeing Julie. Like she erases whatever I've done "wrong" since. I have 20 lbs or so to go and I will be done. It's just that absolute last stretch that is getting to me.
One other thing, all the skin that is left. I feel that, I won't get into my dream size-8 right now, because of all the excess skin I have. I had twins, who weighed total of 13 lbs, and gave birth at 38 weeks(c/section). I was 52 cms around! Then, 19 months later, their sister came into this world. So I now have all this excess skin that I feel is preventing me from getting into smaller clothes. I seriously tuck in my stomach into my pants. Granted, spanx help a lot. Lol! I'm running three miles at the gym, three days a week, if not four.
And those last lbs to be shed are based on what my doctor said. She said 20-30, I'll go with 10-20 based on working out at the gym and building muscle.
Hi twinglesmomma,
DeleteI just read an article about the extra skin we get from losing weight very quickly, this is normal. It will go away but will take a little time. Your skin is made up of cells they now need to heal. Keep up the great work:)
Adrienne
Hi, I just went to a refresher course last week and I think I can help with your questions. Julie only recommends Siggis yogurt. She was very clear on that with us as people were asking about Activia etc. I don't think the other things will be okay for quite a while. I find I am not even hungry in the morning anymore! It gets better...
ReplyDeleteWhen she spoke about going off program she said it is very important to follow what she says as you are capping your weight gain for the years to come. Therefore she recommends adding a portion of potato to your food list. She says it will start to make you feel bloated, or like you are gaining. At that point you back off the potato until you feel you are back to where you want to be. She wants us to do this for 6 months. She says if you can do it for that long your body will remember that this is where you are supposed to be and it will stop the weight yo-yo. I hope I remembered this all correctly. I hope others will feel free to chime in on this or correct information if it seems wrong :) At first I was bummed when I thought about 6 more months on program but I just tell myself there will be plenty of time for food later. I intend to only have to do this once so I am going to do it right the first time and be done with being the "heavy girl" forever!
I went for a refresher in the middle of January. I had my last class in November. I scheduled one in Jan. because I felt like I wasn't doing the program right. I needed that extra confidence. I also felt like I was stuck and Julie explained again about the healing our bodies go through. It helped me to realize I was doing ok and doing it right. She helped me to see I need to be patient (not one of my greatest virtues) with this weight loss.
ReplyDeleteI would love to go for another just for another boost of confidence, BUT, with the price of gas ( I have a 45 minute ride to get there) PLUS the cost of the classes, I might not go back as often as I probably should. ALOT of my questions are answered here and I am learning patience. BUT patience is so hard when I read about all of the ones who seem to be melting!!!! I started on Oct. 24th at a size 24 and am now in an 18, and not an across board 18!! Not all sizes are the same!!! I am certainly not melting like so many do!!!!! Oh well. Is there anyone else out there who isn't melting!!!!!!!
Kristen I am with you! When I went to Julie's I had made up my mind, I am doing it right the first time!!! So when temptations hit, I avoid them! I want this done, and I want it done RIGHT!!!!
Hi Linda,
DeleteCongratulations on your success! You ARE melting away, you have gone down a size a month... I think from everything that I have seen in this blog, you are melting just as fast as everyone else:) Plus, the more you have to lose, the longer your plateau will be. The longer your plateau, the better your body is healing. We all tend to be very rough on ourselves and you may not see the progress as easily as someone who hasn't seen you everyday would.
Linda I am definatly NOT melthing! I was at first but it has slowed way up. I went from a 22/24 to a 20 and I have stalled here. I feel I am losing all over but not in my mid section where I need it the most. I was feeling a bit discouraged, as you were, when I read or heard about others losing so quickly. Julie told me that my body has very stuborn areas of fat that have been there a long time so it is fighting very hard to get rid of them. She says this is why I am exhausted instead of energized the way so many others are. I am trying to fight through this exhastion and get some exerscise and take a good multi vitamin. I am also going to take a probiotic pill that should help with digestion as I have had some trouble with constipation as well. I will let you all know if this helps :) Keep up the good work all!
ReplyDeleteKristen! Thank you for posting!!! It is so good to know I am not alone!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering why I was tired too instead of full of energy like others!! I take supplements and am fighting this every step of the way.
I have had a weight problem all my life so what you posted makes sense. I also feel like weight is coming off all over but my middle. I could have written your post!!
Patience, patience and more patience. Not my best atribute, but I have no choice but to be patient! We will get there!!! When did you start Julie's program?
Hi Linda! I started the program in mid October. I am so glad to know I am not alone either! I get so fustrated that it is not coming off faster. I would have thought that after 5 months I would have lost one size more than I have. I thought I would be a solid 18. I know I need to get exercsising more but I am so tired I have a hard time pushing through it. Once I am out there and moving I am fine. I will try to be patient as you said and get out there some more! I have been told by some other people who are on program that you won't see results for a while an then BOOM it seems as if you drop a size overnight. I hope that happens soon! Patience, patience, patience! We should be proud! I remember this time last year I would have been so happy to have lost a size or two.
ReplyDeleteHi Kristen and Linda,
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU! I too have been tired and feeling like I'm not losing much. I finished at the end of Feb. and I haven't lost a whole size yet. I have fit into some pants that I couldn't before but I don't feel as though I've lost much. I also wonder if I'm eating too much fat. I love hotdogs and they are easy I tend to go on a binge with them. I'm also finding that I don't eat in the morning but at night I eat more than I think I should. I'm not cheating but just too much food. Anyone else feel this way?