I saw this recipe on Facebook and I want to remember to try this when I return from my vacation, so I'm posting it here. There are more recipes there you may want to check out.

Cook 4 pork chops in a pan with butter.

When cooked, remove from pan.

In the same pan put 1 cup heavy cream and a container of blue cheese. Simmer till it thickens and serve over pork chops.

DELICIOUS!

I made it with acorn squash.

Very tasty!

June 29, 2012

This comment was posted by Deb:

I have seen Julie Ann Kibe 2 sessions now the program has been easy. I would love to here different meals people eat. I am hoping recipes would help with the same old meat meal sausage, burger, hot dogs,steak pork. I just think there must different ways to cook them I would appreciate any suggestions.

Deb

Many of us have shared recipes on this blog, so I will point to the "recipes" link at the top of this page, where there's a list of links to recipes posted on this blog. I will update the list, as there are new recipes I haven't linked to yet. I can't promise to do this while I'm on vacation, but I will do this as soon as I can.

Meanwhile, anyone willing to share recipes, please add more when you get a chance.

June 28, 2012

Went to my refresher Tuesday and LOVED it! I love her new format on just having the ones that are still following the plan talk. Then asking questions to everyone else. A much more positive approach and encouraging, not so sabotaging to others.

I decided after reading some of the posts on here and on her guest book web page and listening in the refresher on writing this post. In other words, her program works just the way she tells us it does. WHY in the world would you go to the classes, spend all that time and money, and then monkey with her program? If we just do what she tell us to do, it will work!

Meat and vegetables, no potatoes, nothing sweet, treat condiments like condiments, if you are hungry eat. If you are not hungry - don‘t eat. Simple. Basic. Not to many rules-easy!

As my friend Richard Simmons has told me so many times over and over again, "Just do it!"

Richard Simmons and me

This photo was taken 4 years ago, the last time we were able to get together. Phone calls and emails suffice for now. And yes, I know he is a kook! He is the other man in my life! LOL! I love what he does for people-but that is a whole other blog post, now he is working with me to exercise!

Don't think about what you can't have. Just enjoy all the food you can have. All the food that I personally have deprived myself of for years on low calorie, low fat, fat free 'diets', I really enjoy eating now. And if I listen to my body, for the first time in my life, I do know when I am full.

Out of a class of 28 there were 4 or 5 of us still going strong on program. Julie explained about stress and our bodies and how, if you eat sugar willingly, no matter how little or how much, there will be consequences.

Stay away from sugar. I repeat: stay away from sugar. Why mess with something that is proven to work?

I searched for years for a simple, easy ‘diet’ where I could eat and not starve and enjoy food and still loose weight. Guess what? I found it! To good to be true? NO WAY! It is true and we are not starving, we are not deprived. Just do it and get it done. Then do maintenance right and you have won the war! She also explained if we do maintenance right, we will have long term success. If not............

I apologize if I ruffled any feathers with this post. I know we are all different. I know somethings work better for one and not the other. But I also know, from my own experiences, that our minds can justify a lot of stuff.

Please don't give in to a sugar/carb craving. Even if stress is hitting you from all angles. Have that meat ready and waiting. Be prepared. Life is full of stress. We can not get away from it. Some of us have more than others, believe me, I personally know! But don't let your mind justify it. I wish I could remember word for word her talk about stress and how it works on the body and the mind. Stress is a way of life and if we don't learn how to handle it now, by not giving into the sugar/carb, we will remain on this weight roller coaster and won't be able to get off!!

Use this when tempted: I don't wanna want it!

Tap it away - I picture Julie's hand circling around her and as it gets to close she taps it away.

Or I remember Julie's 'mommy voice' as she points to each one of us: "DON'T DO IT!"

June 28, 2012

As I boarded the plane in Hartford this evening, I exchanged greetings with the stewardess and then continued down the isle towards my seat. I paused only in my mind; this time I did not need to ask for a seat belt extension.

As I walked toward my seat, my body did not bump against the seats or passengers. I didn't feel as if everyone was staring at me, or avoiding eye contact with me, and I didn't wonder if they werer thinking "oh no, I have to sit next to an obese woman all the way to Washington, DC."

When I told the man in my isle my seat was next to his by the window, his kind eyes met mine as he stood up to let me by. As I sat in my chair, I was happy that my chair "fit" and I wasn't spilling into the seat next to me.

I settled into the narrow seat, buckled my seatbelt, and even pulled it tighter by a couple inches.

This is the kind of weight loss that can't be measured on the scale, but it's epic!

I'm writing this post at Dulles airport, waiting for my connecting flight to LAX. I'll be in southern Calif. for the next two weeks, but I expect to be writing to the blog and moderating comments from the coastline. Be patient if your comments doesn't go up right away. I'll check in as often as I can to publish your comments.

June 26, 2012

Well, I've got my mojo, and am feeling great.

In the heat of this week I went through a bin of clothes looking for something cool. I saw a pair of pajama bottoms bought a few years back, fun, bright, cool -- but I knew they'd be too big. I passed them over, feeling good. Last night I looked again for night-time clothes, and again my eyes passed over the fun, bright, cool pj bottoms, so I threw them on. Well, my night was amusing to say the least. The pants fell down twice - more than a few times I looked down and pondered "I used to fill these up", and thought "oh, pj bottoms they'll always fit". The drawstring was gone, like always, sure that when I got them I'd thought, "oh, this is a nuisance, and the stretch waist will never be too small to hold up the pants" -- so I'd pull it out. Well, walking downstairs this morning I laughed, they look like clown pants, and then, poof they dropped to my ankles! So into the giveaway bin they go! Never to return!

Then I had to look up the work Mojo - I use it, but am never sure if it's a noun, verb, and what is the definition. I know I just like the word.

According to wikipedia: Mojo is a magical charm bag used in hoodoo, which has transmuted into a slang word for self-confidence, self-esteem or sex appeal.

So Magical Charm Bag hunh? Hoodoo or voodoo -- I'll take it! Of course my use is the later definition, the transmutataion -- SELF-CONFIDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM or SEX-APPEAL. You bet!

Continue your journey and enjoy. Have a great day!

June 26, 2012

Today a few of us contributors got together for a lively conversation at Dennys in Enfield for breakfast. Except for Susan, I would never have met any of these beautiful ladies, if it were not for our Journey with Julie.

 It was a wonderful time, and we had the most perfect waitress: When she came over to the table, I stated to her "I bet not one of us at this table will order toast with their breakfast." At first, she just looked at me, trying to absorb what I just said, and then she asked if we were all on a "special diet" which we laughingly shook our heads yes to. She then proceeded to tell us she has lost 73 pounds on Weight Watchers! WooHoo! How awesome is that?

She was very attentive to us, although the orders were mixed up a little! (I find that it is very confusing to waitstaff to say NO to bread, but YES to homefries.) 2 of us (Susan and myself) are on maintainance, so we both ordered the homefries. Well, Susie got hers, I got none, and then out came Karens plate, with, of course, my homefries. We made it work! The above picture was taken by a lovely young girl who patiently took pictures with 3 of our cameras!

I know Theresa is also going to post this picture with a blog, but, I really wanted to add it here. Our visit together tied into something I read this morning, in the much published Reader's Digest, July 2012 edition and I wanted to share it. Our obesity in society makes headlines, all the time. I am so honored to be with such committed people in our small part of the world to stop obesity, get healthy, and "relearn" to eat. Theresa let me know that the author, Mark Hyman, MD who is quoted here, is worth reading, and I for one, will look into his works. All because of one sentence:

"Chronic disease is a foodborne illness. We ate our way into this mess, and we must eat our way out."

I for one, know that I started with Julie yes, for the weight loss, but more for the fact that at age 43 I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, and prediabetes. One day my 23 year-old daughter made a comment about she hoped I would be around for a long long time. That would not happen had I continued on the downward spiral I was on.

When Susan started with Julie, I signed up soon after. And within 9 months, I was off all meds, no longer worrying about type-II diabetes, have more energy, and sleep better than I ever had (If only Julie could get rid of the hot flashes for me! But, I know I can't have it all!). We all know that Julie states in her classes that we as a society created diabetes, among other things. You can find many others who agree. If foods with flour and sugar were no longer produced and marketed, our existence on earth would not be wiped out! And, as a whole, a lot of the obesity issues would be stopped in their tracks. Schools are now removing vending machines from their cafeterias, and I for one, tell young people ALL THE TIME to cut out the Sports Drinks and Sodas. They are nothing but empty calories, and our fine Dentists in the world are UNABLE to keep up with the amount of tooth decay that occurs with these products. And some of our fine young people are listening!

After meeting this morning for breakfast, I then went with Hubby to a graduation party. People who hadn't seen me in a long time didn't recognize me. Of course, the "what did you do?" question came up, and I explained about the hypnosis. (These were family/friends I was with, and felt comfortable stating this) Most were astounded-one (who is overweight) asked if I felt I "went into Ketosis". I said I probably did, but that was not what Julie was about, as we get to eat corn and squash, etc. etc. (things I'm pretty sure you don't get to eat on other low-carb diets). Then came the "you can get very very sick from Ketosis" discussion, to which I again stated did not have a lot to do with this journey, but, it probably can happen. I wanted to say to her: I ate my way into this mess, now I am eating my way out, but, the conversation changed, and I was happy to let it go. So, now I will add this statement to my repertoire, and proudly back it up as I eat a chicken leg and cheeseburger without the bun.

I went to a refresher with Julie last Thursday, as a lot of us have recently done. I for one know that Julie is there with me, guiding me, and I never feel alone. That was proven today as I was asked to help put cupcakes on a plate for someone who was leaving the graduation party. I got frosting on my fingers, and, after the desserts were covered and handed to their owner, I quietly walked into the kitchen and washed my hands. I actually felt like I had poison on my hands! That quote by Dr. Hyman was rattling around in my head. I felt like if I licked my fingers, I was going to get an illness! I for one, am sick of not feeling good. In this last year, I have never felt better. I am doing my part to "eat my way out" and I will never, ever look back.

June 23, 2012

I went to a refresh a few nights ago and I left highly energized and more clear about the path ahead of me: drop this weight once and be done with dieting. Once and Done. It feels so Zen. Hell, I feel so Zen!

Zen garden; photo by Theresa

At the refresh, Julie reminded us that every time we turn away from sugar, our brain reprograms. The challenge is for us to push back on the urge to eat sugar. The reward is the more that we do this, the more weight we lose. Reprogramming our brains is the bonus. Feeding the hunger with the right foods, reprograms our brain away from the old habit of turning to sugar when we're hungry.

I haven't been aware of an urge for sugar, but when I feed my give-me-beef-now hunger with the right foods, I am rewarded by weight loss.

Today I understand how this program works in a way that I didn't before, and this information came at a perfect time. I've been a year and a half on program and I have not touched sugar in all this time. Over the weekend I had an incredible dinner in Boston, and I indulged in two glasses of champagne and two bites of dessert. Remember, you are either on program or off; there is no middle position here. The good news I am not on a spiral down into sugar, sugar, sugar. I've also moved on. What's done is done.

In the refresh, a few nights later, I realized if I do this program straight through, don't stray, and I don't go into grey areas, I can reach my goal weight and be done with dieting. Once I reach my goal size, I can learn to maintain that size, by going up and down a few pounds within that size for the rest of my life. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel here. I am going to see this journey through. This is very exciting!

What about the rest of you? What's working for you this week? What's keeping you on your journey?

June 21, 2012

Last night I met up with two of our blog contributors, Linda and Jennifer, at Roma, where we shared stories of our success with the Key Hypnosis Program over a meatless pizza.

Left to right: Theresa, Linda, Jennifer, Emilia (owner)
Photo by one of the great Roma staff

I was honored that these women would meet up and share their stories like this. It was inspirational. As a group, we represent a full-range of success on this program:

Maintaining Weight for Two Years

Emilia, owner of Roma, joined us after dinner and shared her Key Hypnosis story. After losing weight with Julie, Emilia has been maintaining her weight for two years.

Emilia - thanks for the delicious pizza, excellent service, and for sharing your story with us! Your comments are welcome!

At Goal Size and Learning Maintenance

Jennifer just celebrated a year on the program and has reached her goal size. She started at size 20 and is now an 8. Read Jennifer's story: One Year.

Weight Loss Phase

Linda and I are in the weight loss phase, following the program to continue our journey to our goal size. Linda was a size 26/28 and is now size 16. See more about Linda and her before and now photos in her post My BEFORE and on the 'weigh' pictures.

My story is all over this blog, but my recent post Down Another Size, shows a photo of me at my largest and another photo from a few days ago.

If you're interested in making a meat-crust pizza, you can follow the pizza recipe I used, which is based on a recipe from Julie.

Or, call Capi di Roma, a day or two ahead of time to request the meat-crust pizza, as it isn't one the menu, and Emilia will have her staff make this pizza for you. Casual dress. Wine and beer only.

Meat crust pizza

Capa di Roma
358 Burnside Avenue
East Hartford, CT
Phone: 860-282-0298

June 15, 2012

Hypnosis for weight loss is being recognized by medical associations and health experts....

Family physician Dr. Mark Hyman has dedicated his career
to identifying and addressing the root causes of chronic illness

I'm on a handful of inspirational and informative email lists (newsletters, etc.) and one of them is from Dr. Mark Hyman. In his June 12, 20112 newsletter, he not only recognized hypnosis as an effective weight loss tool, but he also indicated hypnosis is approved for clinical use, by both the British Medical Association and the American Medical Association. It's great to hear support for the type of work Julie is doing with the Key Hypnosis Program.

In Dr. Hyman's recent article, Increase fat loss by 146%, he also wrote about the first medical textbook addressing hypnosis by Dr. Roberta Temes, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hypnosis and editor of Medical Hypnosis.  I'm not suggesting you run out and buy this book or CD's; I haven't read the book or seen the CD's. I'm advocating Julie has been leading us all in the right direction.

Here are a handful of article titles I pulled from his website, which are aligned with some of what Julie teaches us:

• five reasons high fructose corn syrup will kill you
• gluten: what you don't know might kill you
• why eating a low-fat diet doesn't lead to weight loss
• food addiction: could it explain why 70 Percent of America is fat?
• three hidden ways wheat makes you fat

The Key Hypnosis Program has a deep knowledge base and Julie speaks to these types of topics in her classes to help us learn how to lose weight and keep it off.  I'm happy to see medical experts backing what Julie teaches, and we are learning through our own experiences, is a healthy way to lose weight and keep it off.

I'm not a medical expert, but I know I feel better than I have in decades from applying the principals of this program in my daily life.

Do any of you have references to other news items in support of what Julie teaches us that you'd like to share?

BTW, welcome to our newest contributor: Adrienne!

June 14, 2012

I think there are many people looking at this blog that are just beginning their journey with Julie, or trying to make the decision to make an appointment. From the looks of the total page views, well there is no way that 45 followers, and 7 contributors make up all those page views.

So to help the people that are seeing what it is all about, trying to make that choice, researching Julie's program, just beginning or what ever, this is what I am asking:

Pretend you are talking with someone who is trying to decide to make an appointment with Julie, or someone who is just beginning the journey, what piece of advice/words of wisdom would you give that person? What would you say to convince them to make that appointment, or that they made the right choice to start her program?

I know we have hit upon some of these points in previous posts, but for someone who is just checking in and doesn’t know their way around the blog it might be helpful to them to see it again, or even for me to see this again. And who knows, we might even get a comment we haven’t heard yet!!!

The support on this blog is priceless!!!

June 13, 2012

Despite my desire to never shop in large-size women's store, I wandered into the Avenue over the weekend and I left with a beautiful new dress!

This is how I feel in my new dress!

In the year and a half since I started this program, I haven't bought many new clothes, because I have a ton  in my closets that I've been "saving" for years. Most of them are too big now and my clothing options are dwindling. Last week a friend gave me some really beautiful tops and pants, but I wanted something new that resonates with me and my new body. I haven't worn the dress yet, so I don't have a photo, but when I wear it later this week, I'll add post it here.

What's significant for me in all this is that I'm coming to terms with where I am with my size. I am not the size I want to be (8), but I've come a long way from the size 30/32 sizes I wore a year and a half ago. I've focused my energy on being frustrated that I'm not further along, i.e., I'm still not wearing at least a size 16, wah, wah, wah, and suddenly, in the middle of my feeling bummed about not being a 16, without realizing it - I moved into size 18. Shut up!

What a great surprise to find myself down another size. I will continue to work on living in the moment instead of focusing on just the future.

What about you? Have you treated yourself to new clothes lately? I shopping more fun than it used to be?

06/13/12 Update - here I am in my new dress!

  

June 11, 2012

Ok, I am going to bite the bullet and post pictures. I have never liked my picture taken and still don’t like my picture taken.

For those that don't like to look at pictures, please don't look and if you have a negative comment because I posted pictures, please don't leave it. It is taking all my courage to post these. I am doing this in the hopes that maybe my story will help someone to continue on this journey.

The first of these pictures is quite painful to me. It was me, not to many years ago at my absolute heaviest weight in my life. The woman in that picture was so sad, depressed, and just couldn’t stop eating. This was right before I re-joined Weight Watchers for the one millionth time. I was a size 26/28. I lost 60 pounds after that picture was taken. Got to a size 20 with WW. Couldn’t get any lower.

My dear husband would beg me to stop eating, he was so worried I would die. But even with Greg begging, I couldn't stop eating. I don't know if any of you has ever had your spouse beg you to stop eating, but that is one of the most humiliating moments, I didn't want to upset him anymore so I became a closet eater

Gained most of the 60 pounds back except for 20 before I went to see Julie. The next 2 pictures were in the few weeks before my first appointment with Julie.

The third picture was in December for our family Christmas card, I had gone down from a 24 to a 20 by that time. People were noticing and I was so excited.

The fifth picture is my in my size 16 jean skirt and my size large shirt. I personally can not see a difference from the middle pictures, but can see it from the first picture.

Never in the years I have been married have I ever worn a 16!! I have even got into some 14 skirts, can't wear them in public yet, but they are on and zipped!!!

My mind won’t let me see the loss. I honestly can not see my weight loss. I know by sizes I have lost some weight, but pictures and mirrors I can not see it.

I know I am loosing, people tell me all the time and I am really hoping someday my brain will catch up.

June 11, 2012

I have been on the weight loss roller coaster for years. The last time I was under 200 lbs. I was in high school. Weight loss was really never a priority in my life, even though as a police officer it would have been more beneficial to me to be in better condition. It took an appendectomy to get me down near the weight I would be comfortable at (around 215) and getting remarried also served as motivation to keep my weight down.

As time went on and over the course of 20 years, I tried a couple of different things, including getting hypnotized. I tried Weight Watchers, South Beach, Belly Off....you name it. I would lose 5 or 10 lbs, but when I went to the doctor last year, I was the heaviest I've ever been....259 lbs. Despite my wife virtually begging me to lose weight, I just couldn't get over my carb and sugar addictions. My knees were killing me, my feet were killing me and I've had a chronic bad back for years. I was resigned to the fact that I was never going to get past this. Even while having people my age develop diabetes and even dying of heart attacks, my addiction just wouldn't let me go.

I am a listener to a local radio station and one of the hosts on the program was talking about a "diet" he was on and the fact that he had dropped a lot of weight. Having seen pictures of this person and having him on Facebook, I noticed that he was indeed starting to look much thinner in his more recent pictures. One day, I messaged him on Facebook and he told me what he was doing...hypnotherapy. He told me about Julie and said that I should at least get on the waiting list, since it was fairly lengthy. Long story short, I went to my three sessions in March and April of this year and haven't looked back. I don't know what I've lost for weight, but when I went to my physical last week, my doctor said it was "substantial". As a bonus, my blood pressure is normal (I had been on medication for it) and my cholesterol had lowered quite a bit, including my triglycerides.

For anyone on the fence about this program, it works....to the point where I tried to physically take a chocolate chip cookie and eat it (as a test) but couldn't lift it to my mouth. My family didn't believe me until I did it in front of them. This program has truly changed my life and I am grateful to Julie and the staff at Key Hypnosis for this program, as well as that radio host on a local station in Springfield. Best I can say is be patient, stay true to the program and look forward. It's a life changer.

June 08, 2012

This question was posted from Anonymous:

I think I am hitting a Brick Wall. It seems my weight Loss has gone way down since the start. I have not gone off the program once whether it be Carbs or Sugar, but not seeing any new results. What is the average time it would take to lose 80+ pounds??? I am changing things up daily but I may be eating a little to much at each sitting. If anyone can offer help that would be great. Thanks in advance for any help given.

I have no idea how long it will take an average person to lose 80+ pounds. I've probably lost that much weight by now and I started in Jan. 2011. So, for me it's taken a year and a half. I've lost my weight over a longer period of time than others who have posted here and sometimes I get all caught up in my head about this. The good news is I stay off the scale and I keep getting a better understanding of what to eat and what not to eat. I feel healthier than I have in years.

I get frustrated that I'm not losing faster, but I'm losing and as long I'm continuing to drop weight, it's going to take as long as it takes. I have to keep my frustration at bay. I've been wanting to drop from this size 20 pants for months. But a few months ago I was elated at being able to wear a size 20! This morning I put on size 18's and they zipped up. I still can't go out of the house in them, but they didn't zip up before this. This keeps me motivated to continue.

Reading about others success here keeps me going too. I continue to get out of my own way so I can succeed. Some days are easier than others at staying out of my way, but the day passes.

I haven't exercised in a few weeks due to an Achilles heel issue and I haven't taken this down time as an opportunity to try other exercise options. This is just how it is today. Next week I committed to a work exercise program for 6 weeks. This comes at just the right time, to help me move to action back. I love these kinds of opportunities.

In my experience, none of us lose at the same rate. How long it takes doesn't matter. What matters is that your weight does comes off when you stay the course and from there you learn how to maintain you weight for the rest of your life. You're asking all the right questions, looking to see if there are things you are eating that you shouldn't.

What words of wisdom do the rest of you have for anonymous about hitting a brick wall?

June 07, 2012

A recent post mentioned self-hypnosis techniques that Julie teaches us, something that I had forgotten about until then. Since reading the reminder, I practice the "I wanna not wanna" technique.

Friend using Julie's self-hypnosis technique. Photo by Theresa.

This was the first self-hypnosis I learned from Julie,  a technique she suggests we use when we're having food urges. The way I recall this, was Julie suggests telling ourselves "I wanna not wanna" have this. I did this process a few times last week, as a couple foods were calling my name. I stayed away from those items, but for a few days it was difficult. Whenever I find myself saying it's difficult, I assume I must have eaten something that was off-program, because I don't usually have a difficult or hard time staying on program. I don't dwell on this, instead, I keep moving forward, knowing my journey is imperfect.

At my last refresh, Julie encouraged us to close our eyes and visualize something wonderful that happened that day, a feeling, a thought, an experience, something that happened that made us feel good. We were to do this several times a day for a week; starting and ending the day with these thoughts, and a few times during the day if we could. This was to strengthen her hypnosis. It was a powerful thing to do and I continue to do this as often as I can.

I looked back at earlier posts to see what others posted about Julie's self-hypnosis, and here's what I found:

Julie wants you to use the tricks she has taught us (I don't wanna want it, self-hypnosis etc.) so that you don't willingly go off her program.

Julie gave us the "don't wanna want it" Mantra and, if you use it, the thoughts go away. Use that mantra early and often! Surround yourself with food that you can eat; look at the lists that are on this blog, and have them at the ready! Also, every time I have gone for a refresher, Julie gives us "self-hypnosis" thoughts-I will sit in the dark, close my eyes, and go through them-My favorites are the boat in the water, the wooded shelter, and the gift tag. I am sure you have others-she has never used the same one when I have been there. They really really work! I feel totally at peace when I think of them. I do not go crazy with exercise b/c it makes me hungry. I do enough to get my lazy butt off the couch-I have always been that way with exercise, getting hungry. I ALWAYS have food with me-whether it be beef jerkey or hard boiled eggs, whatever. And I always have meat in the fridge-turkey from the deli with some bacon is my favorite go to when I am home. Easy to prepare!!!!! 

Hypnosis is all about removing your desire to have flour and sugar. Period. End of story. You cheat, you have to start all over again. Remember the mantra "I don't wanna want it". Meat and veggies! That's it!

What self-hypnosis techniques did you learn from Julie that work for you?

June 07, 2012

Last night I had an incredible meal with a few of my friends. We had slow-roasted salmon with cherry tomatoes, topped with an incredible yogurt based sauce, and served with roasted organic asparagus, carrots, and turnips. One friend couldn't make it last night, so I was able to indulge in this fabulous meal once more at lunch today. Of course, I must share the recipe....

Slow-Roasted Salmon with Cherry Tomatoes 

Yogurt sauce:
DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. 

1 1/2 cup plain yogurt (Siggis)
3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
Kosher salt

1. Mix first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl until well combined. 
2. Season with salt. 

Salmon:
Preheat oven to 400°F

6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 bunch dill fronds
1/2 bunch thyme sprigs
1 3-pound piece center-cut skin-on salmon fillet, preferably wild king
Kosher salt
8 ounces small cherry tomatoes

1. Pour 4 tablespoons oil in a roasting pan just large enough to fit the salmon. 
2. Place salmon, skin side down, in bottom of pan.
3. Drizzle salmon with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and season with salt. 
4. Place a bed of herbs and the tomatoes on top of the salmon. 
5. Bake until salmon is just cooked through in the center (a small knife will slide easily through flesh), 25-30 minutes.

Use a large spoon or fork to serve salmon, leaving skin in pan. Top with a spoonful of yogurt sauce.

June 07, 2012

Where to start. So many thoughts are going through my head! How about this.....I have a new life.

Size 2X/20 in June 2011             Size 8 in June 2012

And I have Julie Ann Kibe to thank--and one other person, who I will get to in a minute. Well, there are others, and I could go on and on, but I am trying to condense this!

Today is the one year anniversary of my journey on the path that introduced me to Julie. If anyone had told me that in one year I would be where I am, I would have seriously doubted it.

In one year, so much has changed, and I think it has been all positive. One year ago, I was totally out of control, drinking too much, eating too much, never exercising, etc. etc. My doctor was concerned about my blood pressure, my sugar levels, my lack of exercise, blah blah blah. Nothing was positive. I just was going through the motions. Eat whatever, whenever, who cares. I mean, what else is there?

That's what I thought. I agreed with someone who said "it is easier to continue on than it is to change things. Change is hard. It means you have to work."

My dear friend Susan was in a rut as well, overweight, trying this diet and that diet, struggling. When she heard about Julie, she made the phone call. Got in to see her, and she changed before my eyes. So, I got her number, called her, waited for the phone call, and jumped at the chance when Julies lovely receptionist called me.

After waiting (and seeing Susan do so well), I went. (I know some of you have stated that there are too many pictures on this blog, but, please humor me as a few friends have really wanted me to put a before and after picture on this blog. I truly only do this as inspiration for those of you who need it.)

The picture I am posting below is the picture Susan took of me after she so kindly showed me how to get to Julies office after work one day, and then we went out to eat. It was 2 weeks before my first visit with Julie. Months later, she showed it to me, and I was aghast.....

Jennifer in size 2X/20

Yuck. I never want to look like that again! 2x, size 20, whatever you want to label it as.....

Don't think that doing any kind of weight loss is easy. It isn't. But, I can honestly say that Julie's hypnosis made the food stop talking to me. And the alcohol. I decided that drinking was not going to work because it can make you want to eat. That picture was my last drink. I thought that would be hard, but it wasn't.

Change number one! I had energy! I wanted to move! I soon wasn't bloated and tired all the time. Change number two!

Six months later. Christmas time. Goodies all the time at work. Susan and I just let everyone else eat them. We knew what it tasted like! Didn't need to try any of it again. Change number three!!!!! Wow! Change can be good! And worth it! Change is work, but change is possible!

By now, I was close to where I wanted to be, a size 8, and I don't have any newer pictures other than the ones taken at the Christmas party. Believe me, we ate, because our Office Manager, Katrina, looked out for us. Ordered food for everyone at the event, but listened to our needs, and we had a great time! Katrina is also the one who photographed us.....

Susan and Jennifer at annual Christmas Party in December

Katrina also took this photo of my number one supporter, my rock, my love......

My number one supporter: my husband

So, there you go. Inspiration (I hope) to those who need it.

I have never once looked back. I only hope that this path I am on continues, no, scratch that....I am going to continue and use the tools I have incorporated into my life to help me during times that are negative. Believe me, I have had them.

I have learned to not use a negative event to say "I feel bad, so I am going to eat this". I say, "I have worked too hard to get to where I am, that this piece of food is SO NOT WORTH IT!! (That is the greatest change of all...) I am choosing not to use food as a crutch, to use it only for fuel.

I saw Julie again in January 2012 and I asked her to help me go down one more size. Soon after, I made size 6 (in February), and have started introducing potato into my diet. Not a lot! Just a little.

I do enjoy what I eat, and I am happy to follow Julies "enjoy the river, jump over to the carb side every now and again, then right back in the river" recommendation.

And I exercise! Me! The one who was as sedentary as they come! I use my marked ribbon to make sure that if I go up a bit, then, back into the river I go. Someday, when I am ready, I will try some popcorn or fruit. Or a piece of chocolate. But, I honestly don't want it. Not yet.

For once in my life, I am in control. And I am happy. The past year means a lot to me.

Thank you to Julie, and Susie, and hubby Richard, and everyone else who has allowed me this freedom. And many thanks to Miss Theresa, who started this blog.

My tears tonight are happy tears.  

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

June 02, 2012

My cousin Sandy finally got in to see Julie and had her second session this week. She is doing good and I am so proud of her!!!

When we talked she told me of one of the visuals Julie told them to use. I have very faint recollection of visuals from her. So I decided to write about it and see what visuals she may have told your classes about and what ones you use.

Julie told them to make a fist. Your fist is the size of your stomach! Figures, the one part of me that has always been small is my hands. LOL!

Anyway, make a fist and then compare that fist to the food you are about to eat. If you are eating with people compare your fist with the amount of food they are eating.

Let me tell you, that visual is quite the reality check for me!!! WOW!!!! I used it last night at a restaurant and today for my first meal. I will say, at first when I was done with my meals, I thought, good grief I am still going to be hungry. But I waited, got away from the table, drank some more water and guess what - it was plenty of food.

So I am really hoping between much less fatty foods, and my fist visual, maybe a new size on the horizon!!! Only time, PATIENCE, and consistency and we will see!!

What visuals do any of you remember?

Do any of you use any visuals?

June 02, 2012

There's a great threaded conversation going on in response to my recent "Off-Program" post, which you may want to read through if you missed all the great replies. I'm posting a great piece of advice from twinglesmomma not to eat too much fatty meat as they slow down weight loss.

In response to a comment about not being able to lose weight, twinglesmomma wrote:

Stop the bacon, the ham, chicken wings, sausage. The bacon, ham, and sausage are fatty meats. Eat those sparingly! I'm talking once or twice a week. Granted, I may or may not sometimes as well. But when I read that, that's the first thing that came to mind. You seem to be eating fatty proteins. When I'm in a pinch, I will eat hotdogs, but that's not an everyday occurrence. Have more lean protein-chicken, turkey, etc. Have beef-steak, burgers, to maybe once or twice a week. And, if you are having bacon, etc, make sure that's your only fat for the day.

This resonated with me, as I too have been eating too much fatty meats. I was not much of a meat eater before this program, so I ate the meats I did like, which included pepperoni, bacon, and ham. Julie told me to be careful of eating too much fat when I talked about pepperoni, it is allowed, but shouldn't be a meal we eat on a regular basis. Many times I've had pepperoni, cheese, and coleslaw for dinner several nights in a row. This is way too often, way too much fat, and more cheese than I should have in one meal. Cheese is to be used as a condiment. I had bacon for breakfast every morning this week and ham has been a regular lunch item for several months now. I have forgotten these fatty meats can slow down weight loss, but now that I have been reminded, my goal is eat less of them.

Time to add fish back into my weekly meal plan. Oh, what weekly meal plan? I haven't been planning much and in fact I've had lunch out every day this week, which is allowed, but I'm leaning on too many foods that are not only fatty, but have mayonnaise. Time get a menu plan and shopping list back into my weekly routine.

I keep going back to thoughts about why I haven't lost as much weight as others who are blogging here, they started months after me and are several sizes smaller. Too much fat in my diet is most likely the reason. I don't beat myself up about losing weight slower than others, as this has been a healthy process for me and I won't negate the great success I've had just because weight is not as dropping as fast as I want. I often look inward to see if there is something I am missing and whenever I ask myself this question, I usually find that yes, there is something else you can change in your diet to encourage more weight loss. This week, it's fatty meats. Thanks twinglesmomma for helping me see what I was missing.

What kind of meat do the rest of you have for dinner? What's on your lunch menu that you really enjoy? Do you have recipes you want to share?

June 01, 2012