Friend of Julie: Elise Measures Up

A few days I posted a blog asking for your stories (Heroes, 6/2/13). Jennifer wrote What's UP? and Trudy wrote A promise. A few others promised to send me their story and photos and I'm patiently waiting for them. Today's hero story is from Elise.

Elise progressive weight loss - Aug. 2012 (left photos)  and May 2013 (right photos)

Elise
June 1, 2013

Started: 8/16/12
Current size: 0/2
Largest size: 16/18

Theresa, I'm flattered and of course you can use it. I don't need it to be anonymous, I'm proud of everything with Julie. I was reading your blog before I went to Julie and have been so inspired by you the whole time. I feel you are a brave, wonderful, mindful, and kind person. So, it really is cool that you're asking this - yay, I get to be on Theresa's blog! Woohoo! 

Elise July 2012

I was a chronic dieter, always trying some new scheme to lose weight. I wasn't overweight in my 20's, cigarette smoking kept my appetite at bay. But after I quit smoking in 2003, I put on 50 pounds and the next decade became a constant yo-yo.  My self-esteem and view of myself became more eroded and negative each time I gained the weight back.

I felt like a failure. I felt ashamed, humiliated, depressed, not feminine, and constantly embarrassed. I avoided social encounters. I wouldn't date. I hated running into people that I hadn't seen in a long time. I felt they were looking at me with the contempt I felt for myself. Intellectually, I knew that it wasn't that bad. I struggled because I am a progressive woman and I did not wish to ascribe to narrow and sexist ideas of what a woman SHOULD look like. I knew many would have considered me very attractive, even at my heaviest. But I could not get past how badly I felt about myself.

Julie not only gave me the gift of being able to lose weight, Julie did something much more significant. She gave me HOPE. She restored my belief that I could be successful and she freed me from the negative and restrictive ways I thought about myself. Because of her powerful hypnotherapy, she liberated my mind in a way that's almost indescribable.

Instead of feeling trapped in patterns where failure is inevitable, I know I have the ability to change my life in whatever way brings me closer to happiness and peace. She changed my life from the inside out. I am so proud of what I've accomplished. I am healthy, happy and most of all I am completely confidant in my ability to continue to be successful. It has truly been life altering in the best way possible.

When I started I was 175 pounds and my measurements were 43-38-44. I was stuffing myself into one pair of pants that were stretchy. They were a size 12 but I was definitely much bigger than that! I remember taking my measurements and then going online to the size guides at Victoria Secret, The Gap, and other stores and they all said I was a 16 or 18. I was horrified.

I took my measurements today. I have taken measurements every month since starting on 8/16/12. I also took pics every month. Here are some interesting observations as I reflect on the past year...

I lost more inches in the past month than in any previous month (with the exception of the first month). This month I lost 3.75 inches (today) as opposed to other months where I lost as little as .75 inches total! Who would've expected that? I would've thought I would lose slower as the process went along.
 
We don't focus on numbers (our weight) on this program, but I have years of records of my measurements (pre-hypnosis I also weighed myself). Based on the comparison of my 2003 records, I can guess how low my weight might be and it feels crazy...surreal. Never thought that would happen! I started at 175 pounds. 

Definitely the trend is that my body parts take turns letting go of weight. One month I won't lose anything from my stomach but the next month I'll lose an inch.

I have lost weight differently than ever before (as in, where I lost and how much). I attribute this to how natural and healthy this process has been as opposed to starving myself and/or doing insane cardio to lose weight.

No one even mentioned my weight loss (to me) until month five. Now, I'm starting to get the "don't lose any more weight" comments. It's month eleven.

I started off at 43-38-44 and am now 35-27-35. According to the What's My Size iPhone app, this means I was about a 16/18 when I started (in reality, I was a 16/18 at my largest) and now I am 0/2 in most common brand names.

My weight loss was slowest in the winter months. I lost a fair amount in the fall, then practically plateaued all winter, then starting losing more in the springtime. Who knows if this is a seasonal thing or if a lot of folks plateau in the middle or maybe a little bit of both...

I have not exercised at all. I have tried to move my ass a little more...like walking the dogs more and stuff...but truthfully I've only done that in little bursts. I have done pretty regular conditioning exercises the past two months for back pain.

As an aside, I have been completely militant the whole time. Bite for bite, meat and veggies. No preservatives, only grass-fed meat in the house and I mix it up as much as possible, never tried to test the limits or find loopholes.

Julie always has and always will have my free will! I was truly at rock bottom, completely hopeless, ashamed and depressed when I went to see her. I feel unbelievably lucky to have been to her. I view this as a complete life overhaul. I never want sugar or white carbs in my life again, I want to stay local and in-season with what I eat, and I really want to have this be Once and Done... I am scared to start maintenance but it's time.

I started with high blood pressure. Now I am off all BP meds. I still have one med for insomnia but that's not related to weight.

Elise June 2013

Read more Hero stories... or share your story - send me an email by clicking on my name (Theresa) on the bottom of the list of contributors in the left column of any page.