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| Jennifer May 2011 |
Starting size: 18-20
Current size: 6
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| Jennifer (left) July 2011 |
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| Jennifer March 2013 (right) Susan (left) is another hero story we're hoping to see here! |
The whole year has been quiet! Not much has been too exciting in my world, as I have settled in to just "living my life." For those of you who don't remember much about me-I started June 2, 2011 with Julie, a size 18-20 with high blood pressure and pre-diabetes, and by December 2011 I was an 8. I thought I would be happy there, but, I needed one more size.
So, I did a refresher with Julie, and by February 2012 I was in a 6-8. More 6 than 8. WooHoo! I had done it! When June 2, 2012 rolled around, I enjoyed my 1 year anniversary-wrote a post on here-did a jig, danced a dance, ate some lobster and steak-said many "thank you, thank you, thank you's" to Julie (I still am!) and my friends and family-especially the new friends that I met through Julie.
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| Jennifer in the September 22, 2012 Warrior Race |
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| Jennifer June 2013 |
The soul searching continues....I am still a work in progress.....what do I want now? Where am I going? How do you stay motivated with eating meat and vegetables???? Is this it? Am I continuing on? Do I want to gain weight and get high blood pressure again? Do I want to eat a Snickers bar? Do I want to eat pancakes???? Am I going to be a statistic and gain all of my weight back???? Do I? Do I? Do I????????
The answer is a resounding NO.......
Year two involved a few more refreshers, all the while continuing to follow Julie's plan-both in the river and a little out of the river with potato and then popcorn. I had a slip up in August 2012 when I went off the deep end with the popcorn and half-and-half in my coffee. Freaked me out. Back to Julie I went, and she set me straight.
Things quieted down after that, much to my relief. Then I decided to see Julie (along with 5 others who I knew through FB or this blog) on April 4th, 2013, a week after having breast reduction surgery; poor girls-they were deflated balloons! (sorry if that is TMI) Because of my new boobs, I decided that I needed to "fit into my size 6's better". With Julie's help, I quietly stepped back into the river, and I have been "doing my thing" since. I decided to spend a year in the river working on "getting rid of old fat", something Julie talked about at my most recent refresher. And I am very happy doing it, I might add! (A new thing with my weight loss came the feeling that I like challenges-setting goals, and then seeing them through. A beginning, a middle, and an end.)
I like being in the river. I know a lot of you have been able to "bend the rules" a bit-I have seen it written here and on the FB page (which I have chosen to step away from) about people "eating something they shouldn't, doing 3 hard days, and being 'just fine': continuing to lose weight, not having cravings, motoring along like nothing happened or changed". I don't trust myself to do that. I did that my whole life, and failed miserably. I know some of you viewed my discussions with those that were able to do so on FB as "being judgmental", but, in my eyes, I was more jealous than anything. How can (fill in the blank) go eat pizza, eat a chocolate bar, whatever, and then do "3 hard days" and carry on like they never stopped meat and veggies?!?!?! Why can't I? WHINE WHINE WHINE!
I apologize to anyone who took my jealousy as being judgmental. That was not my intention. Jealousy is an ugly demon. It springs up and spits words out of my mouth, and then is followed by remorse and regret. I have had to "move on" with those envious thoughts. They don't make anyone healthy, and nothing good comes from them. I am back to worrying more about me in a healthy way, trying to work on me so I can become a better person on this earth, not one who is seen as judgmental or envious. I do not want those adjectives describing me!!!! I have accepted that there are people out there that can jump in and out of the river and have no repercussions. I can't be jealous or envious. That doesn't help you or me. It is what it is! I tip my hat to you! And I apologize again.
I chose to quietly let year number two pass by. I did a little "self-hypnosis" today, shed a little tear, thought back to where I was, and then decided "enough of that". I am going to focus on who I am going to be today, and eventually tomorrow. If any of you see me as a "hero", then I tip my hat to you as well!
We all have many diverse reasons for having seen Julie. Some have done extremely well-I am indeed humbled by them-I am inspired and happy for watching the journeys they have been on. They too are in different stages of working on "Now What"?????? If I have somehow helped with my rantings in a positive way, then I am humbled. To me, it's a journey that I haven't minded sharing. Especially if someone takes away a positive feeling and uses it to better themselves.
Recommitting, rejuvenating, relaxing-These are the powerful adjectives that I prefer to keep in my vocabulary now-It has been wonderful working on letting go of the negative words that I used to describe myself with....."dropping the rock" as a friend's of mine with a different addiction expressed once. Happy to let it go. A wonderful reminder of where I was. But, I am happier not carrying it anymore.
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| Jennifer May 2011 (left) and Dec. 2012 (right) |
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.
Happy re-birthday and anniversary!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are my inspiration and my personal cheerleader!! (along with a few others :-)
Proud of you and where you are now!!!
Happy for you!!
LOVE your insight into things and how you stick to it no matter what!!!
ONCE AND DONE!!!
Isn't life amazing now!
You are a real inspiration. I have followed your journey here as well. I've been on the program since 2/6/12, however, even tho I have never gone off the program, my results are not as good as yours. I realize that we are all different, but to go from a 18-20 to an 8 in 10 months I find incredible. I have gone from a 2X to a really loose 2X in almost 16 months. I know that many have spoken about plateaus, but I seem to have lost the most weight within the first 3-6 months, and since then I seem to be "holding". As I stated I have not eaten anything but meat and veggies (with alway less veggies than meat). I can't believe it - but I've not eaten anything else... So, what's my problem. I did recently get my blood work done and all my #'s are excellent, but the weight loss seems to be non-existence. I'm very glad to have found Julie, however, I'm disappointed that because of the rapid weight loss that this program provides, that at my age I now have hanging skin which is a bummer to your sense of self esteem. That's the biggest drawback I've found to Julie's program. Even with exercise, there's only so much that can be done. I was never comfortable tying my hair up in the hot weather be cause of my double chin or wearing shorts in public because of my overweigt -- and now that I'm smaller - I still can't tie my hair up because I need to keep it down to somewhat camoflauge my hanging chin and my legs (although much smaller) now look like a shar pei. I find myself crying about this situation and then feel guilty since I know that I'm healthier -- just not quite what I was hoping for. When you spend your entire life overweight, you hope that if you are ever able to lose the weight that you will be estatic -- and I find that is not the case. Nothing will get me to go off program -- it's just that I'm not totally thrilled with the results. Thanks for listening.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous-Thank your for your kind words, and finding me to be an inspiration-Theresa gives you sage advice-I should tell you also that I went every 3 months the first year to refreshers b/c I felt a strong need. I know others have not. I too have been overweight my whole life-If you indeed haven't lost a true size in 16 months, I too would schedule some time with Julie to see what is going on. Was it possible that you were "squeezing" yourself into your original size? Have you gone to any stores and tried on clothes? Theresa had good luck at Macy's-she has written about that. And it is a good idea to try on smaller sizes, because that is a really good guage, instead of just wearing what you already had. Do you measure yourself with ribbons? I liked doing that-I just use regular wrapping ribbon, and mark it maybe once a month or so (well, I did. I still use them to guage as I feel the need) And good to hear your numbers are good too! That is great news! There are paths you may need to travel to see what is going on-Julie is there to help you! Good luck! AND keep on keeping on!!!!!! Keep us posted!!!!
DeleteCongratulations on your improvement on your numbers from your recent blood test.
ReplyDeleteYou mention having lose skin because of rapid weight loss. Is it a typo that you wrote you went "from a 2X to a really loose 2X in almost 16 months"? If these numbers are correct, I encourage you to see Julie for a refresh to help you lose more weight.
The excess skin many experience has nothing to do with following Julie's program, as this can happen on any weight loss program.
Julie talks about using special wraps to help the body heal (upper arms when sleeping and a different kind of body wrap for the tummy during the day). You may want to look into those options.
I'm in a 16/18, so I don't know yet how my body will look when I reach my goal size. I do know many others who have sagging skin. I'm looking around to find someone with expertise in this area this year, so I can help my skin heal as I take off the rest of my weight.
Thanks for responding. I would be interested in what type of wraps for your arms. I called the office, but they said they couldn't help. I don't really know how a refresher would help. Believe me, I'm exercising, eating right (right ratios of meat and veggies, lean meats and fish, very little deli meats, no fatty meats, cheese only as a condiment, etc. etc.) and the $100 is a luxury which can't be spared). I guess not everyone can experience such dramatic weight loss. As I stated, I kow that I am so much healthier -- just disappointed in the overall results. Perhaps when you are older you will understand. The late 70's (when you've been overweight your entire life)is not conducive to great skin elasticity.
DeleteLike Jennifer, I too went several times for a "refresh" during my first year; not because I went off program, but to keep myself on program. All the money I spent on eating out and junk foods was funneled into "Julie funds" so I could do this. It's been worth every penny.
DeleteI don't have details on the wraps at this time. You can do some online research and I understand you can buy the wraps at a drug store. I haven't followed up on this research for myself, there's only so much time in a day. But it's on my list to do this year and one of these days I'll get to it.
If there's anyone reading this who has details to share about the arm wraps, please chime in!
Your blog inspired me. Congratulations to you! I enjoyed reading it and it gives me the strengths to go on and on. It's a lifetime change. Thanks so much!
ReplyDelete