Friend of Julie: New Direction

Today, I'd like to tell you about a secret happening in your life. You may not even be aware of this yet, but I want to encourage you to pause for a moment to see what's happening. If you just started this program, you may not have experienced this yet, but you will.

You are the driver in your life - you choose what direction you want to go!

After a few months of applying what you've learned on Julie's program, without being consciously aware, your life takes on a new direction. As we lose weight, we focus a lot of time and energy on the changes is our size. All the while, things are changing in ways you may not see: your habits have changed over time in subtle ways.

Think about this: how many of those hard program concepts are now autopilot actions for you? Remember all those foods did you thought you could never give up - how long has it been since you thought about them? What's it like when you eat out now? Perhaps you order a sandwich and toss the bread (or ask for it without bread). Or you order black coffee or add whole milk instead of half and half. You tell the wait person not to leave the bread or chips. Pause for a moment and think about what else is different in your life today that you hadn't anticipated?

I no longer ask for a seat belt extension when I board a plane. I don't have to scan a room to make sure there's a chair I will fit into. I sit with my legs crossed. There are many other ways I've changed, including how I order food. I ask a lot of questions when I order out "is their any sugar or flour in that?" or "how is that made?"

I often order off-menu when I eat out these days. I view this part of myself like the character Sally in the movie "When Harry Met Sally." I used to feel uncomfortable and aware that others in line may be listening in, but I don't anymore. It's how I live my life: on my terms.

I order a sandwich and automatically tell the clerk "I know the price is the same without the bread. Just let the cook know 'no bread' and ring it up like a regular sandwich."

When was the last time you did something that made you realize you did it automatically, without thinking about it or making an issue? Success on this program is measured in many ways.