Yes, it's Fall and the weather is getting chilly. I wanted to check in to see how you were all doing. Well, how are you doing? Challenges, successes, laughs? Update us.....
I'll start first. These past 4 months have been fantastic. I feel great and in fact, I think I am going to start to run again. OK... Jog. :). I was out with my dog last week and started to jog around the neighborhood and felt pretty good. The places that used to bounce around and not feel comfortable, didn't feel too bad. So, I'm going to sign up with Planet Fitness and start to use the treadmill 3/wk. I will keep you posted on how this goes.
I have gone off program 2 times. Both times when I went away for a few days. I limited my "off" times to beverage selection and on one vacation food choices. Both times, I have been able to get back "into the river" successful.
My 4 month anniversary is coming up Nov 15. I just signed up for a refresher for the end of November. I have a goal that I would like to hit by Jan 1. To complete it, I want to be as prepared as I can be. This will assure that nothing will stand in my way.
Here are a few things that I have learned over the past 4 months:
- Food doesn't have a tight grip over me anymore. With Julie's help with cravings, I don't feel the pull of food anymore.
- My beverage of choice (when out with friends) used to be beer. All different kinds of seasonal ones. I've realized that, Vodka is a great replacement.
- I now drink coffee. Maybe it's because my taste buds have changed and it gives me something different to drink along with water and seltzer.
- I'm not hungry anymore. In fact, I need to remind myself to eat. I think this is because I don't crave or think about food anymore.
- I have the support of family and friends. I do find that after you have been on the program for a bit, it's easy to stay on it and not have sugar or carbs. You get used to leaving them off your plate.
How are you doing?
Jane
"Preparedness Equals Peace of Mind" - is a quote from a dear friend that coached college athletes for over 30 yrs. She recently lost her battle with cancer this past August. This quote is right on the money as we are all prepared once our 3 sessions are completed with Julie. To believe in ourselves and the program brings success and POM.
Jane, thank you so much for posting this. I too have been wondering how folks are doing especially with halloween just passing and the onset of the hoidays coming. I've been on program for a little over 4 months and have gone "off" twice in the last few weeks. The first time was with a polish plate from the St Stans fest which I get once a year. I just couldn't resist it. I ate it, felt bad about it (even though I enjoyed it) but then went right back on program. Then Halloween came and thought I was going to do well but said well let me have one piece of candy - my first sweet thing in over 4 months. Well it was like a drug and only wanted more! This went on for 3 days and finally said enough! I brought all the candy to work and have been back on program since. I'm now feeling like I'm going to spiral downward and wonder should I go for a refresher? Am I doomed with the holidays coming? Any advise from folks would be appreciated - thanks for listening!
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I have been on the program for 2 months now. For several years, I have been battling with PCOS, recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, and I'm a fairly new mom. I ave always been athletic. I take boxing, yoga, pilates, bootcamp conditioning, kettlebell/TRX hybrid classes, swimming and cardio every week. Even after all of this exercise, I could not lose weight. I had started researching the paleo diet several months prior to my first session and had cut carbs to 100-150 grams per day. I think this really helped me get into the right mindset for the program because I haven't struggled at all to stay focused and stick with it. In two months, I have gone from a 14 to an 8. My goal is a 4 and I am well on my way.
ReplyDeleteMy progress was reinforced when I had a follow up appointment with my endocrinologist. When I stepped on the scale (completely closing my eyes) and the nurse entered my information into the computer, she actually said, "Wow! You lost A LOT of weight! You were only here a month ago!" I was so happy. Even better, my doctor was excited that I went to Julie. He raved about her program and the long term effects and benefits. He was delighted with my blood work, as my insulin levels were perfect (insulin resistance is common in PCOS, though I was borderline prior to the program).
I am loving the results and I am happier in my own skin every single day.
Hi! I have been on since July 15th...Roseann, you are NOT doomed by the holidays!!! try to think of why you joined this program in the first place - for me, that is OPTIMAL HEALTH and to avoid the pressure and threats from doctors to push me toward weight loss surgery! I think the really GOOD thing I am seeing in all these posts is that we all know exactly when we went off - and it is not often - we have been on almost the entire time! kind of like when you leave a test you aced but all you can think about is the answer you got wrong! I think we are all doing really well (but I guess those of us going to the refresher will find out if that is not true - I remember Julie's reaction at the second session to people who did not adhere to the plan in the first week, so maybe the few indiscretions are not ok) - but we are not perfect, and for those that have a long haul with this (as in a lot of weight to lose, like I have ahead of me), it seems that there must be some allowance for a slight indiscretion - and that also fits in to the concept of tricking your body now and again by giving it food not expected as Julie suggested? I am wondering also about the holidays - I think it would be easier to stay 100% on program if I knew it would be ok to have maybe 2 planned indiscretions between now and the end of the year? that way, you don't feel like you have gone off so might as well go nuts - letting a lapse become a collapse -- I had planned on a second Hershey bar to deal with Halloween, but ate no Halloween candy at all and have not yet had the Hersey bar - and maybe I won't. Since July 15th, I have been pretty damned close to 100% on program except for two bowls of cereal on vacation (could not deal with the 6th and 7th day of eggs at the breakfast that came with the room - and I did pick out the raisins), one Hershey bar that I made a conscious decision to eat, one 1/2 piece of lasagne in a restaurant that really didn't have many options, and a few extra yogurts! I want to ask at the refresher about the yogurt because it has less sugar and comparable calories and carbs to a glass of skim milk which is unlimited - but I now am wondering if there is just too much temptation to eat more than one at a time, hence the limit on yogurt even though it seems comparable to the skim milk. Yogurt has become a bit of an issue in the past two weeks - I have had double the allotted amount - I think it needs to stop. I am like you not that I am not hungry and the program is now a way of life - BUT - I think a refresher is really good at this point to help us stay strong over the next eating frenzy months. The hardest part of this for me is NOT getting objective feedback from the scale, but I don't dwell on it any longer. Hope some of this rings true!
ReplyDeleteHi All,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments. Roseann, you are not doomed. In fact, I think that because you recognize what you did and how it made you feel, you will think twice before going off again. If a refresher is something you want, call now as it takes a few weeks to get in.
Carol - were you in the day or evening class on the 15? I started on the 15 in the evening class, I too remember Julie chastising the woman that said she got n the scale. Yikes.... I think we were all scared that night. I also remember Julie saying that, if you do "go out of the river, you can go back into it." Free will is what she says, as well as, this isn't a program to continue to cheat and then goto a refresher.
Mrsmerz - congrats on your success and new baby. Sounds like you are pretty active and I'm sure with the new baby, you will continue to be.
Jane
So good to hear that other folks have the same struggles but can get right back on track - thank you for your encouragement! I just find it so hard to believe that folks say that they stay "on program" for a year, two years. So they never slip??? That's why I started to beat myself up. I couldn't even do it for 6 months straight? But I feel better now and have to move forward - thanks for the comments.
ReplyDeleteRoseann
It's nice to read out how people that recently started the program are doing and the progress they've made.
ReplyDeleteMy journey begins on Monday and I'm so excited for a new beginning.
Thanks to all how have shared their experiences on this blog and for giving people like me the courage to step out of our comfort zones and give something new a try!!
Sending wishes for continued success to all and look forward to hearing more about your journey!
I've been on the program since July 15th, and haven't strayed because I am petrified to. To me it's a slippery slope. I remember too many years of Weight Watchers, and the games I would play with myself. "Oh, I just got weighed in- let's go have Friendly's!" "Oh, I lost weight- let's go have McDonald's!" Oh, I gained weight- screw this- let's have cake." If I cheat once and get back in the river, then the next time I want something, I'll say it will be OK to have it because I will get back in the river after. And I'll say it again when food calls me. And again. Then the days in the river will be fewer and farther in between.
ReplyDeleteThe gift Julie has given me of being able to sustain this program is priceless, and to me, NOTHING is worth risking it. This isn't a diet to lose 10 pounds. I am healing my body and saving my life. I look and feel better than I have in 20 years.
Alanna - when did you start on July 15? Afternoon or evening? I started on July 15 and I was in the evening class. Hope to catch up with you soon. Glad the program is working for you as well.
ReplyDeleteJane,
ReplyDeleteThanks for this great post! I'm happy to hear your 4 months on program have been great for you. You have a positive attitude and it sounds like this program is a good fit for you. I agree - being prepared is key.
A few years ago I lost a friend to cancer who said something similar: perfect responsibility equals perfect freedom.
Thanks for opening this great thread!
Happy anniversary (in a few days)!
Roseann,
Carol is so right - you are not doomed by the holidays. Julie gave you the tools and you will be amazed at how strong you'll be during the holidays.
This journey is not like any other "diet" you've done - it's a lifestyle change. You can do this - you can stay on program throughout the holidays.
As Jane wrote: be prepared. Be prepared to succeed and be prepared to feel good after the holidays are over. Oh, and be prepared by making sure the foods you need are available to you at all the events you go to.
A refresher is a good idea too. I used to go for a refresher BEFORE I went on vacation to help me stay strong.
mrsmetz,
Congratulations and keep up with your excellent progress!
Carol,
Thanks for your great support for Roseann.
I would not encourage planned indiscretions. This is not what Julie teaches and you are on a slippery slope here. Julie teaches us that you may get away with this a few times, but then you reach a point where you can't get back on program on your own.
I have times when I don't eat yogurt because sometimes I want to eat them both in one meal. I only buy them on weekends so I can keep track of how much I'm eating and sometimes I only buy 1 so I don't abuse this food.
One can be "in the river" and at the same time off program because we are using our free-will to bend the rules.
I've found bending the rules is only a mind game and it results in a plateau. Rules don't bend. We agree to follow the rules and while we do this our weight continues to drop. When we try to bend them - our weight loss stops.
I say this without judgement. It's simply how it is.
BTW,
Yes - many have been on program for a year, two years, and more without a slip. Don't measure your journey against theirs. Don't judge yourself either. Acknowledge your mistakes and then move on. I know you're already doing this. Bravo!
Anonymous,
We all wish you a fabulous journey! Your life is going to change in ways you won't even imagine. Enjoy your classes with Julie.
Alanna,
Thanks for sharing your great words of wisdom! The fear you speak of (being petrified to stray) is shared by many. I love your attitude and it's just this kind of attitude that will bring you to your goal!
Oops, I started July 19th in the afternoon- I must have typed the 15th instead because you had written it!
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