My dad, who was a professional painter, always said painting is the easy part, the hard work is all the preparation you have to do before you paint.

Last week, I started a really big home project: painting my kitchen. I've been thinking about my Dad all week, as I remove the cupboard doors and the hardware, as I move my china and tea pots from the shelves to the kitchen table, and as I fill the holes with wood glue. All this and I haven't even sanded or cleaned. Never mind that I have yet to open a can of paint! My dad was right: the hardest work is the prep.

Is it just me, or is the prep work the hardest part of this weight loss program? For me, staying on program isn't the hard part, it's having things lined up ahead of time: planning my meals, making a shopping list, going grocery shopping, preparing the meals, getting up early enough to have breakfast and pack my lunch before I start my day, and having something lined up for dinner before I get home. If I do the prep work, the program is so much easier.

During my prep work this morning, I had an "ah ha" moment. After filling holes, where the hinges used to be and a number of holes inside the cupboards, I climbed up and down the chair to clean the top of the refrigerator. As I quickly climbed the chair, I realized that I'd been up and down that chair for over an hour effortlessly! It wasn't until that moment that I realized why I had put off painting the kitchen for almost a year: it would have been  too much for me physically.

I never thought about all the restrictions that my weight placed upon me when I was heavier. It's when I encounter moments like this, that  I am reminded that this journey is a process of self-discovery. It's so easy for me to focus on not losing weight "fast enough" and meanwhile miss seeing the many positive ways my weight loss has affected my life. An hour of climbing the chair didn't draw my attention to how I could not have done this a year ago. It was when I climbed up and down from the chair four times quickly that I suddenly realized: hey - last year I couldn't get up on the chair once, never mind several times in a row - or repeatedly for a hour!

I look forward to many more new discoveries in my life!

Another great discovery - reconnecting with my inner runner. Last weekend I ran another 5k (which is a little over 3 miles). This one was in Amherst and it had killer hills. My total running time was the same as the Hot Chocolate Run in Dec., which was just under 45 minutes, but given the hills involved - this is great progress!

Here are some photos I took before and during the race...

Warm up before the race

I need to get a better running outfit!
Me on left; Aime on right.

Coming up to Emily Dickinson house and the last of the hills.

Self-portrait while running; me in yellow, Aime in pink. My favorite photo of the day!

May 05, 2012

Quick question: I have a flight coming up soon and it will be at an awkward time during the day, I don't eat breakfast, but get hungry around 11:00. I will be on a plane. Any suggestions as to what to pack to eat? Obviously I can't bring deviled eggs, I think I would get thrown off the plane!! LOL

I am afraid of beef jerky with all the sodium and then just sitting. Just looking for some ideas for a light meal that won't smell up the plane. My sister suggested ham roll ups but again, the sodium problem. Just wondering what you all would have in mind!

May 05, 2012

Like many of you, I have times when I am impatient with my weight loss process. I feel like my hips are not changing at all. I just had this photo taken of me so I can compare how this blouse looked a few months ago to how it looks today. I can't deny the change that has happened!

05/05/12        |        01/16/12

I'm still not happy with how big my hips and belly look, but I know this will change if I keep doing what I'm doing. I try to focus on my success rather than wishing to be my ideal size. Being present is an important part of my journey. If I can accept where I am today, I can and will move forward.

Recently someone asked about having vivid dream while on this program. I've always been able to recall my dreams and they are quite detailed. That said, I definitely see a correlation to going in for a session and vivid dreams.

Speaking of dreams, I've been dreaming about fitting into three pair of size 20 blue jeans, which my friend Aime gave me many months ago, but each time I tried them on I couldn't pull them above my hips. The night before last, I had a dream that I tried on the blue jeans and they fit. I had forgotten about my dream until I was getting dressed; I decided to give them a try.

I tried on the first pair. I pulled them up over my hips (YAHOO), zipped them up, and then I sat down in my office chair for a few minutes.

They did not pass my "can I sit in a chair and be comfortable?" test, so I tried the second pair.

I was uncomfortable sitting in the second pair as well.

I moved on to the third pair and (drum roll please) they passed the test! I wore them to work and I felt fabulous all day!

Patience pays off. If  I keep moving forward and doing the best I can to stay on program, regardless of how much time passes, I will reach my ideal size. This doesn't happen on a calendar that I have control over, in as much as I want that kind of control. So, I let go of the controls and keep moving forward.

May 04, 2012

Ok everyone out there-big question of the day: Can we have avocado?

April 28, 2012

In one of my beginning classes with Julie, I remember her saying that our dreams could become very vivid. WOW! She wasn't kidding! Has anyone else experienced this?

And I am curious, why do you think this happens? It really is amazing to me how vivid my dreams have become. Last night I dreamed someone close to my family gently yelled at me in church, I was in the front bench with another friend and she made a comment to me during the service and this other friend reprimanded us, in front of many people, for talking during the service. I actually could feel embarrassed and mortified. When I woke up this morning I really had to think about it to realize that it didn't happen.

Or I have had dreams about cheating on this plan. Now I have never cheated. But sometimes I really think I could feel and taste whatever it was I was eating in my dream. The next day I would get this feeling over me like good grief how could I have eaten that, I blew it, and then realize it was a dream. I don't know if I am explaining it right, maybe even dumb examples, but so real, my dreams have become quite intense. Anyone else??????

April 28, 2012

Good evening everyone!

I have a pearl of wisdom that I heard from a co-worker who has been able to keep her weight in check, and not "listen" to the "food-talk." One sentence, and very powerful one more for us to tuck away and use when we need to: "I don't need to eat that, because I have tasted it before, and I remember what it tastes like"

It really hit home with me.  I do remember what food tastes like, and I am glad I have my memories of them....So, I think about it, and then move on!

I am now into month 2 of maintenance. I am eating more potato-I have had fried, mashed, puffs, baked, and some sweet potato. Just a little, with less veggies to compensate, and more meat. I still eat the Siggis, once or twice a week, and I am exercising maybe 1-3 times a week-I am really still struggling with fitting it in, but I am working on it.

This weekend hubby and I are going to Maine for a couple of days-Watch out lobster, cause here I come! lol! I am not one bit "afraid" of going away and eating out in restaurants, because I have found my "voice" to let the waiter know exactly what I want. If they look at me funny, I just say I have a lot of allergies-which is not a lie, if you think about it, because I have bad reactions to lots of food-meaning, I blow up like a balloon. But, there are so many true allergies out there, that they will never question you anyways.

For those of you that may be worrying about maintenance, DONT! I still have no food talking to me, I still enjoy what I eat, and I still check myself with my "measurement" ribbons to make sure I am still on track. For the most part, they show me that I am not gaining or losing.  Success! I have no interest in stepping off and eating things that I shouldn't, I still use my "don't wanna want it" mantra. It really works! I am very satisfied with the meat-veggie rule, and stepping off onto the potato shore 3-4 times a week. I am focusing more on living, not what I am going to eat.

I will still schedule a refresher the next time I get a call-I last went in February, and put down for June. From what I have read on this blog, I am expecting maybe July, as it sounds like Julie is maybe a month off with not being well, and moving. I so highly believe in them, because you pick up so much advice, and I love seeing and listening to people-Anyone that has gone to her new place, tell us what you think about it. Then, I will stretch it out-6 or 8 months-so I can keep on doing this on my own. It is nice to know that Julie is there for us when we feel the need-

Have a great night,
Jen

April 24, 2012

I'm finally catching up on my photo uploads. We have a laptop upstairs, but that's a few years old. We have a new computer in the basement, and my husband is keeping the kids happy, so I am able to upload about 300 + photos that I never get a chance to. Kids! Anyways...Never in a million years would I have ever posted photos of myself. I'm the photographer. No one takes pictures of me! I was so disgusted with the way I looked, that was never going to happen! Now, I will oblige to photos, but generally grab a kid and have them right in front of me. Whatever works, right?!?

The first photo is from the summer of 2011. I was not yet on the Julie diet. This was camping with my family:

The next photo is about a month into the diet, taken in August of 2011:

This photo was taken around the holidays...November or so of 2011:

And this latest photo was taken last week(April 2012):

I'm thrilled with what I see to be honest. I look in the mirror sometimes, or I look down, and I still see fat. My ob/gyn says another 20-30 lbs to go. At that rate, there would be nothing left of me. There is no way I'm going to get to a 140, which is what I was in high school, since having kids, etc. Maybe if I have surgery to get rid of the excess skin, I could be a step closer. Time will tell. Now, I'm going for maybe another 10 lbs or so. I said a size 8. It's where I am. I want a lose 8. But maybe, just maybe, a size 6 is where I really want to be....

April 22, 2012

Life after the refresh is great. I went for a refresh over a week ago and I learned a lot. My biggest lesson: I was not looking at life through clear lenses. I could see progress from this program, but I was not seeing what I was doing to slow down my progress.

I asked about dried green beans and I learned that dried veggies are not on program. Julie reminded us that we can call the office if we're not sure about an item. I never thought to call to ask because I was living the good life, eating these beans along with meat thinking they were a great treat. All along, I was denial. There were many times that I ate the beans by themselves (no protein) and not just a handful, but an entire package. Yes, I was aware that eating them alone was off-program (equal portion of meat to veggie), but I was ignoring this fact, figuring it couldn't be all that bad. I knew something wasn't right that I was eating so many of them; I suspected they were carbs, but I ate them anyway.

Julie said I may have well have been eating potato chips. Ah, okay. Hmmm. I guess I was...there's that denial again...I was eating potato chips, as I had also been eating mixed dried veggies, knowing there were potato chips in the mix.

All the while, I was looking in my refrigerator for "grey areas" -- foods that were holding my back from losing weight. This is it right here-dried veggies. We're not allowed dried foods on the program. They are carbs and they  cause swelling, which is happening in my ankles. This is the biggest reason my weight loss has slowed. I'm off the dried veggies now! I've been on this program for fourteen months and I'm still learning new things from refresh classes. 

For the past few months I've been working on the balance between work and home life. Work won most of my time and things were out of balance at home. I was not having much fun and none of my home projects were making any progress.  Looking back, I'm happy to realize that when stress really set in, I didn't think about eating as a way to cope. As I wrote recently, in my post Game On, I no longer play the games I used to play; they are no longer part of the way I think. I'm so happy that I no longer am in the circle of using sugar to soothe me when I'm stressed.

Thinking back on the past few months, I realize I used those dried green beans and mixed veggies as a way to handle stress. I really didn't see this until now. I still feel good that I didn't go to sugar. I'm ready to move on now and begin to lose weight once again. I'm leaving stress and those dried veggies behind me.

Here's a couple yummy recipes I made recently...

Sausage with Onions and Peppers


For breakfast this morning, I cut three sausage links into bite size pieces and put them in a hot pan. When they were about half-way done, I tossed in slices of green, red, and yellow peppers that I had in the freezer and kept stirring until the sausages were fully cooked.


Rib-Eye Steak au Poivre  

I had hoped to post the recipe along with the video I made, but I just haven't had time, so I'm posting the recipe by itself. If the video ever makes it to a final cut, I'll post it.

April 22, 2012

 

Rib-Eye Steak au Poivre with Balsamic Reduction

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns
• 4 (3/4-inch-thick) boneless rib-eye steaks (3/4 pound each)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

Preparation

Coarsely grind peppercorns with a mortar and pestle. Pat steaks dry and coat both sides with peppercorns, pressing to adhere. Season with salt.

Heat oil with 1 tablespoon butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Reduce heat to moderate and cook steaks, 2 at a time, about 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare.

Transfer steaks to a platter. Add vinegar to skillet and deglaze by boiling over high heat, scraping up brown bits. Simmer vinegar until reduced to about 1/4 cup. Remove from heat and whisk in remaining tablespoon butter until melted. Season sauce with salt and drizzle over steaks.

Okay, so I did this video and still didn't remember to turn the camera, so it's all very narrow. I decided to upload this clip for the fun of it, but I probably won't pull the entire video into one story.

April 22, 2012

First off, call me Meaghan. Twinglesmomma...what was I thinking?!?! LOL! I will be the first to admit, veggies were my demise prior to starting this diet. After having kids, I started to eat a few more than usual, to at least set a good example. However, the extent of my vegetables were: peppers, raw carrots(with dip!), cucumbers, green beans sauteed with shallots, frozen squash, and eggplant(my mother in law is Italian, and an amazing cook).

That said, I have a few new recipes that I now swear by! One of them is butternut squash CHIPS! I know Julie recommended this to someone in a refresher class. I don't know the exact way she said to cook them, I know she mentioned a fryolater and Crisco. I bought a small fryolater and used canola oil and fried some up. Oh my word. HEAVEN! Remember-I only ate my squash from the freezer section-no spices, nothing! These are delicious with burgers on the grill, or anything really. If you are missing that crunch-these are a great alternative! I maybe make them two to three times a month now.

Last week, on the suggestion of some friends, I tried acorn squash. Oh my word. This was absolutely amazing!

Cheesy Acorn Squash:

• 1 acorn squash, halved and seeded
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 pinch ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon chopped parsley
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Place squash cut side down in a glass dish. Cook in microwave for 20 minutes on HIGH, until almost tender.
3. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and add celery and onion; saute until transparent. Stir in mushrooms; cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and parsley. Divide mixture in half, spoon into the squash and cover.
4. Cook 15 minutes in the preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven. Uncover, sprinkle with cheese and put back in the oven until the cheese bubbles.

Now, when I made it, I read some of the reviews prior to baking it. Some suggested cooking off a little bacon, and then sauteeing the vegetables in the bacon fat. So I had some turkey bacon I needed to use up, and did that and added a little bit of butter, as there wasn't much fat from the bacon. It was amazing. The flavor left me wanting and yearning for more! I was a bit disappointed that we weren't going to be home for the weekend(we were camping)! I'm actually making it again tonight for my sister in law, who is also on the diet. This time, I'm going to add hamburg and/or sausage to the mixture. We had this the other night with a steak. Oh, and I omitted the mushrooms as I don't like them.




My husband, who I should add is also on Julie's plan(along with his mother and his sister), is a big fan of the grill. He's always looking for new recipes to try out, especially while on the diet. Two weeks back, he found, ala Bobby Flay, a grilled zucchini salad with a lemon-herb vinaigrette. The recipe called for pine nuts, we just left them out. I should mention, I do not like zucchini. It's mushy and tasteless to me. This recipe however, it was good! Again, great side to burgers/steak on the grill. Or even chicken. If I like it, then you are guaranteed to like it! HA! Although, my sister in law said she wasn't crazy about the lemon flavor. I enjoyed it though. 


Grilled Zucchini Salad with Lemon-Herb Vinaigrette

• 2 medium zucchini, sliced lengthwise into thin strips
• Canola oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• Honey
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus leaves for garnish
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Wedge Pecorino Romano, for shaving
• 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
• Fresh mint leaves, torn

Directions

Heat the grill to high heat. Brush the zucchini on both sides with canola oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Grill for just about 1 minute per side (until slightly charred and wilted), then remove them to a platter.

Whisk together the Dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, to taste, and salt and pepper, to taste, and parsley in a small bowl. Slowly, whisk in the olive oil until emulsified.

Drizzle the vinaigrette over the zucchini and let it marinate for 15 minutes at room temperature. Top with shaved cheese, pine nuts, parsley and mint leaves.

That's all from me for now. I will post an update on the acorn squash with the meat added in. Oh, and some before and after pictues. It will help some of you new to the journey to keep on going! Not to give up, or get discouraged. You will get to your goal. Patience is key. And we all admit, to not having the best patience at one point or another, myself included! 

April 22, 2012

The P word…

Hmmm, what is the P word?

It is PATIENCE!!!

pa·tience
noun
1.
the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.
2.
an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with a slow learner.
3.
quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence: to work with patience.

Aaaaaaaaaagggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh PATIENCE!!! Something I don’t have much of.

I have found out through life how important patience is. Haven’t perfected my patience, Far from it, but am working on it.

Now, I must admit, my patience is being sorely tested. Grrr. I am following program to a T and am proud of myself! (wow, now that is something for me to even say I am proud of myself, another victory for me) So I guess I assumed the weight would just melt away. I mean, I read about people literally melting on this blog and heard it in my refresher I went to.

Well, what a surprise to me, to find out, I am NOT melting. My fat is stubborn as it has been on this body for so long it doesn’t want to move out. My fat loves me and wants me to let it live here in this body. My fat loves the way I used to eat and the way I hate to move. My fat is getting even with me for even thinking of evicting it out of my body.

Who would have thought…

So, from everything I have read on here and remembering Julie’s words, I must be patient. I am the type of person, I want it yesterday. Yes I know I didn’t gain all this over night, but let me tell you, I can put on 10 pounds in just one meal, I have done it in the past, nothing I am proud of, but I can pack it on quick.

I must re-install into my thinking the positives to smack my fat cells into leaving:

I have NO DESIRE whatsoever to go back to my old eating habits! Nope, none! (take that fat cells!) and I will not go back to those horrid eating habits (take that again fat cells!) I will get to my goal size no matter how long it takes me (smacked you again fat cells) and I will make this fat LEAVE!

So I guess all this boils down to is I MUST BE PATIENT and let the program work!

(grrr, I really do want it yesterday! LOL)

April 11, 2012

There are a number of games many of us played when we tried to lose weight before seeing Julie. We wore lighter clothes, so we would weigh less on the scale at our meetings. We played with our points, so we could eat something really fattening on the weekend; we promised ourselves we would "be good" the rest of the week, knowing all along that wasn't going to happen. We didn't write down what we ate in our journals, so we wouldn't have a clue why we didn't lose weight.

Slot Machines. Photo by Theresa

Last week I realized I don't play games with food on this program. Since my refresh appointment was rescheduled a couple of times, I've had time to think about what goes on during refresh classes. I thought about the number of people who "confess" they went on a binge in the days or weeks leading up to their refresh. They said that since they were coming in for a refresh, they "treated" themselves, because they knew that Julie would "reboot" them. Their "confessions" served as a reminder of a way of life I no longer wanted to participate in.

By the time I see Julie later this week, it would have been almost three weeks of "treats" and a whole lot of weight gain, had I played that game. This program takes that kind of game playing out of the equation. Treating myself before a refresh is not something I do and it's not something I've even thought about during the 14 months I've been following this program.

It was a bonus discovering I no longer engage in such games. What a time and waste of energy. I'm happy to put those resources to better use...like running on the treadmill or outside. I'm sure each of you can easily list a few mind games you played while dieting in the past. Has anyone else discovered they no longer play those games?

April 08, 2012

Good Evening to all my wonderful blogger friends......I have had thoughts running through my head the past few weeks as my hypnosis journey continues........Thoughts of maintenance.

I made my final size goal about 1 month ago. I started with Julie on June 2, 2011, age 44. I was a size 20. High blood pressure, pre-diabetes, a couch potato. I am a dental hygienist, and work was tough with all of my extra weight. I was a 2x. And depressed! Totally out of control. Taco Bell, McDonalds, Chinese buffet....You name it, I loved it. My girlfriend Sue found out about Julie, and started her journey in February 2011. By March, I wanted in!!!!!!!!!!! She looked totally fabulous, and felt even better. I would sit with her at work, and watch her eat-meat and vegetables, bite for bite. I thought, if she can do it, I can do it! And so I put myself on the waiting list, and waited. I didn't hesitate when the call came, and, 3 months later, I was sitting at Julies, totally open-minded to anything and everything she had to say. Totally willing. Never looked back! Soon after, the weight started coming off. Quickly. I had another refresher class in December, and I asked Julie to go down one more size. By February, I was into the size 6 Levis I had drooled for. I had done it!!!!!!!!!! I went to another refresher, and absorbed what was in front of me now-eat potato. Cut the veggies when I do, and increase meat. Now, sometimes it's 5 frenchfries, or 4 bites of mashed, or a couple of home fries. Very little. I still have very little appetite. I work out 2-3 times a week, still drink a ton of water, and wont dare touch any sugar. (Although, I ate out last night, and ordered BBQ wings-dripping in BBQ sauce. Today, no pangs, no increased hunger!!)

I guess I am putting this in writing because I am starting to believe that my body is going to accept this weight. I will do this for months to come. And I am okay with that. I still have no cravings, no desire for chocolate, cake, waffles, taco shells......I am truly blessed. Julie is a life-saver. Truly. I have let desire go. I am learning what it means to "eat to live". Powerful words for someone who has such early memories of eating and eating and eating. I watched my Grandmother Anita slowly die an early death from food. She weighed over 300 pounds when she was found dead in her apartment-probably the result of a stroke, or her heart just stopped, or diabetic complications. I never asked my mom. That was over 25 years ago. I want to be here for my children a lot longer than she was on the earth for her children and family.

So, here I am. On my weight loss journey. Letting go of the past. Embracing the future. Again, powerful stuff. I am on the list for another refresher in June. People state Julie doesn't want us dependent on her. I thought I was, but, now I know I am dependent on myself. My choices. My food purchases. My food decisions. I have learned to simply say "no thank you" and I stick with it. 10 months!!!!! 10 months of food not talking to me. Some of you will remember that I looked at my weight when I was at the Docs office. I forgave myself. And I have moved on. The number is no longer in my head. It no longer matters. Another number is in my head. And that is the one that counts. I am choked up as I write this. Still in disbelief. My maintenance journey is one I will be on forever. I am happy to watch all of us on this journey. I am honored to be a part of such a great group of people. Let what Julie has put in your head guide you. Eat when you are hungry, not when you are not. "I don't want to want it". More meat than vegetables. Nothing sweet! No labels! No scales! When in doubt, don't. They are all worth it. Each and every one. Peace! Sweet Peace! Peace to all of you.

March 31, 2012

To refresh or not to refresh? That is the question of the week. After the initial sessions with the Key Hypnosis Program, Julie offers "refresh" sessions to help us  stay on track, get back on track, and learn how to maintain weight. How often should one go in for a refresh? These are the topics posted this week and well worth with exploring.

Skunk Cabbage. Photo by Theresa.

Marcie asked if there's a secret to scheduling a refresher. Before I weigh in on this--congratulations Marcie for dropping eight sizes - that's incredible! You are a great example of how well the program works in the ideal situation - the initial three sessions and then on your own. It is my goal to continue this journey on my own as you have done, so I am excited to hear I too will be able to do this. One of the things I enjoy in the refresh classes is seeing people who have success on their own; especially hearing people say they've kept their weight off for years.

You are right, Julie said we shouldn't be dependent on her. She has also said her goal is to help those of us who need her help before bringing in more clients, which is why newbies now have such a long wait to start the program. I'm scheduled for a refresh later this week, and, based on what everyone has posted recently, I may get a call from the office any time now telling me I need to reschedule.

Mathematically this had to happen sooner or later. And here we are. Julie has an incredibly long list of people who want to go back and with only Julie to run a limited number of people per session (the room is small) and a limited number of sessions per day, it had to catch up with her at some point. I'm guessing that Julie knew this point would come too, which is why she found a new location, where she can see more people and where she can train others to help more of her clients.

There isn't a secret to scheduling a refresher session and they do not penalized people because they didn't go in for a refresh. I believe they are truly backlogged and your timing is such that right now it is nearly impossible to get in to see her. My experience has been that when they pass around the sheet to sign up for a refresh, I signed up for a call back for a refresh about three months out. Sometimes I called and asked for an earlier date and if they had a class that wasn't full, I was able to get in earlier. Other times, I could not get in sooner and I had to wait until they called me with a later date.

I am not aware of a "higher priority" list. I am as anonymous in the room as anyone else. The only reason Julie or her staff know I am the "blogger woman" is because I told them before the class started at my last session. I expect the next session I go to, they won't remember this about me, because they see so many clients. I don't have a special connections with Julie or her staff. When I was last in to see Julie, she offered to review the recipes on this blog, but she never replied to me about the ones I sent her. I wasn't surprised, because she already has a full-time job. Her intentions were good, but the reality is she doesn't have time to work with people in this way.

I have questioned myself about whether I need a refresh session. Am I being too dependent on Julie? Six months ago I planned to wait a year before I went in again, so I could learn to rely on myself more. That wasn't how it turned out, but this year I'm going to make my refresh dates further apart. By the sounds of things, since there is such a long wait list, this may be a good plan.

Thanks for your questions and sharing your experiences on this blog. This isn't a substitute for seeing Julie, but it is helpful having a place to share our journey. Keep up the good work everyone - at home and on this blog!

March 27, 2012

Support is a great thing to have in life, especially when working on a long-term goal. Having friends and family who support my weight-loss goal helps keep me strong on my journey. During this past year, I found support in a place I wasn't even looking - my local Deli!

Photo by Theresa

At my local deli, there are a group of people who support me by making panni's and wraps without the bread and they make them look beautiful too. When life gets really busy and I eat at the deli, instead of bringing my lunch, it's nice to know the cooks are on my side. I ask questions about the soup, (is there rice or potato in them?) and what's in this or that, and they never act like I'm a pest. They're great with complimenting me on my success too.

The support from people posting to this blog is great too, as is sharing our recipes. The cauliflower recipe sounds delicious! I haven't tried it, but I will see if I can fit it into my meal plan for the week. Linda, I hope you don't mind, I edited your post and embedded the video. I'm working my way through recent posts, to comment and add the new recipes to the recipe list page.

I made an incredible beef dish this weekend and I made a video along the way. I used my iPhone, but it's quite challenging to cook with a phone in one hand! I have many small clips that I need to stitch together and edit before I can post the video.

I may end up posting the recipe and a photo and adding the video in a few weeks, because my computer keeps freezing. I need to move files to an external hard drive and then I should be fine. It's time consuming to move so many files, but it's extremely slow trying to get anything done on my computer, including writing, which is another reason I haven't blogged much lately. I freed up some of my hard drive yesterday and that has made typing tolerable. 

Thanks everyone for sharing and supporting each other here. I love that you keep things moving even when I go silent! Thanks for that too.

March 26, 2012

Like many of you, I've had milestones on my weight loss journey this past year. I love Linda's story about crossing her legs in church. Quite a spiritual moment I'd say.

Juneau, AK. Photo by Theresa

My leg crossing moment was exciting for me too, but not as funny of a story. I was at the movies, sitting in the dark by myself. It was a moment that came and went and I didn't speak of it until now. Such a simple act, crossing and uncrossing my legs. It shouldn't take a gymnast to do this, but I feel like a gymnast because I can do this.

There were many more milestones like this. Taking my socks off without having to sit in a chair. Being able to untie my shoes without loosing my breathe or my balance. Fitting into the chair comfortably at the movies; no longer do I have to squeeze my body into the chair. Not needing an extension for my seat on the plane. Small things that mostly occurred without a big hoopla, but were indeed big moments for me. There were also milestones that I did lots of talking about too, such as hiking on my vacation in Alaska in June, taking up running in October, and running a 5k in December - just two months after I started running and twenty years after the last time I'd run at all.

A few days ago, I hit another big moment: I fit into size 20 Capri's that my friend Aime gave me in December, which were too tight for me then, but now fit me perfect. These Capri's zip up the front and are fitted at the waist: no more elastic waistlines for me! (This time a year ago, I had dropped from size 30/32 to 26/28.)

I discovered shorts and more Capri's in my "next size down closet" after putting those larger Capri's on two days in a row. Both days I looked in the mirror and laughed at how big they were on me. They were comfy like a pair of pajamas; the elastic was loose around the waist and the legs were baggy. They are now in my eBay closet.

This weekend I went through my 3 closets and the two remaining bins of smaller clothes. All the clothing bins are empty. One of my closets has only a handful of tee-shirts and a few hand-me-downs from Aime that almost fit. I pulled clothes that are too big for me now out of my middle closet; the middle closet now holds only clothes that fit me. My third closet, which I call my eBay closet, is really packed; I have more clothes in there than the other two closets combined.

I am excited to be a smaller size and I'm looking forward to the second half of this journey. I'm halfway to my goal size and with exercise a part of my life, the year ahead is looking good. While I'm talking about exercise, a brief story...

I've been working indoors on the treadmill for months now and now that the nice weather is here I had a big debate with myself about running outside instead of on the treadmill. I don't know what the big fuss was all about, but I got out of my own way and ran 2 miles outside with Aime. It was gorgeous outside and while I realize I run harder on the treadmill, it isn't just about running hard, it's about living life - it's so much more enjoyable to run outdoors! I think part of me wasn't ready to encounter my co-workers while running, which is of course ridiculous. I'm glad that I pushed through whatever that was and hit the trail by the lake.

I saw the posts asking about how often do people go for a refresh and thought I'd weigh in here. My approach to this program has been proactive. I scheduled refresh sessions so I could go in just before I left on vacations. I scheduled refresh sessions for about 3-4 months after each session, but I called to go in earlier if I felt I needed help sooner. I scheduled a refresh session ahead of the holidays to help me stay the course for the time leading up to and during the holidays (I went in Oct.) and I scheduled a session for late January. My time between session ranged from 8 to 12 weeks, based on what I needed to do to stay on program. I went to a total of 4 refresh sessions last year. I'm scheduled to see Julie later this week. My plan is to work the program and do this on my own, but I will continue to go in for sessions to see me through to my goal and once more to learn how to maintain my weight. I suspect I'll go 4 times this year as well.

March 25, 2012

Life is about keeping a balance and when we are thrown off-balance we can choose to adjust ourselves or get blown around like a palm tree in a hurricane. I've learned that adjusting is a better choice. I look for the rainbow in the storm and then paradise is found.

North Shore of Oahu. Photo by Theresa

Keeping balance in my life includes getting a good night's sleep, so I can start fresh again in the morning. For the past couple of weeks, my life has been full of work and home projects. At the end of the day, I was exhausted. As I walked up the stairs to my bedroom each night, I looked in my office at my computer and pondered "sleep or blog?" Sleep won out. I can only do so much in a day and sleep is key for me to maintain my balance.

I would love to say I've been so quiet on this blog because I've been away on vacation in Hawaii or visiting my friends in California, but that is not the case. In fact, I cancelled my vacation to Southern California, which was schedule for the end of this month, because there was so much was going on at one time.

During this storm, I continued to exercise and I never used food to help with the stress. It is only in reflecting back that I realized this - and this is big! It took a storm for me to see just how much I've changed. Now if that isn't paradise...

I have been following your posts and comments. Love the new recipes. Love the support you've given each other (and me).

One thread that has stayed in my mind is about someone who looked saw their weight on their chart at the doctors office. It's a challenge for us each time we go to the doctor. First you had to turn your head away to avoid seeing the number on the scale, then you had a sit and wait for the doctor with the number right there on your chart.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Time slows down.

Your heart beats slower.

Your head goes in a million directions. Should I? No. Yes. No....

It isn't any easy thing to sit there all that time and not look. Okay, you looked. Now you know your weight. Yes, you agreed not to weigh yourself or look at the number at the doctors office, but how many other things did you do for yourself that day, this month, or in the past year were positive? Focusing on this one tiny error will toss you into a whirlwind and could toss you off-balance in other areas. Find your balance. Forgive yourself. Accept the lesson:  when you break a promise -- it is not worth the storm that follows.

We learn from our mistakes and the opportunity we have is to keep moving forward to find our balance again, to find our paradise. It's a much better of a place to be.

March 20, 2012

This cauliflower pizza crust recipe comes from our key-friend Jennifer. Be sure to top your pizza off with lots of protein.  I have not yet made this recipe, because I hear it can be tricky. Those who have been successful say it's wonderful and they make it on a regular basis.

Cauliflower pizza crust. Photo source: 12tomatoes

Cauliflower crust pizza with chicken.
Photo by Sharyn.

Ingredients

• 4 cups raw cauliflower rice (about one medium head)
• 1 egg, beaten
• ⅓ cup soft goat cheese (chevre) or ricotta cheese (Parmesan or mozzarella work too)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• pinch of salt
• Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400F.
2. To make the cauliflower rice, pulse batches of raw cauliflower florets in a food processor, until a rice-like texture is achieved.
3. Fill a large pot with about an inch of water, and bring it to a boil. Add the "rice" and cover; let it cook for about 4-5 minutes. Drain into a fine-mesh strainer.
4. THIS IS THE SECRET:
   Once you've strained the rice, let it cool and then transfer it to a clean, thin dishtowel. Wrap up the steamed rice in the dishtowel, twist it up, then SQUEEZE all the excess moisture out! It's amazing how much extra liquid will be released, which will leave you with a nice and dry pizza crust.
5. In a large bowl, mix up your strained rice, beaten egg, goat cheese, and spices. (Don't be afraid to use your hands! You want it very well mixed.) It won't be like any pizza dough you've ever worked with, but don't worry-- it'll hold together!
6. Press the dough out onto a baking sheet lined with greased parchment paper. (It's important that it's lined with parchment paper, or it will stick.) Keep the dough about ⅓" thick, and make the edges a little higher for a "crust" effect, if you like.
7. Bake for 35-40 minutes at 400F. The crust should be firm, and golden brown when finished.
8. Now's the time to add all your favorites-- sauce, a tiny bit of cheese, and any other toppings you like. See photo below of a cauliflower crust pizza topped with chicken.
9. Return the pizza to the 400F oven, and bake an additional 5-10 minutes, just until the cheese is hot and bubbly.
10. Slice and serve immediately!

Notes

Time-Saving Tip: I recommend making a double-batch of cauliflower pizza crusts--make one for now, and save one for later. After baking the crusts, wrap up the extra pizza crust in foil, and FREEZE it for a quick "frozen pizza" to enjoy another night! All you need to do is add toppings and bake at 400F, until the cheese is hot and bubbly.

Photo and original recipe source: 12tomatoes

Another key-friend shared 23 Insanely Clever Ways To Eat Cauliflower Instead of Carb, which is pretty amazing, but watch for non-key items in some of these dishes, as I haven't read them all. I just scrolled down the page and looked at the gorgeous food photos. I see that many of them have way too much cheese, so be careful with the cheese too!

March 15, 2012

Don't laugh at my non scale victory. For me, this is big! LOL! But don't laugh!!

I was sitting in church today and, (don't tell anyone) my mind was wandering (shhhhh) and I was noticing the ladies sitting around me. Young and old and they had their legs crossed.

I started an argument with myself in my mind (alright, I am sure I am not the only one who argues with themselves in their mind!!)

Can I? Should I try? What if I can't? Will I get discouraged? Will I look dumb if someone sees me try and I can't do it? What if I get stuck? (don't laugh)

I finally gave in and tried...

Guess what!!!

I CROSSED MY LEGS TODAY IN CHURCH!! and even better, I COULD UNCROSS THEM WITHOUT BEING A GYMNAST!!! so I will admit, for a few minutes in church I was crossing and uncrossing my legs and switching sides too! LOL. (ended up having to get a tape of the service to listen to at home, as my mind was occupied with other things) LOL.

March 11, 2012

Well, I am human. Surprise! And now I have to let my guilt go. I went to my doctor for a routine follow-up today, and had to get weighed. The girls in the office know that I am not supposed to know my weight, so there is no surprise when I turn my head. And they don't tell.
I am sitting with my APRN discussing this and that......my chart is open, and I think to myself-----9 months of not knowing what I weigh.....I am gonna look.....and......I look. Anyone else wanna cry with me?

On my drive home, I talk to myself about how it will be ok, continue on, persevere, you will be ok. Ho hum. Only time will tell. I just hope that my stupidity does not unravel the 9 wonderful months I have spent with Julie, and I must trust her and me. Well, I trust her, or else I wouldn't have gotten hypnotized! I have to trust that I am human, and one slip will not deter me.

Onward!!!!!!!

To work this afternoon, and to Zumba tonite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

March 08, 2012

I spent some time today reading a lot of comments and I replied to a handful along the way. I'm pleased to see others are answering questions. I don't have all the answers, but as a group we can help one another. I started this blog in the hopes that it would be a virtual gathering place friends of the key hypnosis program and it's exciting to see this happening.

I love hearing the success stories. Please keep them coming! Congratulations VP on your successful journey. Your story is inspiring and I appreciate  that you shared it with us. I hear what you say about perfection. I am not perfect on this program either, but perfection is relative - isn't it? If we are not perfect in following this program, but we are still losing weight - wouldn't it make more sense to focus on keeping our balance than striving for perfection? I'm suggesting that whenever possible, to focus on the positive side of life. Being perfect has a whole different connotation for me; it feels like I'm failing. I am not failing. I learn what works, what doesn't work, and then I move on. That's how imperfection works. Being imperfect allows us to learn.

To paraphrase Julie:

We didn't gain the weight by going straight up on the scale and we won't lose it by going straight down.

There will be plateaus.

There may be slight weight gains.

This is all part of the process.

If we accept this as part of the process and don't stress or focus on this, We will reach our goal size.

Recently Anonymous asked:

I wonder if you need to go back every time you feel you have gone off program or do you think you can just get back on???

I went to see Julie a number of times last year, to reinforce what I learned and to reinforce my commitment to stay on the program. I didn't go back because I was off program, but because I was getting ready to go on vacation or I wanted to reinforce the program. Just two weeks after my last session, I debated about going in again, but I was determined to work through my issues. As you know, from my recent posts, I did just that and got back on track.

In the long run, we have to be able to get "back on program" on our own. Julie has said it is not her intent for us to be dependent on her for the rest of our lives. Another motivation to work things through ourselves ties into a recent thread of comments: the increase in price of the program. That said, I always sign up for a refresh after I've been to a group session. I can change it to a later date when they call me, but I like having the option to go back. I thought I would go back once more when I get to my goal size, to learn more about maintaining my weight, but I went back about every three months last year.

Another thread I appreciated reading was about organic meat. I'm working on eating organic meat and chicken more often. I enjoy it so much more than the processed meats. Thanks for the recent comment about this, I appreciate the reminder to make this choice! I know it's expensive, but it's pay now or pay later! This brings me back to the topic of perfection, choosing organic is a lifestyle and it will take me time to make that choice too.

March 05, 2012

Post comments below to share answers to questions you asked the Key Hypnosis office. I'll get started by adding questions and comments that were posted earlier.

Now that I've written this (all of what you see below), I am not sure this will be a good solution, but let's see if this works for us or not. If more of you are willing to become contributors, you can create a headline for your post that sums up your question and then it's easier for others to comment on your questions, and easier for us to find later by your title. There is also a search feature on this blog that can be helpful.

Note to readers: these comments, and all posts to this blog, reflect our understanding of the program and are not official statements from the Key Hypnosis Program.

---------------------------------------

Sore Throat

Linda: What in the world can I take for a sore throat?
VF:  I remember Julie mentioning Fisherman's Friend lozenges (the original flavor)

Kristen: My last session with Julie I had an awful cold and the assistants told me that Fisherman's Friend is the only cough drop Julie recommends.

Taco Seasoning Mix, Flour, and Gravy

Jen: I am very intrigued by this (Taco Dip) recipe, but I am a little confused about the taco seasoning mix-Doesn't it have flour in it as a thickener? I have stayed away from it b/c of my "flour concern"-Does anyone remember Julie saying it was ok? (I don't)

Linda: I called Julie's office and asked about the taco seasoning mix. She said we can have it. I also asked about canned or jarred gravy and that we can not have. I am so glad I called. I don't make the taco dip to often but after you asked about the flour I got worried. So yes, we can have taco seasoning mix. For me, this isn't something I eat to often, just when I really need something different.

Reading Labels

April: Is it cheating to ask my husband to read the labels and check for me? I don't want to buy something with any chemicals in it, but how do you know. I've been eating "plain" for quite sometime because I avoid anything with a label. Would sure appreciate if anyone has a solution to how they deal with this issue.

These posts weren't necessarily in direct response to the above question, but they are related to labels...

Theresa: When we avoid reading labels, our conscious mind isn't taking note of the sugar in things like ketchup, which we are allowed. If a product is called "honey-glazed xyz" then we should stay away from it.

Linda: I figure she only really has a few, that is what makes this so easy to follow: Don't eat anything diet, don't weigh yourself, eat when you are hungry, don't read labels, and don't eat anything sweet!

 

Julie: I have figured out (sort of) that Julie doesn't want us reading labels because she wants us eating meat and veggies! If you "perimeter shop", you bypass most everything that would have a label-She allows condiments b/c it would be too boring otherwise. I spend very little time having anything that has a label on it-And I thoroughly enjoy the foods she has said we can have-for instance, meatballs and meatloaf, and beef jerky. They may be high in sodium, so you should use very sparingly. And use organic meat, they don't add sodium to "plump them up". Perimeter shopping = very little sodium, because these things are "less processed". BTW, I too had high blood pressure when I started, was on Diovan for a long time, and 5 months after I started this program, I was off of it. Just sayin!!!!!! 

 

Constipation

Anonymous: Is anyone else out there constipated on this program? I hope this is not TMI...

Karen: She told some people in our class that for 3 days before they go to bed to drink either 1/2 Cup or 3/4 Cup prune juice. That was to fix the constipation. You could call the office to ask the exact measurement but i remember her specifically telling us this.

Jennifer: Constipation has come up every refresher I have had. Julie has never seemed too concerned about it. She has always said to talk to your doctor about it. Also, in my last refresher class (was there 2/21), she recommended before bed to eat 3 prunes, you should feel better the next day. If not, then eat 6 prunes the next night. That should take care of it! I do use a stool softener, and I drink a TON of water. Watch out for too much cheese!!!!!!!!!!!!! That'll do it every time-Stay away from the cheese, and you will do better too I bet-

March 04, 2012

I have enjoyed this week’s discussion on this blog and I’ve been thinking about these threads all week. I remember Julie’s visual images of the military and one word seems the loudest in my memory: incoming! I don’t recall the context at all. I am excited to share my thoughts, which are inspired from your threaded conversations and I hope this is helpful. Writing in this way helps me understand the program better as well.

Photo credit: Daily LOL Pics

Keep in mind this is my opinion and not that of the Key Hypnosis Program; this is probably not how Julie would explain these things.

I remember leaving my first Key Hypnosis Program session overwhelmed with the amount of information that I learned. Julie told us we would not remember everything she said and she told us that remembering all those details was not important. I felt overwhelmed after session two and three as well, but I also was excited with the new direction my life was going: down in size; weight was dropping effortlessly.

Somewhere during the first three group sessions, Julie taught us how our body processes food. I don’t recall which session she teaches this or if she did it in all three sessions, but this detail is not important. To explain how our body process food, Julie uses military characters as an analogy. During refresh sessions, Julie sometimes mentions the army, the navy, or the air force, and when she does it is usually prefaced with “remember when I told you…” Sometimes I do remember and sometimes I do not. It is not important that we actually remember, because she is not speaking to our conscious minds. Remember, this program is called the key hypnosis for a reason.

When Julie talks about these characters, she is speaking to us through imagery and at the same time tapping into the ancient language she told us about. (If you don’t remember the ancient language discussion, don’t worry about that either.) Julie is talking to the part of our mind that recalls that language; the part that understands visually and without words. The part of us that is unconscious, but is receptive to her suggestions in ways our conscious mind is not open to.

We all agreed to let Julie communicate with us in this way to help us lose weight. If you don’t remember that agreement, listen up because this is important: this is the hypnosis (or mentalist) side of Julie working with us.

April posted that in her recent session, Julie mentioned that the Navy was in charge of "water" leaving the body and the Marines are responsible for the liver. Linda replied, “All I remember is "INCOMING!" and I sure don't want my army released!” I don't recall any of these things, but I have small visuals that come into my mind from time to time. I think we recall what is important to each of us, so I don't worry about what I don't remember.

Thanks Karen for noting our increase in followers, we just reached 30! Any of you who would like to become a contributor, click on my name and send me an email and I’ll add you. This will allow you to add photos and create posts rather than only being able to comment. I welcome more contributors who are willing to share, especially those of you who are just starting. It would be nice to hear from you as you begin the program. How about it Karen? No pressure; just a thought!

As far as creating a page that links to posts with information people got from calling into the office, I had this thought too. Then I thought about it some more and that sounds like a job and I already have a job. Sorry, but this would be a lot of work. What we need is for Julie to publish a book about the program and her recipes, but she too already has a job.

There are new posts coming in as I type, so my responses to Bruce, Theresa O, Karen, Anonymous, and twinglesmomma, will have to wait a while longer.

But I cannot sign off before saying something about a free day of cheating or something along these words that I read and have stuck with me all week. I don’t know if I’m replying too late or not, but in any case… we are not on a diet. We don’t cheat - we lose our balance. I do not encourage you to plan a free day of cheating (pardon me if I’m not quoting you exactly), but to plan a day of swinging the balance and then plan another day of swinging the balance back. If we swing to one side too much, we lose our balance, but we can get our balance once again. The grey zone I was in was an imbalance. I’m back in balance now. Learning to lose and then maintain our weight is about balance. It isn’t like we can’t ever have xx food again, but we learn to have xx in such a way as to maintain our balance and this keep our weight maintained. Go for it, but do so in a positive way and keep the balance.

Thanks everyone for your positive feedback on my progress. Your support and encouragement are priceless. I’m into my second week out of the grey zone and I feel fantastic!

March 01, 2012

Thanks everyone for your support last week. I stayed out of the grey areas I wrote about. I ate lots of meat. I balanced veggies to meat. One meal a day was meat only. I kicked my pace up a few notches on the treadmill. I feel great!

02/27/12 Wilmot, NH

My body is changing again. I can feel it in my clothes and I can see it in the mirror. I bought lingerie a size smaller than the ones I bought in November. I know this didn't happen in just one week; I had to have been on the cusp of dropping another size for a while.

I was away most of the weekend and I wasn't able to write as I had hoped. I see there are a few more questions, I'll do my best to respond to later this week. It's exciting to see more newcomers to this blog. Welcome everyone!

I pulled photos together to show my first year of weight loss and made a video. I've been hesitant to post it, but it shows the progress I made in Year One on this program, so I decided to add it tonight, with the promise that when I make Year Two, it will be better. I had creative ideas I wanted to do to this video, but I don't have the time, so here goes....

06/27/13 update: Sorry - I didn't use royalty free music in the video so it was removed by YouTube.

February 28, 2012