My body is going through changes again, I can feel it and I know I'm going to drop more weight soon. I still have a handful of hand-me-down jeans I still can't wear and I'm a bit bored with the clothes I can wear. I'm still not ready to spend money on clothes, because I know they won't last long.
Photo credit.
I've been asking my friends for advice on where to go shopping 1) as I drop weight, and 2) when I reach my goal size and go on a shopping spree. Interesting feedback. A few suggested I shop off-season, but that isn't going to work - I need clothes in season and now! Others suggested thrift stores, Marshall's, and TJ Max.  

 Tonight I went to the Salvation Army Thrift store in Hadley. It was a completely different experience from my last visit there. I'm not even sure when that was, but it was no fun and I'm sure I left empty-handed. 

This time, I tried on a lot of blouses and coats, I wasn't in the mood for trying on pants, everything was either way too big or way too small. I found a gorgeous Anne Klein short snow white coat, but it was too big!  A beautiful jewel-tone purple jacket from Talbots - too small. 

I put on a full length dark chocolate coat with a beautiful fake fur collar, by some designer I can't recall now, which felt a tad snug, but I was seriously considering it. I loved how I felt in the coat, but when I asked a woman what she thought she said "large women should wear clothing that compliments your body - not coats that make you look bigger." Another woman chimed and asked me what colors I like and suggested I go for a coat the right color; "color is important" she said.  Both women were very kind, and remember - I asked!

Are you kidding me - chocolate is one of my great colors! That's okay, when in this much doubt, I always leave it behind. Which is exactly what I did tonight.

An hour and a half later, I left the thrift store with one Lands End grey button-down sweater, size large. Total budget $4.99. Today was the great bargain day at this thrift store, special colored tags mean an item is 50% off. I never saw a single red tag item the whole time. Others around me had shopping carts full of stuff. 

 I hope this gets to be more fun. Tonight was more frustrating than fun. I know you have to keep cruising thrift stores to find the bargains, and hey, there were great labels in the mix, just none in my size; whatever size that is! They say it's hit or miss, so next week I'll give it another try.

Any words of wisdom from those of you who are further along in your journey? Any funny stories? Love to hear from you!

October 24, 2012
One year ago today I was:

Size 24

VERY unhappy with myself

VERY depressed about my weight

Felt like I was just going to drop dead of a heart attack because of my weight

Couldn’t get out of my own way I was so tired all the time

Ate constantly

DESPERATE to loose weight

Driving my poor husband crazy because I was so unhappy with myself

Knew weight loss surgery was the next step and only step left........-

until a dear friend of mine told me about a girl she worked with and how that girl  was loosing weight (Jennifer) and what she was doing. I was open to trying ANYTHING, I really didn't want surgery.  Desperate for help I called Julie’s office and made an appointment.

1 year ago today I walked into her office and haven’t looked back since!

I was scared and cried the whole way to that first appointment. I hadn’t met Jennifer yet, only knew from what her co-worker and my dear friend had told me about her journey. Was so scared I was wasting money AGAIN to loose weight.

In 1 years time I am a new person. I am not at goal yet, am loosing VERY slow, but I am so happy!

My constant hunger is GONE!

My food obssession is GONE!

My self confidence is UP!

My attitude is GREAT!

I have more energy than I have had in years!

And the best part is I know in my mind that I WILL REACH MY GOAL!

I have never in my life been on a program that was so easy to do. I love not having to think about anything, it is so cut and dry.


My absolute highest weight EVER!
 
 Just a few weeks before going to Julie for the first time!






1 year later
 
 
 
 
 
                                            



I have my life back!

My new eating lifestyle works and is working for me!

Julie has saved my life and given my life back to me!

Julie, I don't know how often you are able read this blog, but when you do, I want to say: THANK YOU!!!!!!

You were an answer to many prayers!!!!

Happy re-Birthday to me!!!!!

October 24, 2012
Just trying to see if my computer challenged mind can introduce a new topic correctly.  Thanks for all of your patience.
Eva
October 23, 2012
Some days I just don't have anything to blog about. I think this is a healthy sign, as I'm not focusing all my energies on "dieting." It's one of the things I love about this program - my life continues to move forward and I get to lose weight along the way. It doesn't get much better than this.
On the treadmill; photo by Theresa.
I'm experiencing another period of time where for few weeks I've been feeling like I'm not losing weight, wondering why these pants still fit - they should be too big on me by now, but I continue to let go of those thoughts. I know I'm doing everything I can to be successful in this journey, so I let those thoughts go, continue to eat meat, meat, meat, and let my negative thoughts go once again. I feel changes in my body, even if my jeans don't show the change yet. I know one of these days, those jeans are going to no longer hold up, they'll be too big, and I look forward to that day. Time doesn't matter here; I know if I keep following this course, I will arrive!

Last Week's workout was shy one day of running, my goal is to run 3-4 times a week, but this happens from time to time. I'll pick up another day this week and I'll also begin to push myself to go the distance; the race is a tad over 3 miles. What's important is that I keep looking ahead to the finish line, which is the hot chocolate run in Dec. Having a goal like this keeps me running. I feel great when I run and for hours after the run!
 
Mon., Oct. 15 - 5 pm on the treadmill
I couldn't make it during lunch to the gym, but I went at the end of the day and I felt really proud of myself for getting there! My reward was a beautiful fall scene when I stepped outside the gym. I followed my c25k app for a 32 min. walkout:
  • warm up/walk: 5 min (3.0 pace)
  • jog 8 min. (4.0 pace)
  • walk 2 min. (3.0 pace)
  • jog 10 min. (4.0 pace)
  • walk 2 min. (3.0 pace)
  • run 5 min (4.0 pace)
  • average speed 3.45 MPH
  • average pace15:51 /mile
  • distance 1.79 miles
Tue., Oct. 16 - noon walk
Today's plan was to walk with a co-worker. It was a gorgeous day out there. We walked fast for a solid half hour, not including my time to meet up with her and then walk back to my office.

Wed., Oct. 17 - noon on the treadmill
Today's workout was with my running pal Aime on the treadmill.

Sun., Oct. 21 - time unknown walk
I took Friday off from work, as I had a friend was visiting for the weekend. We walked on a beautiful trail that was a mile long. No running, just enjoying another beautiful fall day.
October 23, 2012
I've heard so much about this recipe, I had to add this to the blog. I haven't tried it yet, but those who have swear by it. Be mindful of the amount of cheese you use and since you can't load it with heavy items, plan to eat meat with this pizza. This recipe is from Stuff I Make My Husband (I edited the text).
Cauliflower Pizza; photo by Amylinn
Use a bag of Birds Eye Steam fresh cauliflower or use fresh cauliflower and add your own seasonings, but this is easy and it steams in its own bag.


1. Microwave cauliflower according to package directions, then place onto a cheesecloth (or use a clean dishcloth that has been lined with lots and lots of paper towels).

2. Lay more paper towels on top, fold the dish towel over itself, and press hard to squeeze as much moisture as you can out of the florets.





3. Feed the cauliflower through the shredding disk of your food processor.

4. Repeat the squeezing step with fresh paper towels.

5. Get lots of moisture out until you have something resembling dough.




6. Combine shreds with 4 oz grated mozzarella (do not use fat-free) and 1/4 cup egg whites; not using yolk seems to give a crispier crust.

7. Line a baking sheet or broiler pan with parchment paper -- you MUST use parchment paper, do NOT use foil or it will stick!!

8.Mound the cauliflower mixture in the center.



9. Using damp hands (shake off the excess water), work radially around the cauliflower, pressing from the center outward to create a thin crust.

10. Be careful that holes don't form, but don't worry if it seems loose, as when the cheese melts it will help everything hold together.





11. Gently blot excess moisture off the top with a paper towel.

12. Spread it as thin as you possibly can.

13. It should resemble the thinnest of the thin-crust pizzas.

14. If it is too thick it will be very soggy and you'll be stuck eating it with a fork.




15. Bake at 450 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

16. The crust should be browned and perhaps slightly burnt in some spots around the edges.

17. Do NOT under bake.






18. Spread pizza sauce and whatever toppings you like; don't use anything too wet or too heavy.

19. Toppings should all be chopped fine or sliced thin: sliced olives and sauteed garlic spinach (squeezed dry) or whatever veggies you have around.

20. Dust with Parmesan.




21. Pop it back in the oven for 5 minutes or so.

Voila! There you have it, cauliflower pizza!











Crispy, slice able, and you eat eat it with your hands -- no fork required.









Source: Stuff I Make My Husband
October 21, 2012
Anonymous asked on How to Post to this Blog
I have been to 2 sessions. My third is next week. I am really struggling. I am staying on program to the best of my knowledge. I feel guilty using ketchup and BBQ sauce has condiments. They are sweet and I feel guilty for enjoying their sweetness. Also, I am sad, angry. I want to be like others and enjoy a piece of cake or chocolate. I went out with a bunch of friends and we ended up at a bakery. Everyone enjoyed a treat except me. Am I never ever going to enjoy a slice of apple crisp, birthday cake?
Anonymous asked on Mirror, Mirror
Just a quick question - does anyone know if Julie is on vacation or something? I've tried calling last 2 weeks to schedule a refresher, but only get recording and all the voice mail boxes are full. I've tried several times. Thanks for any info --(tried all times of day and night).
Anonymous asked on How to Post to this Blog
Can I use Lipton soup onion mix(not dry) but mixed in a crock pot with beef and tomato sauce?
October 18, 2012
I've been doing some internal exploring the past few weeks, to try to understand how it is that I never really saw how big I was when I was at my largest and how it is that when I see a new photo of myself I'm shocked that I'm still this big.

How is it that until seeing a photo of myself last week, I was happy with how much weight I've lost and how I looked, but then I saw the photo (below with my grandniece), and boom, I get all disappointed in myself. 

I'm exploring these concepts in a gentle way, without judgement, and with lots of kindness towards myself. I'm not beating myself up, but pausing to understand why the denial in the first place. Why didn't I see myself as obese as I was at my top weight? Why is it that 8 sizes (smaller) later, I only see an obese woman in the photo? I think this denial comes as a protection from pain. It was too painful to see myself as large as I was. It's painful to see how big I still am. It's painful to look at myself and see how much more weight I have to lose.

Just the same, I must look. I must see myself today, so that I can continue my journey, so I can reach my goal size. I've been visualizing being a size 8, so of course when I see my photo in size 20 pants I freak out because in my mind I'm a size 8. Well, I'm not a size 8, but I'm not a size 20 either, those pants are way too big. I'm a size 18 and I'm doing all the right things to obtain my goal size.

BTW, I just checked the size of those jeans and they're size 26! No! No! No! No wonder I felt so fat when I saw this photo! Julie encouraged us to get rid of clothes that are too big so we don't "grow" into them. Last night I started selling clothes on eBay again, not a moment too soon. I am NOT going to grow into any of those clothes again, so out they go!

One thing I've done right in this weight loss journey is to learn the most I can along the way. This denial of my size issue is an important one. I want stay out of denial and judgement. I have come too far to crush myself because I'm still not a size 8.

I choose to feel the pain of my reality today (size 18) and my past (size 30/32). I choose to continue to look in the mirror and at my photos and see myself as I am and to embrace where I'm at in this journey. I choose to continue to feel proud of my success along the way. I choose to reach my goal size, which at my refresh with Julie last week I changed to size 6.

There's more to all these thoughts, but this is the gist of it. Plus, I'm out of time this morning and I've been wanting to share these thoughts since last week. Can any of you relate?

Here's a summary of my first week of training for the Hot Chocolate Run. This week I kick it up with more time on the treadmill.

Monday - 10/08/12 walked Whiting Reservoir

My grandniece and I walked at different paces, as I wanted to get a workout and she wanted to "take it all in". Sometimes we have to follow advice from those younger than we are; we're not always right!

- Elapsed time: 60:00
- Distance: 2.0 miles

Tuesday - 10/09/12 recumbent bike at work

I was multi-tasking while on the bike, organizing notes on my iPhone, and the next thing I knew it - 38 minutes has passed. My intention was to bike for 20 minutes.

Great workout!

- Elapsed time: 38:00
10/10/12 treadmill at work
This was my first time on the treadmill in a while. I want to start training for the Hot Chocolate Run in Dec., so I used the c25k app to kick-start my training. I've been running and walking outside, so I started with week 5 of the app. When the app says walk, my pace on the treadmill is 3.0 and when it says run, I kick it up to 4.0. No hills yet, but I will add them in a few weeks. The race begins on a very steep hill and there are more hills to follow; I want to be ready for them. It was fabulous to being running at this pace again!

- Elapsed time: 36:07
- Distance: 2.14 miles
- Average speed: 3.56 MPH
- Average pace: 16:51 mile
10/11/12 walked outside at work
I couldn't resist being outside on such a gorgeous day, especially with all the fall leaves. I walked with Aime and we kept a fast walking pace. As we walked, we had incredible talks about the program and after the first mile, I wished we had recorded our conversation, as we both had great "ah ha" moments that would be great to add to the blog.

- Elapsed time: about 30 min.
- Distance: 2.0 miles
October 15, 2012
Anonymous is asking for advice to her situation (I Panicked!!):
You are right - it was NOT your free will, and I had learned do not obsess over it and things will be ok.

I personally have had a different issue all together, and it plagues me a bit. I finished my sessions with Julie around the end of August. I have the most horrible cravings around PMS time (does anyone else?) I have been able to make it through ... until this past weekend. I ate some Keebler grasshopper cookies. I am attempting to put it behind me and move on. Doing just as awesome as before - meat, veggie etc.

I think I am needing a place to admit that I did it and also ask if anyone thinks I should call and make an appt. again with Julie ... I don't want to go back to what I used to do. I have lost almost 2 sizes in just these two months and I have been doing so good ...
MaryJane is also asking for advice (Roots of Obesity Documentary):
I'm also so grateful to have found Julie. I've been on her plan for 8 months and have never strayed (which is quite a miracle after years of trying ever diet known to man and never having lasting success). I do have quite a problem which I'm now facing. Since losing so much weight (and being in my sixties) my skin is really sagging.

Now, I've seen this discussed previously, but I'm not in a position for any surgery and just can't wear any of those compression garments. But the main problem is that I really am developing a bad sef image due do this excess skin and massive wrinkles.

At least when I was fatter, I had prefectly taught skin ( of course it was packed full of fat which I know is not healthy). I only mention this because recently I'm beginning to think that perhaps I should not continue with this program as I do not want to end up just a skeleton with skin hanging everywhere.

 Don't get me wrong, I still have a ways to go (most people would consider me overweight I'm sure), however, I don't know if this skin problem should be a deal breaker. There is only so much exercise one can do when your skin becomes this far gone (must be why all the candidates on extreme weight loss opt to have the surgery). Since that is not an option for me, I just wanted a little reinforcement that even tho my skin is far less than optimal now, that having lost all that weight is still the healthier alternative.

Does anyone else ever have such feelings; and, how to you push those thoughts out of your mind. I know we can't turn back the hands of time, but I am so envious of anyone that discovers this at a earlier age when their skin is able to "snap" back. HELP!!! 
October 13, 2012
I subscribe to a newsletter about natural health and an article in today's newsletter caught my attention "BBC documentary by investigative reporter Jacques Peretti, the foundational reasons behind the obesity epidemic are revealed." This documentary provides supporting data for much of what Julie teaches us about food.
You can view the full article The Modern Food System and the Roots of Obesity, but you have to subscribe first; it's free. The article pretty much follows all of what the videos show.
October 11, 2012
I just registered for the Hot Chocolate Run, which is on December 2 in Northampton, MA, and I want to challenge those of you following this blog to join my "Friends of the Keys" team and run this 5K!
To prepare for this run, I'm starting my c25k today (couch to 5k running app). BTW, 5k is just a tad over 3 miles. Last year I did this race in just under 45 minutes and I want to beat that this year. I would love to have a bunch of you join me! Post your questions if you're unsure and want some support! These kind of races are especially fun when done in a team - both the training for the race and the race itself. Let's do it!

If you want like to join me, simply register for the Hot Chocolate Run and when you register, select my "Friends of the Keys" team.

If you aren't up for the run, I hope you'll consider making a donation of any amount to help me reach my $200 fundraising goal! You may make a donation to Safe Passages on my behalf to help fund their programming--including an emergency shelter program, individual counseling and support groups, legal services, a 24-hour hotline and more. All contributions are tax-deductible, and you’ll receive an emailed receipt immediately after you donate.
October 09, 2012
I had a bizarre situation happen to me this weekend that threw me for a major loop!! We were at someone's house for supper (which we do alot) and I was able to eat the corn and meatballs.

I was quite pleased with myself with my food choices and was feeling full and satisfied and really enjoying the visiting.

When what to my ears do I hear??? THE PERSON THAT MADE THE CORN PUT SUGAR IN IT!!! I panicked!! I actually flipped out, I felt like I was going to throw up! I was quite upset!! Visions of all the sizes coming back onto my body overnight were going through my head! I wanted to cry!!

As soon as I got home, I emailed Jennifer who helped me to put it into perspective: It wasn't my free will!

I didn't even taste the sugar, I thought the person who made it had just gotten a really good batch of corn.

IT WASN'T MY FREE WILL

Then as I calmed down, I realized, alot of condiments have sugar in them.

So as I calm down more, and continue on (being extrememly careful these next few days of what I am doing and eating) I am treating the corn as a condiment. I did drain the liquid off from the spoon because I didn't want all the butter that was on it, (little did I know). My hunger hasn't escalated, so I think I am fine.

I was quite scared and upset. Of course, I can't even tell you the bizarre dreams I have had since about gaining it all back!!!

But I feel like now things are continuing on the right way... PHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

October 09, 2012
Cheese is a condiment and should be used only to compliment or enhance a dish.  Wikipedia defines a condiment as "an edible substance, such as sauce, added to food to impart a particular flavor, enhance its flavor, or in some cultures, to complement the dish." Repeat after me, Cheese is a condiment.
Think about other condiments you use, such as Ketchup. You have Ketchup with something - it is not the main course. You wouldn't eat an entire bottle of Ketchup and if you did then Ketchup is a trigger food for you, which means you should avoid Ketchup completely. Cheese is a condiment.

If you're eating cheese by itself, you're off program. If your cheese portion exceeds your meat portion, you're off program. Think about cheese like you would Ketchup or mustard - they enhance the dish. If cheese is a trigger food for you, you may want to avoid it entirely for a few months, longer if it keeps getting in your way.

Remember, cheese needs an army* to process through your body. Your body only has so many army men available to work off the cheese. When they run out, your body stores the cheese. When your body stores food, instead of processing it through, you don't lose weight.

I have to really get behind this reality myself: cheese is a condiment. I can either treat it as such, or hold onto my weight. If I can't treat it as a condiment, then I have to give it up until I can. It's like a parent punishing me to my room. Until I behave properly, no cheese for me.

When someone asks how much cheese can they have, the answer is a tiny bit; cheese is a condiment.

*Don't hold me to this (army), I can never remember if this analogy is the army or what military branch owns this task.
October 05, 2012
This comment was posted from Eva, on a an August. post Newcomer:

I finished my last group session with Julie about a month ago. During the course, and for the past month, it has been mind boggling....not even primarily because of the weight loss, which there has been (of course I don't know exactly how much), but mainly because for the first time since I was about 10 years old (52 years ago), the obsessing and painful struggling for so much of the day stopped.

The "rules" are so simple that there just isn't much room to obsess. A few days ago things became more difficult. I found myself eating a bit too much cheese (pretty much the only transgression during these months), and obsessing and craving a lot more again. When the cravings hit I eat protein, drink water, etc, but it makes me tense, and so I signed up for a refresher session at the end of the month.

Is this usual? To get hit with strong cravings? I have also thought that maybe the cravings mean that I am coming out of a plateau into a losing time, and this is simply my body freaking out and thinking it is starving and that maybe it is actually a good sign.

Anyway, I would welcome any words of wisdom and experience from others.

Thanks!
Eva
October 03, 2012
What's Your Story? What are you telling yourself that will have a positive impact on your future? Is your story taking where you want to go? Tell you story and tell it often, to help you remember where you're going and to embrace your truth.

Unlike other weight loss programs, key hypnosis has never felt like a roll of the dice, a spin of the wheel of fortune, or a crap shoot. I never find myself thinking I hope it works this time. Instead, I made intentional changes in my life to support my weight loss goals. The stories I tell myself along the way are an essential part of my journey. One story I focus on:
I am going to reach my goal size and maintain that for the rest of my life. 
That is my story and I'm sticking to it. No, really - I am going to reach my goal size and maintain that for the rest of my life. Yes, yes, I repeated myself - and that's my point! I repeat this story because in doing so it has become a part of my life plan.

In a recent blog post by Michael Hyatt, We Are What We Remember, Michael says this in a more poetic way:
We live up to the narratives we tell ourselves. We make decisions and act in certain ways because it fits into our story. If we change that story, we can change our lives.
There are times when I look back to review what worked and what didn't work. I cannot change my past, but I can learn from my past and make new choices today. Once in a while, I look for new ways to support my weight loss goals, try new recipes or new physical activities, or stop to look ahead to where I'm going and ask myself if there's anything I'm doing that doesn't support my goal that I need to stop doing and then figure out how to get out of my own way so I can reach my goal.

The latter usually has to do with realizing I'm beating up on myself in non-productive ways, such as feeling bad for not making a better choice or not losing more weight. The solution there is not to focus on that story, but to instead focus on the story that will take me where I want to go: I am going to reach my goal size and maintain that for the rest of my life.

No matter where I am in my journey, disappointed I'm at a plateau or happy I've dropped another size, I have never lost the optimism I embraced at my first session with Julie: I am going to reach my goal size and maintain that for the rest of my life.

What's your story? Will it take you where you want to go? Please tell!
October 02, 2012
As many of you know from the FaceBook page, I "ran" the Warrier Dash yesterday. 45 years old, never ran "anything" in my life, and I choose this to be my first one? What, am I crazy? You bet. For sure. BUT GUESS WHAT? I did it!

Saturday morning, my alarm goes off, and I get up. Kind of putter around the house. What does one wear to the Warrier Dash? What's it like outside? Cool? Warm? Seems a little warm, so, I choose shorts and the neon green shirt that my office chose to wear (so we could keep an eye on each other. We were all Warrier Dash "virgins" and knew to keep close as best as we could. There were HUNDREDS of people there!) Off I go with hubby to meet up with the others, and 1 1/2 hours later, we are in Thompson, CT at the Thompson Motor Speedway, numbers attached, port-a-potty's used, and a little stretching completed.
Me (Jennifer) on the far right with my dental office co-workers and some family members, before the dash.
Next thing we know, BOOM goes the signal for us to start running. 3.2 miles, with 13 obstacles to contend with. Now, I have never run outside, nor have I done rope walls, run in mud, or jumped over fire. One minute into this, I think, what the hell have I done? But, everyone else was running, I guess I might as well keep on going.......

Most of the course is out of view of spectators, so, you will have to use your imagination when I tell you that I ran on the Speedway, up and down a couple of hills, then through tires, over cars, through tires swinging, crawled under barbed wire (yes, it was REAL barbed wire) and rolled under mesh through hay, and then up and over a rope wall. No problem! Easy! OH NO---What is that ahead?!?! A 15 foot (maybe 12) vertical wall with rope to climb up, and slats to climb down. I am DEATHLY afraid of heights. Can't even cross a train tressle over a street if I can see the ground below me. DO I? DON'T I? Hell, I told myself I would TRY every obstacle. I see people fail, succeed, then it's my turn. Do I have the upper body strength? Can I climb up this? Someone I know is at the top of the wall-His name is John-And he is telling me to do it, he will help me. Hand over hand I keep climbing up the wall. By the top of the wall, I am having a good ol fashioned panic attack. DONT LOOK DOWN! John, my guardian angel, is telling me to calm down, take a deep breath, all I have to do is slowly make my way over and then down the back of the wall. Which I do, shaking like a leaf the whole danged way. I DID IT!

I would have stopped then and there, called it a day, but the 3 other ladies I ended up running with (only one of them went up the wall too, I might add!) kept plodding on, so, on I went too. Up a steep hill, over a water obstacle, another vertical rope wall (my angel was waiting there for me-What a gentleman to wait for me!), then mud. Mud, mud mud. Waist deep muddy water. A rope bridge to cross. Is that the finish line? NOT QUITE~~~~
Me coming out of the woods and the mud, mud, mud.
Up and over 3 more walls, each getting progressively higher, then, more barbed wire! This time with 200 feet of mucky muddy water to crawl through, then the fire, then the finish line!!!!!
Me and my office manager emerging from the mud/barbed wire obstacle
1 hour and 22 minutes later, the four of us crossed the finish line, gathered our medals, got some water, sort of rinsed off, and, it was over!!!! I did it! We did it! Out of the 13 obstacles, I did 11. And I survived!!!!!!!!! Battered and bruised, exhausted, adrenaline pumped...And how hilarious to see what they offered to us "Warriers" at the end-A beer and a turkey leg!!!!! (I didn't get either, but the turkey legs did look good-I just wasn't hungry, so, I knew not to get one!)
Warriers after the Dash!!!
The pile of muddy shoes that we donated at the end of the race.
Was I one of the last ones in the heat to cross the finish line? You bet. Did I learn anything new about myself? You bet. Was it a team building experience? You bet. Would I do it again? You bet. Am I hurting today? You bet. Do I have Julie to thank for this? You bet.

Anyone else wanna join me next year? __________ (You fill in the blank)
September 23, 2012
My journey on this program has been full of poetry and prose. It's a beautiful thing. Poetry and prose take time to develop, as does this journey, and along the way unexpected twists and turns may happen. The writing process often turns out different from the first thoughts one had at the start, metaphors and ah ha moments are all part of the process. The same is true for this weight loss journey.
Photo source: English Club.
There are parts of this journey that I didn't plan; that occurred unexpectedly. I hoped sugar cravings would no longer be a part of my daily life, but I could not have known how powerful it would be to not crave sweets; I could not have known how much energy I would have once I was free from sugar (and carbs).

I've written about other things that have happened along the way, things I hadn't given much thought to or that I spent a lot of time focusing on, such as fitting into seats at the movie theater, no longer needing a seat belt extension on the airplane. You've shared some of these experiences (and more) on this blog and the Facebook support group.

Many of these things are no longer an issue; changes have occurred where I no longer even think about things that used to consume me, and tire me without my being aware how much energy such thoughts drained from me. Last week I had an awareness of something I no longer give my energy that is very private, but I know I'm not the only one who spent energy this way. What I didn't know, is that without an conscious awareness I moved beyond the issue. Here's my story...

My nurse practitioner, has been asking me for the past few years to get an updated mammogram and to see an Ob/Gyn and I finally went last month. All is well, as I expected, but it wasn't until I left my dermatologist's office that I had an ah ha moment about all this. 

I've been seeing my dermatologist for over 15 years and I've done some fancy foot work to come up with excuses to get out of a full exam. It's the whole get naked thing that had me doing everything I could to avoid these kinds of exams. 

Sitting in my car outside the doctors office, I realized a major transformation has transpired. I always found excuses to avoid a full body exam, any excuse I could think of to avoid exposing my obese body.  I didn't do that this time. This time, I suited up in the hospital robe as instructed, had the full-body exam, and then proceeded to get on with the rest of my day. Sitting in that parking lot, I realized it was the same at my mammogram and Ob/Gyn appointment. This is a real change! This is liberating!

What about the rest of you? Care to share any naked truths? What kind of changes have you discovered along your weight loss journey that you weren't expecting or hadn't given much thought to until you realized the change?
September 23, 2012
Anonymous posted this on the FAQ page: 
I am almost one week into this journey. I am amazed at how I can walk into Costco and could care LESS what samples are being offered. I walk down near the bakery section of the grocery and I am NOT enticed by the aromas. I feel good!
September 23, 2012
I'm seeing another change in my size this week! Megan gave me some jeans a few months ago and I couldn't zip them up. I remember how bummed out I was that they were so tight. I thought I was a size 18, but not according to those jeans. Now, not only can I zip them up, but they are roomy.
I've been getting compliments all week on my new wardrobe (thank you Megan and Amie). A few people said they noticed another drop in my weight, which is always nice to hear. Yesterday someone complimented me on how professional I looked in my beige outfit on Monday and that I should wear that outfit more often. I have no idea what I wore on Monday!

Every morning this week I opened my "smaller" size closet doors, reached in to see what to wear, and tossed more items into the "too big" closet.  Somehow I managed to find a new outfit to wear every day this week.

I read a question from the Facebook support group a few days ago about whether to keep clothes that are too big or to keep them. Based on previous experiences, she was hesitant to get rid of them, in case she gains the weight back. I have a closet that I've spent the past year filling with clothes as they get too big for me. I'm confident, in a way I never have been before, that I'm never going to need those clothes again. This year they will either get sold on eBay or I'll donate them.

There is no looking back, only forward, and I'm excited to see what's ahead.
September 21, 2012
I said I was going to step up my exercise schedule and the next thing I knew, I was in a kickboxing class.
I wish I looked this good kickboxing.
There are now classes that I can take at the gym during my lunch hour at work and kickboxing came up first so I went. What a blast. It wasn't pretty, but I enjoyed it. I won't be able to go every week, but I'm going to do this every chance I get. We didn't use equipment like you see in the photo above, no head gear, nothing to kick, and we don't fight others. It's definitely a workout and I adjusted parts that I couldn't do.

I also started running again and this feels great. I'm still having stiffness in my ankles and working on stretching more. I do two stretches, every morning and will add one more tomorrow. So far I haven't had any improvement, but I'm hopeful the new addition in the morning will help work out the pain. It doesn't hurt when I'm running or on the elliptical.

I'm loving that Big Y now carrier Siggis yogurt. I even found coconut flavored; yummy. For those of you not fond of the yogurt, it may be something you like after the sugar is completely out of your system. I didn't have yogurt for a long time, so I suspect that's why I like it so much now. I know I wouldn't have liked it before, but I love it now. In fact, I have to be careful I don't eat more than the twice a week quota. Now that I can get it so close to home, I can buy two containers and I'll be good for the week.

You may have noticed, I rolled back the web design. There were a lot of technical issues with the new design. I still want to freshen up the look, but it will be a while. Meanwhile, I'm sorry that it was so difficult to navigate the site.


September 19, 2012
I started this blog on Sept. 25, 2011 and, like the rest of my life, the time has come to change things up a bit. I'm going to change the page layout/design, but before I do, I want to ask all of you a few questions about the direction you'd like to see this blog go in the year ahead. I'm also share a few blog statistics. Meanwhile, I'm working on a piece that I've been chewing on all week and hope to post tonight.
09/18/12 Friends of the Key Hypnosis Blog Pageviews (hits)
Questions for You
I would love your comments on these questions or additional feedback that will help make this blog work for everyone.
  1. How often do you want to see new posts?
  2. What topics do you want to hear more about?
  3. What would motivate you to post more comments to this blog?
  4. Would you become a blog contributor, which allows you to create posts (all other members may only comment on posts)?
 Statistics
  • Members: 58  
  • First Blog entry: 09/25/11 What's this Blog All About?
  • Pageviews today (09/18/12): 165
  • Pageviews yesterday: 349
  • Pageviews last month: 7,587
  • Pageviews all time history: 57,167
Most Popular Posts
  1. FAQ
  2. Meat Crust Pizza
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  4. Health question
  5. Maintenance
  6. Before Your First Session
  7. Down Another Size
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September 18, 2012

Anonymous asked: 

What about shirataki noodles? Can we have those? They are made from the konjac root.....
September 15, 2012
I found this video online today. It claims to be Julie Anne Kibe, but I can't confirm that is the Julie we see. Do any of you know? Perhaps someone at the office can tell us.



This video is definitely Julie (Dec. 2011)

September 12, 2012
Here is another laugh at me if you want to post, but I bet this has happened to some of you.

I am LOVING going to bed at night! Oh yes, I so look forward to it! Want to know why?!!! (hey, get your minds out of the gutter!!! LOL)

I'll tell you why: because I dream about food.

Ok, Ok, here is the scoop:

I have been having some VERY vivid realistic dreams where I am eating something totally forbidden. I can actually taste it and feel the high I used to get from it when I used to eat it. This is fun!

Then the BEST part: When I wake up, it takes me a few minutes to become oriented and gather my thoughts, I get that first panic that OH NO!! I cheated!! Then comes the most wonderful HIGH when I realize I DIDN'T CHEAT!! I AM STILL ON PROGRAM!!! Oh wow does that ever feel good!!!

Right now I am having the best of both worlds and totally enjoying my 'cheating dreams'!!!!!!!!

September 11, 2012
In regards to my plateau, it's time for me to mend some fences and dig up some truths. I've been asking myself a lot of questions. Am I doing something wrong? Are their foods I'm eating that are not on program or out of proportion? Do I need to kick up the exercise some more?
Sand Hill Cove, RI. Photo by Theresa.
As I think about all of these questions, I've been relating to what Linda talks about: why does it feel like nothing seems to be happening (plateau). I don't obsess on the answer to these question, but I must consider them from time to time and when I dig deep enough, I usually find the answer is yes.

For starters, I'm eating too much cheese. This is a show stopper. Julie gets pretty graphic about how cheese gets stored in our bodies. I've been in denial, as cheese has been an issue for some time now and I need to face it head on. How? I'm not going to buy cheese for the rest of this month. Last night, I started saying "I want to not want cheese".

I've been going to the gym only once or twice a week, I used to go 4-5 days. I've had pain in my ankles and it was a valid excuse for a while, but I have left it untreated far too long. I'm giving myself a month to be on board with stretching exercises to resolve it, or I go back to the doctor for more help. I remember Julie telling a woman if she doesn't exercise, it will take a really long time to lose weight. Hmmm....

On the flip side, Friday night I had a really big dinner, lots of protein with veggies and then Saturday I wasn't hungry all day. This kind of behavior usually signals a weight loss is on the horizon, as does my frustration point ("I'm at a plateau" boo hoo....). Another sign is how much I wanted to get on the scale last weekend at my brother's house. It's one of those full size scales like doctors used to have; all alone in the bathroom and no one else would know. I pushed the thought away and did not step on the scale.

Julie tells us to push away thoughts when we crave sugar or have urges to get on the scale, because when we have these cravings, we're on the cusp of another weight loss. My appetite has been big for the past few days. When I'm hungry like, this I like to have lots of protein in the house. I went to Trader Joe's this weekend and bought organic beef and chicken, and a couple freezer meats (Korean ribs, shrimp stir-fry), so I'm ready. Bring it on.

Some of you have written about your frustration with plateaus. How do you deal with your plateaus?

Thanks Jennifer and Mellisa for your words of support from my recent post The Truth About Sizes. Yes, I have come a long way. This been a long journey (19 months) and sometimes it feels like it's all happening in slow motion for me.
September 10, 2012
This week I've been looking back at my past and thinking about the changes in my life since I started this program. My biggest change: I don't obsess about food. What I ate in the past left me hungry for more because my choices lacked the nutrition my body needed.
Present: I choose to eat in a way that is sustainable for the rest of my life.
Past: I ate for the moment and was in denial of the future consequences.
It's a great relief for me that I no longer spend energy obsessing with food. I want to remember how different my life is now that the food obsession is at bay, so I made a list of my present attitude about food compared to my past:  

Present: The way I eat is my way of life.  

Past: I was either on a diet or off; way, way, way off. 
  
Present: I don't obsess about food.  
Past: I obsessed about food. 

Present: Food no longer knows my name.  
Past: It called out to me. It even knew my middle name.

Present: I appreciate the beauty of a beautifully made dessert without it haunting me for hours or days.  
Past: It haunted me for hours or days because I was either too full, sick to the stomach, or I fell asleep on the couch from so much sugar. 

Present: I feel good after I eat.
Before: I had indigestion on a regular basis. Need a Tums? I always had one. 

Present: I can go to a conference and eat healthy choices when I'm hungry. 
Past: I ate at least one of everything served, especially the snacks. Afternoons were difficult because I would be so sugared out I had a hard time staying awake.

Present: At restaurants I ask for what I want. Yes, I know it's the same price without bread or home fries. Yes, I know extra meat costs more.
Past: I didn't care if it was a "healthy" choice or I felt deprived because there were so many things I wanted to eat but were not on my "diet". I ate those foods all my life and look where that got me.

Present: I blog about my weight loss journey in an open platform that the whole wide world can see and include before and after photos and before and after lists of food habits.
Past: I would never.

What about you? What changes do you see in the way you see food today from how it used to be for you?
September 09, 2012
This recipe comes from Chris, who posted it on the facebook Key Hypnosis Support Group, in response to a question about what to eat when you're sick.
bone broth (photo credit: It's All About the Broth!)
Bone Broth
  • Put some bones in a crock pot and fill to within an inch or so of the top. 
  • Add 1-2 tbsp raw vinegar (to draw out the minerals) and simmer on low for 24-48 hrs.
  • Any sort of bones will do: beef shank (marrow) bones, chicken, fish, or anything else.
  • You don't have to thaw them if they're frozen. 
  • You can add in an onion, a carrot and three stalks of celery, maybe a bay leaf, or whatever you like. 
  • When the broth is done, remove the big solids with a slotted spoon (use a chopstick to push any marrow still in its bone back into the broth). 
  •  Use any sort of colander or stainless steel strainer to strain the broth into a large mixing bowl, from which you can then ladle it into wide-mouth quart-size glass canning jars (get the ones without toxins in their lids). 
  • Let the broth cool to room temperature before refrigerating or freezing. 
  • If you've used beef bones, the beef fat, or tallow, will rise to the top and form a neat disc that you can scoop out almost intact. 
  • Save this valuable tallow in a glass jar or bowl and use it for cooking; as a traditional cooking fat, it can stand high heat (unlike the more vulnerable vegetable oils) and lends a lovely mild beef flavor to whatever you're making. 
  • As for your broth, you can drink it straight up or use it as a basis for a good, tasty, nutrient-dense soup.
Good to sip on those hungry days also!
  
Comment from Theresa about this recipe:
One of my friends, who has maintained her weight her whole life, has bone broth on a regular basis. After she cooks a chicken, she takes all the meat off and follows the above recipe and uses the chicken carcass.

Additional benefits of this broth: (source: It's All About the Broth!)
  • Enhanced sleep
  • Reduced injury pain
  • Stronger teeth and bones
  • Reduced food cravings
  • Greatly reduced “shakes” that are attributed to hypoglycemia
  • Improved hair, nails and skin
Comment from Jennifer:

When you are sick, you do what you do for when you are sick!!!! When I was in Las Vegas, I got sick (tummy sick, if you know what I mean) and had saltines and Pepsi that night, and toast the next morning. That is what I needed to calm my stomach; there was NO way I could put any meat in my belly!!!!!!!. I didn't do it for anything other than to make myself feel better-I did not eat them because of the taste or "wanting them". She said I did the right thing :-)
September 09, 2012
I've been quiet on the blog because I'm feeling at a loss of words to describe what's going on for me. I'm in another plateau. My last drop in size was late June. I don't track my weight loss or my plateaus, but I recently became aware of a pattern in my thinking after my last plateau: I quickly forget I dropped an entire size.

Following my friend Aime's advice, I read the blog from the first entry backwards, to remember my weight loss journey and where I've been. I was looking for inspiration to shake me out of my "boo hoo I am at a plateau again" mood.

I only read the first and second entry before I realized focusing on size can be just as frustrating as focusing on the scale. Neither is an accurate measure of weight loss. Scales can vary, depending on whose scale you're on, and sizes are all over the place, depending on the brand.

In my 9/25/11 entry, I wrote:
  • When I started this journey, I wore size 30/32 tops and pants and I couldn't fit into anything in the women's section of JC Penney or Macy's. 
  • Last weekend I bought a Macy's 1X blouse and it fits perfect. 
  • Yesterday I wore a size 20W front-zip pants (hand-me-downs)
Those statements were all true, but here's the truth about my size clothes today:
  • In June I bought my first dress and it was a size 20.
  • In August I bought two dresses at Lane Bryant (yes, I said I would never go back, but if the shoe fits....). One dress was a size 14/16 and the other was a size 22/24. Both fit beautifully.
  • The clothing in the women's department in Macy's are mostly too big (yes, I went back there too), but there are a few items that fit.
The moral of my story, and my lesson learned: not all sizes are created equal. This is not like any other diet, including how the weight comes off. This journey has been steady: Drop weight. Hold. Appetite increases. Weight drops. Hold. Repeat. Sometimes I forget that this is the process, that my body is healing when I am a plateau, and that if I just keep doing what I'm doing, I will get to my ideal size. It is working. I sometimes get impatient.

When I look at the photos of me below side by side and a year apart, I have definitely lost a ton of weight. I know this, but in the day to day of things of life, it's easy for me to forget where I was, even just a few weeks ago when I was one size larger.
Sept. 2012 (14/16)
Sept. 2011 (4X)


What about you? Can you relate to any of this?
September 07, 2012
There was a recent photo posted on a Facebook group called I <3 to Run (I heart to run) that's worth taking a look, as almost 35,000 other people have viewed it. Jackie is obese and yet she runs triathlons. She used to weigh 415 lbs, and while she is still obese, the day after her photo was taken as she ran the triathlon, she did a  5k open water swim.
Jackie is running a triatholon in this photo
Check out Jackie's photo, story, and read some of the positive comment and see if you are inspired to exercise. What are your thoughts after seeing her photo and then reading the comments and her response.
August 30, 2012
This comment was posted by Anonymous in response to the Sweets posting. I am publishing this to bring it to the top page so they can get some support and suggestions from us:
I had been on this program for 4+ months and about 5lbs to my goal and I'm not as strong as you I have had ice cream twice in two days! (I'm very ashamed) the second time it made me very sick for hours.

Any suggestions on how I should move forward from my Bad decision?
August 22, 2012