Last week I did a quick survey on how others apply or define these key program concepts: compromise, sacrifice, and example. A great dialogue followed. I am in awe of the complexity and the simplicity how others responded.
image (modified) source: Project Interfaith
Each of these concepts are important for us to fully understand, so today's post focuses on compromise. I'll write about sacrifice and example in the days ahead and publish those  later this week.

For me, I get compromise and sacrifice, but I always have a hard time with example. I don't get this part at all. There are others out there who are excellent examples for me to follow. Is this what she means by be the example? So many of you are an inspiration to me. I look to you as an example of where I want to be and how you got there is the example I want to follow.

What compromise means to others:

I decided, after reading some of the things people said about "cheating" that I wasn't going to eat. I was going to go clean my living room instead. I'm not hungry, so I am not going to eat. This is one of my whiny "why can't I?" moments...

Recently I had a very strong craving for junk food and I couldn't stop thinking about subs. So I stopped at D"Angelo's and bought a big, greasy steak and cheese pocket with mushrooms and onions. Brought it home, dumped the steak out of the pocket, gave the pocket to the dog and enjoyed the steak and cheese in a bowl.

Personally, I've realized that I will have to sacrifice and compromise every day for the rest of my life with my commitment to change my lifestyle.

Julie assures us that if we sacrifice the food (& drink) and do as she taught us, we will achieve our goals.

I still get to order my same meals (sandwich, chicken Parmesan, Fajitas, etc) but now without the bread/breading/tortillas.

Keep the conversation going -- what does compromise mean to you?

Related Posts:
March 07, 2013
When is the last time you did any form of exercise? If you exercise on a regular basis, are you doing the same thing week after week? Is it time to change things up and get moving in new ways? I say yes, yes it it!
photo source: Kick it Up Asana
On Monday, as I worked out on the elliptical next to Aime, she told me she's planning to do a10k and to prepare, she downloaded a 5k to 10k running app. She hasn't been running much lately, so she's starting by following the first 10 days of the program and then start from day one again. I'm impressed. I would have started with the couch to 5K app and worked my way up, but she's jumping right in there. As we worked out, I watched Aime use her app to intensify her workout. Go Aime!

Me, I kept going at my own pace and as we moved to the incumbent bike, I didn't commit to anything. But I have to say, earlier when we talked about going to the gym, I said flat out I wasn't going and within a minute I turned it around and said "Do you want to go right now (it was 11:35) or at noon?" and within a minute I was on my way to the gym. While I didn't intensify my workout, I spent 40 minutes in the gym. My recent workouts were 20-25 minutes. As I walked back to my office, I felt great and I know the extra long workout was the reason.

After my shoulder injury in Dec., I stopped working out. An injury is a good reason to stop. On the positive side here, I did walk as much as I could during my 2 weeks in Florida in Dec., but when I returned home, I clung to the injury as a reason not to exercise. When the PT guy gave me clearance to return to the gym, I didn't resume my 3-4 times a week schedule and there were weeks that I didn't make it in at all.

After my injury I told a friend I didn't think I'll be a runner anymore. She encouraged me not to toss that idea out so quickly, to just give myself more time and to give it another try. I've decided it's time to take that advice and follow Aime's lead: I'm going to run in a 10k race too. What - did I really say that aloud? Yes I did!

I encourage you to get moving too. You don't need to start by running a 5k, but it is a good  idea to have a clear goal of what you want to accomplish. Start by walking in one direction for five minutes and then walk back. Or walk to a specific place and back. Begin with a goal you know you can reach and commit to walk a specific number of days for a week. Halfway through the week, set a goal for the following week, such as  increasing your time by a few more minutes or covering the same distance in less time. Don't worry about your pace, walk the set time and increase the amount of time over the weeks and months ahead.

If walking isn't for you, find something that you can do. Stretch for 2 minutes once a day. There are online videos of exercises you can do in a chair. Try yoga. Well, I say that, but I have yet to do yoga, because I had a hard time getting to the floor or up once I got down there. My point is, find some form of exercise and make a commitment to get moving.

If you want to take off weight and keep it off, you need to exercise at some point or it's going to take a really long time to reach your goal size. Plus, once you've taken off some weight, you'll want to be more active so you can spend the rest of your life healthy!

Does this sound too overwhelming? For those of you who don't exercise yet, start today by committing to have an exercise goal that you will start on the first day of spring - March 15. The rest of us - let's look at our exercise routine and determine what we can to kick it up a notch.

So, what is my goal? My goal is to find out what 10k Aime is doing and determine if that will fit into my schedule. Plan B is to look at the running events in Western Mass and commit to a 10k run. There are a couple races in June and Sept. that I will take a closer look at. I want to give myself time to really prepare for the run and in the meanwhile have a reason to keep running. This will encourage me to run during my European vacation  in April/May. How cool will that be!
March 05, 2013
This past Thursday, a few of us got together at Roma, in East Hartford to send 2 girls off on their trips South to warmer weather. As always, Miss Emelia did a wonderful job feeding us, and as always, we had a wonderful time chit-chatting while we ate our meat crust pizza!
One of Emelia's meat crust creations
One thing that I have learned while on this journey is how to surround myself with people that make me feel good. I mean, who wants to be around depressed people, especially while we are finishing out a gloomy winter? These ladies do it for me. Everyone brings laughter, wonderful stories, smiles, etc etc and it rubs off on those who are around them.
Jennifer and Jill
Karen and Theresa

Sandy and Linda 
Susan and Chris
It is also empowering watching all of us come out of our shells, and learning how to be comfortable in our "new/old skin". The cocoon is slowly releasing each and every one of us, and we are in the thick of relearning who we are. We have all stayed the course, accepting each challenge, and embracing each obstacle as it comes, passing each "test" as an achievement.

Nights out like this, surrounded by those who know exactly what each is going through, has gone through, or who will soon be going through is very empowering. Listening to goals and challenges is always interesting ("I am going to go one more month and see where I am", "slow and steady wins the race","I am looking forward to adding fruit back in"). Knowing these women all know what I am talking about, speaking about our fears ("I don't know if I will ever be able to eat popcorn", "I am so afraid of gaining weight", "I am scared but know it is right having surgery"), is not only fun, but, I walk away knowing I am not alone. It is a way of making sure everything is ok, internally and externally!

It is neat putting names, faces and voices together! We are all so happy to see each other, hug each other, listen to each other, and eat good food, knowing that there is no judging or questioning, all the while being ourselves.

I hear Julie in my head again, louder and "refreshed" after I have been around other "Key People". Adding more support around me has only fueled me to continue on this journey. Not only does it make it easier, it has made it way more fun!
Emelia with "the gang" Thank you again!
I can't wait until our next get-together! I love you all! Thanks for another wonderful evening out!
March 02, 2013
I am having the odd feeling that as I become smaller, I will more vulnerable (to what I dont know) and less significant. Does anyone else have this sensation? It is a kind of fear that is surprising to me.
February 27, 2013
I need some feedback on this one.

Julie talked about vivid dreams, and that is sooo true!!! I have lots of vivid dreams!

I have the food dreams that I LOVE, and crazy mixed up dreams that make no sense.

But I have noticed something different. Didn’t pay much attention to these until last night. Seems like every so often I have a very vivid dream that takes my today life and mixes in real life, from the past, very upsetting moments, traumatic moments that have happened to me. We are talking troubling things that happened way in the past.

While I am dreaming I am very upset, when I wake up I am very upset and it takes me a while to get the dream out of my system.

Hmmmmm

Do you think this is my minds way of trying to get me to resort to my old methods of dealing with stress and trauma by eating? Or is it because I am 55 and starting with ‘old timers’ disease!!!

I woke up pretty upset this morning and then thought about what I had dreamt about, and really picked it apart. Interesting…

I really wonder if my mind is trying to get me to eat stuff I will NOT eat!!!

Is our minds that powerful, that smart????

WOW!! Scary!!!

I know Julie impressed upon me in classes how smart our subconsciousness is, but WOW!!!

Interesting!!

What are your takes on this??? I am really curious!! (and if you think I am loosing it, I will welcome those comments too!! LOL)

Is this happening to anyone else????
February 27, 2013


The picture below is taken in February of 2008, my last trip to Germany, and the picture above, about 5 minutes ago.  Not just the hair color changed .. J  I had trouble finding a picture from "before Julie" because I avoided the camera. I am enthusiastically continue with my journey, and now, that I have figured out how to post pictures, I will keep 'em coming. The smile on my face is genuine. I am so happy that I am losing weight again. Like many of you, I’ve struggled my whole life and been on so many diets. I love this way of living and eating and my connection with all of you. I love our support team!
February 25, 2013
     This month marks one year that I have been working on maintenance, and nothing is going to take this achievement away from me. I wanted to touch on a few things that have pushed me along on this 1 year milestone.

     First of all, this is the first time in my life that the word "maintenance" has been used for longer than 5 minutes. I achieved the use of the same word when I was with Weight Watchers, but they couldn't stop the food from talking to me, and the food won over again. I now know the power of this word. Extreme power! And there is not one food out there that is going to take this word away from my vocabulary!

     If you think of food from an alcoholics point of view, and find it in yourself to tell yourself "most food is poison", and use Julie's help, then you can push these "bad" things away.

     The MOST important thing I have been working on this year? Please read on!

     Stress will be around every corner, and I use whatever the situation is as a "test". I say to myself "I am being tested" and for the first time in my life, I am pushing through and passing these "tests"! You have to somehow find your strength to be able to say "I am being tested, and I am going to win, come out on top, not give in, push it away", then the tests become fewer and farther between. It will always be around us, these "tests". It is how one accepts the "ism"  (foodaholism, how is that?!?!?!) so that you don't feel like you failed. It truly comes from within, and the more you empower yourself, the less the food will talk to you.

     The second most important thing I have learned?

     When I go on vacation, whether it be for a night, a weekend, a week, I CANNOT, WILL NOT stray from what Julie has simply given me to use every day. It isn't as if the journey has changed because I am not sleeping in my own bed. I did that my whole life. And it got me squat! Well, what it did was get me pre-diabetes and high blood pressure. And I don't want the food to start talking to me again.

     Why?  I am a food addict!  I am addicted to food! IT IS WHAT IT IS!!!!! I would also not "drink a drink" while on vacation if I was an alcoholic. Do you think I would be able to stop at just one if I had a problem with alcohol? Would it be ok if the person I was on vacation with knew I was an alcoholic and said "oh come on, you can do it-Just one drink!" Is that ok? Not for me. I know people have said that Julie has told them "when you pack your bags, then get back on". Well, I have never heard that. In fact, I heard the opposite. At my refresher last September, I heard her say that she would never tell someone that, and she doesn't know where that came from! So, if it was said, then IT WASN'T FOR ME. Because I NEVER HEARD IT. This is part of my SACRIFICE AND FREE WILL. And why the heck would I want to cave in to something that makes me feel disgusted and guilty when I can eat an entire steak and a whole lobster if I want to?!?!?!

     This is why Julie's behavior modification plan is different from everyone else. She has been able to push the food talk away from us by giving us tools to use, and her talking to our cells. It can and does work. I know it is hard to look at other people and say "they can eat the fucking food (pardon me please, but I have thought it that way, so that is what I am going to write) SO why can't I?" Why do I have to have an addiction? Why was I wired this way? Whine Whine Whine!!!!!! I no longer do that. I smile, eat my pepperoni or my tuna, and say, Damn I Look Good in My Size 6 Levis!!!! I continue to follow this journey to the best of my ability. I say no thank you when I need to, and don't think another thought about it. My commitment is still 100%!!!!!

     My chains have been lifted. FOOD no longer controls ME.  I CONTROL IT!!!!!!!!

                     Happy One Year of Maintenance to Me!!!!

February 21, 2013
Yesterday at the hair salon something awesome happened.

“Man, you look great! You lost a lot of weight since I saw you last”. Yep, those are the words from a lady I hadn’t seen since just before Christmas. We both had an appointment last night at the same hair salon. My hair stylist was in agreement with her and we went on and on, for the next couple of hours about weight, diets, etc. Both of these ladies are familiar with Julie, not just because of me, but of a co-worker, who had lost, according to my friend, had lost a ton of weight and she kept it off for quite some time now. You know, I know I am losing weight because my clothes fit me again and I just feel it, but to hear it is just such a confirmation. Because of the blog and the support group from Facebook I feel encouraged and committed. Thank you to all of you, support group. I’ve learned so much and I continue to learn more. This is not a diet for me, but a way of living. I am not saying I will never have a glass of Wine again or a piece of cake, but for the most part, I am just fine the way things are with what I can consume. Just keep ad it each day and you will be successful.
February 21, 2013