There are many rewards to this weight loss program, some more obvious than others. One hidden reward for me: going to a 40th high school reunion and not focusing on how much weight I want to lose before the reunion.

Friday night reunion with some of the girls I went to school with for 12 years.
This is not my favorite photo, but it's the only I have right now.

This weekend I went to my 40th high school class reunion and I had a blast. I worried all summer about what I would wear, but in the end I was happy with the outfits I wore (there were three events over the weekend). What I didn't worry about was losing weight for the reunion. No crash diets leading up to this weekend, as I've been on this program for 19 months and none of the weight I've lost was for this weekend; it's for the rest of my life. I'm so happy that I didn't have to obsess over what I weigh or what size I am.

For the big reunion event I wore a beautiful blue sleeveless dress that was just above the knees, low cut, with lots of bling around the neckline. Earlier this week I had an opportunity to wear the dress one evening while I was at a conference in Boston (where I won an iPad 3 BTW). I was so nervous about wearing such a revealing dress that I took a photo of myself in the dress in my hotel room and sent it to a few of my friends and asked "do I dare go out in this dress?" My friends wrote back wonderful compliments and friends at the reunion complimented me as well. It's a whole new style of dress for me, but I have to say I felt great!

At the reunion, we shared memories of our youth and our lives over the past 40 years. Many of us did not stay in touch after high school, heck some of us weren't in touch in high school, but there is a common thread that we all shared and it was nice to connect in new ways. I spent twelve years with most of those people, some I knew well, others I never talked to because I was too shy. Last night I pushed away the shy young girl and I had meaningful conversations with a handful of people, including a guy I had a mad crush on who I never talked to in school.

I posted this on our class reunion Facebook a few minutes ago:
I've had a smile on my face all day from reunion weekend. I'm heading for bed and I'm still smiling. I'm thinking I'll be smiling all week. :)

Saturday night with friends from all 12 years in school.

August 05, 2012

Sometimes Love Hurts. And last night, it hurt me. 

I have a sister who is 9 years younger than me. Opinionated. Witty. Smart. And someone who can, without knowing it, sting with her words.

I don't completely remember her word-for-word comment last night while we were on the phone talking, because I am still in shock. It was something like "you are no better now just because you are skinny." 

Really? Honestly? Are you kidding me? Someday I have to gather my courage (I hate confrontation) and ask her what she truly meant by that comment.

I am not making excuses, but my sister is going through a horrible time in her life. Just horrible. Stress beyond belief. And she is eating. Eating, eating, eating. Something I would have done too had I heard that comment before starting with Julie, or if I was going through what she is going through. I personally have not hurt my sister, and in my heart I know she is lashing out. If she feels bad, why not make me feel bad too? That is what I am thinking.

I don't see my sister often because there is a bit of distance between her house and mine, and we are busy. And I know over the last year that my weight loss was pretty dramatic. She has always been more in control of her weight, and in my eyes she has always been beautiful. But, she is overweight. Not as much as I ever was, but, heavier than she wants to be. I understand that.

Now I am thinking that she is a bit self-conscious of her weight. And hasn't been able to talk to me about it. I got a hint when she came out my way in the spring and we went shopping at Old Navy. She has always shopped there. I have never shopped there. Never thought that their clothes would fit. Lose weight, their clothes fit. I had fun. She didn't. She wouldn't try anything on in front of me. Why had that changed? When I was heavy, she would show me everything that she tried on, whether it fit or not. We used to share a changing room. And I am no better now because I am skinny? What is that all about?

She tells me that she is concerned about her daughter being heavy when she grows up, and she wants to teach her to "eat right" and be able to say no to food. That is a wonderful attitude to give a child. The only comment that I ever remember saying to my sister when she told me this was "why not offer her a hotdog or a hamburger without the bun?" Make a meal here and there without bread. Show her that that is an option too. Cut back on some of the carbs. Teach her about sugar and flour. I didn't go on and on, just mentioned it. Maybe she took this conversation the wrong way? I don't know. All I know is that I am wounded. I am hurting.

BUT! I will tell all of you that I have not ONCE thought about jumping out of the river and doing something stupid because of this. I know that food will not heal my heart. I know that it isn't healing her heart. Only time can do that. Food will not. So, contrary to what she said last night, I think I AM better now. Because I am not going to let food hurt me like her words hurt me. I will mull this conversation over and over and over, because that is what I do. Then, someday, when she is in a better place, I will talk to her about this. And tell her that her comment hurt me. I wont do that now because her stress is so great, and she needs to work on herself. I can wait.

I am offering this story to you because maybe this has already happened to you, or maybe one day it will, and it will cause you to stop in your tracks. You would think that people would be happy for you in an accomplishment such as this. I think, if I was doing Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig and had positive results, would she have said that? I don't know. Does she think that this was too "easy" for me? Shouldn't we be happy when someone has a positive accomplishment in their life? She has a Masters Degree. I have an Associates Degree. Would she say "you are no better now because you have an Associates Degree"???? I think not. Would she rather I still be heavy and have high blood pressure and still be pre-diabetic? I don't get it. Maybe someday I will.

I feel better now that I put my feelings down on "paper." Thanks for listening. I think I'm gonna go eat another piece of meat and go watch our Olympians kick some ass. Hugs to you all!

August 01, 2012

Hi, my name is Linda and I am a food-a-holic.

I LOVE food!

I MEAN -- I REALLY REALLY LOVE FOOD!!!

phew, got that off my chest. True confession time, I LOVE FOOD!!! There I said it...

I am Italian, what do you expect! I was/am a member of the clean plate club, and that included everyone else's plates too!

As a child I always thought of the starving children in other countries, so I dutifully ate my food and enough for them too! I am sure they knew I was helping them.

Food has comforted me, has kept me sane, has helped me through rough times, has made me happy, is always there for me, always tastes good, is associated with happy times - celebrations, sad times too., Food is just always there, it is like such a good friend.

Food ALWAYS called me! and I ALWAYS answer my friends calls!

Except, it isn't a good friend. Have you ever had a friend you just loved but they just weren't good for you? YUP, I got one here called food.

I remember some of the boys I would bring home and my parents just didn't like them. No matter what I said, they knew they were not good for me and just didn't like them. Or some of the girls I would hang around with, my parents would work on me to spend less time with them, the influences from these 'so called friends' was bad.

HMMM, I survived the bad boy friends, I survived the less time with the bad friends. I lived to tell about it and in return ended up with a good life.

Soooooooo, hmm, what do I do about my faithful friend food. Food controls me and yet gives me what I want, then slaps me in the face and makes me feel bad. Now if my kids were hanging around someone like that, I would step in and say, GET RID OF THEM NOW!!! (well, I would say that but who knows if they would listen) Soooo, why do I hang around with Food.

I need to take my own advice and the advice of my parents from so long ago. (OH! my parents would laugh if they knew I said that)

I need to break off the relationship and stop letting it control me.

I need to spend less time with it, the influence is bad.

I need to find healthier ones, better influencing ones, ones that won't slap me in the face.

Then I need to make a new friend called EXERSIZE. I have hated that girl all my life and still hate her, but I know I have to become friends with her. She just grates on my nerves and gets under my skin. But I have to learn to like her, some say I have to love her. OH MY GOODNESS, just keep testing my patience will ya!

I am 54 years old ( OH MY! Did I just admit that!!!) and have to change my life and my 'friends'. Not easy when the old ones are comfortable like my old sneakers. Scary, uncharted territory. But it is like going to the dentist, it is something I have to do whether I want to or not.

So, when I stomp and whine and complain and talk bad about my new food friends and that girl exersize, just bear with me and know that I am trying. I never did like being told what to do and still don't. I kick and scream the whole way and sometimes end up glad I tried. I have a feeling I may kick and scream on this adventure, but I have a feeling I will like the outcome.

So, meet my new food friends meat and vegetables, and (gulp) exersize. Still don't like her but letting her in a little at a time to get used to her and maybe overlook her lousy features and try to find the good features.

and meet my new friend - POSITIVE ATTITUDE!! She has never been in my life before and all of a sudden I realized she is a big part of my life, she just crept in!

I LOVE Julie's program, I am enjoying the new me that I am becoming. I am REALLY ENJOYING this adventure! WOW! who is this person 'talking' that is me!!!???

July 30, 2012

Theresa reminded me about this recipe, and asked if I would print it-I hope she will add the picture that she took of it when she made it as it is a beautiful looking salad!!!!!! I have found the Langostino Lobster Tails in the frozen section near the seafood department. Not all stores carry them, and I must warn you that they are expensive. But, totally worth it, I think!!!! I also added in the shrimp recipe as we are all enjoying this grilling season! Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!! 

Langostino Lobster Tail Salad; photo by Theresa

Langostino Lobster Tail Salad

(Originally made by Susan Azar)

You can alter this recipe to your own taste, with different veggies and/or spices

2 boxes Langostino Lobster Tails, thawed according to directions , then placed on paper towels to dry (the mayonaise will get runny if you don't)

1/4-1/2 C mayonaise (depends on your taste)

1 tbls lemon juice (optional)

1-2 tbls curry powder (I use a lot; I love the taste!!!!!)

salt and pepper to taste

frozen veggies (I use 1/4 cup frozen corn and 1/4 cup frozen peas)

Mix mayo and curry powder plus lemon juice/salt/pepper

In large bowl, add langostino lobster, mayo and veggies. Mix well.

Refrigerate to let flavors meld, allowing veggies to thaw.

Makes 2-3 servings

langostino lobster tails

Prosciutto-Wrapped Shrimp

(I found this in Rachael Ray's Magazine)

2 Tbls. Olive Oil

12 Jumbo Shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails left on

Old Bay Seasoning (optional) or salt and pepper to taste

12 thin slices Prosciutto di parma

In Gallon Size Ziploc baggie, place shrimp and olive oil and seasoning, or just salt and pepper to taste. Remove shrimp

Roll each shrimp in a slice of prosciutto

Brush with a little more EVOO

Skewer shrimp, which helps keep prosciutto attached.

Grill about 2 minutes each side, until shrimp is firm and opaque, and prosciutto starts to crisp. (You can pan fry them as well, just not skewered)

July 28, 2012

I'm posting the comment below was posted today so more folks can see it and respond.

Questions from Pam t:

I just joined but I am not sure where to start? So I will try asking my questions here. Or should I go back to my email and start from there??

Anyway I started with Julie on May 5th and I was a size 16/18. I am now a size 10!!! Yeah but I am scared to death about adding the potato. I went to a maintenance session and Julie didn't really talk to much about the process. She needed to explain some of the changes she was making in the program. I read your explanation using the river and that has helped. As far as the potato goes can we cook it any way we want? FRIED?? I understand that we first have potato then grains then flour but I guess never together, correct?

I have to admit I get very confused sometimes beacuse I thought I heard her say we would eventally be hypnosis free but then I hear her say people still have to come back for more refreshers because they have gained too much weight once they start to wean off the program. I guess I am just stuck on the question of will I ever be able to eat a few of my favorite foods once in a while without spiraling out of control.

I think I also heard that if you cheat a little and break the hypnosis that you will gain weight even if you go back to eating just meat and veggies. Is this true??? I am sorry for all the ???s but I have been pondering them for awhile and it is just to hard to ask in a session.
Plus I never hear anything mentioned about fruit???? Thanks Pam

July 28, 2012

Today was the day that my lovely daughter Kelly and I took a road trip to Whole Foods in Glastonbury, Conn. Kelly, my 25 year old vegetarian (who has wanted to get me there on numerous occasions) and I had a great time! I started my visit at the coffee counter, explaining to the lovely server (named Jennifer, I might add!) that I was a "Whole Foods Virgin" and was very happy to be there to poke around. After getting my hot coffee and adding cream to it (live large every now and I again, I say!), off we went! We were a little pressed for time, so I apologize for not taking pictures along the way. I did get a picture of some of my "loot" when I got home, and I will explain what I got as we go.

After leaving the coffee counter, we walked past a "hot breakfast buffet." They had, among other things I wasn't interested in, 2 different kinds of scrambled eggs, and sausage and bacon. If we had more time, we would have eaten. Maybe next time! Then, we came across an aisle of prepared foods-chicken and tuna salads, soups, salads, etc. etc. I also did not bring a lot of money with me, so, sadly, I couldn't pick up everything that made me drool. All of the pre-packaged foods looked fresh, and extremely yummy!

Then we came across a section that had pickled beets, pickles, relish, etc. Well, Bubbies pickles did speak to me, so I picked up the dill relish and dill pickles. (Remember, Julie wants us to eat refrigerated vs. nonrefrigerated pickles). The beets will come home next visit. They also had packaged prosciutto wrapped cheese and salami wrapped cheese. That was a splurge (yes, I know cheese is a condiment!) and I will enjoy tasting those! Around the corner we go, and there was a wonderful olive bar. Note the stuffed peppers in the bottom of the picture-those are stuffed with cream cheese and herbs, or goat cheese. Again, just a taste!

By now, Kelly kind of figured out that I am a perimeter shopper. This store makes it extremely convenient for this kind of shopping, as after the olive bar was the yogurt shelf! This was my real reason for going, because as a lot of you know I am having a hard time finding the Siggis yogurt. JACKPOT! 

Not only did they have the plain, blueberry, vanilla and pomegranite/passion fruit and orange and ginger flavors, they had PEACH AND STRAWBERRY! Yippee!! So, I got a few of those. I will try making the popsicles with those flavors, they sound so good! Unfortunately, no Coconut flavor, but, I am planning on asking at my local Stop and Shop if they will carry those. The cost at Whole Foods was 50 cents more (ouch), so I would prefer to get them at S+S.

Then on to the meat and seafood counter where it was all fresh, fresh, fresh!!!!! The staff was very attentive, which I always appreciate (especially when spending that kind of money!) I also specifically went there for buffalo wings, as they are my new favorite for dinner (I will post my recipe at the end). The wings were actually CHEAPER there than Big Y! Only $1.99 a lb, vs. $3.49!!!!! me!)I picked up about 10 lb. to get me at least a month's worth. At the seafood department I could have taken one of everything, but settled on Sea Scallops-Those I seasoned with Old Bay, and hubby cooked on the grill for lunch-already gone!Absolutely wonderful; those will go home with me again!

The spices were so hard to ignore as I am always looking for new wing flavors! Kelly and I both picked up a tub of the Tequila Lime flavor, and I cannot wait to make the wings with that.

So, our trip to Whole Foods was a success! Kelly and I decided that we will go once a month, and next time we will make sure we have a little more time so we can sit and eat. It was clean, quiet, and worth the extra money. I strongly recommend the visit!
   
For those of you who want my wing recipe (Credit given to my friend Robin for passing it on to me!) here it is:

Oven-baked Buffalo Wings

Ingredients

• 3 pounds organic chicken wings
• olive oil
• seasoning such as lemon pepper, buffalo, etc.
• salt and pepper (optional)

Directions

1. Take a "Ziploc" gallon size bag, and place chicken in it. 
2. For the lemon pepper flavor (my absolute favorite), add about 1/4 C olive oil and 3-4 tbls lemon juice. 
3. Mix that well by massaging the bag (making sure it is closed securely!). 
4. Then add about 1/4 cup lemon-pepper seasoning/ salt (no extra pepper needed) and massage again. 
5. You can marinate them overnight, or use after 15-30 minutes of marinating. 
6. Leaving liquid behind, place wings on aluminum-foil lined cookie sheet (easier cleanup) and bake at 425 for about 25 minutes (check for doneness, they will start to brown).
7. Yummy!

I also have done hot sauce and buffalo rub from Pampered Chef-Yummy! You can do any flavor you want, such as ranch, soy, teriaki, etc. Tomorrow I will use the Tequila Lime flavor. 

Reheating is just as easy- 350 for about 25 minutes, and they are just as good the next day! Enjoy!

July 28, 2012

A few years ago, if you anyone tried to tell me that I could lose weight and still be able eat at a pizza place, I would not believe it possible. It's all about choices. There are so many choices when we eat out.

Left to right: Theresa, Jennifer, Linda, Jill, Sandy

It is possible to lose weight and eat at a pizza place and this is exactly what a few of us "friends of the Key Hypnosis" did last night. We had dinner at Campion's Pizza in South Windsor and they had incredible menu options.

I had a burger with grilled onions and jalapenos, bacon, and mozzarella cheese on top with a small cup of tomato basil soup. Hold the bun and the french fries. It was delicious! Some of the others opted to have a giant size portabella mushroom on top an on the bottom to replace a bun, and Jennifer had an incredible salad with extra beef that made me wish I'd done the same

Once again, it was another evening of gabbing the night away with great food and even better company! We share stories, recipes and laughter. It was great seeing everyone!

July 27, 2012

Yesterday a friend of mine asked me "now that you've completed your six-week mini triathlon, what's next?" Great question! Experience has taught me having a new goal to work towards keeps me motivated.

Photo from The Art of Self-Motivation

I've been thinking a lot about stretching exercises, so yoga is a possibility. I'm looking for a yoga course that I can take in the fall, but that's a couple more months away. What do I want to do between now and then to build upper body and core strength? Well, since it's still summer, I'm looking for places to kayak.

This Sunday, I'm going to a conference in Boston for a few days and I'm looking at guided tour options on the Charles River. I'm finding rates of $15 per hour, which is decent. I'll let you know how this works out for me. I'm going to be out of town for the next several weekends, so I'll be looking at options in Rhode Island (a couple options: Narrow River or Queens River), later in August. I may even be able to get my brothers or a friend to join me!

Meanwhile, after being so pleased with myself about completing my six-week mini triathlon, I haven't been in the gym all week. I did get out and walk at lunch today, nothing fast, but stretching the legs was a good plan. My gym buddy Aime is on vacation and I have to keep myself motivated to go on my own. A gym buddy much more fun, but I know how good I feel when I'm working out, so I'll be back into the gym tomorrow.

What are the rest of you doing for exercise this summer?

July 25, 2012