January 30, 2012
The Curtain, George Segal 1974
Photo by Theresa
A few nights ago I heard something on the news that has stayed with me for a few days:
"It's that time of year, when New Year's resolutions begin to fade away.  Stay tuned to find out how to keep your New Year's resolution to stick to your diet."
I didn't need to stay tuned. I realized right then and there how great it is that I no longer worry about keeping a New Year's resolution to stick to my diet. I no longer worry about about giving up on a diet. I  no longer worry about what diet I'll do if this diet fails or what else I'll I try.

This program is a life-changer for me. There's nothing to give up. There's no resolution to chase after. I have changed the way I eat and how I think about food. One of reasons I didn't journal for the first seven months on this program is that I don't spend time thinking about a diet.

That's one of the great things on this program--seven whole months passed before I realized I hadn't taken a before photo or even measurements. This leaves a whole lot of time to focus on other things in life and also takes away a lot of stress.

I know I'm not the only one following this program who feels this way. In a recent blog entry, Linda wrote:
"I haven't given up. That is a big success for me! Usually I have cheated or given up on a 'diet' by now after being on it this long especially when it feels like I am not losing."
There are times, of course, that I think about the program; mostly when I feel like I'm not losing weight. Karen recently blogged about what she does when she feels like she isn't losing weight:
"I just buy something smaller or tighter clothes and that helps me get motivated to lose more weight and reach the size I want."
When I'm feeling like I'm not losing weight, I too open my closet and try on clothes. It's wonderful to find items that fit me now and didn't fit me last year, or even just a few weeks ago. Or to discover I fit into some of the hand-me-downs I had set aside because they were too small.

Speaking of clothes, I was thinking about the plan I had for my wardrobe as I dropped sizes. My plan was to avoid spending money on smaller clothes along the way, to get by with clothes that I outgrew years ago and the hand-me-downs from my friends.

This is a good plan, but my body has changed. Those clothes that haven't fit me in years may fit now, but not always in the best way. My body is shaped differently than when I was this size before. Sometimes I look in the mirror and I see me in clothes that my friends gave to me and I think "I would never buy this!" I wear them anyhow, because they fit.

I have a better plan that I'm following now. In December, I bought three pairs of pants and they look so much better than the older ones I have in this size. I bought pants that compliment my body by fitting in all the right places. While I'm still losing weight, I don't need an extensive wardrobe, so I don't rush out and buy a ton of clothes. I have to say, I can't wait until I get to go to regular stores, instead of large women's store, to buy smaller sizes and new styles. I'm not there yet, but that day will come.

Meanwhile, I gratefully accept all hand-me-downs. Especially the wonderful winter jacket Aime gave me. I never would have gone for this style jacket if I was looking to buy a new coat, but I love this hand-me-down coat. It's not always a bad thing to I realize I would not have bought an item that was a hand-me-down.

Size 30/32 tops
For sale on eBay
Also part of the plan, is to sell my larger clothes on eBay. I did this with most of my coats in November and those that didn't sell I donated.

Today, I went into my closet and pulled 20 of my size 30/32's, photographed them, and put them for sale on eBay. If they don't sell, they go into a bag for Goodwill. Time to be rid of those sizes. Amazing, the closet is still full of clothes that are too big.

Up next: size 26-28 later this week.

There was mention of a clothing swap, but I haven't heard any ideas about how we can do this. Ideas?


January 29, 2012
Chicken with Red Pepper & Goat Cheese 

Sticking with my promise to mix my menus up and try new recipes, I'm happy to report I added two new items to my repertoire this week. The first item is arugula, a veggie that's high in vitamins A and C. I haven't had arugula in ages and it is wonderful to have this back on my menu. I placed it under my main courses this week, which included chicken, chicken salad, hamburger, and steak.
Sliced chicken on arugula and topped
with red pepper and goat cheese sauce.

From Whole Foods
The second new item I tried this week was a sauce that Whole Foods markets as a dip: Fire Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Dip. My intent was to dip carrots and celery into it as a compliment to my chicken, but when I opened the container and tasted it, I decided to use it as a sauce instead. This is my new favorite dish.

If you're looking to change up your menus a bit, give this a try and let us know how you used the dip.

Has anyone tired new recipes this week that you'd like to share? 

While we're on the topic of water, I drink tons of seltzer and about six months ago I bought a SodaStream, which makes seltzer from tap water. I drink my seltzer plain on ice, but most of the time I add lemon and lime. It also is good to use when making a vodka drink.

I love that I no longer have to carry heavy bottles from the grocery store or deal with recycling bottles. I like it so much that I bought one for my office. They vary in price, but you shouldn't have to pay more than $99. Also, it's best to buy the smaller size (60-liter), as a sales rep told me it's harder to get refills for the bigger size. They sell them at Amazon, Macey's, Bed Bath and Beyond, and even Sears. The easiest place to exchange the cylinders is at Bed Bath and Beyond because you make the exchange at the customer service counter, which is right near the front door.

I was reading magazines at my doctors office yesterday and I read a brief article about diet soda that supports concepts we hear from Julie:

Dump the diet Soda
It might now have any calories, but that doesn't make diet soda a weight-loss bullet. In fact, in a nearly 10-year study of 474 people, researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio found that folks who drink two or more diet sodas a day experienced a 70% greater increase in waist circumference than soda shunners. Reason? The jury is still out, but a study from the universities of Bristol and Bangor sound that drinking the diet beverages make your taste buds less sensitive to sweets so you actually crave sugary foods.

I took a photo of the article, but failed to note the name of the magazine. I found a similar article from CBS News New study is wake-up call for diet soda drinkers that indicated similar findings; here's an excerpt:

"Artificial sweeteners could have the effect of triggering appetite but unlike regular sugars they don't deliver something that will squelch the appetite," Sharon Fowler, obesity researcher at UT Health Science Center at San Diego and a co-author on both of these studies, told the Daily Mail. She also said sweeteners could inhibit brain cells that make you feel full.

So if sugar soda is no good, and diet soda isn't either - what should we be drinking?
Dr. Hazuda told the Daily Mail, "I think prudence would dictate drinking water."

None of this comes as a surprise.

January 28, 2012
It's been a year that I've been on Julie's weight loss program and this week I've been thinking about the ways my life has changed since the last week of January 2011....

I am no longer consumed by thoughts of when I'll begin a diet or feeling like a failure because I started a diet and gave up after a few days or a few weeks - or I never started at all. I no longer think about the infamous "tomorrow" when I'll begin to eat right and exercise. Eating right and exercising are now part of my lifestyle. I'm not sure when those all consuming thoughts left me, but I'm happy they are silenced.

I am confident that I will reach my ideal size. I've never felt this way before. I don't know how long it's going to take me, but I don't need to focus on that anymore either. Last January I thought I would have lost a hundred pounds by now. I'm really okay with the fact that I haven't lost a hundred pounds. The weight has come off at a pace that feels natural. Some days I don't feel like I've lost over fifty pounds, because it has come off slowly. I only need to look into my huge closet full of clothes that are too big to realize how much smaller my body is than it used to be. This week I'm wearing a coat my friend Aime gave to wear in Alaska in June. At that time I could zip it up, but I couldn't move for fear it would rip open. It's my new favorite coat and there's room inside for a heavy sweater inside. Time to sell off my favorite red coat that I had altered in October--it's too big.

I used to think "If I lose x amount of weight per week, then by such and such a date, I will weigh XXX." In fact, last night I heard myself trying to work this equation aloud with a friend. "I'm this size now and if I keep going as I have been going, by my vacation in April I'll be a size.... Wait! This formula doesn't work any more!" In April, I'll be whatever size I am and there isn't a formula that's going to project what size I'll be by then.

At my recent refresh class, I was reminded that  plateaus are not only a part of the process, but that we should embrace them. When we're in a plateau, our body locks in our weight  so that it becomes our new high, which helps us in the end to maintain our weight. At the same time, I need to assess if I'm in a rut vs a plateau. A rut is when I'm eating the same foods with no variety. A rut is when I am sliding, eating too much cheese, an imbalance of protein to veggies, or anything else that I "allow" that is a slippery slope and if I keep it up the plateau will turn into a weight gain. Although some weight gain is also part of this process, I need to be aware if I'm doing something to cause that or if it's just part of the ebb and flow.

I've learned that the longer I'm on this program, the stronger my resolve is to stay the course. Exercise helps take the weight off faster, which is the reason I began to exercise, but I didn't start exercising until October. I love how I feel when I exercise, which makes me happy to have this be a part of my lifestyle.

Like many of you, I often struggle staying off the scale. However, I really get how knowing numbers can mess with my head, so I continue to stay away from knowing how much I weigh. In a recent blog post, I commented on my thoughts about the scale:
  • Think about the scale as old technology: outdated an obsolete. 
  • It no longer fits our needs. 
  • It does not measures our success. 
  • It does not define who we are. 
  • Using the scale sets us back. 
  • We are more than the sum on the scale.
I've learned to measure my weight loss success in new ways. I have more energy than I did a year ago. I'm five sizes smaller than I was a year ago. I can run a 5k in under 45 minutes. I bought binoculars so I can take up birding this year.  My creative juices are flowing once again.

When I put together my year of photos, I realized I hadn't taken that many photos of myself over the past year. Most of the photos I found were from previous times I had started a diet and wanted before and after photos. I didn't take a before photo in January 2011. My first photo on this program was in April when I was on vacation. All the photos I took last year were from vacations with the exception of Aug. 2011 and my Jan. 2012 photos. The one in August was when I was in a store and tried on a new outfit and wanted a second opinion, I took a photo and sent it to a friend. I bought the top, but took it back a few days later.  I took the January photo so I could have something to compare to the older photos. In taking that photo and adding it to all the others - I was then able to really see how much weight I've dropped.

It is because I am not consumed by this program/diet that I haven't taken photos along the way. Photos are a good way to measure success, so I'm committed to taking a photo at least once a month until I reach my goal size. This is a good way to measure success.

What about you? How has your life changed since you began Julie's program? How do you measure success? And what about a clothing exchange - how would this work?
January 25, 2012
I'm happy to say weight is coming off once again. It felt like I was maintaining for a couple of months, although my clothes indicate otherwise. I understand plateaus are a good thing and that they are part of the process, but still it's nice to be dropping weight again. I contribute the weight drop to my refresh class last week. I'm back to working the core of this program: lots of meat, equal portions of meat to veggies, and mixing up my menu plan.
I didn't realize I was stuck on the same foods week after week until I heard Julie ask someone in the group if they were eating the same foods all the time. I realized this was something I was doing; I had a few favorites that I made week after week. This week I broke out of the mold by eating shrimp, chicken, bacon, sausage, beef, and a wider variety of veggies. Variety is a good thing and I encourage each of you to work on varying your menus too. Boredom with food is never a good thing, as it can lead us to places we don't want to go and it can stump our weight loss progress. This is part of our journey too - keeping things from being boring. How are all of you doing with variety in your menus?

For me to mix things up, I started exploring new foods, such as Trader Joe's filet Mignon roast, shrimp stir-fry, and barbecued ribs.  I don't recommend the shrimp stir-fry, as it was bland. It did inspire me to buy frozen uncooked shrimp and ingredients to make my own shrimp recipes. I haven't had the ribs yet, but the roast was full of wonderful flavors and I highly recommend treating yourself. Here's how I cooked the roast:

Cooking the Filet Mignon Roast

If you have a grill, well when it isn't snowing out, that's the best way to cook it, but you may also cook it on top of the stove or in the oven. However you cook it, sear it first and then turn the heat down and let it cook.  See Wikipedia for more details on searing meat.

I cooked my roast on top of the stove. When the meat was almost done, I sliced it into smaller pieces so I could cook it all the way through; I don't like to see any red in my meat. At the same time, I tossed in onion slices.

When the meat was halfway cooked, I cut the meat in half, seared the newly sliced edges, and then pulled one of the pieces from the pan for another meal. This allowed me to warm it up the next day without overcooking the meat. When I cooked it the second time, I sliced all the meat and placed it on a hot (Teflon) pan with more sliced onions.

This roast was well worth the price (about $20). My only regret is that I didn't take a photo when I plated it to add to this blog! I'm sure I'll have this dish again and when I do, I'll add photos.

BTW, I'm sorry I wasn't able to blog recently. I'm in week four of a cold that just won't let go!


January 24, 2012
I am re-posting this for anonymous. This was posted as a reply to my post of strange compliment. I am re-posting this because I feel this needs addressing and we all know what it is like to need encouragement.

Also, I don't see those replies a lot of times inside the posts. Please don't be afraid to post a main topic. Those are easier to find, than those replies.

Anyway, here is her post:
Anonymous - Jan 24, 2011
Can someone please reassure me that the plateau that I am on is normal. I know it is and everything Julie said is coming back to me about your body loosing and then healing, but enough already! My body is plenty healed! I don't seem to have moved since Christmas and I have been following the program to the T. Just some words of reassurance and comfort would help. I don't feel that I need a refresher because I am doing all the right things. Help!
January 24, 2012
I received the oddest compliment yesterday! Not like one I have ever received before. But, it was a compliment, so I will take it.

A dear friend of mine, (who by the way lurks around on this blog :-), told me that someone commented to her that I was loosing weight. They asked her if I had had the stomach banding surgery. LOL!! I hope that means I lost a lot of weight fast. If that is what it means, I sure hope this plateau ends soon so I can continue on!!!

So I guess people are noticing. I am still chuckling over this one!!!
January 18, 2012
Meatloaf is another staple for me. It's quick to make and cooks in 30-40 minutes. I like meatballs more, but meatloaf is a lot less work and cooking time.
If I'm really hungry and I don't feel like waiting 45 minutes for dinner, sometimes I pull enough of the beef to make a hamburger while the meatloaf is cooking and then I have the meatloaf for lunch the next day.

Ingredients
  • one pound of beef
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/4 cup bread crumbs (I use Progresso Italian) 
  • spices you like (garlic, salt, pepper. etc.)
Process
  1. Mix all ingredients with your hands in a bowl until well blended.
  2. Place into a baking pan (I use a standard size bread pan)
  3. Flatten top of meatloaf with the tines of a fork (optional)
  4. Bake in preheated oven for about 40 minutes until cooked as desired.
Optional: Serve with catsup or add your favorite tomato sauce to the top and bottom before cooking the meatloaf.

I also have small loaf pans that I sometimes use to make single servings, this way they are ready to fit into my lunch container.

Meatloaf makes about 4 servings
January 16, 2012
Meatballs are a good choice when eating lunch at a deli or when friends order take-out pizza, but I love my homemade meatballs. I used to say I never met a meatball I didn't like, but a few years ago that changed when I had a friend's mother's meatballs with a secret ingredient: jelly. Jelly? Why would anyone put jelly in meatballs? They were the worse meatballs I ever had. Here's my version of my mother's meatball recipe, which never had and never will include jelly...
Mom's Meatballs made Key-friendly
10/24/16 Update
The Key Weight Loss Program has evolved since I started my journey in January 2011. So I've adapted recipes like this, which I used to add breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese, but are are no longer allowed. I updated this meatball recipe to make it key-friendly and guess what, I don't even notice the lack of breadcrumbs and Parmesan.

Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 lbs ground beef 
  • 1 pound sausage (sometimes I use Jimmy Dean's Sage Sausage. You can mix the sausage in with the ground beef or put whole sausage links in the sauce.)
  • 3 large eggs, slightly beaten
  • 6 -8 cloves of fresh minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano*
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley*
  • 1/4 cup chopped basil*
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery (optional)
  • 1 whole bell pepper, red, yellow, or both (optional)
  • 1 (24 oz size) jar or can of your favorite tomato sauce
*Herb options: substitute all spices with fresh herbs or a package of Italian Seasoning.

Note: for ready-to-go meals to take to work, make a double batch of this recipe and freeze them in one-serving size containers.

Directions
Cover the bottom of the crock pot with a thin layer of sauce.

Beat the eggs and add all ingredients, except the peppers and tomato sauce, in a large bow, use your hands to mix all ingredients.

Shape mixture into meatballs and drop each ball into the crock pot. Add a small amount of sauce to each layer of meatballs.

Tips for rolling meatballs
  • To help make them consistent in size, use a 1/4 measuring cup to scoop the meat from the bowl.
  • If you prefer bite size meatballs (as I do) take half of the meat mixture from the measuring cup, roll it into a firm ball and the repeat with the other half in the spoon. Bite size meatballs take longer to roll, but they cook quicker, so you may want to be at home when cooking these unless you have a crock pot with a timer.
Add any remaining sauce to the crock pot.

Cut the peppers into large pieces and add to the crock pot.

Once all the meatballs are all in the crock pot, cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. If you're home while they're cooking, you can turn the temperature up higher to cook them faster.

Do not stir meatballs until they are almost done or you will risk breaking the meatballs.

Quicker Meatballs

If you don't want to wait all day for meatballs to cook in the crock pot, bake them in the oven instead. I ate these meatballs hot from the oven without sauce. If you make a double batch you can freeze them without sauce and add your favorite sauce when you reheat them. Another option, which a key-friend told me about, is to buy Angus meatballs from the freezer department at the grocery store.
Hungry? Bake your meatballs for quicker a meal.
 
Baked Meatballs

Sauce Recommendations
  • Capa di Roma - the owner of Roma Restaurant in East Hartford, Connecticut, is a one of our key-friends who followed the key program many many years ago and has kept her weight off. Roma sauces can be found in your local grocery store.
  • Newman's Own Sockarooni Sauce
  • Francesco Rinaldi Hearty Tomato & Basil - last year I made a triple batch of meatballs with this inexpensive sauce. I added added tons of garlic and the sauce was delicious.
  • Your homemade sauce - of course!
Related Recipes
January 16, 2012
Yesterday I made some eggs and sausage for breakfast, a nice weekend treat. I made a video along the way. It's not perfect, but neither were the eggs. I figure I'll start with this video and I'll improve over time. I've a lot to learn, but I have to start somewhere.

I stopped the video a couple of times, only to discover I accidentally switched to camera mode instead of video, so I lost some of what I hoped to include. You might have appreciated seeing the egg drop into the water. I've never done that before, but it still tasted wonderful.

A few months ago when I made the meat crust pizza with my friend Aime, we made a video with the intent of putting it up on this blog. Part I is missing, so that video may not make it onto this blog. We also made a mean vodka tonic video. If these missing videos show up, I will post them.

I hope this will be a fun process for me and I that it's fun for you to watch as well.

In the Kitchen with Theresa: Sausage and Eggs

Ingredients: (adjust to the number of eggs and sausage you want)
  • 3 round sausage patties (I used the Johnsonville brand)
  • 3 eggs - poach or cook them over easy on the stove
  • Coffee
Process:
  1. Get your coffee brewing first, so it's ready when everything else is.
  2. If you froth your milk, you should do this now as well.
  3. Cooks eggs in poacher on top of the stove until desired firmness.
  4. At the same time, cook 3 sausage patties in a separate pan.
  5. Optional: make a Hollandaise sauce from a package mix while the above items are cooking; add fresh squeezed lemon juice to  mix even if recipe does not call for it.
  6. When the eggs are done, plate them and then top with sausage and optional Hollandaise.
  7. Pour coffee and enjoy your breakfast.
  8. Move over DnD, my coffee and sausage with eggs is far better than yours!

January 16, 2012
Jan. 2011
Later this month it will be a full year since I started working with Julie to lose weight. I still have a long way to go, but I want to pause and acknowledge how far I have come this year.

Last January, I wore a size 32 and now I'm a size 22. I follow the rule of not weighing myself, but last week I asked my doctor if I've lost more than 50 pounds and she said yes.

In July I went to Alaska and hiked trails I could not have imagined just a few months earlier. I continued hiking the rest of the summer. In October, I started jogging and in December I ran a 5k in under 45 minutes. Today, I feel great. I'm full of energy and I'm looking for my next race, a 5k in Carlsbad, CA in April 2012.

Here's a collection of photos of my weight loss journey...



May 2009


Dec. 2009



Aug. 2010
April 2011, Encinitas, CA

July 2011, Sitka, AK

Aug. 2011

Dec. 2011
Dec. 2011,  5k Hot Chocolate Run







Jan. 15, 2012
January 15, 2012
WOW! all I can say is WOW!!! How motivating, and I am so ready to continue on!!! My mind is so overloaded with good information! It is amazing to hear other people's stories, struggles and successes! Even ended up sitting next to Wendy and I had no idea it was her!

The pizza restaurant is Roma in East Hartford. I am going to talk my husband into going!! hopefully really soon!

So many things she talked about today, I had forgotten or had been confused about. I highly recommend a refresher class.

Plateau's are good! I can't even imagine, but that was said so many times and I am so happy to hear that! I am so used to, from WW or other plans, that a plateau was not good. I am unlearning so much stuff from all the things I have done in the past. I got some fine tuning on my food choices and my journey continues...

Wendy, how did you like it?

Theresa and Aime, how did you make out?

I am happy and ready!!!!
January 14, 2012
This is one of those recipes that you make according to your taste and what ingredients you have in the house.
It's like a slice of live, this meat crust pizza.
When I made this recipe for five people to have with a salad, I used about two pounds of ground beef.

You can make this a small pizza for just you or a giant pizza to share by adjusting the amount of beef. Anyway you make it has the potential to be your favorite new recipe. 

 Ingredients
  • 6-8  cloves of garlic
  • black pepper
  • 2 pounds of ground beef
  • tomato sauce
  • Mozzarella or Parmesan cheese, shredded, or Feta cheese
Topping Suggestions
  • sliced mushrooms
  • sliced bell peppers (any color)
  • Italian sausage, cooked ahead
  • sliced pepperoni
  • sliced onions 
  • chopped green onion
  • chopped fresh basil 
  • chopped garlic
Preparing the Pizza
  1. Pre-heat oven to 400.
  2. Chop garlic and mix into ground beef; add black pepper at this point too.
  3. Flatten the ground beef as thin as possible into a circle; this will be the pizza crust.
  4. Place the meat on a baking pan.
  5. Bake the crust until the meat is cooked all the way through; do not let it get hard and tasteless by overcooking.
  6. Remove the crust from the oven and use a paper towel to dot off any moisture or oil on top.
  7. Spoon on favorite tomato sauce.
  8. Sprinkle cheese over sauce.
  9. Add veggies.
  10. Add pepperoni and/or sausage.
  11. Top with chopped fresh basil.
  12. Bake until toppings are bubbly hot.
A variation of this recipe is to use ground chicken instead of beef and to use Alfredo sauce (from a jar or fresh) instead of tomato. I haven't made this yet.

Meat Crust Pizza in Restaurants?

I took photo of the pizza slice above and below at a restaurant Julie recommended, Roma, which is in East Hartford. The owner Emilia was a client of Julie's and she will make this pizza for you but you must call and order it a day or two ahead. There are two size options, we chose the largest and had plenty of leftovers to take home. Excellent service.

Meat crust pizza.
January 11, 2012
I am a little discouraged today. I still feel like I am on a plateau. I have been on the program for 11 weeks - and for the past few weeks I feel like I am going no where. I am still down the sizes - but it feels like I am stuck. How long do these last? Does everyone eat meat until they are full? Or do you watch your portions? I know we can have meatballs, are the frozen ones from the store ok? or should I be making my own? I know I need to watch the veggie meat ratio, does it really impact the program that much? and if and when I have eaten more veggies it isn't a huge amount past. bite for bite works sometimes, but not in all situations.

Today I will be only eating meat, no veggies. Also, no added fats whatsoever,though I hardly use fats anyway.

Not hungry so I won't be eating breakfast. Do you eat breakfast or do you just eat when you are hungry? What is a typical day of food and eating for you?

I will be calling to make an appointment today and see when they can get me in. I just feel like I must be doing something wrong to be stuck for so long?

I need suggestions. I haven't strayed off program at all and don't want to!!!
January 10, 2012
My version of coffee
Following Julie's weight loss program has been an incredible experience for me. "The first three weeks will be hard", she told us. Hard? Not for me. None of this past year has been hard at all. Well, there was one hard thing: giving up coffee.

I gave up coffee, because I couldn't drink it without sugar; I preferred no coffee over coffee without sugar. Years ago, I reduced the amount of sugar in my coffee from three teaspoons to one.  I enjoy coffee with frothed milk or cream, but I can't handle it without sugar. So, I gave it up.

Fast forward three months after I started this program. I was visiting an old friend in my favorite coffee shop in southern California (the Pannikin in Encinitas),  and I decided to try coffee without sugar. I knew if anyone could make me a nice coffee without sugar, it was my favorite coffee shop. They did not disappoint. After that,  I enjoyed coffee with hot frothed milk or cream and no sugar. When I returned home, I began making frothed milk with my own gadgets, well at least on the weekends. Most days, I stopped at Dunkin Donuts for breakfast: french vanilla coffee with extra cream and no sugar, and a bread-less meat sandwich, which confused most employees for a while, but now they have my number.

That has changed. Thanks to a Christmas gift from a friend at work, I have a wonderful Aroma milk frother. I just two minutes, while my coffee is brewing, I have thick and delicious tasting foamy milk to add to my cup of coffe.  I use every drop of it and then do it again for my second cup.

Dunkin Donuts has lost one of their best customers and they'll never know what hit them. It's often difficult to get a coffee with lots of milky foam and this gadget does the trick every time. Bye-bye DnD.

Aside from giving up coffee, following this program has not been difficult for me. This is not to say I haven't had my challenges along the way. The challenges, however,  have been more about me getting in my own way than anything being hard.

Being tempted to get on the scale has been challenging. That urge comes and goes. This is a lifestyle change and eventually I will find my way to resolving this issue. It may not happen for a few years. Change sometimes takes that long.

Wanting the process to go faster is challenging. I know it is going to take as long as it takes and I continue to work with myself to remember this. Some days I'm better at this than other days. Sometimes weight drops off quickly and their are times when I'm maintaining my weight. This is all part of the process. Julie reminds us the weight didn't come on all at once and it doesn't come off that way either.

I know that when I reach my goal, and yes-I will reach my goal, my next challenge will be to maintain my weight. I also know maintaining it is not a whole lot different than what I'm doing today. The more successful I am today, the easier maintenance will be. I'm not kidding myself, maintenance will have a whole new set of challenges, but what I'm doing now will strengthen what I need to do to maintain my weight.

Eating meat has certainly be challenging. I disliked meat and I had to get over that. I have found I do like meat now.  At first I just liked how it made me feel. I felt full and satisfied and I know not being hungry is mainly due to the fact that I'm eating so much meat. My body has been craving meat all these years and the reason I became obese is because my body wanted more nutrition (meat) and all I heard was "I'm hungry".  Eating meat satisfies for my hunger.

Cooking was a challenge too. Not only had I been eating out for most of my meals, I no longer was eating anything I ordered out, so I had to learn new things to cook. I kept eating out, but more and more started making things at home. I found a good sausage patty that I can cook while my eggs are poaching. I place the patties on my plate and top them with an egg and I have a breakfast that tastes a whole lot better than DnD ever served me. The savings is nice too. Well, I will need a new dishwasher soon, but it's due to be replaced sooner or later anyhow.

Expanding my recipes is the latest challenge. But guess what? This is really nothing new. I was tired of my recipes before I started this program. Menu changes are a part of our life cycles. We want to change things up from time to time. This time, working this program, is no different. I'm going to find a handful of new recipes, cook them to death like I always do (meaning: cook them again and again and again), and then say I need more new recipes. Or, I'll do this differently too. But for now, a handful of new recipes is a good start.

How about you - what have been your biggest challenges on this program? What are your favorite program foods? Any new favorite recipes?

Have any of you tried making Julie's meat pizza?  It has hamburg for the crust and anything else you want on top.  It's yummy.  I haven't made it for a while either.  Perhaps Aime and I can make it again, make a video along the way, and mix the older video with the new - weighing less now than last time we made the pizza and that video.

Hey Aime---time to make another pizza??


January 08, 2012
If you haven't seen Julie's recent TV interview, she's on Simply Living on fox at 6:30 pm tonight.  It's been on a few times the past few days, so if you can't catch it now. Or, you can see it right here....I added the video below.

Also, if you've been trying to get in to see Julie, be patient. Her office handles a lot of clients, but they will get back to you and give you an appointment.

I remember my frustration too. I put my name on the list for the first time in Oct. 2010 and I didn't get to see her until Jan. 27, 2011. Meanwhile, I did two sessions with the some else in Dec., as I was determined to get started.  Turns out, I wasn't so impressed with the other person, so I  when Julie's office called me in the middle of a Saturday while I was at shopping, I took the appointment with Julie. The rest is history! It's worth the wait.

January 08, 2012
I don't know about any of you, but I am having to re-learn how to cook. I am Italian and I was raised by tasting what I was making, not really following recipes, just go by taste and feel. Fun, yes, healthy, NO!

Then add that to: a big part of my church fellowship is meals. We eat at people's houses every weekend, or we have people in our home for meals. In the summer we have chicken bar-b-ques pretty much every Sunday with 50 different people in our home. My husband and I and our girls love to entertain! Lots of cooking, lots of tasting.

This has been a big thing for me. Last night I had my husband's 'old' aunt's over for supper. I made spaghetti. It is very hard to make spaghetti sauce without tasting it. The aunts are old, so I didn't want them to bring anything, so I made dessert too. Brownies and ice-cream. and yes, dessert has to be part of these meals, it is just how it is. Amazing how many times I went to lick the spoon, but to have something happen in my mind before I did, and just throw the spoon into the sink and let the water hit it.I am not tempted by the dessert, just the old habit of putting the spoon in my mouth as I am making it.

I have to be aware of my every move in a kitchen. I never knew how many meals I ate while cooking before the meal was ever served! This has been a major learning thing for me.

I did keep a meatball or 2 out so I could taste the sauce. My husband will only taste it so many times.

So I am proud to say, I have not licked any dessert spoons! Christmas season was interesting too because of Italian traditions with cooking, but I did not stray with those tastes and I am so thankful!!!

I have never been on a program for so long without 'falling off the wagon' as I have been with this one. I still need to get the cheese and veggie ratios better, but I am quite pleased with myself and my 'stick to it-ness'!!!

How are all of you with cooking? am I the only one re-learning it?
January 08, 2012
This morning I was thinking about how my doctor had given up on my losing weight about a year and a half ago. In fact, she told me I would soon become a diabetic. I told her that would not happen to me. I didn’t have a plan, but I was not accepting that as my fate. Diabetes runs in my family and since I’m obese, I test ever year. The test results at that time showed me at 98; 100 is considered pre-diabetic.

When I walked into her office six months ago, she was very pleased with my weight loss. She suggested I see her for a full physical this Jan. and indicated I no longer need to be tested for diabetes.

My plan for the doctor appointment next Tuesday was to ask her my weight. Julie said we can weigh ourselves once a year, but I’m not sure if this is something we do after we reach our goal weight or if it applies to all of us. I’ve debated for a few weeks now if I should I ask my exact weight or not.

I went to the doctor yesterday, a few days earlier than my scheduled appointment, because I’ve been home all week with a wicked cold. She said I look great and that I’m doing everything I should be doing for my cold: lots of fluids and taking contact flu/cold tablets. She also said I was taking the later too often and suggested cough drops or cough syrup. I was hesitant because of the sugar factor. I didn’t like the idea of chewing on candies, so I went for the prescription cough syrup with sugar; sugar is better than sugar substitute.

I am dying to know my number on the scale, but I'm still struggling with feeling like I’ve gained weight. The last thing I need right now is to know a number on the scale is less than I want it to be. Instead, I asked if I’ve dropped 50 pounds yet – her answer was yes.

I’m fighting with myself not to get on the scale now that I’m home. To stay off the scale, I remind myself that not knowing the numbers is a part of my journey. I remember all those times when I knew the numbers and how devastated I was when they were higher instead of lower. What I used to do did not work for me, so why would I want to do something I know does not work?

I'm looking at this journey in a new way. It isn't about having patience, how much I weigh, or how much I’ve lost. It's about staying connected to the part of me that knows this is a life-long journey. I am living my life different than I used to. This story is not one that has a beginning, middle, and an end – it is a story about a lifetime of choices. It’s a story about living today. Living the best life I can today. Living in the present means looking back at lessons learned and focusing on the present. After all—all we really have is today.

January 06, 2012
Theresa, sounds like you really did good on vacation. Just think of the damage you could have done, but, really, all in all, sounds like you did so much better than years past would have done! Keep up/off the good work!! How long did it take you to get an appointment with Julie for a tweaking session? I want to go for one, but if she only does them at night, I will have to wait until it is lighter later at night. I can not see in the dark and I have to travel almost 1 hour to get there.

I know what you mean about the comments about weight loss. I thrive on those comments. I know I am on a plateau right now as I feel like nothing is happening and I don't like the feeling one bit. My mind starts to play around like I am doing it wrong, I should eat less, I should/maybe I can't, blah blah blah. My friend started 1 week after me, she didn't go to Julie, she is just doing it on her own from what I told her. She is averaging 2 pounds a week loss. She is melting. I want to melt! But it isn't a competition or a race, and I have to get out of that mindset. Like you said, as long as I am doing what she said, the weight will come off. But oh yes, I LOVE those compliments. Luanne gave me her skirts that are to big for her now and I was excited to get them home, but alas, they didn't fit and that was a disappointment to me. I am in a 20, but it appears to be I can't get into all styles of size 20's. GRRRR! Then she threw some 18's in there, well, those made it on but no way to zip. I need to be thankful that I could get them on even if I couldn't zip. 6 months ago I wouldn't have been able to get my legs into them, so if I really think about it, yes there is progress. I have been on Julie's program for 10 weeks, I need patience, patience and more patience. Not one of my greatest virtues unfortunately!

Thank you for starting this blog. It does help me a lot to be able to touch base with someone who is also on this path. I am hoping more people start writing on here too!

Have a good day.
Linda
January 05, 2012
Inspiration is an important part of my weight loss journey. It feels good when someone says I inspire them, but I too like to be inspired.

I'm inspired when I'm in a session with Julie and I hear stories of success and failure. It's easy to understand why success inspires me--when one thin person after another talks about having maintained their weight for several years and that they are here again because their size 6 or smaller pants are tight - who wouldn't be inspired? Part of going to her again is to hear such inspiration. So how am I inspired by failures?

I'm inspired by failures because they are also success stories. They indicate lost their mojo and they feel they can't get it back on their own, but they have come back because their pants are too tight. They've learned how to maintain, but as soon as they realize they're beyond maintaining--they returned for more help. This is inspiring, because some day I will too will be learning to maintain my weight. I'm inspired by the fact that so many are able to maintain without having to return and that returning for help is also an option.

I'm also inspired by those in the room who came back because they gained a size or two and want to take it off again, and by others who are there because they have maintained their weight for a while and have decided they want to lose more weight. 

Inspiration comes to me in many forms. I'm inspired by various types of art, be it a collection of work by a street artist or original by Georgia O'Keeffe. Art stirs my creative juices.

Movies inspire me as well. I'm inspired by other people's stories. I believe everyone has at least one inspirational story. I'm inspired by the show the Biggest Loser. I see how hard they work in the gym and how they confront themselves along the way. I'm inspired by the number of them who lose the weight and keep it off. I'm also inspired that I have a found a way less painful journey to lose my weight.

I also like to read inspirational and motivational books, articles, and blogs, and stories about people who were successful in loosing weight and keeping it off. Recently Aime sent me a link to Ben Does Life, written by a guy, who lost 120 pounds and went from being a depressed recluse to a motivational speaker. When asked "what is your advice for someone starting a weight loss journey" Ben replied:
"I have a few things! Be public with your journey. You don’t have to post everything on Facebook, or start a blog, but tell some people that can be there for you. You have to have a support system. Secondly, make goals, but make them small and measurable. And be sure to make non-scale goals such as running a race, completing a certain number of weeks of yoga, or going restaurant-free for X amount of days. Make it fun and cross them off as you go. Lastly, find something that you can have fun with. Running isn’t for everyone. You want to surround yourself with an environment that you can look forward to. Don’t be a slave to the elliptical rider or treadmill. Find an ongoing activity that can become a hobby."

Your turn - What inspires you?

January 04, 2012