Contributor Chris shared this Caramelized Onion and Sausage Stuffing recipe and it is yummy! I know this, because I made it for dinner tonight. It may be too late for you to make this for your Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, but you don't need to wait until Christmas to try this. 
Caramelized Onion & Sausage Stuffing. Photo by Theresa
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
Serves: 4

 Ingredients
  • 1 lb ground pork sausage
  • 2 yellow onions, sliced
  • butternut squash (diced)
  • 1 container of mushrooms, roughly chopped
  • 2 tbsp vinegar (I did not add this)
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1/3 cup chicken broth (I've also used beef broth)
  • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 2 tbsp fat of choice
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Place diced butternut squash on a baking sheet, sprinkle with olive oil and salt and pepper.
cook butternut squash until tender
3. Bake for about 15-25 minutes or until are tender, then set aside in a large bowl. Leave the oven on so it will be fully heated when you add the casserole.

4. While the butternut squash cooks, place a tablespoon of fat along with the garlic and mushrooms in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook down.

5. Add salt (optional) and pepper and cook until soft. 
cook mushrooms until soft
6. While the mushrooms are cooking down, in another skillet heat 1 tablespoon fat and add onions. (I only used 1 skillet for this recipe.

7. Once the mushrooms are done cooking, add them to the bowl with the squash.

8. Stir onions frequently to caramelize. This will take about 10-15 minutes. When onions are caramelized, set them aside (not in bowl with other items); these will go on top of the casserole after it cooks.
caramelize onions
9. In the same pan used for the mushrooms, add the pork sausage. Use a spoon to break up sausage and cook until almost cooked through.

10. Once sausage is done, add the sausage to the squash and mushroom bowl to cool.
cook sausage
11. In a small bow, beat the eggs then add them to the bowl with the sausage and veggies, then add the broth, vinegar (optional), squash, and chopped herbs. Mix well.
add beaten eggs, broth, vinegar and herbs to the bowl
12. Place in 9 x 13 baking dish or a round casserole dish.

13. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-20 minutes; make sure the egg is fully cooked before you pull the casserole from the oven.

14. Add onions to the top of the stuffing and cook for 5 more minutes.
November 27, 2013
Today I want to pause to look back at the way I used to see things on this program. It's not all bad, it's all just part of my journey. Before I talk about some of my process, let's have a look at how I looked - literally.
November 2013 vs March 2011
One of the issues I had in the early part of being on this program was what to say to people when they ask what diet I'm on. It was an issue, because I found when I described the Key weight loss program to others, many were quick to judge or discredit what I'm eating.

In March 2011, a couple months after I started the key program, I visited friends in California. When we planned to have dinner together, I told them about the foods I didn't eat. They immediately asked me "what kind of diet are you on?"

This is a natural question.

"If I've lost a lot of weight the next time you see me - ask me this again." I told them.

I was excited about my journey, but I felt vulnerable talking about it. The other reason I wanted to avoid details, was to stay away from negative conversations that often happened, even with the dearest of friends. I didn't want to debate the pros and cons of why, for example, I don't eat fruit yet bacon is okay.

Friends near and far see this diet is working for me, so unless someone really press me for details, I tell them I'm doing something similar to Atkins and then move on to another topic.

Our success is not contingent on what other people believe we should be eating. Accept the fact that most people don't get this program. When you reach your goal size and they see you stay that size, they may change their opinion. Meanwhile, move on to another conversation.

Sometimes the negative conversations were from within. Sometimes I got caught up wondering when can I have X again? I don't need to know when I can I have X again. X is what brought me to a size 30/32.

Just for now, I tell myself and others, I'm not having X, because I want to lose weight.

I went to a refresher yesterday and I'm so excited about my weight loss journey - where I am and where I'm heading. I see the light at the end of the tunnel and it is incredible.

One of the many take-a ways for me is that I can stop obsessing about my size. Recently I've been so frustrated over not being a smaller size. Several times this month I've heard myself say I don't want to be an 18 one more minute.

This is my old way of thinking and seeing myself. Part of my journey is moving through these feelings and letting them go. I don’t need those feelings anymore. They no longer meet my needs.

I learned not to focus so much on my size, because it's no different than focusing on the scale. When I focus on my size, I'm trying to tell my body to lose weight and our bodies don't respond to that very well. Instead, I choose to focus on becoming healthy. Our bodies want us to be healthy and our bodies respond to these thoughts really well.

I was reminded at the refresher that plateaus are part of our journey. Plateaus always last longer than our ego wants them to last. Our ego wants to GET THERE NOW (to our goal size). Our bodies know what’s best for us. Our bodies want us to heal. Our bodies will take however long it needs to heal. Accept plateaus as part of our process.

Gaining weight is also part of the process. Remember the deck of cards analogy? We put on fat and gain weight before we lose any weight. Add fat to our body, gain weight, then lose more weight than you had on you before. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Plateau along the way. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.Stay the course.

The goal is to reach your goal size and then learn maintenance. This too has it's own process we have to learn. Learn maintenance by adding one food in at a time (which foods and how much? Ask your body these questions. Observe how your body responds to each food you add). You may come to hate maintenance, but do it anyway. Learn maintenance. Learn maintenance. Learn maintenance. Learn to accept the maintenance journey. Learn to like the maintenance journey. Own maintenance.

Because of yesterday's refresher, I have a better idea of what my life will be like when I learn to cycle in and out of the river on maintenance. I understand that it may be difficult at first. I may not even like it, but I will cycle in and out of the river until my body learns this natural cycle process. My body will embrace the cycles. My body will learn to enjoy them. I can visualize myself at maintenance and I like what I see.

I see my arms and legs are becoming stronger and healthier. I appreciate how slender my body has become and how good I feel as my body becomes more and more healthy. I visualize my body reaching my goal size. I no longer need to obsess with my journey. I know what to do. I know what not to do. I live my life and I embrace my healthy lifestyle.

How badly do you want to reach and maintain your goal size? You have the tools. Stay the course and see your journey through.
November 26, 2013
Hello All, This is only my second posting, so here goes! I went to Julie in March of this year, 2013. It has been an amazing experience, as it has been for so many people. Before hypnosis there was no off switch for me and if I compare that to a light switch – the light was always on. Julie found a way to turn off that switch….the darkness is nice, rewarding. There has been no real pull to stray from the plan. Now it is November and I am worried, the goal is in sight. I started at size 20, I can now fit into the roomy size 10 clothes and I think I can be an 8/10. My biggest fear is that I get to my goal and I start to add food back in and the light switches on. I need to find a dimmer switch, so I have scheduled a refresher for December 9th. I am hoping Julie will show me how to moderate the light switch. What has life been like at goal for the rest of you?
November 26, 2013
I was first introduced to celeriac earlier this year when I was in France. My friend Andrea was making a beef stew for my last night visiting at the end of the week and she wanted me to have something in lieu of rice. At lunch one day she ordered mashed celeriac and when I tasted it she was happy she found just the right thing for me to have with her stew.
Andrea's celeriac. Photo by Theresa
Andrea diced her celeriac and then cooked them in boiling water like a potato. She seasoned them with salt, pepper, and butter, then placed them in a casserole dish and kept them warm in the oven while the stew and other vegetables finished cooking. She served the celeriac in the casserole dish. I was careful to balance my meat to veggie ratio.

BTW, you can substitute celeriac for potatoes in most any recipe. 
 
Celeriac and Parsnip Mash
This celeriac and parsnip mash recipe comes from our contributor Jennifer and may be just what you're looking for to add to your Thanksgiving dinner.

Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
  • 1 lb parsnip, peeled and coarsely chopped
  • 1 celery root, peeled and coarsely chopped
  • 3 cups water (or enough to just cover vegetables) or 3 cups broth (or enough to just cover vegetables)
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • optional seasonings: bay leaves or thyme or caraway seeds or even curry 
Directions
  1. Saute the onions in the first tbsp of butter or oil in a large, heavy pot, until just soft, not browned. 
  2. Add the spices and the garlic, saute one minute longer. 
  3. Add the parsnips and celery root, then cover with the liquid. 
  4. Simmer over medium heat until vegetables are very tender, about 30 minutes.
  5. Remove bay leaves. 
  6. Drain, reserving liquid. 
  7. Return solids to the pot and mash. 
  8. Add cooking liquid to desired consistency. 
  9. Stir in butter, adjust seasonings to taste. 
Celeriac in my kitchen guarded by army men. Photo by Theresa
Celeriac at the open market in France. Photo by Theresa
Andrea's beef stew served with mashed celeriac. Photo by Theresa

November 25, 2013
Here's another holiday recipe, this one if from Gayle, who says this is "a great option for a yummy Thanksgiving side dish, this comes from Moosewood cookbook by Mollie Katzen and has been a favorite of mine for years."

Ingredients
  • 4 cups cooked squash or pumpkin mashed
  • 1 cup chopped onions
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped mixed red and green peppers
  • 2-3 large cloves crushed garlic
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 4 beaten eggs
  • 2 cups corn
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 1 cup cheddar
  • 1/2 tsp ground coriander
  • dash of cayenne
  • dash of black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 Tbs olive oil
Instructions
  1. Saute oions, garlic and spices in olive oil until translucent.
  2. Add peppers and salt, cover and cook 5-8 min
  3. Add saute to mashed squash, along with corn and beaten eggs. Mix well. Taste to correct seasonings.
  4. Spread into a buttered 2 quart casserole and top with cheese.
  5. Bake in 350 oven, 20 min covered and 15 min uncovered.
November 25, 2013
This recipe comes just in time for the holiday. Thanks Chris for sharing it!

Prep time: 1 hour Cook time: 30 minutes
Serves: 9-12

Featuring fresh green beans and caramelized onions, this homemade green bean casserole is just about as clean as it gets. Rather than relying on a cream-based soup, it’s held together by a creamy puree of parsnips and mushrooms! The caramelized onion topping still delivers the buttery onion flavor that we all love, without the deep-fried grease and flour to go along with it. All of our favorite flavors covered, without the heavy food-coma to follow!

Ingredients
  • 1 yellow onion, sliced thinly
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, or butter
  • 2 cups parsnips, chopped
  • 10 oz. mushrooms, chopped * 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1½ cups water (or broth)
  • 1½ teaspoons fine sea salt
  • 1 lb. fresh green beans
Instructions
  1. Heat oil/butter, in a large skillet and add the sliced onions. Saute gently over medium-low heat for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally until caramelized. Use a splash of water, as needed, to prevent sticking. Once the onions are tender and golden in color, remove from heat and set aside in a bowl for later.
  2. While the onions are cooking, you’ll have plenty of time to steam the parsnips. Fit a steamer basket into a saucepan, and fill with one inch of water. Add the 2 cups of chopped parsnips, and bring the water to boil over high heat. Cover and reduce the heat to low, steaming for about 8 minutes, or until the parsnips are easily pierced with a fork. Transfer the steamed parsnips to your blender container, and set it aside.
  3. Using the same steamer basket and saucepan, break the pound of fresh green beans into one-inch pieces, and toss them into the steamer basket. Bring to a boil, then cover and steam for 6-8 minutes, until the green beans are bright green with a bit of crunch. Transfer the cooked green beans to an 8″ x 8″ glass baking dish.
  4. At this point, cook the green beans to be as tender as you like– if you prefer them softer, steam them longer. The baking process later will not make them any more tender, so this is your chance to achieve the texture you like.
  5. Once the onions have finished caramelizing, you can use the same pan to saute the mushrooms and garlic. Heat more oi/butter, and saute the garlic for about 3 minutes, then add the mushrooms. Cook for about 6 minutes, until liquid is released from the mushrooms.
  6. Spread half of the mushroom mixture into the baking dish of green beans, and pour the other half of the mixture, along with any liquid, into the blender container with the steamed parsnips.
  7. Into that blender container, add 1½ cups water/broth and 1½ teaspoons sea salt to the cooked parsnips and mushrooms. Blend until smooth and creamy. (This mixture may be a bit salty to taste at this point, but keep in mind that it will be diluted when it’s poured over a pound of green beans!)
  8. Pour the creamy sauce over the green beans and mushrooms in the glass baking dish, and stir to coat well. (You may very well have more sauce than you need for this recipe– I only used about 1½ cups to coat the vegetables well. Save the rest for a future dish!)
  9. Smooth the creamy vegetable mixture with a spatula, and top with the caramelized onions to finish.
  10. At this point, you could cover the dish and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to heat and serve.
  11. When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350F and bake uncovered for about 30 minutes, until bubbly. 
  12. Serve warm and enjoy!
November 25, 2013
This pumpkin sausage soup recipe comes from one of my key friends. She served this at a family gathering and her grand-niece really enjoyed it. I made it last night and it was yummy. This may be just what you need in the cold winter nights ahead.
Ingredients
  • 12 ounces) of Jimmy Dean plain sausage
  • 1/2 cup onion, minced 
  • 1 garlic clove, minced 
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasonings (packaged salad dressing)
  • 1 -2 cup fresh mushrooms, chopped 
  • 1 can pumpkin (15 ounce)
  • 4 cups chicken broth (I used 2 cups - I like my soup thick)
  • 1/2 cup whole milk 
Directions
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6
  1. Brown sausage, drain, then add the onion, garlic, Italian seasonings and mushrooms and sauté until done. 
  2. Add pumpkin to this mixture and mix well. 
  3. Stir in broth and mix well. Use less broth for a thicker soup; I used 2 cups.
  4. Simmer 20-30 minutes. 
  5. Stir in the milk and simmer on low another 10-15 minute. If soup is too thick, add more broth.
  6. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed (optional). 
12/15/13: I'm making this recipe as I type and it is perfect for cold, snowy, winter days like today. It's ready in less than an hour and the whole house smells wonderful the whole time! If you haven't made this yet, add it to your short list of new recipes to try!

In Jennifer's kitchen

Jennifer, one of our contributors, also made this soup and shared a few words:
I just tasted it and all's I can say is OMG! Do I HAVE To share with my husband? I highly recommend it! easy TOO! -- Jennifer
November 19, 2013
I'm on a quest to kick things up a little in my weight loss journey. I'm committed to make as many new recipes as I can during the remainder of 2013. I've been collecting recipes and in the weeks ahead I plan to make as many of them as I can. What better way to start kicking things up than with a new kind of chili?
Chili made with Green Salsa
Why do I want to kick things up? One of the key concepts Julie teaches us is to mix it up - don't let your body get used to having the same foods. It was time for me to get back to this basic concept again.

Last week I was feeling bored with food. Nothing seemed interesting or tasty to me. That's when I started thinking it was time to switch out my menus for some new ones.

One night after work I looked in my pantry for something to cook with grass-fed beef, but I didn't see many options. Hmmm, now what?" 

I wasn't game for running to the store, so I looked in the pantry again. That's when I found a jar of chipolte corn salsa. I often make beef chili with a jar of red salsa, so why wouldn't corn salsa be just as good? it turns out corn salsa makes a delicious chili. I created a whole new version of chili that I liked so much I made it again for a potluck I went to yesterday. This time I made my chili with green salsa.

I discovered something else last week after eating that chili: I had lost interest in the meals I was making because I wasn't adding any herbs or spices. It's time to add some spice back into my foods.

What about you? Are you eating the same foods? Are you bored with your meals? Kick things up in you menu and see if that helps. If you have any nice spicy recipes, please share them with us!

Chili
  1. Place 1 pound of ground beef in a pan
  2. When the beef is done, drain out the oil.
  3. Add 1 small chopped onion and 1 small sliced pepper (any color or type) to the pan and allow them to soften.
  4. Add the beef to the pan with the onion and peppers and mix in a 16 oz jar of Mrs. Renfro's Green Salsa or Chipolte Corn Salsa. I loved the spiciness of these salsas, but you can add any brand of salsa.
Last week I topped my chili off with sour cream. I've heard mixed reviews if sour cream is on program or not. One person said she called the office and was told "it can be used as a condiment (i.e., in small amounts), but you should think about what your goal is when adding sour cream." That sounds like good advice to me. It's also a concept we can apply to other food choices.
Chili made with Chipolte Corn Salsa
November 17, 2013
Some mornings I grab an egg sandwich at Dunkin Donuts, but I make it a special order so I can have eggs my way: I ask them to hold the bagel. I've been doing this at my local DnD for so long that when the cook sees me coming, she knows to hold the bagel. She also knows to put the cheese between the meat and the egg.
Eggs my way - made at home (recipe below)
If you order eggs my way at DnD or anywhere else, know that you will pay the same price in most cases. They should give you a discount, and at DnD on Main in Northampton they often do, but if it gets in the way of having this my way or not, I keep it simple. If they look confused at how to ring it up, tell them: 1) ring it up as they do a sandwich, 2) let the cook know to hold the bagel (or other bread), and 3) ask the cook to put the cheese between the meat and egg (or skip the cheese entirely). You don't want to order a sandwich with the bread. Pulling the bagel from the sandwich is too tempting. You don't want to do this. No bagel, no temptation. Keep it simple.

Most mornings I don't eat breakfast. This was a big change for me that happened after I started this weight loss program. I don't know exactly when I stopped being hungry in the morning. Prior to seeing Julie, I always ate first thing in the morning, otherwise I felt dizzy. I was not a diabetic, and I was tested many times over the years, so I never knew why I had those spells. I recall when I first started feeling dizzy vividly. I was 19 years old. I woke up, jumped up out of bed like I always did, but that morning I quickly sat back down because I felt dizzy, and ever since that morning, I was dizzy every morning and I found eating stilled the dizzy spells - up until some time after I started Julie's program when I no longer had morning dizzy spells and I lost my appetite for breakfast.

Julie talks about stabilizing our metabolism for us in her sessions. Perhaps she stabilized my metabolism and that made the dizzy spells stop. I don't have another explanation. What I do know is I don't miss those dizzy spells and I'm good with this change.

That said, there are mornings when I am hungry and I have breakfast. Yesterday I saw an article about making a week’s worth of egg sandwiches in 15 minutes, and since I didn't have anything planned for dinner, and I had 2 dozen eggs in the house, I decided to adapt the recipe and made it for dinner last night.

Julie teaches us to vary our menus, so don't make this recipe with a dozen eggs unless you have family to help you eat them or you plan to freeze some. Trying this recipe last night is my first step in changing up what I eat. I'm re-evaluating what I'm eating and I'm cooking new recipes to move away from eating the same foods all the time. I'm making spicier foods and using my crockpot again. There's nothing like coming home to a cooked meal!

Eggs My Way
I think you'll find this recipe easy to adapt to make eggs your way. 

1. Drop a small amount of olive oil into each well of your muffin pan. Smear the oil around the well with your fingertip or a paper towel to coat the bottom and edges of each well. 
2. Place a piece of sliced ham in each well and add a small amount of spinach. I added spinach that was still frozen. You can use any vegetable or none at all.
3. Crack one egg into each well.
4. Sprinkle the eggs with a little salt, pepper, and garlic salt. Season to suit your tastes.
5. Bake in the oven at 350 for about 15 minutes. Adjust the cooling time depending on how you like your yolks. Cook them less if you want runny yolks or longer for harder yolks.

I got a phone call while my eggs were cooking, so they were perfectly hard boiled when I ate them. I prefer them runny, but hard boiled means I can eat the leftovers cold from the refrigerator instead of needing to heat them up.

Recipe adapted from Make A Week’s Worth Of Healthy Egg Breakfast Sandwiches in 15 Minutes.
November 14, 2013
This question was posted a few minutes ago on an August 2013 post (Quick Recipes) and in order to help Rose, I'm posting her question so that some of you may be able to answer her questions:
I am new to blogging and not sure if I'm doing it right. I have been on the diet for two months and doing well. I do still have some food questions and how the food combinations effect the body, as well as dynamics of Julie's philosophy. I really enjoyed the sessions and am in awe of her. However, after driving for two hours from Gloucester and attending the night sessions, I tended to space out and not necessarily absorb a lot if the information. I emailed Theresa, but got back some long form letter of encouragement. Is there anyone out there who can help me?  -- Rose

11/13/13 update:
I just read an excerpt from the book Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar - Your Brain's Silent Killers, by Dr. David Perlmutter, which supports a lot of what Julie teaches us. I highly recommend this article. It's available on Amazon and the Kindle price is only $6.62. I devoured the article, so I may have to buy the Kindle version! -- Theresa
November 12, 2013
This weight loss journey isn't a contest. We are all winners, even though this is not a contest. This journey is about our commitment to drop our excess weight, to reach our desired size, and maintain that size for the rest of lives. How's your commitment working for you?
this is not a contest
We made a commitment to ourselves, and with Julie's help (hypnosis) we can stay committed to drop our weight.

My commitment has stayed strong, but sometimes I get in my own way. The mean girl inside me sometimes whines "how come she lost weight faster than me?" Or I discover something I'm doing that isn't according to the program.

I know people who started this program and dropped straight down to their goal size. For others, including me, reaching our goal size is a longer journey. People in both groups indicate they have always been 100% in the river (on program) the whole time. Others indicate they jump in and out of the river all the time and they still reached their goals. I can't speak for the later group and I don't judge them. This is a solo journey and I can only speak of my own truth.

Why it is that some lose weight so much faster than others? Perhaps it's because we don't all hear or remember the same details and because we interpret what Julie teaches us in different ways. Again, I can only speak of my own journey.

As time passes, I refine my program, as I discover things I was doing wrong. These discoveries happen at refreshers or when I talk with others, but sometimes I have my own "ah ha" moments.

My recent "ah ha" was about the meat-veggie-ratio. I recall meals where I had more veggies than meat. I removed coleslaw from my food options a few months ago, because I realized it's a food I eat too much of, especially when I make it at home. I start off with the correct ratio, but then I go back for more coleslaw than meat and throw off the balance.

Yes, coleslaw is a food we're allowed. Yes, I stayed in the river. However, if we eat more veggies than meat we are going to either stop losing or gain weight. I speak of coleslaw, but I overate other veggies as well. I'll bring coleslaw back again, but for now, it's off my plate.

This concept is not complicated: eat equal to or less veggies than meat.

I'm not sure why I didn't take this meat-veggie-ratio more serious every day or when the line became blurry and I ignored this key concept over and over. I'm not even sure when it started or why I allowed myself to tip the balance. Why didn't I catch this and stop sooner? I'm not sure.

What I do know is that now that I've put the meat-veggie-ratio balance back in balance, my weight is coming off again.

I've followed this program for nearly 3 years and along the way I've identified areas where I make mistakes. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why my weight loss is slower than others. I learn from these imperfections and then I move on.

A big part of this program is learning to reprogram our minds. I don't beat myself up when I discover something I'm doing wrong. This program is a lifestyle change and I keep this in mind as I journey forward. Imperfections are part of the human experience. I expand my knowledge of how this program works by listening to my own body. When I feel I'm in a plateau, I look around to see if it's something I'm doing wrong and if it is, I stop it immediately.

As much as my old way of thinking (my inner mean girl) asks "why is she losing weight so much faster than me?" I have to remind myself: this is NOT a competition. There is no finish line. There is no "end" of this journey. Life doesn't work this way. I am on a journey to lose weight and I'm doing my best to stay the course. My best is good enough.

After I reach my goal size I'll learn how to maintain that and then move on once again. Move on to what? Living my life just as I always have. My whole life doesn't change just because my size does. My life is the same, but I'm a whole lot healthier. I'm the same person, just a smaller size. I think the same, except the mean girl is melting away. The mean girl who held me back no longer has a place in my life.

I speak of the mean girl because a lot of us are so critical of ourselves. It's important on this journey to quiet the inner mean voice. If we want to transform our lives, we have to stop listening to the mean girl who tells us we're still fat. The mean girl who looks in the mirror and only sees our flaws. The mean girl has no place in your life either; let her go.

If we are truly committed to losing this weight and maintaining it for the rest of our lives, we cannot afford such negativity in our lives, especially from ourselves. If we cannot look in the mirror and see ourselves as we really are, we're never going to maintain our goal size.

Let go of your mean girl. Let go of anything that is keeping you from reaching your goal size and embrace your commitment to reach your goal.
November 11, 2013
Happy November,

Yes, it's Fall and the weather is getting chilly.  I wanted to check in to see how you were all doing. Well, how are you doing? Challenges, successes, laughs? Update us.....

I'll start first.  These past 4 months have been fantastic.  I feel great and in fact, I think I am going to start to run again.  OK... Jog.  :). I was out with my dog last week and started to jog around the neighborhood and felt pretty good.  The places that used to bounce around and not feel comfortable, didn't feel too bad.  So, I'm going to sign up with Planet Fitness and start to use the treadmill 3/wk.  I will keep you posted on how this goes.

I have gone off program 2 times.  Both times when I went away for a few days.  I limited my "off" times to beverage selection and on one vacation food choices.  Both times, I have been able to get back "into the river" successful.

My 4 month anniversary is coming up Nov 15.  I just signed up for a refresher for the end of November.  I have a goal that I would like to hit by Jan 1.  To complete it, I want to be as prepared as I can be.  This will assure that nothing will stand in my way.

Here are a few things that I have learned over the past 4 months:
  1. Food doesn't have a tight grip over me anymore.  With Julie's help with cravings, I don't feel the pull of food anymore.
  2. My beverage of choice (when out with friends) used to be beer.  All different kinds of seasonal ones.  I've realized that, Vodka is a great replacement.
  3. I now drink coffee. Maybe it's because my taste buds have changed and it gives me something different to drink along with water and seltzer.
  4. I'm not hungry anymore.  In fact, I need to remind myself to eat.  I think this is because I don't crave or think about food anymore.
  5. I have the support of family and friends.  I do find that after you have been on the program for a bit, it's easy to stay on it and not have sugar or carbs.  You get used to leaving them off your plate.
Do you agree?

How are you doing?

Jane

"Preparedness Equals Peace of Mind" - is a quote from a dear friend that coached college athletes for over 30 yrs.  She recently lost her battle with cancer this past August.  This quote is right on the money as we are all prepared once our 3 sessions are completed with Julie.  To believe in ourselves and the program brings success and POM.
November 04, 2013