One of the key concepts is to eat local veggies and to eat them when they are in season. Here in the Pioneer Valley asparagus season is underway (May through June). Now is the time for us to indulge in asparagus and to get you started, here's a delicious recipe for oven-roasted asparagus.
Oven-Roasted Asparagus
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 pounds green asparagus
  • olive oil
  • sea salt (optional)
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • 2 large eggs (which you will hard-boil)
  • chopped flat-leaf parsley or chives, for garnish

Directions

Heat the oven to 425ºF

Prepare the asparagus:
  1. Asparagus need to be cleaned very well, as dirt gets trapped under the tips and is unpleasant to eat. Grasp each spear at both ends and bend it, it will snap in half; the top half is edible and tender. Save the bottoms to add to a stock.
  2. Fill a bowl with cold water and submerge the asparagus spear tips and swirl them around a few times, loosening up and removing any grit. If necessary, repeat in a few changes of water to ensure that all grit is removed. 
  3. Wash and towel-dry the asparagus and then peel the tough skin off the stalks with a vegetable peeler.
After preparing the asparagus:
  1. Drizzle a few spoonfuls of olive oil on a baking sheet and sprinkle with (optional) salt and pepper. 
  2. Toss the asparagus in the oil and roast in the oven, turning the spears a few times during roasting, for 18 to 20 minutes or until the asparagus is tender when you poke a knife into the stems. Don’t overcook them.
  3. While the asparagus are cooking, hard-boil the eggs, drain the water from the pot, add ice and cold water, and then let the eggs sit in the water until they are cool.
  4. Option: instead the eggs, use shavings of Parmesan or Pecorino cheese, crumbled feta, or crispy bits of bacon.
  5. Place the asparagus on a serving platter. 
  6. Peel the eggs and then use a cheese grater with large holes to grate the eggs over the asparagus.
  7. Sprinkle chopped parsley or chives over the asparagus and serve. 
  8. This dish may be served hot or at room temperature. 
Photo source and original recipe

May 31, 2014
If you are on a plateau, I encourage you to go and try on clothes in stores. Not crazy all over the place-just a few stores that you have tried in the past-Touch base with yourself! I learned A LOT earlier this week when I went shopping.
Talbots May 2014 (left) and Coldwater Creek February 2013 (right)
When I look in the mirror, I don't see ONE change. But, trying on clothes? Big change! In October 2013, I didn't buy these pants-they fit awful. I wanted them to fit so badly! But, tenacity paid off-I kept to my exercise routine and clean eating (meat/veggies/hardly any condiments) and 6 months later I found a prettier pair of pants in a smaller size!

Going to stores and trying on clothes helps you gauge a lot. Yes, using your own clothes is helpful, but sometimes can be frustrating. I am a very curvy person, so I do most of my shopping in women's stores: Chicos, Coldwater Creek (I will miss them as they are closing maybe by July-even the salesclerks don't know!) and Talbots, to name a few. I only grab a few articles-mainly pants as this is my toughest body part. I grab a couple of different sizes as well. But NEVER a larger size than what I want to fit into as I do NOT want my body to think that size is OK!
May 2014 (left) November 2013 (right) Not a huge change, but noticeable! Yippee!
This a pair of shorts (above photo on the right right) I have used since last October when I went to a refresher and decided I no longer wanted to be a 6-8, but a 4-6 (long story!!!!)  I have been trying them on and taking pictures. For the longest time, no change! Took more pictures today: BIG change in how they fit (above photo on the right left)!

The odd thing: When I just look in the mirror, I don't see the change! Only in the pictures! Wild. I am not whining. I am being truthful about not seeing a difference. Moral of this story? Go shopping. Be realistic. And go WALK! lol. I can't believe I am posting these.....but, I guess it's proving what tenacity and believing can do. Your plateau will take as long as it takes! It is up to you to work through them! Move more, be consistent. Be careful with condiments! (This includes cheese! I hardly ever eat it anymore!)

Did I say move? I mean it! Most of you know I have a Fitbit, and I have logged over 480 MILES since March 13!!!! That commitment moved me from my plateau, I know it!!! And go try on some clothes!

May 26, 2014
Meet Jennifer M, who started at a size 14 and is now a size 2-4. Jennifer is asking for help with a problem many of us have experienced. Despite the fact that all her clothes have literally fallen off her body, she's having trouble seeing the changes in her mirror, and she's nervous about starting maintenance.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall...
Here's Jennifer's story and questions:
I follow your blog and I love reading the posts. I first went to Julie in September of 2013 and I have had amazing success, but I think I need a little bit of advice and I really do not know where to turn. Since your blog has been such a great resource for me the last several months, I thought maybe you could give me some advice/insight as to what I am feeling.

First, I should tell you that I was always thin, often considered underweight. I started gaining weight in college. The pounds came on rapidly and I just figured it was the "freshman 15." Each year, I gained more and more and was finally diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), after several years of searching for answers to several health mysteries.

Through the PCOS diagnosis, I ended up receiving fertility treatments (more weight gain!) which resulted in a pregnancy. Being pregnant was the only time I was able to lose weight and I lost 30 pounds. Once my daughter was born, the weight came back on and  15 extra pounds. I never have eaten terribly, and I am extremely active, but no matter what I ate or how much time I spent at the gym, the weight wouldn't budge. After researching PCOS and talking to my family, I learned that Hashimoto's disease is closely related and it runs in my family.

It was around the time I was diagnosed with this that I went to my first session with Julie. I was an extremely tight size 14. I listened to what she said and I followed all of her instructions. I did not have the same triggers as you and others on the blog have mentioned. I just ate my meat and veggies because I felt good not eating the other junk. I wasn't totally convinced that the hypnosis worked on me because of this, but I firmly believed that the principles of the program make sense, especially for my health.

Now I'm between a size 2 and 4. I have not strayed from the program. I had to purchase an entirely new wardrobe because my old clothes literally fell off my body. I get complements every day.
My problem is that I don't see any change when I look in the mirror. I'm scared that this could become a serious problem... forcing me to never go into maintenance because I'm scared to eat anything else, or worse--trigger an eating disorder.

My goal when I saw Julie was to get into a size 6. I have surpassed that, but I'm still not pleased because I don't see a change. Also, Julie had said that maintenance should start after a year on the program. I am not there yet. (Note from Theresa: I believe this was a misunderstanding in something Julie said, as there is not set time when one should begin maintenance.)

Do you have any thoughts or similar experiences? I am not sure what to do at this point. I am scheduled to see my doctor next month and I plan to bring my concerns to him, but I would love some insight from someone who has been through it all.
Jennifer, congratulations on your incredible success in reaching your goal size! This is no small feat, as we all know. I'll do my best to answer your questions and concerns from my own experience and I hope others will respond with their experiences too.

As far as seeing your body changes in the mirror goes, just about everyone I know has expressed they too had problems seeing their weight loss at one time or another. I often hear others refer to poochy belly, their arms as bat wings, or thunder thighs, the list goes on and on.

After a week of being with 5 other women during my vacation, I noticed that this list is something all women seem to have and not just women who have lost weight. Every time I showed a photograph to one of my traveling friends, they always criticized themselves, despite the fact that they looked beautiful in the photo. If they didn't point out something about their body, then it was something about what they were wearing. I was keenly aware of this every time I showed them a photo, even the woman in her 70's who was very petite! So, it isn't just because we've lost weight, it seems to be common for women to speak negatively about their bodies.

Seeing our new bodies and adjusting to them in our heads is not easy. This is something each of us has to work through for ourselves. This is all about self-acceptance. It's essential for each of us to make this transition to see our bodies as they really are, to see the positive, and to stop focusing on our flaws. Look at those photos of you in your tight 14's - you are not that same woman! Do this often.

I don't want my life to be a constant battle with myself over my size when I'm at goal; I refuse to live this way. When I was a 30-32 and never saw myself that size either. I'm determined to work through this issue. I want to live life to the fullest and not be so self-obsessed with my body. I am determined to start this process now and if I'm still seeing myself the size I really am when I reach my goal, I'm go to therapy.

This is all part of the journey, as is going on maintenance. What you're describing about being fearful of maintenance is normal. Julie tells us we must be willing to play the game (of maintenance) in order to take this weight off and keep it off. Maintenance is about bringing foods back in slowly and intentionally. Along the way, we will gain some weight and we will take it off by going back into the river. We repeat this process, adding new foods as we feel ready, going up and down within our goal size (not up in size, up to a tight goal size) until we get it and our body realizes this is our new pattern.

You can do this, just as you've done the rest of the program. Julie taught you maintenance in your classes and you have all the knowledge within you to achieve this goal too. Trust the process. Trust yourself. This will take time. How much time varies from person to person, but trust you to will get there!

Thanks for sharing your story.


May 21, 2014
Today's Key Hypnosis success story comes from Erin. Thank you Erin for sharing your story and your photos with us. You inspire all of us to continue on our weight loss journeys. 

I have been following your blog right along with Julie's program from the end of August 2013. I love both! On Easter of 2013 my dad hosted a beautiful Easter egg hunt for all his grandchildren and a few extended relatives. It was that day that changed my life forever.

The Easter egg hunt required quite a bit of walking and at approximately 280 lbs and wearing a size 24 I had difficultly keeping up with my 4 much faster kids. After we got back to the house my dad was excited the share that he had heard about Julie's program and gave me the phone number. At first I felt that it was a great idea.. for someone else. I knew that I needed to loose weight but wasn't eager jump into something like hypnosis.

After most the guests had gone home, my Dad offered me what I now know is the greatest gift of my life: he said if I was serious about trying it--he would pay for the program.

The next morning I called Julie's office and was put on the wait list. That day I decided I would start a low carb "diet" and while I waited to see Julie I had some success on my own: I lost 25 lbs.

My 3 sessions started at the end of August and ran into September. I was really nervous when I arrived and even for the first 2 months I was on the program. I thought I might not be able to be hypnotized or maybe I would be one of the very few just not to have success.

I was wrong!

I've found following this program to be just a part of who I am. I have not gone off program and I don't have any worries that I won't reach my goal without straying.
Erin 2 years ago at her brother's high school graduation; size 22-24.
Erin 2 weeks ago at her sister's college graduation; size 12-14 dress which she was in high school.
I am not yet at my goal but I'm very happy to come as far as I have. I have not weighed myself, but I have so many non-scale victories. Here are a few:
  1. I rode 6 hours in a plane fitting comfortably in my own seat.
  2. I went shopping with my average size friend and I felt normal.
  3. I enjoyed keeping up with all my kids at this years Easter egg hunt.
  4. I never walk in a room and worry about being the largest person there.
I was obese for the last 13 years. I know that with the tools Julie has given me I will never get that way again.
May 19, 2014
Recently a friend touched on a topic that a lot of us have had personal experience with: "My beautiful husband's Aunt struggles with her weight. She is not interested in seeing Julie, but has recently been reducing her carbs and is starting to lose."

Yesterday my husband took her out to lunch to celebrate Mother's Day and she was so excited because she had bread and ice cream after not having either for 2 months. She said, "I'm going to eat what I want today because it's Mother's Day." It just struck me how many 'Because it's (insert any occasion, holiday, event or excuse here) I'm going to eat what I want' days I used to have. I was truly the queen of rationalization.

Living through 2 years of events and having the strength to not eat off program "because it's..." is really amazing to me. I'll always want those foods as they are like old friends to me. I've just decided I don't want to party with them anymore. I don't want another Monday where I have to feel defeated and know I have to start dieting again because I blew it.

I'm grateful that my life is full of events that deserve celebrations. I just don't want to ever use those happy times to hurt myself with food."

How many of us have thought like that? Isn't it a relief to be free from these feelings?

Another friend talked about her personal situation with Mother's Day too:

"I was thinking this will be my first Mother's Day without kid-made French toast. Boo boo, poor me. But instead they made a beautiful omelet with ham and a side of bacon. They cared enough to cook, and to sit and eat with me. The focus, for me, has changed. Mother's Day was never about French toast.  :)"

People that have seen Julie are learning to adapt to holidays! And their families care enough to allow the "old" tradition to be replaced with a "new" tradition. That is true support! Do you have people helping you meet your goals? If so, how?? Are you worried about the next holiday, or are you prepared??? Has your focus changed??

May 15, 2014
A present left for Jill while at work
How many of us put ourselves first? I mean REALLY put our thoughts, our wishes, our needs FIRST?

This topic kind of emerged out of a discussion I was having with  2 friends who were both presented with an uncomfortable food situation this week where they both had to say "no thank you."

One found it hard, because her friend had gone out of her way to include her in a get-together by purchasing food she thought her invitee (aka following Julie) would eat: Flavored seltzer and veggies with dip. Yes, the veggies and dip would have worked, except there was no meat to go with.

"I really considered just eating a darn cucumber to make her feel good--I didn't, of course, but at that moment I was wishing I had a hot line to Julie's cell to ask for advice!"

Isn't this the old "devil on one shoulder/angel on the other" situation: Do I or don't I? How bad could it be? A few bites of a veggie, a sip of flavored seltzer. I need to be nice to my hostess! She did this for me! How rude would I be if left without eating or drinking something?

Can you see yourself in a time just like this? In this case, she worked through it, but left feeling somewhat guilty that this person had bought food/drink for her, and she didn't have any of it.

The picture above is from Jill, who found this nice present for her sitting on her desk at work. In Jill's words: "'Food for Thought' - Why do we reward or thank someone with super unhealthy food? It's like a bakery/candy store around here today because we are being "appreciated." I know it is all well-intended and I adore my students, but it makes me go "hmmmmm???" She ended up giving the candy away. Her student was being nice as were all of the students as they were presenting food-type gifts, so there were lots of temptations throughout the day. How do we convey to young people/students/acquaintances that we won't be joining in this type of "reward?" How do we teach them to step away from food as a reward? How do we teach them that we would love a hug, a handshake, a handwritten thank you?

Do you have people that try to help you "fit in" to what they are doing? Have you gone to a party where the hostess went out of her way to provide you with options that keep you on track? I do-I have a wonderful friend who follows the paleo diet (caveman diet-similar to ours, but with foods that I don't eat) and it has been a godsend to go to her house for get-togethers because I know there will be food I can eat. But I still bring a dish to share that is Julie-friendly and I always bring seltzer or unsweetened iced tea. She "gets it," she understands that if I don't feel comfortable eating something, I will say "no thank you." Others DON'T get the meat/veggie thing, and often times they won't provide something I can eat. And that is OK! I enjoy my time, I get caught up, I enjoy helping set up and cleaning up--but they really do look disappointed. Like they "failed." So, do we put them first and "help ourselves" or do we hold firm to "no thank you," knowing that in a while you can go home and get yourself something to eat? It is a tough challenge. For sure!

We have to put ourselves first! We are worth it! There are "lessons" for all involved: someone will hear "no thank you", someone will say "no thank you". There may be silence, there may be awkwardness, you may not want to accept an invite the next time (you may not GET an invite the next time!).....but we HAVE to put ourselves first! I can pretty much assure you that each time it gets easier, and it sure feels better being a little hungry and proud, than bloated, disappointed and depressed.

At my last refresher, Julie talked about wanting us to feel truly happy. Inside happy. Resonating happy. We truly can be happy when we put ourselves first. It's OK to say "No Thank You!!!!!!"

May 10, 2014