Dear Betty Jo,
Thank you so much for your warm welcome and wonderful advice, you're an inspiration to me!
I am very ready to do this program and finally be good to myself. I am the type of person who takes
care of everyone to my own detriment. Not any more; I have learned it's really okay to be selfish and take care of yourself. I'm thrilled with my 12 pound weight loss this week and tonight I had a BBQ Pizza for the first time which was really delicious.

Congratulations on you weight loss, that's wonderful Betty Jo. I have made a graph for myself, and my first goal is to get to 299, just to be out of the 3's will be such a wonderful accomplishment. This probably sounds silly, but I'm very sure I've already lost some inches just with the 12 pounds. Fortunately, my family is very supportive. I've bounced from so many diets thinking "this is it" but it never was. I'm sure now I will do well with Jenny Craig. Doing Jenny Direct is really wonderful and I look forward to my conversations with my consultant as well for that "way to go" confirmation.

Wishing you a terrific week and Happy Memorial Day.

Warm Regards,
Heather

Hi Katy,
Thanks for the encouragement and the welcome back! You are doing so amazing! You should be so proud of yourself!

We are going to Hawaii for 3 weeks...been saving up for a long time for this! My husband has planned the whole thing, trying to duplicate as close as possible our 25th anniversary trip there. We are visiting 4 islands, spending the final week on Maui, our favorite...it's hard to comprehend that we are celebrating our 40th anniversary!.

Dear Heather,
You are at the perfect place to make good friends and get lots of support. I am so glad you decided to give this a try. I've been at it about a year, and even though I haven't lost as much as some of the others, I am really happy to say I've learned a great deal, and I think I am finally getting the important stuff to stick! It's a journey, and a very important one. I've seen several of the by-pass people I know actually go back to their original weight after a few years...really. And on top of it, their health is not as good, due to the changes of how the body absorbs nutrients after a by-pass. You are making a vastly important decision, and this diet will work, and work well. And I have learned portion control and that I can't let up on exercise...and I can have dessert...and chocolate! Hooray for you!

talk to you all soon!

Hi Arlonne:

I just wanted to say hi before you leave on your vacation. We will miss you, but have fun.

Betty Jo

Heather: Sorry for the big letters. I forgot to do quote

You can do this. There are two things I experienced in the first three weeks. I was a little bit hungry and I had a lot of negative thoughts. Keep lots of green veggies around so that you can eat them if you get hungry. And if your mind tells you that you want to quit, don't listen. Just put those negative thoughts out of your mind. Say no!!!! I'm going to do this and then redirect your thoughts by doing something else. Have a plan in mind. For instance, when I had negative thoughts, I would go outside and walk. I couldn't walk very far then, but I would just get out of the house and go look at my gardens or something. It helps to redirect your thoughts.

Good luck. Please come into the boards often and let us know how you are doing even if you are having a bad day. We've all had bad days here and it's all a part of losing weight. The difference between the people who lose weight and the people who don't is simple. The people who lose weight and keep it off, get right back on program after they mess up. They don't use it as an excuse to stop. So if you feel weak, come in and talk with us on the message boards.

Betty Jo

Hi Betty Jo,
you are at 200! WOW! This is just so cool! I have not hardly budged while you've been consistently going down...I hope I'll be remotivated by the time we get back from our big trip...

I'll miss you also....and I do really plan to have fun!

Well I have not been here for almost a week, sorry. It seems like lately I just never have the time to come here. I am having a terrible time with the food on the diet plan. My main problem is eating all three meals.
Due to my caring for my son I find myself eating the first meal at noon, then I have the dinner meal, so am either skipping one meal a day or eating it at 10PM! I have become adjusted to eating fruit twice a day and that is something I did not usually do, so I guess that is a good thing.
The one food I cannot eat are the anytime bars, I am sorry but I do not like them one bit. Plus to tell the truth they do not like my teeth!
How do you folks cook for a family and avoid the temptation of wanting to eat what you are cooking? That is the hardest part for me. Making sandwiches for lunch with the favorite lunchmeats and cheeses the urge to just take a nibble of them is some times hard to avoid, but so far I have!!!
My assigned counselor did not call last week, but a sub, I asked her about not being able to talk to the other girl, and her answer was they are only allowed 15 minute consulations. I did not know that, so I guess I will have to save most of my questions for you nice folks.
Well I am going to get my weight tomorrow, and then will let you know how I have done this last week, that was another thing the consuler told me, only weigh myself once a week.

Hi Jaf:

Well one of the things I want to impress on you is that you have made some changes. You are eating fruits and that's a good thing. I always make certain I have my fruits now too and salad once a day. So my point is you are making changes for the better. I didn't just jump in and do everything right at first either. I made lots of mistakes, but each time I got right back on program. Part of this journey is realizing where your weight gain is coming from and apparently you have identified one of the problems already. The sandwich meats. Right? Well, here's what I did when I identified a problem. Each time I came up with a plan to fight back. For instance, I purchased the Chicken Salad from JC and had it for dinner. JC also has some great microwave lunches you can get. I like the chow mein and the potate the best. I trade off and have those for lunch, but mostly I eat the Chicken Salad just because it's fast and good. I would always consider a couple of things when I was making up a plan to defeat my problem. What do I like to eat besides the problem food and how can I plan ahead to change the bad habit to a good habit. Just take one habit at a time and change it. It didn't work for me to try to change all the habits at once. Some people can do it, but I couldn't. My biggest problem was cooking for my husband at night. He's a big meat and potatoes man. I was having problems not eating what I fixed for him for supper. I figured out what I was worried about was being wasteful, so here's the solution I came up with. I cooked dinner as usual and fixed both of us a big salad to go with the meal. Then 5 minutes before we ate, I put my dinner in the microwave so it would be done at the same time. Then I built the plates--his with the prepared meal and mine from the microwave. After supper, anything left went in the freezer immediately. Then the next time I served that meal, I removed it from the freezer and fed my husband. It worked for me, because it gave me a night or two off from cooking and nothing was wated.

Well, Jaf, the other thing you want to remember is never give up. If you go off program, try to determine a plan to change the problem and just go right back on at the next meal or the next day. Eventually, you change all the bad habits and begin to lose weight. You aren't in a contest with other people, you are on this program to get healthy. Keep that in prospective at all times. Hope to see you back here soon to see how you are doing.

Betty Jo

Good Morning Ladies:

I'm so thrilled today. For the first time in years, I'm below 200 pounds. Yes, that's right, I finally made my goal to get below 200. I cannot tell you how much that empowers a person. My next goal is to get to 186.5 pounds (3/4 to goal weight). After that I have 20 pounds to lose. Can you believe it? It doesn't seem possible to me.

Have a great day. I'll talk with you soon.

Hi ladies!

BETTY JO!! Big, big congrats, girl!! I can just hear your excitement! You're such encouragement to me - I love reading about your successes! ALL of you who post here are encouraging to me.

I haven't been around for several days, either - life just seems to get in the way. My first week's official call from my counselor was yesterday, and I am down an even SIX POUNDS. I'm jazzed - ready for week two, but know I can't expect the same kind of loss again. Sigh.

I do have a question if one of you who buys the Jenny Bars won't mind answering. I can't find the nutritional information anywhere on this website for them - and I really want to know what it is before I order any. I think I can do as well with milk and my own supplements, don't you? I'm trying to keep the cost of this EXPENSIVE program down if I can. Also - those of you who use them - do you see a huge benefit in them as far as staving off hunger, etc? I've been doing the fiber water (packets I put in my bottle) that have 10 grams of fiber per packet, and they kind of satisfy my hunger if the munchies get me.

I'm trying to get myself psyched up to start walking - it's been a long time since I've had a regular walking program, and it'll take me forever to get going again. I used to (back in the dark ages) walk six miles every day - and I weighed about 150 pounds then, too. Never see that number again, I'm afraid.

Guess it's almost time to think about dinner - hope you're all having a wonderful week. Keep up all the good work - you're so encouraging to me!!

Tall Jo

FIRST: YOU ROCK, BETTY JO !!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS !!

I cannot wait to have that goal set aside. I like the fact that either we are all around the same age, the same weight, and the same goals.

Tall Jo: I do not do the Anytime Bars. I have always taken another vitamin (3x's a day) that include minerals. They also quiet my restless legs. And, have always taken a different fiber capsules. So, I'm not changing these good things. And I think that's what the Anytime Bar covers.
"The Volumetrics Plus Satisfaction Leads to Success" pamphlet says Anytime Bars are high in protein (10g), fiber (4g), and 20% recommended daily calcium. it's a vitamin and mineral supplement; in addition, the bar counts as 1 milk serving.
p.s. You go girl, too! SIX pounds!!

Jaf: Betty Jo has good pointers. I don't think any of us get it right.
And you are right, they tell us NOT to WI more than once a week. But, I weigh every morning. I find it works better for me. If I weigh once a week and it showed only a smidgen of loss, I'd be defeated. But, if I know on Tuesday that I was down 2 pounds, I get pschyed up for the rest of the week. Understand?
Oh, yes! I love those lunchmeats too. And hubby went out this week and bought himself a bunch for his lunches........... willpower! I just need to stay with willpower!!!! So far, so good. And that makes me feel good too. Remember, this JC Plan is "ALL about US !!!" Nobody else.

As far as eating all of the foods in one day, I have a theory about this too. When I was younger, I skipped so many meals. It was work, the kids, life, household duties. There was no time for me. The doctor found my blood levels all out of wack. He asked when was the last time I ate.... oh, I had some crackers running the kids someplace.... Well, he put me on 1500 calories a day and in one month, I gained 15 pounds. Why? Because my body did not know what to do with all of that food. It always had to store anything I ate because I was trying to starve to death.
Well, now it's now. We all know we did not starve ourselves getting to this point, but the JC Plan does teach you how to survive for the rest of your life! With all good training. And part of that good training is eating proper nutrition and proper calories. If we try to skip, we lose the challenge (not the weight). That's why we have to eat EVERYTHING on the JC plan..... Can I have ONE exception???? I don't do the soupitizers. Sorry. I do drink a full glass of water before each meal (2 cups of water). Soupitizers are for volume so we don't over eat. I use the water for volume.
But, Jaf, I have a struggle too.... not like yours. It must be so difficult to have any time for you or feel like their is enough hours to the day when you spend so much time taking care of your son. I'm so sorry that that is on your plate and for your son. He must feel a lot of love from you. And none of us can compare to your challenge.
My struggle is due to my physical limitations. It takes me forever to do simple things. Things that I know others can run circles around me doing. If they can do 15 things a day, I only complete 5. And I use to do 25. It is so frustrating. I feel like food is the center of my universe now. And I wonder if that is a good thing...???? Doesn't seem like it should be the major part of the day. My day has breakfast at 11 am. lunch around 3 or 4pm. And dinner whenever... 7pm-ish. Life seems to be about food. I'm sure you feel like that too when so many other demands face you.
What to do? I asked the consultant. (Thats why it is ssssooooo important to get a GOOD consultant.) JC says that you can have just ONE gigantic meal a day: EVERYTHING on the JC day's plan. AND you can have it ALL just before you go to bed. The goal is to eat everything. I call that binge eating. But, this JC Plan makes your body know that it is NOT starving. IT lives off an EQUAL amount EVERYDAY. Good portions, good choices.
Somehow, I hope you see that I went full circle with that and my theory.

Heather: I know you will have great success! You have started with a robust attitude and dropped enough to get excited about. I love JC because she teaches us a new life, new attitudes, new methods. And you deserve one!!! Keep us posted. We help each other.

Arlone: You are going to come back so tan and so revived! 3 weeks in Hawaii sounds too good to be true. Actually, my cousin is over there for a month... or 2(?).... he has never traveled in his life. After his wife died, he took a vacation to Hawaii and bought a time share. He loves it over there! They just went through a "VOG". It's lava dust that looks like fog and gives people breathing problems. They wait for some wind to blow it out. Ever heard of that?

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Ok, I have a forum question: On my account, I asked to receive individual emails when somebody posts...... and I never get them sent to my email. I got to go through all of these JC web pages to see if anybody is saying anything. What's the deal? Does anybody else have problems receiving emails from postings?

WOW BETTY JO - CONGRATS ON GETTING BELOW 200!!!!!!!!!!! You are doing so great - keep up the good work. I am finding it harder to stick to the program now that the weather is nicer - too much running around and not eating at the right times and end up eating out. I have been doing pretty good with my choices when eating out but do not always get in all my meals.

Tall Jo - I keep some anytime bars around for the days when I know I will be gone in the morning and not be able to have my yogurt or milk snack. I wasn't real crazy about them but now that they have re-formulated the peanut butter bar I find I like that one. Most days I do a vitamin supplement which I buy on my own rather than the Jenny vitamins and have a yogurt with it for my milk serving. Congrats on the SIX # loss - you're off to a great start - keep up the good work!! I don't do much walking or formal type of exercise. I am just having a hard time making myself do it. I try to get a walk in once in a while but most of the exercise I get comes from working in the yard and my flower garden. Now that I have some weight off I find I can do a lot more that I was able to do last year and hopefully I will eventually get myself motivated to do some actual walking.

Jeannine - I am also a sandwich nut. A big gooey sandwich with all the extras had always been my favorite lunch. Now that I am doing MOMO's I make one ocassionaly with a wheat bagel sandwich, 2oz. of turkey and some fat-free mayo and mustard and add some lettuce. I love the Jenny stuffed sandwiches and the turkey burger which for me seem to help with my sandwich fettish. It is true that the Jenny counselors are only allowed approx 15 minutes per consult so if you have any questions you don't have time to discuss with then just come to the boards here and I am sure someone will be able to help you out. I have always weighed myself every morning - for me it is good cause if I go up one day I tend to stick to the program better that day. Salt is a big problem for me so if I show a gain of any kind I stay away from anything too salty the next day. The self-stable foods seem to have more sodium content than the frozen foods so even though the frozen are a little more expensive I tend to get more of them for that reason. Keep up the great work!!!

Heather - You are off to a great start - keep in touch and let us know how everything is going. We are all here to help and encourage each other thru good and bad times.

We decided to put in a garden this year, so now that I have my flower beds done I will have the garden to keep me busy. I feels so great just to be able to do that type of work again!! My son is doing the tilling part - I'm not up to that yet - but I will help with the planting, weeding etc. I am actually feeling excited about being able to do some canning this fall.

We had a bad hail storm here last Saturday and my van got pelted pretty bad. I was at work when the storm came thru and everyone's vehicle there got it pretty bad. Luckily it didn't hit near as bad at the house and the rest of the vehicles are O.K.

Hope you all have a great day!
Kathy

Hi Jo:

You are so encouraging. Thanks for taking the time to post such encouraging information.

I do have an answer for you regarding your account. Go into "My Controls" at the top of the Forum page. When you get in there you can set your controls any way you want them. Also, if you want to track a specific topic or forum, your control page will keep them organized for you so you don't have to go through every topic to see if anyone has posted.

Here's how to track a topic:

If you want to track the "Over 60's" topic for instance, scroll to the top of the page. There is a little scroll bar in the upper right corner of the page. Click on the scroll bar and pull down to track topic. It will ask you are few questions and then it will save this topic in your "My Controls" area.

Here's how to track a forum or group:

If you want to track a forum, such as "Support Buddy Groups", find and click on the group or forum, find the scroll button on the right, and then scroll down to track this forum. The the group will be save in your "My Controls" area.

Here's how to access topics and groups in your "My Controls" area:

To access the saved topics and groups after you have saved them into your "My Controls" area, go into My Controls at the top of the page, click on View topic or View group (on the left hand side of the page) in your My Controls page. They should be set up there. If not go back and try again.

Hope this helps and keep up the good work on your JC journey.

Betty Jo

Hello Everyone. It's a beautiful day here in Kansas today. We needed a break. Thanks everyone for the pat on the back. It is a very big deal to me.

Hi Kathy:

We are definitely learning how to live differently aren't we. I find summer is different also. I'm retired, but there is so much to do here on the farm. I find that we are eating much different. You know, barbeque and grilling. I love ribs (who doesn't) and they are so fattening. So I just have a little bit now and make sure we get the country ribs because they have less fat on them. I love bbq beans and potato salad too so I went into the internet for low fat recipes. Doing MOMO is a little more challanging because I have to find all new recipes that taste good to replace all the old ones I've used for years. I keep track of the calories too so I don't go over 1500 calories. It's all a process. We will be much better equipped to deal with summer next year. I think it's going to take me about two years to completely undo what it took me 60 years to learn. Oh, by the way, I found a fantastic way to do french fries in the oven that are CRISP. If you need a recipe of the nature, let me know. It uses 1 tsp of olive oil. Can you believe it. My husband even raves about them.

Hi MimiJo:

Congrats on the fantastic weight loss. Keep up the good work there. In answer to your question about the nutional information for the Anytime Bars. There is a website you can go into and find the nutritional information for just about any food, including JC foods, on the market. It's called About.com and here's the address http://caloriecount.about.com. Do not put www before the address. There's even a place in there called Calorie Plus and you can track your calories for anything you eat. I like it because I'm more than half way on the JC plan and I'm doing MOMO more. I like knowing how many calories I'm having all the time so I don't eat over 1500. Keep up the good work girl and you'll be happy you did.

Well ladies, I guess I better get up and do something. I'm burning daylight !!! See you back here soon. Oh, and by the way, it's the end of the month and this thread is getting a little long. Tommorrow, which is the last day of the month, I will start a new thread for June and we will post there in June. Have a great day.

Betty Jo