Hi all! I have been on JC since August of 2008 and have lost 22 pounds. It's definitely been slow for me, but I'm not discouraged because this is the best I've done in YEARS!! I would like to start losing more now, though, and would love to have some other buddies to talk to along the way. As you all know, some days are easier than others and having some buddies who are there, would be so great!

I was over 300 pounds for years and years before JC. My highest weight was 321 and when I started on JC, I was 311. I'm now 289 and very happy!! However, like I said, I would like to do better and start seeing better results by really sticking to JC and learning how to live and eat differently, FOREVER!!

My next goal is to get to 250. I can't remember the last time I was there - maybe 25 or more years? My final goal weight is 140, but I'm just looking at little increments and goals, otherwise, it would be really overwhelming!

Thanks everyone! I'm looking forward to meeting you all and being an encouraging to each other!

Julie

Hello, Julie and welcome!!

I started at 306 pounds in November of 2008, so I definitely know where you're coming from. I am so glad to hear that you have had the patience and persistence to keep going, in spite of the slow loss. There are times I need to remind myself that I didn't put it on overnight (though sometimes it feels like it), so I won't take it off overnight. Becoming healthy is definitely a process!!

Feel free to send me a personal IM or continue to post on these boards. There are lots of understanding and supportive people on these boards who are going through exactly what you're going through!!

Good luck on your journey!

Hi Ronnie!

It's so great to *meet* you! I am usually on here every day, but have been really busy the past couple of days. I will definitely PM you so we can encourage one another. Yes, there are a lot of really great people on the boards and I'm so thankful for them!

Will talk with you soon!!

Julie

Hi Julie

I would love to be your buddy as well. I've just started JC and I have about 100lbs to go. I'm with you about the learning to eat differently and healthy, so I'd love to be your buddy. Congrats on losing 22lbs and keeping it off way to go!

~Mis

Welcome Mis!!

I was MIA for a few days due to too much yard work and the site being down, but I will try to be on more regularly. I enjoy hearing how everyone is doing and what everyone is up to.

I hope you're both having a ton of success this week!

Hi Julie, I started JC in oct of 08 and todate i have lost 44lbs my heaviest was 274 i started JC at 267 my goal is 140 also. i'm following the plan as well as i can and in the beginning i was very good about walking. the last couple of weeks i have slacked off and it showed by not losing and then gaining .4. so this week i put myself in check and started walking alot more and i have been able to start jogging a little. keep up the good attitude and you will do fine . would love the support and to support. take care.

Hi, all!

It's so great that we can all help each other on this journey! It's great meeting you all.

I had my weigh in on Monday and lost 2 more pounds! Hooray! It's been slow going for me, but I feel like I'm finally actually "getting it". I did eat out of emotion last week, so that was a bummer. I am trying to write things down that I can do when I want to nurture myself with food. I think that's one of my biggest down falls. I'm trying to have a list at the ready for the next time I want to use food to nurture myself.

Lindi Lu - how wonderful that you've lost 44 pounds!! That's SO good! Keep going. Soon you'll be at that 50 pounds off mark! Wow! It's so good that you're exercising, too. I swim for my exercise. I have bad knees and a bad back, so I'm really limited on what I can do, but I swim laps every morning and am up to over 1/2 mile! I'm shooting for a mile, now. I never thought I would say that. LOL

Mis - I'm so glad to meet you, too! I know that we are all going to be successful and it's so much easier when we have a buddy to walk along with us on this journey!! You can do it!

Please feel free to PM me! I'm thinking of getting an instant message program again, too. Do any of you have one that you use and like? That would be a super way of keeping in touch, too!

Have a good day tomorrow! Stay on program and take care of yourselves - you're definitely worth it!!

Julie

Hey Julie, sorry i've been mia. Had a good week lost 1.4 and that was with eating out two nights. Am able to incorporate a little jogging in with my morning walks and it feels great. Hope you have a great week will check in with you later. Take care.

Julie, congrats on making the decision to live healthier! 22lbs off? How exciting! I've lost 7lbs so far & have 96 to go. I usually come on line for an hour or two every evening-- it helps to relax after a rough day at work! I'm really happy with the program so far & there are so many truly wonderful people on the forums here. I don't feel like I'm on a diet at all, meaning i don't feel deprived. How about you?

Hi Lindi Lu!

So glad you're doing so well!! Losing 1.4 pounds is GREAT! Way to go!! I'm so glad you're able to jog, too! That's awesome!

I've had a very stressful week and am afraid I used food to nurture myself again. I didn't stay on JC one day this week. I started out good but before I knew it, I was snitching snacks here and there. I didn't drink all my water, either, and I'm feeling the affects of that, too.

My goal is to start fresh tomorrow and not allow my stressful life to get me off track.

Encouragement is welcome!! I need it right now!

Blessings - Julie

Hi, Cat!

I'm so happy that you've lost 7 pounds! Way to go! Keep going - we can do this!!

I agree about being online in the evening - I use it as a way to relax, too. It's nice to think about something else besides the stresses of the day.

I've had a bad week (read post above) and am going to refocus tomorrow and get back on JC completely! I've had a lot of stressful stuff going on and am using food to nurture myself - which is how I got into this mess in the first place! LOL

I will plan on checking in here tomorrow evening and seeing how everyone is doing! I'm so glad to have buddies to talk to and encourage. I love the encouragement you've given me, too! It's so appreciated and really helps me to feel I'm not alone.

Have a fantastic Monday and a good week and I'll see you all in here tomorrow.

Blessings - Julie

Hey Julie, My JCC had me read pages 103 - 111 in your weight loss manual helps with dealing with stress, its a good read helped me, and just remember you are doing this for you. You can do this just keep a positive attitude. Yesterday was day one with working out with Bob's Boot Camp dvd, I was able to last thru the 30min work out, I was so proud of myself. Tonight will be day 2 and tommorrow is my weigh in lets see how I do. Keep trying, don't give up on yourself. Talk to you tommorrow.

Hello all!! Sounds like everyone is doing excellent. I'm just home from vacation so I will start Jenny again seriously first thing in the morning. I have another 57 pounds to lose!!

Hope everyone is having a great day!!

Good morning, weighed in this a.m. and am down another .2, but the exciting news is that since my last measurements I have lost another 1 1/2" off my hips, 1" off my waist and 1/2" off my abdomen, that makes it all the better. I know the weight will start coming off as long as I keep doing my new work out routine. Hope you are doing well, will check in later. Continued success.

Julie my name's Alison it's nice to meet you and welcome to the journey of a lifetime one that we make together in this life. We're all here for you anytime. I love these boards because I've met the nicest people on here and we still email eachother. I know exactly what you're talking about as I am sure others do as well. When I was 545lbs, yep that number is correct, I was on my way to dying and here I was pregnant with my last child. I had never at that time heard of JC so I starved off and walked off 200 lbs. I ended up in much worse health. The scale kept reading 345, 355, 360 and I knew if I didn't do something right away I would end up dying at the same weight I started with 545 and I didn't want to die. So, at that time, last December I heard of JC and my favorite actress, Valerie Bertinelli, was on tv doing the commercial. I thought well it couldn't hurt, lol. At that time I weighed in at 351 and when I started JC I still weighed 351. Now I weigh 311 and dropped 40 lbs in 4 months, unusal yes but done.

I never thought I could do it so easy and that I could do it without being hungry, not just feeling it but actually not be hungry. I'm fulfilled in my hunger it's no longer a problem and I have learned that I can feel pleasantly full on the calorie intake I'm on now, 1500 a day. I now am able to workout and I feel good. Boy what a great difference JC has made in my life. I'm actually working the program and it's working for me. I'm so greatful for this program and for all the people here at JC boards and chat. So, encouragement we need and encouragement we get and for that I'm truly thankful. Anytime you want to email me feel free and know that if you do need the encouragement I'd like to be one of the people who can do that for you, you have encouraged me to keep going too, so thank you. Take care. Hope we get the opportunity to chat sometime in the chat room or just email on here.

Hi Allison!! It's SO great to meet you!! Your post gave me SO much encouragement and I really needed it! I've been struggling the past couple of weeks and have had a lot going on in my life (with extended family matters). I'm finding it hard to still take care of myself and others, too. I am trying to find new ways to nurture myself instead of nurturing myself with "comfort" food.

We have been so busy, we've been eating out more than usual and my choices aren't always good choices. I've been so tired, I just am eating without thinking. Okay - isn't that how I got into this mess in the first place? *sigh*

I thank you for your encouragement. I'm so excited about your progress and how wonderful you're doing! You go, Girl!! Keep doing it and you'll be at your goal before you know it!

Any words of wisdom or ideas regarding my struggles - I could sure use them!!! Feel free to PM me anytime!

Blessings - Julie

Hi Alison,
My name is Karin and your post is exactly what I needed.... I have started JC for the 3rd time and feel great about it this time. This is the only program that has worked for me and I have alot of weight to lose. Your post was very inspiring for me and I hope we can support each other thru to our goal weights. Email me any time so we can encourage each other. Thanks. Karin

Long time, no talk!! How is everyone out there doing?

HEY JULIE, HOW'S EVERYTHING GOING, AM VERY HAPPY TO SAY I HAVE FINALLY PAST THAT 50LB MARK, HAVE LOST 52. HOPE YOU ARE DOING WELL.

Hi Ronnie! My life is so crazy right now and so is my eating. I'm SO needing the encouragement and help from a few of my friends! How are you doing? I hope good!! I'll try and be in better touch - I'm hoping things get more back to normal by next week.

Thanks for checking in - it really makes a difference to come by here and have the encouragement.

Take care - Julie

Lindi Lu!! YIPPEE!!! I'm SO excited for you!!! You go girl!! Keep going and before you know it, you'll be to your goal!

I'm struggling right now. So much is going on in my life and I'm so stressed!! I haven't been on track one full day for 3 weeks now. My consultant called me today and I could tell, she was disgusted with me. I'm just so needing some encouragement right now but she said she couldn't call me again until I had been on program for a week. *sigh* So, I'm here, praying that you all can help me get back on track again through all these stressful things that are going on.

I LOVE hearing about your success!! It really motivates me and makes me so happy for you!!

Keep in touch, okay? I need a little help from my friends!

Julie

Don't get discouraged - Think of it as just taking it one day at a time. If you do something better today then you did the day before, then you will be on track before you know it. It you can fit into your schedule time to get all your food prepped so that making the decision of what to eat does not stress you out more, that would help. You can do it and we are here to help.

Go get 'em.

Thanks, Karin! I really, really need to get back on track. I started out okay today, but am off track again after going out to lunch with my family. I made bad choices and ate things I knew I shouldn't eat, but wanted, "to make me feel better emotionally". Oh - when will I stop going around this same mountain? *SIGH*

I'm so glad to meet you and am so thankful for the encouragement. I think that's what's so great about JC - the great people (like you) on the boards here and our consultants who are there to help us along this journey.

Like Scarlett said, "Tomorrow is another day." I have to refocus and not dwell on my mistakes. I'm going to be reading my JC books and writing out my menu and refocusing on ME.

Thanks again!!

Blessings - Julie

Julie we have about the same weight and issues too. I weighed 320 lost 40+ pound, found it, lost 50+ found that, then lost over 70 and went below 250 I was so excited.. found that too but took care of Dad on hospice and went to 328. I need people to help me stay focused. I am hoping Monday I will be in the 280's. I too use food as a drug. I KNOW you are not on a diet or off one it should be a way of life and eatting life style. Try to tell be that when I am abusing sweets like a drug addict for a comfort. Soon it becomes unconscoius of the amount of calories I consume then what do you know afraid to get on the scale to see what I have gained I need a size bigger pants. My brain goes out the window. I think I will start my diet Monday problem.Sometimes many Mondays go by. Now I take each day at a time because I can gain so much by Monday, that is if I am successful to start that Monday. Kirsty and Oprah have experienced the same thing. Funny I have been sad to look like Kirstie. We can encourage each other. I DO NOT want to gain it back again! Be careful. I started Feb 24 and lost 37.4 so far. It is not that hard, and you are worth it. I pick the food I want to eat. There are some I love and look forward to eatting. I hate to jounal but it does help. We obviously have an eatting disorder or we would not be going to JC. Yur JCC should not get discouraged with you, if she ever had a real weigh issue she would understand.That is her job dealing with people having weight issues. Write me I have been there and understand. I stayed between 137 and 160 until I was 35, then under 190 until over 40. Staying focused and 1 day at a time. Lets do it together.

Thank you so much for your encouragement and understanding. I can SO relate to everything you're saying. I KNOW intellectually that what I'm doing is not good, but emotionally, it really is like being an addict to food. Comfort foods - sweets, like you said - and other things that totally give me that comforting feeling.

You're right about the Monday thing. I do believe I have to take this one moment at a time. I can't even take it one hour at a time. I have to stay focused each and every minute.

I am going to start journaling again. I have a food journal, but I think for me, I need to journal for my emotional well being. I need to put on paper all these things that are making my life stressful and deal with it that way instead of eating.

I would love to help each other!! I've added you as a friend and hope you'll do the same. Message me any time!

Julie

Julie
Sent you two long emails to try and help they will be shorter next time. Maybe reading them will distract you from comfort food and get your mind on something else. I know I will be down in weight tomorrow at least 1 pound. Better than gaining.

I printed out your emails and will keep them in my weight-loss/JC notebook. They were SO helpful. I've written you back - be on the watch - it's longer than your emails by far. LOL

We're going to beat this and be thin and healthy!!

Julie

Today was my most emotional day since starting, losing only 1/2 lb was very disappointing. I went to the lake on our mountains and felt better. Thank goodness. Walking in the beautiful weather and surrounding with my dogs. Pine trees, fresh air, breeze through my hair when it is so hot at home just what I needed.

Hey Julie, sorry I've been mia, went on vacation last week, had a great time with family. then when I came home and went for my weigh in I lost 2.4, hooray! Remember to breathe, don't let the stress get to you. We are all here for each other. You can do this. Keep a positive attitude. Talk to you later.

Hello everyone ! I feel like i belong here !! i have 100+ to lose. this is my first time and i weigh in tomorrow for the 2nd time. I dont think i did as good as last week. I didnt have money to buy the food but i tried my best ! any advice / helpful tips are always good !!
thanks BB

Hey BB -
Good luck with your weigh in and don't get discouraged if the numbers are not what you want. Remember, this is a journey and a life style change, so it is going to take time. We all need to encourage each other to keep going so feel free to email me (link below) if you want. Good luck and let us know how your weigh in goes!!

Hi Lindi Lu! I'm SO excited for you!! You're doing so great!! You deserve many kudo's for sticking with your program even on your vacation!

I'm trying to get back on track. I had good days this week, but then the 4th came and I didn't stick to JC at all, even though I said I would. I'm very concerned about my WI tomorrow.

I'm trying to remember to take care of myself again through all this stuff that's happening. Me not taking care of myself, isn't going to help the situation.

So glad to hear from you again!! Thanks for the motivation!

Have a good week!

So great to meet you, BB! You absolutely belong here! We're glad to have a new buddy.

How did your weigh in go? I know what you mean about the cost of the food. It's really hard to do it sometimes. I'm on Jenny Direct and the shipping is really expensive. I ordered 3 weeks of breakfast food - just shelf stuff like cereals and bars - and it was over $80.00!! However, I do have to say, that when I stick to JC, I do lose and I haven't been able to lose the weight on my own, so I have to say I'm happy about the weight loss. Sometimes, it's really hard to come up with the money, though.

My greatest tip is to have things ready for munching. I keep carrot sticks, cut up bell pepper and other fresh veggies ready to go in my fridge. When I feel the need to munch, I can go grab some of those things and not feel guilty. Having them ready to go is the best so you can grab them when you need them. If I'm going to be out of the house for a long time, I try to always take a bag of fresh veggies with me in case I get hungry - I don't want to go off plan.

I'm glad to see you here! We can all do it!

It was a loss!! You're doing great and how smart to take a walk instead of snacking to soothe your emotions. You're doing great!!

I'm still struggling a bit. You'll be getting an email from me. It's been a touch weekend!

I hope you did good over the 4th!

We're going to beat this thing and win!! I just know it!

Email on it's way!

Julie, We all go off sometimes DO NOT feel bad just get right back on. It is not being perfect just consistant. I am sure the celebration was fun and good. It was worth it. I wanted bar-b-qued ribs but didn't. I got busy doing something else to keep my mind off them, I am not always that good. It's days of being bad that keeps the pounds adding on. I hope tomorrow goes better the weekend is over. We all struggle or we would not be here, good luck.
Beachbound wow 2 weeks and 10 pounds you go girl you are doing something right.

Yes, today was better, but not perfect. I'm striving for perfection when it comes to my eating. JC all the time!

I did sit down and make out all my menu's tonight online. That really does help me. You're going to be shocked, but when I was doing my menu tonight, I never had seen that we get a milk product with our dessert (snack). I have never had that the entire time I've been on JC. I really need to get more focused and familiar with what I'm supposed to do. Just when I think I have it down, I find out something like this and feel really dumb for not paying attention.

I'm so proud of you for not eating the ribs! That is so great! I'm always so encouraged and motivated by your kind words!! Thank you for being there and giving me that much needed motivation!

Tomorrow is a new day (ala Scarlett - LOL) and I'm going to just get re-focused and do what I need to do to beat this thing. I'm also going to get my touchstones program out again and keep doing that until I have that embedded in my brain! LOL

You have a wonderful day tomorrow and let me know how you're doing!!

Dannon lite has 80 calories, Yoplait light has 100. Frozen yourgt has 25 calories an oz from Golden spoon and add the fresh unsweetened berrys. I have a notfat skinny latte from Starbucks or Mc D with sugar free vanilla. All are treats. All milk substitutes. if I have milk I add sugar free vanilla and spenda. Got to have my sweets.
Glad you are getting more committed. We can do this. So mad at my JCC for telling me to lower my calories by 200 and I am not to do it until 12 1/2 more pounds. It has been almost 2 months of 200 less calories that I am required to have. Thank goodness she called in sick today where I found out. Lower it at 277. I could have been eating more darn! and losing better doing it double darn.

Hi JulieRenee and Sweetbum, had my weigh in today and i am down .6, i am happy that it was down, been eating to many of the great summer fruits, watermelon, honey dew, cantaloupe, white peaches, I ran out of my sugar free jello which is only 10cals per serving, add a little dab of fat free whipped topping at 25 cals and that helps with the sweet cravings, also jicama is a nice refreshing change with a slight sweet taste. Try these they may help, hope you are doing well keep up the good work.

Hi Julie,

Good for you for walking with your dogs when you were feeling down. I have dogs myself and one of the reasons I am motivated to lose weight is because I can't move fast enough to keep up with my dogs for agility. I have a new puppy (now 14 months old) and I am trying to do obedience with him but I can't walk fast enough to heel with him.

I am new to the group, so here is a little about myself:
I started JC June 4th 2009 at 289.6 and I am down 12 pounds total on my week 4 wi. There is a lot of work ahead of me but I am really excited about the program. I tried all sort of other diets, and like this one the most. I find it hard to prepare meals, so the ready meals are ideal for me. I agree it is expesive. I am a fairly fussy eater, but my consultant lets me make changes so I get things I will eat. I have tried lots of the JC meals (trying to be a little adventorous) and have only not liked a few meals. By the third week I started to do my menus on line before my meeting, and that way I could make the changes I wanted before. It gives me more time for asking questions. I started on the 1700 Calorie menu and was told that I would be down to the 1500 CA menu when I lost 5% of my original weight loss (15 pounds) (just found that our last week. Hopefully 15 pounds will be this week or next, so I ran at 1500 CA menu today - I didn't see much difference in the two menus.

It was interesting to read the food suggestions. Thanks for the ideas. I was getting hungry at night and craving popcorn, so I was making a bag of microwave popcorn. I tried to eat more veggies but it didn't take away the craving for the popcorn. I'll have to try to break the cycle tonight.

I have a hard time eating things in order like the menu lists. I some times only eat part of the breakfast items and then have the remaining at the mid snack, or sometimes I eat more at lunch. I know I should eat every 3 hours like the menu has, but find it really hard to make the time to do it.

Hi Linda,

What part of Ontario are you from? I am down near Windsor.

Hi Linda,

What part of Ontario are you from? I am down near Windsor.

Hi DeeW,

Hopefully I have the reply correct and you receive this message.

I am from the Milton area - near Guelph, so not too far from Windsor.

I haven't belong to a chat room group like this so not sure of how to make replies etc.

Good to hear from you

LInda

Hi everyone!

I've been struggling lately. I've been dealing with lots of stuff right now - my mil broke her hip last week and it's been very stressful. I have again been nurturing (drugging) myself with food. *sigh*

Today is a new day, though, and I've stuck with JC all day. I'm really going to try and stop letting all these emotional roller-coaster situations, get me off track.

Hope everyone is doing good! I'm hoping to be on the boards more again, too. You all really encourage and motivate me and I'm really thankful for you all.

Keep going! We really can do this for ourselves!

How's everyone doing? I've been strictly on JC for the past 3 days. PHEW! I am trying to really focus on each and every meal and not think about any type of snacking (like I usually do).

Of course, it's also helped me that I haven't had any crazy things going on. I am still finding that when things get stressful, I want to eat. I'm thankful for these 3 days of success - I'll keep working on the emotional eating and hopefully these successful days will help me.

Hope you all are doing good!! Let's hear from you all! If you're doing great, it's a motivation to us; if you're struggling, let us help you!!

Take care and have a great Friday!!

How is everyone doing? Are you staying on track?

I have had a good week and am hoping to lose the weight I had regained during my illness, this week. Starting next week, my goal is to start losing new weight and keeping it off!

Two things have really helped me in the past couple of weeks. I got a new consultant because my other one went on leave. My new consultant is the BEST one I've ever had!! I just love her and she really cares. She doesn't make me feel like she's reading from a script and she has a lot of encouragement and personal stories to share. I feel like I'm finally getting the support I really needed when I started this journey. I have new ideas because of her and a new enthusiasm for the program. I just hope she sticks around!! She is just the best!

My second thing that has helped is the JC water bottle. I got it with my food order this week and I love it! It is wonderful. I carry it everywhere I go. I can fill it with tap water from anywhere and it has a filter that purifies the water and makes the water taste so good! I keep it filled with ice as much as possible as I really like cold water. I have been finding it really easy to meet my water goals using this new water bottle. I like that it was a straw rather than a pop top. It's wonderful!

Please let me know how you're all doing! We need to encourage and support one another in this journey! Have a great week remember- we CAN do this!!

Hey Julie, sorry i have bee mia, sounds like your new jcc is just what you are needing, it makes a big difference when you are able to make a good connection, i just bought one of those bottles too, love it. even though i gained this week i know it is because of the choices i made while traveling and visiting family so a pound isn't so bad, i will try to check in more often, it helps to have some one to converse with and share encouraging words, my sister is also losing weight but not with jenny, she is going thru her doc. but we talk all the time. i can tell you that i lost another inch and a half off my waist and half an inch everywhere else. it is working as long as i put in the effort. take care and i will check in later.

Hey, Lindi Lu

I'm so glad to see you back again!!

I'm just really struggling tonight. Feeling really, really bad about myself and just generally down. I started out okay - had my JC breakfast - and then some stuff when wrong today - got emotionally upset and hurt and turned to my old enemy, food. I had cookies, peanuts and then got Panda Express. All in the name of comforting myself. I'm feeling SO bad now and just feel that I'll never get this whole thing under control. So sad.

I don't know why I do this. I use food to comfort and it only ends up making me feel totally horrible about myself. I don't know what else to say - I'm feeling like pretty much of a failure right now, that's for sure.

Julie

Hi Julie, I totally understand, when things aren't going so well, maybe you should try taking a walk, sometimes getting out will help. my jcc says that when you are wanting to eat something that's not on the plan to wait 1/2 an hour then see how you are feeling. you need to find other ways to cope. we know that food is not the answer. hope you'll feel better soon. i'll check in again tomorrow. take care.

Thanks for the encouragement, Lindi Lu! I am really finally realizing that I am an emotional eater and am going to have to deal with this issue once and for all! I'm also realizing it won't be an over-night thing, either. It's going to take time to totally figure it out and I'm just going to have to work at it all the time.

I love the idea of waiting 1/2 hour before eating something I shouldn't. I've been mindlessly just snacking when I'm tired or stressed. I need to STOP and THINK before just reaching out for the food.

I did better have my big binge this week. I didn't stay on program every day, though, and that's my goal. I get too off track with my emotions and I'm snacking. I'm also having an issue with weight retention and that's frustrating, too. I have new meds, so hoping that will help.

Hope you're doing good! Check in when you can - your encouragement really blesses and helps me!

Julie