Julie

August 07 2006

Losing weight isn't a matter of vanity for Julie; it's a major part of her decision to become and stay healthy in order to fully enjoy life. After trying several weight loss programs over the years she's now following the NutriSystem method, which she finds to be very convenient as well as user-friendly.

Country:  Chicago, Illinois, USA
Age: 27
Weight now:  194 lbs.
Target weight: 140 lbs.

-What finally made you decide to start with a weight loss program, and how much did you weigh when you first started?
I stepped on the scale a month ago and realized I once again reached my heaviest weight (202 lbs.) I had lost and gained 20 lbs. over the year, and was finally fed up with my excuses and myself. But the vital difference this time is that my weight loss goal isn't based on vanity, as it has always been in the past. I always thought I needed to lose weight in order to have a successful relationship, but now I am happily involved with a wonderful man who loves me no matter how much I weigh. I realized I now needed to lose the weight for my health. I want to be able to have a happy, healthy family and live a long and wonderful life, and I was deeply concerned that my weight would get in the way of obtaining this goal. So I took on my goal at full force and started a blog to chronicle my journey, flipthisbody.com.

-What type of weight loss program are you following?
NutriSystem. Their meals are based on a low Glycemic Index, which means good carbs and high protein. The meals are pre-packaged and shipped to your house on a monthly basis. You also need to buy fruits, veggies, dairy and protein as side dishes and snacks to go along with your meals. And you are told to drink at least eight 8 oz. glasses of water per day. They have many different programs: for women, women over 55, men, men over 55, diabetics, etc. I am on the 1,200 calories/day women’s plan.

-Why did you choose this weight loss program?
The plan seemed easy to follow and a good way to lose a lot of weight without having to count calories all the time. I had tried Weight Watchers many times in the past, and found that counting points and calories all the time made me obsessed! NutriSystem has taken most of the thinking out of the picture, so I just enjoy the food and focus on my workouts. I really needed help getting rid of the initial 30-40 pounds, and once I get to that point, my metabolism will be much higher and I may try to follow the program on my own. There are many sites on the Web with guidance of how to do this, and I love to cook -- so that is my plan!

-How long have you been on your weight loss program?
I have been on NutriSystem for three weeks now, though I have been a dieter on and off for all of my adult life. I am enjoying the program for the most part. The first month is hard because not only is your body getting used to eating smaller portions and less refined sugar, but you are also trying to figure out what meals you like and what you don't. It can be discouraging once you get to a point where you have already eaten up all of the foods that are tasty, and all you have left in the pantry are foods that you don't really want to eat. But don't worry, because you can do a few things:

1. You can place an a la carte order to get more of the foods you like sent to you right away (I did this after Week 2).
2. You can return unopened foods – I'm about to send a big box of food back and will get full retail value for them because I am returning the items within 30 days.
3. You can custom design your order and select exactly which items you receive – once you're a few weeks into the program, you will know what you like, and you can adjust your future order online as you try knew things.
4. You can request to have your next order shipped to you early. I made this request last night and already this morning they had put my next shipment together and it will be here in four days. Then I will have a big box of food that I like, and I will be able to get rid of the foods I don't by returning them.

I also find that I am rarely hungry because the plan has you eating every two or three hours. I have never eaten so many fruits and vegetables, and I am really liking it! I was not raised with fresh produce in the house, so this is a new way of living for me. I feel more alive and vibrant with all of these good vitamins and fiber coursing through my body.

-What kinds of physical activities do you like doing to help you lose weight and stay fit?
I enjoy swimming, water aerobics, dancing, fitness DVDs, cycling and power-walking/jogging around the neighborhood, but with a twist -- I like to walk to the local playground early in the morning and create exercises using the jungle gym! The most important thing to making exercise enjoyable (and I HATE exercise) is to keep it new and fresh. Try not to do the same workout more than twice in a row. You will get bored and not want to do it anymore. I try not to do the same workout twice in the same week. I usually exercise 3-4 times a week for at least a half hour at a time.

-What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome or are still overcoming?
The most difficult obstacle was admitting to the world that I had a problem and that I needed help. I started my blog, flipthisbody.com, to not only keep myself mentally "in-check" with my thoughts and feelings, but also to keep myself accountable, since I knew people would be reading and I’d have to confess to them when things go bad. This is the best thing I could have done, because it not only gave me an outlet for my thoughts and a great support system from all my new blogging friends, but it took the power away from the "beast." Telling the world how much I weighed and what I was planning to do to fix it was so freeing and empowering. It's like when you have this horrible secret that you know you really need to tell someone, and you're so frightened that they are going to have a bad reaction. And then once you tell them, it was no big deal. And you feel free.

Another big obstacle was telling my live-in boyfriend that I needed to stop cooking for us and start getting myself in shape. I was worried he would be upset that I wouldn't be cooking for him anymore, but he didn’t care! He just wants me to be happy, and he's lived on his own as a bachelor for so long and was somehow able to survive without me for all that time -- so all of my worry was for nothing!

-How do you keep yourself motivated?
My readers are a huge support. Just knowing someone is out there listening is so exciting and warming. I really put a lot of thought into what I am going to post each day, and this also helps keep me in check and focused on my goal. I try to vary the topics between my personal trials with dieting, healthy food tips and other random health and beauty secrets I want to share.

I try to look at myself in a mirror often and find something new that has changed due to my weight loss. It may be something as simple as my hips looking thinner or my cheeks looking less puffy. I try to focus on the smaller positive changes as they happen.

I also think about my dream wedding that will happen some time in the next two years. I picture myself in a slim white wedding gown, light as a feather, on a beautiful sandy white beach in the Caribbean. And some day that dream will come true. Now THAT'S motivating!

-Do you have any weight loss tips for our readers?
It's all about the portions. People (especially in the USA) think that their portions should be much bigger than they are, and I really think restaurants are to blame. In the USA, when you go to a restaurant and place an order, you usually get three to four times the amount of food that you should be eating in a single sitting. One of my favorite dining-out tricks (that I learned from Weight Watchers) is to ask for a carry-out box right when your food arrives. Put at least half of your meal directly into the box to take home, and then you won't be tempted to overeat. Out of sight is out of mind. You will most likely be completely satisfied with the amount of food left of your plate, and you won't even miss the rest. And it saves money because you can take it to work for lunch the next day!

Also, you can maintain a healthy lifestyle and still enjoy the foods that you crave. You just need to eat them less often and in smaller quantities. All in moderation, Grasshopper. And if you have a food that you love that you know will sabotage your weight loss goals, then do not allow these things in your house. Make them a treat that you have to leave the house for when you absolutely can't live without them.

-Do you think it will be easy to fall back into your old lifestyle pattern? How do you prevent this from happening?
I think it would be easy to fall off the wagon for a week or two (especially in a time of high stress and little down time to prepare all of my meals) but no, I don't think I can go back now. I am too focused on my future to let this fall through the cracks this time. I am a very goal-oriented person and have been successful in everything I have ever put my mind to, except for my weight loss. That is now unacceptable to me. I am now in perfect health (just had a check-up with my doctor) and there is no reason that I can't do this if I put my mind to it.

-Do you have a favorite Web site or blog that helps or inspires you to lose weight?
My own! Did I mention Flip This Body? :-)

I also enjoy:
• NutriSystem
This site has good daily articles and great personal user profiles – you can see lots of before and after pictures of other members and feel like you are not alone!
• Hungry Girl
Great tips for new healthy and low-cal foods and recipes