A picture I plan to frame

Meeting with Jillian Michaels was life changing, not just for me but for others.  It helped me to crystallize some things I'd been thinking for a while, and set my mind on some others.  She really resonated with me in her philosophy that it's not moderation, but balance.

Amen.  AMEN, I say to you.  Moderation is a good word, but I really want to make this a LIFESTYLE change, and NOT a diet. Diet to me has ugly connotations - it designates a beginning and an end.  If you have an END to a diet, what's to stop you from gaining the weight back? This has to be a way that you can see yourself living for the next 50/60/90 years.  Can you drink a shake for breakfast and lunch and have a moderate dinner?  Sure, for a time, you can.  What happens when the shakes run out, or you get sick to death of them, or you go out to eat or to a conference or break your leg? 

Why not moderation?  I mean, after all, moderation is good.  It designates being temperate and not overindulging.  A good concept.  But sometimes, you've just gotta go there and eat two pieces of cake or a big cup of full fat ice cream or a steak dinner or five rolls, hot from the oven dripping with butter.

Ahem.  Not that I'd receognize those things. ;)

No, Jillian spoke on balance.  If you know you will have a situation that you need to be able to eat a bit more, you hold back earlier in the day and exercise a bit more. You balance it out.  If you don't feel like exercising - and God knows, I don't - you eat less.  Calories in = Calories out. I've said that here before.

The funniest part of the entire lunch was the mental image she gave us of having her brother, who lives with her, lock up the junk food and parcel it out one piece at a time.  She also said she's trashed food that she doesn't want to eat, but has gone over to look into the can and see if it's actually touching anything. HAHAHAHAHAHA.  I might resemble that a bit.  Pour some dish soap on it, she said. Even the great and amazing Jillian struggles with the pull food has on her.

Life affirming, life changing. 

One other thought that was brought home to me?  You can't lose the weight for your kids, your husband, or $500.  It has to be FOR YOU.  Sure, it's a bonus to be healthier for your family, or to win a bet.  You've got to do it because you want to, because it will make you happier and more confident.  Then and only then, will it click. 

Comments

[shauna/dietgirl]

Hiya Carmen!

It was fab meeting you at BlogHer, and I was similarly blown away by meeting Jillian. It really put things into perspective for me about the weight I've lost. I also loved what she said about balance. I came away feeling pretty damn fabulous about life in general. I think her energy is contagious!

I just wish I'd asked her, "Tell me how you got those sexay arms!" Hehe.

All the best to you and I'll keep on readin' :)

Shauna

[JanB]

I am so glad that you wrote that about moderation. Last night we went out to dinner and I had been holding back all day because I knew it was coming. It always feels good to me when someone who has been successful says something that jives with what I have been doing.

I have trashed foods that I don't want to indulge in, but I usually soak them in water from the sink first. It makes my mind closed to the idea that they are available.

Thanks for everything that you write, I really get a lot of inspiration from your blog!

[Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah]

Carmen,

Can I just say I didn't put two and two together when I met you.

I was reading this when I realized you were THAT Carmen. I am such a moron.

[breckgirl]

Good talk on balance. Now I will just try to apply that. I am an all or nothing kind of person, especially with food. I'm either being Good or Bad. Eating Well or eating CRAP. I am working on it, really. Still have 30 lbs to go but I've already lost 55 so not so bad. Thanks for the words from Jillian.

[Kimberly P Polifka]

Carmen. I love your blog! Someone referred me a couple of weeks ago and I didn't stop until I read EVERY word.

You are a wonderful motivator and I have found much information I can use on your blog.

I, too, am making a life change. Diets have never worked for me. I am currently down 10 pounds with 22 more to go. Exercise has been my biggest hurdle yet. I am trying hard to add it in my day, but every excuse in the book--mainly, I'm too tired--keeps creeping in.

Keep writing; I'll keep reading!

[Lora]

At first I lost you when you said it wasn't about moderation - but now I get it! You're so right...and for this "all or nothin'" type gal - balance is somethnig I never really thought about. You ARE motivating and keeping me on track! Thanks!

[Anna]

Sorry to intrude on Jillian, although I must say I'm vicariously excited.

Could you address eating veggies? How do you do it? Is it possible to add flavor without adding fat and calories?

Do you KNOW how many carrots are in a serving? A lot!

[Cammy]

Thank you for sharing your insights and more info on "the Jillian lunch". I regret that I missed that, especially since I missed it to go have a cheeseburger at Billy Goat Tavern (eaten minus the top half of the bun, I hasten to add, and not nearly worth what I missed.) I think, for me, the balance aspect is what made the key finally fit. I average calories over three or four days. Usually, they're fairly steady, but too much of that and I know I've been being a bit too strict. That's when a cheeseburger makes the list. :)

On a personal note, I enjoyed meeting you and the other lovely women at the 'birds of a feather' lunch and I thank you all for sharing your stories. You all gave me hope and a greater feeling of security that I absolutely CAN do this. I'm very grateful to you for that.

[Anne-Marie]

I snuck over just as she was talking about her brother and his Hersey bars. Amazing thing is Jillian is JUST LIKE US! She will pick chocolate out of the trash can. She will eat all the hash browns on her plate. I thought her idea of pouring salt all over anything she doesn't want to eat was a good idea. I usally put the bowl or plate in the sink and dump water on it, but it does kill me to "waste" all that food. Oh well, I'll get over it.

And when I came back from Blogher 4 pounds heavier (from the booze) I heard Jillian in my head going, "You're only retaining water. There was no way you at 10,000 calories in one day." No I drank it. Ha. But seriously, the weight gain was gone two days later of going back to my normal, healthy eating and exercising.

It was wonderful meeting you at BlogHer! I'll keep in touch via your blog.

[Zandria]

It was such a pleasure to meet you last week, Carmen. I need to set aside some time to go through your two websites because I have a feeling I'm really going to like them. But in the meantime, I thought you'd like to know that I linked to this post from BlogHer (soon to be cross-posted from my blog tomorrow morning). Hope all is well! :)

http://blogher.org/get-inspired-its-good-you

[Fitness Buff]

Dish soap on trashed food, now why didn't I ever think of that one?! It's good to hear that someone as buff as Jillian also fights the food demons. There is hope for me after all. :)

Thanks for the post.