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Five Fabulous Friends Find that Community Creates Change
This week at the Rice Diet Program, we were all
inspired by the successes of five friends that found
each other and formed a sisterhood of support. They
were all strangers to each other when they met here
seven months ago, but they connected at the hip as
only Ricers and those in other 'trench'
experiences can do. Although their political
backgrounds and hometowns are as diverse as are
their ongoing weight loss experiences, they supported
each other in ways that led them to successful
outcomes.
Their most visible success is a combined
weight loss of more than 230 pounds over the past
seven months!
The Fabulous Five epitomize
the importance of establishing community, wherever
you are, as they share their experience on what has
successfully worked for them with respect to family,
friends, and the Rice Diet Program.
Adrienne: "Before I left the Rice
House, a few of us exchanged emails, phone
numbers and addresses. We promised to keep in
touch and we did. This was the most important factor
in helping me stay on track. We laughed a lot; we were
there for each other whether we slipped or succeeded
and took one day at a time. After the holidays I was
feeling despondent and stopped weighing myself.
Everyone tried to support me while I continued to
make excuses until Amy fired me an email, telling me
in no uncertain terms to get on that scale and get my
@$$ out the door and walk! I did. We all
have the same goal, to regain our health either from
losing weight or changing our diet in as healthy a
manner as possible. Whether we found ourselves
here because of illness, stress or genetics, it is a
difficult path and one in which the Rice House
community and staff prevents you from traveling
alone."
Amy: "Meeting a great group of like-
minded ladies who were positive, loved to walk and
were creative in finding fun things to do in our spare
time was amazing! My husband is finally getting on
board with me coming here for the first time and not
fussing when I wanted to return for our "reunion" this
spring. Our group is in contact via email, and our hope
and plan is to meet back at the Rice Diet Program
twice a year to get our heads back in the right place."
Harriet: "The most important lesson
I have learned recently is the value of being a little
kinder to myself. When I really lusted after something
that I wanted to eat, I gave myself some
license to do it, and not suffer the feelings of denial
and guilt that had ultimately made me go off program
in the past. I have also met special friends at the
program and kept in touch and planned to return to the
program together. This sort of extended the
momentum."
Harriette: "When I made the
decision to participate in the Rice Diet Program, it was
with the total support of my husband, children and
extended family. I feel that family support is the key to
success, but the bottom line is: It is up to me to
succeed. Coming to the Rice House gets me out of
my environment and helps me concentrate on my diet.
It is a place of peace and safety, and my plan is to
continue to return to the Rice House until I reach my
goal. I have made wonderful friends at the Rice
House, and we encourage each other every day by
phone and emails."
Travice: "The most important part of
my success is the wonderful support from my family
and my extended family of 'Rice Ladies.' We kept in
touch after we left Durham and planned a trip back to
the Rice House. It has been GREAT! I have also
learned to love myself. I've taken care of my family and
now it's time to take care of me. I'm Travice, and I have
lost 34 pounds at home and 74 pounds total so far!"
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