“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
Welcome to a music post. Before you start to read the post you must click the song to play so that it is your background music for the duration of the post.
In our first action assignment we talked about setting up and understanding goals. We also talked about what gets in your way, and what drives you into victory. The hardest part about achieving fat loss, beyond having the education, is making the change. People very easily fall into a routine to the point to where you can literally create a separation anxiety effect from not stopping at a fast food place. Displacement from not making your protein shake every morning. A crying fit if we make that late night dessert be a late night omelet instead.
Change is scary, paralyzing, and one of the hardest thing most people will never do.
Case Study: Kathryn
Kathryn came to me at 154 pounds, 5′7, and roughly 22% body fat. Kathryn was not morbidly obese. Kathryn did not have any health issues. Kathryn did not have a High School Reunion. Kathryn had a husband who loved her. Kathryn had a kid who adored her (you know before the awkward “mom, don’t phase”).Kathryn had a good job, house, and friends. Kathryn, by all standard accounts, had no reason to NEED to change. She had no reason to WANT to change that she considered logical. All she knew was that she didn’t like her body, she wanted it to be better, and she didn’t want to have to really work for it.
Caught that last line did ya? If you didn’t then please read it here again. She didn’t want to work for it.
In general, desperation is what brings about our biggest changes. I know that this is true for myself. I was desperate for a new job, a new life, better health, better self, and a better future for me and the people I love. Out of that desperation I acted, I did what I had to do, and I changed. Now, my job and my life are to help you change. Kathryn wasn’t in the grips of a brokedown palace. By all accounts her life appeared to be on a pretty happy and steady path. The problem is that not everyone always has a dramatic story, sometimes we just are slightly unhappy, a little unpleasant, and desire a small change. If that is the case, then you aren’t as likely to. The only way you are likely to change is if you see the desperation that lies inside of you. You have to see the future ahead.
Question…
What would happen to your car if you drove it with no oil, no coolant, and only refilled it once it stalled?
The first few times it would recharge back to life, but at a point, that car will break. Yes, you can repair the car but if you keep the same habit eventually it will be beyond repair, and you have to trade in for a new one. At a point the small, little, and minor problems might lead to a big one.
There is no trade on your life.
You can’t do this over. You get one shot and one shot only to make it what you can. The desperation should be every day. The time to change is now. Do you think that it can’t be that simple? That your changing moment in life can’t be while reading a blog post online? One of my life’s biggest changing moments came on a drive home, just like every other day, while listening to a song, and it just clicked. The only catch is, you have to be open to it, you talk yourself out of it, you have to dive in now, into what might seem to be an extreme and overly dramatic moment for yourself. Remember, drama doesn’t mean bad, it means a situation that is exciting or highly emotional.
What I need from you is the next step, the declaration of change. What I need from you is an answer to these two questions. This is not rhetorical, this is literal.
1-What do you really need to change to make this work?
2-Who do you really want to become?
Think about that last part. Who do you really want to become? You can be whatever it is you want to be and you can play whatever role you want to play. All you have to do to get there, is change. I expect some answers, I expect a call to change.
Let your soul meet body.
With tears rolling down my cheeks, my stomache turns as I realize just how desparate I am! Wow, reading that post was difficult for me because I am at a point in my life where I am desparate for some major change! So desparte I found myself in a plastic surgeon’s office getting an estimate of the cost to “fix” my problems. I decided against the lipo and decided to give this a go the healthy way with diet and exercise. I am not obese, at least not for the past 4 years, I have dropped 16 sizes… but for 4 years I have been stuck and I still need to loose more fat, it is so frustrating! It seems whatever I try fails and that is what brings me to question #1.
What I need to change to make this work is stop being afraid of success. I know what I want, but I always do something to sabatoge my success. This applies to all areas of my life. I don’t know why I do it and sometimes I trap myself into this failure without even realizing it. I need to tell myself (an believe it) that it is okay for me to succeed… I can go the distance… I can do it!
Who do I really want to become? A successful person that is known to overcome the odds and make something of myself. I want people to look at me and see their own challenges as something they too can conquer. I also want to become a person who is totally HAPPY with myself. No more focusing on all the flaws… except if it is a fat flaw but not dwell on it but fix it! Like my legs, you know that back part of the leg just under the butt? I am infatuated with that area… I want to smooth out that area so I can wear a bathsuit and feel confident… and I would love to strut some Daisy Dukes and look just as good… then I could walk around with my boombox playing – Come on baby, kick them Daisy’s! – that last part is just a joke, I have an iPod. LOL!
Thanks Leigh for all you do. I love your encouraging words!
1-What do you really need to change to make this work?
I have 2 inner voices: I would like my inner voice of “failure/doubt/insecure” voice to leave.. to quiet down Go Away already!!! … and my “Just Do It” action voice to grow stronger and more high-spirited and playful and ornery. I want the “gym to call me like a sanctuary,” that was such an inspiring image, Leigh. What I have learned from hitting the macros in REPAIR is that taking away the emotions, and just having the facts, the science, and the action creates a calm path to success.
2-Who do you really want to become?
I want to be a catalyst to others to empower them to bring their potential into action and existence, in whatever arena I encounter them; art, health, diet, adventure, courage, independence… I want to become stronger every day as I age through my 60s and beyond, so my physical body doesn’t limit my passionate zestful spirit for life. I do not want “I am chubby I can’t do that; I am chubby I hide from people” to stop me any more. I am just fed up with that ridiculous story. I want to become my powerful self that is already here.
1-What do you really need to change to make this work?
My attitude toward myself. I need to keep telling myself every day that I CAN do this (which I’ve been working on the last couple of months) and the only person stopping me from reaching my goals is me. I can do this, I deserve to do this, I NEED to do this for myself.
2-Who do you really want to become?
I want to become a better, more improved, stronger version of myself and help others do the same thing. I want to be more positive overall and am working toward this goal already.
1-What do you really need to change to make this work?
I have to accept that I cannot have it all. If I’m going to meet certain goals, certain other things have to be sacrificed. Life isn’t perfect and some of us – most of us – can’t have it all. I need to affirm that I really want something and decide I can make the changes to get there, rather than trying hard part of the time and sabotaging myself the rest of the time.
2-Who do you really want to become?
I want to be someone who likes myself. That might sound harsh, but even as a competitive athlete for 20+ years, I have awakened one day and been happy with my body. My fitness has been great at times, at least for my competitions. But, I need to be someone who likes himself, likes his body, likes his fitness, and feels worthy of being liked. It’s stupid that I tie my “likability” to those traits, but that’s where I’ve been. I want to spend one day, and then many more, thinking about the fact that I’m where I want to be, and what do I need to do to maintain that.
1 – What do you really need to change to make this work?
My habits. So much of what I do and eat is habitual. I just need to replace old habits with new fatbusting habits. I don’t “need” coffee with creamer every morning – that’s just habit – completely unnecessary. I need to put on my big girl panties and just make the damn changes already!!
2 – Who do you really want to become?
I don’t want to become anyone. I dig me. I want to stay me, but I want to be the best version of me that is possible. I want other people to see me and want to be me!!
what do you really need to change to make this work?
To make this work, I need to be confident in myself and commit to living life now as opposed to when i have x, y, or z accomplished. I need to change my temporary “fixes” into springboards for long-term lifestyle changes. To make this work, I need to change so that i am seeking balance. Over the past year and a half, I successfully lost weight, only to regain it and then some, again and again. I regained because I was too all or nothing, both when “on” and “off” the diet. Initially, dieting helped me with binge-eating, yet later, the cycles of restriction led to more frequent and longer binge episodes.
who do you really want to become? i want to become a happy and self-confident person who can laugh instead of feeling self-conscious and insecure. I want to become perhaps a friend but not a dependent to food. I have been successful in life and want to act and be that way!
1 – What do you really need to change to make this work?
I need to get over myself. I need to get over my fear of failure, get over my embarrassment of doing things I’m not good at, get over my dread of leaving my comfort zone. I need to be willing to be a clueless beginner, to try new things even if I look like a total dork when I first start. I need to be ok with not excelling at everything I do, so I can stop avoiding the areas where I don’t (and may never) excel.
2-Who do you really want to become?
I want to become a strong healthy courageous woman who faces her fears and limitations head on, and refuses to let them stand in the way of the life that she wants.
1. What do you really need to change to make this work?
I need to change my attitude about myself and my capabilities. It was so much easier when I was younger and I have taken that for granted. A person can read and read about the proper things to eat, the best exercise program, and things you should avoid but if their mindset is not ready to implement all that knowledge well it doesn’t do any good. I have acquired knowledge but failed to act and this is where I have gone wrong in the past. It is easy to make excuses for what you don’t do. I’m finished with excuses.
2. Who do you really want to become?
I want to become the “me” I can be proud of who was not afraid of the challenges to live healthy. I want to be a mother that her children look up to and want to model. I want to prove to myself that my former husband can not tear me down anymore.
1-What do you really need to change to make this work? I need sit down and take the time to make everything work – develop a written plan. Sometimes I feel like I have so many things I need to do in one week, that some of it doesn’t get done if I don’t pencil it in.
2-Who do you really want to become? A lean, strong Ironman. I want to constantly challenge myself and push myself to the next level.
1-What do you really need to change to make this work?
To make this change real, I need strict training and guidance to keep me focused on my goals one at a time (I catch myself multi-tasking a lot). I am frustrated with my hard work and little payoff, I need to be pushed over the edge to win the battle once and for all – I am so close yet feel so far from my ultimate goal of being tight and toned.
2-Who do you really want to become?
It would like to become a better ME, a person that can be a role model & coach to HELP others. My heartfelt desire is to see people smile
1-What do you really need to change to make this work?
I don’t think I need to change anything for this to “work” But I do believe that maybe I could tighten up and explore further elements to fine tune it and really move it ahead full blast.
2-Who do you really want to become?
I want the full transformation. I’ve worked my way from morbidly obese all the way down to having a high end of the spectrum body fat level.
I want to be able to help people do the same thing that I’ve done. I want to help prevent people from getting to where I was in the first place.
I want to be a positive example. A Mentor
Wow. What an amazing post and an incredible response. I’ve been reading through everyone’s responses, and I think that they have inspired me even more!
So mine…
1-What do you really need to change to make this work?
At the moment, I need time. I have to be in a place where my dr gives me the ok to get back to weight loss, which will happen as soon as this little bambino comes. In the meantime, I need to continue to make good choices about eating so that I am eating the best foods possible while I’m waiting.
2-Who do you really want to become?
I want to become the me that is inside this big ‘ol fat suit that I’ve been lugging around. You know, I’ve always known that I’m overweight (at least I have for as long as I’ve been overweight), but I never thought that I looked as bad as I could. For some reason the me that I see in the mirror doesn’t look half as bad as the me that I see reflected back in pictures. What I want is for the me that I see in the mirror and in pictures to be a me that I can be proud of. I want to be as physically healthy as possible so that my poor joints don’t have to work so hard and so that maybe I don’t need so much medication to moderate my arthritis. I want to be the me that has lots of energy to play with my kiddos. I want to be the me that is a good example for my girls–both in the way that I eat and the way that I take care of myself. If I don’t take care of myself, how will they ever learn? What chance will they have? Surely I can do this for them, too. My husband loves me as I am–fat or skinny. I’d like to give him the wife that he deserves, and maybe in the meantime he’d work on taking better care of himself, too. Most of all, I want to take advantage of this gift of life and live it to the fullest for every second that I have. I don’t want life to pass me by because I’ve let myself get too fat to jump right into the deep end!
What do I need to make this work? I think the biggest thing is overcoming the idea that I “deserve” food. Not in a survival sense, but in the sense that every day or week something SO special and unique is going on that I can just have a little bit of …. you know, just a bite. I got a new job, I feel like I’m getting a cold and need Grandma-comfort food….always something.
Who do I want to become? I want to BE the trophy wife
More importantly, I want to be “moderate”. To be able eat and exercise moderately to create a healthy lifestyle that will serve me long into the future.
1. Planning. I need to make time each day or each week to plan my nutrition. When I have this in the place the rest is easy.
2. I don’t want the body of a 25 year old (OK… well I do really but..) I want to be the absolutely BEST example of a fabulous 45 year old. The best I can be.
1. One thing I need is oddly enough to full heartedly believe I can get there. I know I can but there is still that voice of negative and I have been stuck at 184 for a month now. I am unwilling to give up, but I try and try and still get nothing to little. I used to be in great shape, I need to truly believe I can be again. I don’t care how many rings of hell I have to crawl through to get there. It is possible right, its not too late? It has to be, it can’t be too late.
2. I want to be confidant again, and feel sexy sometimes. I want to get dressed to look good and not hide myself. I want to enter this chaotic segment of my life and come out the other end better, stronger, happier, healthier for myself and to set a better example for my son.
What do I need to make this work?
Direction, willpower, a plan.
Who do I want to become?
A smaller, more fit person that has a routine. The woman that makes other women jealous.
What do I need to make this work?
Apart from asking Leigh to sit on my shoulder and whisper to me throughtout the day..I have to imagine that soothing voice reassuring me that I HAVE the conviction to see the change thru to its end. Not to give up early, not to put too much in my mouth, not to cheat on the exercise….
Who do I want to become?
A slimmmer more confident me. Someone who can more easily say NO: NO to excess food, NO to rubbish foods, NO to slacking off on the couch, NO to things that dont support my journey.
1-What do you really need to change to make this work?
I need the challenge. I have tried so many different ways to lose weight in the past that I am close to giving up. I need someone to tell me when and what to eat until I learn how to eat right again.
2-Who do you really want to become?
I want to become the healthiest person I can become. I want to become confident in my own skin and be able to enjoy a compliment given to me, not second guess their intention. I want to be around for my family as long as I can. I want to become the new me and stay in control of my weight for the rest of my life.
1-What do you really need to change to make this work?
I need a better, smarter effort to lose weight. Over the last several months, I’ve experimented with different ways to eat less: eating two meals a day, one plate per meal a la the “No S Diet,” alternating low calorie days and high calorie days (okay, very high calorie days unfortunately!) eating more slowly, etc. I’ll lose a few pounds here and there, and that’s it. So I’m not completely lazy. I have put in some effort, but it just hasn’t been very effective. I need a good plan, and then I need to do the plan, and follow it consistently until I lose the 70-80 lbs. that I absolutely have to lose to be happy with my body. I need to work harder, but I need to work smarter, too. And resist temptation. It’s so strange, because I’m very intelligent, and I fully comprehend that I shouldn’t eat all these crappy foods, but I just can’t bring myself to do it. It’s so frustrating. I need to stop procrastinating and get this done NOW.
2-Who do you really want to become?
Someone who is comfortable in my own skin, who looks good in the mirror, who is happy in general, who has a girlfriend, more financially independent, who is good to other people, and who lives life to the fullest. I’m in a pretty bad situation in my life right now, and losing this weight is the first big step I want to take to improve my life. Not just improve my body, but to improve all areas of my life. I think this will boost my confidence and self-esteem, which will allow me to make other improvements as well.
1-What do you really need to change to make this work?
There’s knowledge that I’m missing which will allow me to take my progress to the next level, and I crave it!
2-Who do you really want to become?
I want to become the inspiration (and trainer, coach, etc.) for other people!
1- I need to really commit to my goals. I feel like I am so much like Karen, so I need to find my inspiration and believe that I deserve better.
2- I want to be a figure competitor!
This was such a greaat post Leigh! Thanks so much!
Anna- Okay you are making me hungry. You just need to remember that deficits are temporary, and I think next you should start cooking yourself Thai food at home. Your smart, you know what you like, so make dinner for you and your boyfriend. You can definitely get back on track! Good luck
Sarah- That is a fantastic goal to have! Remember when you have internal (or external) forces trying to stop you from reaching you goal that is when you have to push harder. The faster you get it done the better!
Julie- If you aren’t the person you want to be, then you can’t be fully what you need to be to help others. Good luck I know you will be successful!
Mari- Get in and Get out! Once you get your body where you want it, you won’t just be watching your life pass by you will be living it.
Forest- “A fit hippy chick beach jogging babe” Haha I love that very descriptive, I really think success is in your future
Paula- We can’t always plan for setbacks, but we can come back from them stronger. Remember to not let yourself get defeated and be proud of what you have accomplished (I know I am)!
Pauline- Set yourself a goal and a time line. Look around at pictures of different bodies and figure out what will work best for you. I assure you that once you are done that you will be a hot 50 year old!
Jo- I myself am a very All or nothing kind of person as well. You just have to remember that you are human and you can make mistakes. Just because you went over in your calories by 200 doesn’t mean you should just go ahead and have 400 more and then not try again the next day. Everyday you should wake up thinking I am going to be on point with your diet and if you mess up a little let that inspire you to do better not worse. A transformation should be surrounded with positivity not negativity.
I love that you want to KNOW that you are sexy for your husband and yourself and I hope that you continue working on making your body, dreams, and spirit stronger everyday.
Sarah J- Ahhh self sabotage, this is something that I think so many of my readers need to realize they have a problem with. You know my motto is Get in and Get out! Then you won’t have to think about it any more and you will be the woman that you daughters will look up to for strength (not that they already don’t
)
Diana- Making your goals known, and letting others see you succeed and fail it the best accountablity out there, great first step. I think it is great that you are so happy with your life, and once you can subtract 100lbs I hope it will be even better. Working hard to lose fat not only improves your health and strength but also your confidence and character.
Sarah J- Ahhh self sabotage, this is something that I think so many of my readers need to realize they have a problem with. You know my motto is Get in and Get out! Then you won’t have to think about it any more and you will be the woman that you daughters will look up to for strength (not that they already don’t
)
Diana- Making your goals known, and letting others see you succeed and fail it the best accountability out there, great first step. I think it is great that you are so happy with your life, and once you can subtract 100lbs I hope it will be even better. Working hard to lose fat not only improves your health and strength but also your confidence and character.
Iysis- I am glad you liked the post. Your warrior with in will shine through it you let it. You will be the strong amazing mom that your children only dream of becoming. Get that diet in check and you will get there!
Ivana- I know it is hard getting your diet in check when you have a specific diet. You are always going to have to make sure you are getting proper nutrients and enough protein, but once you find a method that works for you it will get easier. Good luck!
Shari- Being a mom is hard, especially when you are trying to find “me” time. You can’t be the mom you want to be if you don’t take care of yourself and make yourself happy and healthy. A happier healthier mom that gives herself “me” time is a stronger more energetic mom. Track, Track, Track and you will get there.
Hugo- Outsourcing is important when we are lost. Being the kind of person that can ask for help are realizing that maybe you just don’t have enough time to research what you need to do to Get it done is important not only too fat loss but life. I love how you want your life to be laid out and the kind of man you want to be for your Wife, children, and friends. All it takes is change everything else will just fall into place.
Rita- “I want to become the complete person I was intended to be.” What a beautiful line, I think as a mother of 4 you are already strong inside, so now you just need to let your strength and power shine through. As a mother you must understand that there is not such thing as perfection, each on of your children must be perfectly different, perfectly strong, and perfectly flawed. Every mistake we make teaches something to not do tomorrow.
Leigh- We all have problems with the idea of perfection. If you are “perfect” then you can no longer grow…no one should every stop growing and changing
Good luck with your goals.
Patricia- Track Track Track! Routines are very important but can also be dangerous if you are an “All or Nothing” kind of person. Making goals for yourself and figuring out what kind of body you want is very important. I wish you a happy healthy life!
Jessica- “I want to become the best ME possible.” This is the kind of statement you need to put up on your fridge! Your desire to change is fantastic. Now you just need to do it and you will grow into the woman you want to be…You will be the “After” Picture with the amazing life that doesn’t have to worry about their diet anymore.
1-What do you really need to change to make this work?
Sometimes, I feel like I need to change everything. I keep wanted to achieve perfection, but that just doesn’t apply to the day to day bumps and hurdles I keep getting stuck on. I keep coming up with these perfect diets, but the tiniest stresses and variables to my routine just give me the excuse I desire to totally blow my diet and eat like a pig. The change I need is to be able to stick to my diet and exercise routine anytime, anywhere, anyhow. Drop and give me 20, Sara!
2-Who do you really want to become?
My ultimate (totally secret) desire is not to be one of those skinny chicks, but one of those mesomorphic muscle chicks and to have a well-defined waist. Aside from that, I just want to become a person who really enjoys every bit of life and maybe can shop in the normal people’s clothes stores again.
Heather- I definitely understand giving everything you got out to help everyone and not always having enough for yourself. You need to put yourself on the list and if you need more accountability outsource! Get yourself a trainer that will devote their time to you
Get yourself together so you can help even more people.
Jim- You are welcome for the beer goggle warning
It is a big step to really go there and change the personality and image that people are used to. Good luck with the next 45 years being the _____(Fill in blank with strong, healthy, fit, sexy, amazing) Guy.
Lisa- “Just because I have four children doesn’t me I have to show it!” That is so right! Being a strong positive role model is hard work but it always pays off in the end. HOPE is the best thing you can give to people
Sue- Remember tracking doesn’t only involve how many calories you are eating, it is also how many calories you are burning. I promise your body doesn’t hate you, it probably loves you more than you will every know and it trying to protect you from a deficit
Positive reinforcement drives us all, use anything you can to drive you closer to your goal.
Jessica- Negativity is something that can stop all of us. The difference between 25% and 16% is turning up your ipod the the “you can’t do this” starts.
Nic- Like attracts like, you should just slowly start to switch out negative things for positive ones. Switch your non active socializing for something completely different like rock climbing. Keep yourself positive and keep positive people around you always.
Hi Leigh! If you are still looking for participants in your program, please consider me. I would love to be your guinea pig. Here are the answers to your challenge questions.
1. What do you really need to change to make this work?
Leigh, you helped me out so much, talked to me on the phone and I finally LOST the weight I wanted to loose after a couple little tweaks. This was a huge stepping stone, just knowing what I needed to do. However, I have since gained some of it back when I kind of fell off the wagon. And, the hard part is, I didn’t fall hard. It was just a matter of a little extra food, a few deserts here and there, a couple fewer workouts and here I am halfway back to where I started. So, what I REALLY need to change to make this work is to figure out how to manage and/or eliminate the small stresses in my day to day life that trigger my “little falls”. Figure out what I need to do to unwind that doesn’t involve food and/or empty alcohol calories. How to respect how I feel when I’m at my goal weight just a little bit more. How to maintain is the goal I guess.
2. Who do you really want to become. I love who I am. I’m 43 years old. I have a great career, great family and great friends. There is no major stress in my life. What I really want ALL THE TIME is the feeling I get when I look the best I can — strong, healthy, sexy, confident. I want the feeling of getting dressed everyday in clothes that I love that fit. I want to wear a bikini and not worry.
Tina- It is fantastic to look to the future and see what you want to be, but you have to act now so you can have the things you wish for. You need to always remember that if you are not the best “you”, loving yourself and doing things for yourself that it will only get harder and harder to do everything you do for others. Stronger healthier people have more to give to their family, friends, and the world. I think your desperation is in your future dreams
Kim- Cheat meals are definitely there for a reason, maybe you will feel better about your cheat meal if it is a lot of food you feel good about eating instead of a little food you feel guilty about eating.
Mandie- I love making people actually think about something! I have to first say I love the words you capitalized—STOP ALWAYS WILL STUCK NOT NOT RIGHT CHANGED STRONG SEXY–I think this says everything. Those are not light words, those are the words of a woman that will no longer stand still. Let yourself move and change and mold into the woman that YOU can be proud of and then you will feel like you deserve the respect that I am sure you already have from your loved ones.
Anne- First I want to congratulate you on how far you have already come, losing fat/weight the hard way build character and says that you are a fighter. Sabotage is a hard thing to overcome, you have to realize that it is okay, even good, to change, grow, and succeed. I do think that you need to make a you tube video of you dancing in your Daisy Dukes
Etana- I am glad that you are realizing the science behind fat loss and using it to achieve your goals. The “Just Do It” voice will keep getting louder and louder if you let it. “I want to become my powerful self that is already here.” You will, being that you are now, at a time when most give up, pushing you body and mind to be better shows that you will be.
Karen- I have to go back to your comment and point out the two words you capitalized “CAN and NEED” Very important words when dealing with change. You have to realize that you CAN be a stronger person and you NEED to push yourself and believe in yourself to do so.
Damon- You definitely need to be 100% committed to achieve your goal. That doesn’t mean you can make mistakes, but instead of falling deeper and deeper into the hole you need to have a back up plan to get yourself back on track. There is nothing wrong with expecting the best from yourself and not only getting but feeling like you deserve respect and attention from others.
Teresa- “I don’t want to become anyone. I dig me. I want to stay me, but I want to be the best version of me that is possible. I want other people to see me and want to be me!!” I love this so much. Well put on your “big girl panties” and do it. Change your habits and Track Track Track!
Meredith- Remember a diet is only half the work. You have to understand how to read your body. There is nothing wrong with loving food, but you need to find a deeper different kind of love for it. Like obsessively trying to figure out ways to make your favorite foods at home and lower in calories, using different ingredients, etc.
Elizabeth- Fear is such a powerful thing that can stop us so much. Start slow, I say tomorrow you go out and do something that you have always wanted to do but have been to afraid to try. I don’t care if it is trying some exotic fruit you have never had or trying to do a handstand up against a wall. Everyday you do this you will get closer to being the strong health courageous woman you want to be.
Vicky- Good! I am glad you are done making excuses. Now you can get on track and so your children that you are the kind of person that can’t be stopped, even by her ex husband
Jessica- Make a plan and stick to it. Take that time for yourself and you will be an “Ironman”
Lisa- I love making people smile too. You have to find a balance that works for you, if you can’t focus completely on one goal, then hire someone to help you get it done faster.
Ruben- Congratulations on how far you have come already and good luck with the future. There are never too many transformation stories, everyone needs a little inspiration.
Sinead- I love your positivity and that having a small set back, well not too small, hasn’t stopped you from wanting to reach your goal. “I want to take advantage of this gift of life and live it to the fullest for every second that I have. I don’t want life to pass me by because I’ve let myself get too fat to jump right into the deep end!” I just had to repeat that. I think that you will be the person that you want to be; a strong, confident, healthy, sexy, amazing mother and wife that everyone adores and loves.
Amanda- It is great that you realize what you are doing, now you just need to stop doing it and you will be the “trophy wife”
Good luck.
Carol- Hey 45 is sexy and you can make 20 somethings jealous of you
Change? Quit planning, quit trying to make the “perfect spreadsheet” to track absolutely everything, quit looking for the “perfect plan”, quit talking about training for this event or that, quit waiting for the perfect time to start (which of course, is never right now!) Start fighting inertia and just get out there (no access to a gym is not an excuse – I have a bike, I have a dog who *loves* to run …)
Become? In my head, in my spreadsheets, in my charts & plans (ooh I am *really* good at *making* plans!), I already am a beautiful flamingo who looks beautiful because of what she eats. But, check back into reality, and all of that is just “flights-of-fancy” … truth is, just like the flamingo, I do look like what I eat; it’s just not not what I *want* to be. What I want is a “what you see is what you get” kind of life … only the “get” healthy & fit (beautiful pink flamingo!) instead of overstuffed, soft & squishy!
[...] important questions. We then covered that the act of that is pointless, that the act of trying to change your life and achieve goals are pointless if you don’t to one thing – change. Now we have come to the [...]