Public Service Announcement

I am sick and tired of people treating those who are overweight as a punching bag. I am sick and tired of people assuming that those who are morbidly obese got that way because they are lazy and they don't care. I'm sick and tired of the looks.

 

People who are overweight... they know they are overweight. They are reminded of this everytime they look in the mirror, when they try on clothes, when they can't fit through an aisle at the clothing store, when they can't fit in a booth, or they can't fit in a ride, ride a horse, and get winded walking from the front door to the car. The world is built for "normal" sized people. 

 

If you are reading this and you are one  of those people who tear the overweight down. Stop it. Instead offer them a helping hand. 

 

People don't get to be 400+ pounds just because they like food. Sure it plays a part.. but it's offering some sort of comfort. This is why there are so many emotional break throughs during weightloss journies. Yes, they need accountability... But stop feeding the problem by tearing them down. Be a supporter. Be that person who makes a difference.

 

In my time that I have been helping people lose weight.. comfort food is the number 1 reason for eating. Not because it tastes good, but because it makes them feel good. Being mean to these people... they are going to go for that escape. Just stop it. It's not right.

 

One last thing... I'm sick and tired of the overweight feeling as though they are not welcome in gyms. The overweight are very aware of their size in comparison with others. They don't need anyone telling them they shouldn't be there! A gym is a place to build health. Welcome them. Don't stare. Encourage... or if you can't be nice.. keep your mouth shut.

 

Remember, each and every one of you are absolutely worth it. The weight wasn't put on over night. It's not going to come off over night. Surround yourself with positive people, and get rid of those who are causing you distress.

Saying Goodbye

Once upon a time fast food was a staple of my life. I would stop at various fast food establishments multiple times a day without second thought and certainly no regret. I had no idea how much more money I was spending on take out versus how much I could have been saving had I gone grocery shopping more often. I had no idea how much better I could have been feeling had I been making well balanced meals at home versus high fat, high sodium, high calorie meals. But perhaps the unhealthy take-out meals were not the only problem. When I did go grocery shopping, my cart wasn’t colorful. It was full of pre-packed frozen dinners, pizzas, ice cream, etc…


Does this mean today that I don’t eat fast food at all? No, of course not. But I do make very different choices. You just have to work the menu for what you need. Is it easier ordering a number 2? It sure is, but what are you getting out of it? Instead order a salad with grilled chicken on it. You need the protein; just a bunch of lettuce isn’t going to do anything for your body. It’s a better choice.

With that said, recently I learned something about myself. I stopped to grab a sandwich from a major fast food chain. I was hours away from home, I ran out of snacks. I made a choice. I knew exactly how to make it work and stay within my calorie range, though it would be a fat and sodium bomb. I didn’t want a salad, I really wanted a burger. I made a calculated decision that I normally would shy away from.

However, it ended up not being the bomb I thought it would be. I took one bite and hated it. I thought it was absolutely disgusting. This isn’t the first time that this had happened when I grabbed something quick and convenient. It’s been happening time and time again. I felt sad because I no longer enjoy the food that gave me such a sense of pleasure in the past.

I needed to figure out why I was getting upset. Surely I couldn’t have been that unhappy simply because I didn’t like something with a million calories in it that would serve me no purpose. I had to do some soul searching. I had to, there was no choice. Why was I sad about not enjoying fast food?

I realized that I was sad because I was letting go of a part of my past. I was letting go of an old friend that comforted me when I felt all alone. I was letting go of the bitterness I carried with me from events that occurred in my past. I was letting go of the fear and the anger of the past. There is no need to fear the past. The past has already happened. I’m fine. The anger, I just had to let it go. Food is not my constant companion anymore. Food is nothing more than fuel that ensures my body can work to its fullest potential.

Before, when people would talk about mind-body-soul, I thought I understood what they were saying. But I didn’t believe it. Why? Because I didn’t get it. My body was getting healthier and stronger, I was able to accept my spirituality and be ok with who I am without any apologies. It was the mind that wasn’t fully on board. I get it now. It is clear and I don’t understand how I didn’t see it before. But that doesn’t matter now. What matters is I am transforming into an even stronger person with more understanding of who I am today and who I was yesterday. I also have a clear picture of what I will look like tomorrow. While the future isn’t set in stone, I do know it is a very bright future with endless possibilities.

I love how great life can be if we are willing to do the hard work and face ourselves.


Stay Strong.

Too Fat to Lose? I Don't Think So!

I have recently heard an argument that seems to be getting louder and louder as time goes on. I don’t know if I am hearing it more because I am doing more research on different techniques to help people achieve their weight loss goals or if more people are actually talking about it. The argument is this: some people believe that those who are obese are unable to lose weight or maintain their weight loss in the long term because they don’t have the ability to commit and are not consistent with their individualized weight loss plan.


That is a pretty bold statement and rather judgmental. I am not a fan of labels or putting people into one category. Everyone has their own reasons why they became overweight. For people to judge and say that it is not possible to lose weight or maintain it because of commitment and consistency issues is a slap in the face to each and every person who is struggling with their weight, for those who have succeeded in weight loss and maintaining, and those who are trying to get the courage to take that first step.

Being overweight is hard enough, being obese is harder, and being super obese…there is just nothing to compare. It’s downright hard. The everyday activities that people take for granted are not a reality for many. Not to mention when they venture out into public they are subjected to stares, comments, and general unwarranted judgment by others. Then to hear the nay-sayers comments of it is not possible to lose the weight because of some preconceived notion that they are not committed or they don’t care for themselves. That is crap. It’s not fair. While there are some individuals who truly don’t care for themselves there are so many more who are seeking support. They don’t need to be torn down, they get that enough. Then to plant that seed of doubt that they can’t do it. It’s not fair. More than likely there is already fear and doubt running through their minds. I know my mind was filled with negative thoughts including self-doubt.

While yes, commitment plays an enormous role in weight loss I truly believe that those who need to lose a good amount of weight have commitment. Just not in the area that supports a healthy active lifestyle. They may be committed to the convenience of daily take out, or watching 4+ hours of television per night, parking close to the stores. They are committed to a sedentary lifestyle.

Yes consistency also plays a huge role in weight loss. However I believe it is unrealistic to expect anyone to be perfectly on target with any plan. Perfection is an unattainable goal. Yes, be consistent. Take one day at a time. Track everything by keeping a food and exercise log. Write it down, even things that were not part of the plan write it down. No food amnesia allowed. The reason is simple. At the end of the month it will be possible to take a look back and see the consistency of the exercise and the good choices. If there are more good days that is consistent, if there are more bad days that too is consistent. Either way it is a starting point. A place to build and grow. It will be possible to see exactly where the changes need to be made. Keeping a log allows the ability to track the progression of the journey. It’s not something to be thrown away at the end of the month. It is another tool to keep accountable.

The formula is simple. LiveFit Revolution says it the best: Commitment=Results. 

The results come from whatever energy is put out. Let’s keep the energy positive and not bring anyone down. Everyone has the ability to lose weight. Everyone has the ability to maintain weight loss. The journey will not be perfect. Concentrate on the progress. Celebrate all achievements no matter how small they may seem… It all adds up.

In response to the argument that those who are obese are unable to lose weight or maintain their weight loss in the long term because they don’t have the ability to commit and are not consistent with their individualized weight loss plan… It’s all a matter of perspective isn’t it? They do have the ability to commit and they do have the ability to remain consistent. It’s all a matter of timing. These people have to want it; they have to be willing to put in the work. It is not easy, nor should it be. The personal growth that is achieved during a weight loss journey is remarkable. People become different. They shed themselves, including all of the baggage and become shiny and new. That is a scary prospect- becoming a new and improved person. I don’t blame anyone for not being able to be consistent all of the time or if their commitment level falters from time to time. It takes courage.

Nay-sayers… keep your mouths shut.

To those who have weight to lose. You can do it. Don’t listen to those nay-sayers. Listen to those who want to lift you up and support you. Listen to that voice within yourself that wants to make the change.


You are stronger than you think…both mentally and physically.

Yesterday I was Super Morbidly Obese.

At what point do we realize how far we have come? Is it when we realize we went down in clothing size? Is it when we realize we can fit in a booth at a restaurant? Or when we realize we can buckle a seatbelt? Is it when we realize we can make it through a whole fitness class? Is it when we realize that we are making different choices? Or is it something totally different? Does it happen well after the new events?


It wasn’t until this weekend did I have my ultimate realization.

It happened Saturday morning when I had to give myself a pep talk before teaching spin. I was physically and mentally exhausted. I had no idea how I was going to get through the class myself let alone keeping the class motivated and engaged. I had to get my head on straight; I needed a quiet moment for myself. As I stood in the empty locker room I looked into the mirror and gave myself a pep talk.

I am strong.

I have it in me to do great things and to get out there and motivate those people waiting for class to start.

I am so much stronger than I think I am.

At that moment, I suddenly got it.

My trainer has a couple phrases that she uses all the time. “You are stronger than you think you are” and constantly tells me “You’re stronger than that,” especially when I am beginning to struggle.

I never really got it until that moment. I am not the fat girl. I am not a fat instructor. I am fit and agile and strong and yes I am stronger than I think because I am not the fat girl anymore. At that point when I was looking in the mirror the fat girl disappeared and I saw me. There was no fat girl looking back at me. The result was an amazing class. I was full of energy and cheered them on as we jumped and raced. I have always been an energetic instructor but somehow this day felt different.

The next day I went to Christine after her spin n pump classes. Yes I did participate before anyone asks! I told her that I was not obese anymore acknowledging that I wasn't that fat girl anymore. I never really accepted my new body until the morning before. I have been reluctant on purchasing new smaller clothes because I “knew” that they wouldn’t fit. I was wrong about that too. I can shop off the rack from any store, just like I could when I was in high school.

A lot of you may be wondering how I’ve never seen in myself what others were seeing especially with all of the accomplishments I have shared in the past. You have to realize its one thing to tell people that I couldn't fit in a booth, wear normal clothes, and broke not just one chair but two chairs. It’s embarrassing, yes, without a doubt. However it is nothing like having to come face to face with what you have become. I was never a broken chair or a clothing size. I had to recognize, acknowledge and accept that I was super morbidly obese which became real when I went from that point to obese. Losing over 100 pounds and still being obese. That’s a big realization right there. That is how you know how heavy you have become.

I had to learn how to take the trash out of my head which is something I finally learned how to do within the past few months. I had to let it all go and had to trust the process. I was feeling stuck. I wasn’t feeling like the athlete that I had become. I still felt like the fat girl.

Today, I just want to get stronger. I want to run faster, longer. I want to lift heavier. I want to be healthy and fit for the rest of my life. I just want to be better. I want to do better. I can do that and I will do that.

Tasting the Past: Emotional Distress

Last night when I got home from the gym I went to make dinner. I wasn’t thrilled with anything that was in the house. Eventually I opted for thinly cut pork loin. Usually when I make it- it is super tender and moist. I cook it on the stove and then bake until perfection. I was impatient last night, I was feeling hungry despite having a protein bar after my workout. So I opted for fast and knew it would have the consistency of steak instead of pulled pork. All I did was put it in a nonstick pan with seasoning and added some bbq sauce when it was done. As it cooked it smelled great. I made up some onions and mushrooms and a side of beans. I also had some apple sauce with it. It was supposed to be a really good dinner.


Once it was done I sat down to eat it. The first bite was amazing. The second was pretty good. The third it started to get dicey. Next thing I knew I was sharing the pork with Koda. It’s not that it tasted bad because it wasn’t. The problem was it brought back a lot of memories that I had buried for so long. Emotions started bubbling up. All because the texture and the taste of the pork matched the pork chop dinners that I had when I was a kid-despite using a totally different recipe. We had pork chops a lot. More than I care to remember. It got to the point where I would refuse to eat it and ended up only eating the side dishes. My mom wasn’t happy about this but my dad was supportive and just pleased that I was eating my veggies.

This was my first time in over 12 years eating pork in this way. I started to feel angry, upset, physically ill… I felt like a failure, I felt poor. All from the texture and familiar taste of mom’s pork chops. Literally as I fought back the tears as I ate dinner last night I was getting more and more upset. I didn’t want to eat it. I felt as though my past was coming back to haunt me. I began to have memories pop up that I didn’t want to remember. Followed by remembering how I coped when I was a child into teenage years. I ate. I ate a lot, which you would have never known at the time. I was quite skinny. It wasn’t until I got older that I put the weight on.

After dinner I just wanted to be left alone. So I went to my room and iced down my shins and played a game on my phone. I was trying to deal with my emotions and didn’t really know how. Those memories took a perfectly good mood and turned them upside down. After a while, I got up and started to tidy up the kitchen. I found myself wanting to go through some of my old things in my room and just start throwing everything away. Anything that was a reminder of my past I wanted gone. I didn’t though. I decided to wait until this weekend because I may feel differently. I didn’t want to act totally irrational. After all… I was fine until I ate the pork.

It wasn’t too long after I was done with the kitchen that I decided to turn in for the night. I opened my window and listened to the crickets and frogs chirping. I felt the cool breeze enter my room, it was nice. But then the emotions in the pit of my stomach start to come up. I felt something warm and wet fall down my face. I laid there and couldn’t believe it. Crying? Over what? Next thing I knew I was thinking that 7-11 was open 24 hours and I could go get some chili nachos and a Slurpee, then I thought about a double whopper and chicken nuggets. Next thing I knew I wanted Ding Dong’s, Cheetos, Dorito’s, Oreo cookies, and donuts. Then I remembered a commercial I saw for Oreo donuts…even better. I was cursing Arby’s for closing so early because I love their sandwiches. Even though I only have one more week to go of my experiment of cutting out red meat. Last night I didn’t care. I wanted it all. I wasn’t interested in my fruits n berries. I wanted “real” food that “everyone” else can eat. I wanted something that tasted good. And the more I realized I didn’t have what I wanted the angrier I was getting. The interesting thing about this is you won’t find those types of foods in my kitchen. I know myself and know that I will want to eat an entire bag or box so it’s safer not being around.

Finally, I slowly began to come to my senses as I was debating on whether or not I was really going to go on a tour of various fast food places. I remembered how hard I have been working on getting healthier and stronger. I remembered my totally bad ass workout with Christine earlier in the day. I remembered how I have been able to amp up my workouts day by day and then… Then I realized I keep a food log for her to help keep me accountable and tweak things so everything is running at optimum levels… Did I really want to show her an all-out binge? Did I really want to know how many calories I was putting into my body? It’s bad enough that I would know about it- but to share something like that with her… I ended up walking laps in the house and then eventually fell asleep. I was so mad that I don’t have my punching bag anymore. I would have loved to go all out with that thing.

When I awoke this morning I was feeling a little better. I was pleased that I didn’t cave and head out into the darkness to feed my emotions. That wouldn’t have solved anything. It would have made me feel worse, both physically and mentally.

I won last night’s battle. But clearly the war still hasn’t been won. As I sit her typing this- the phantom smell of the pork permeates my nose. My throat feels like it’s choking up from the anticipation of the familiar texture. My stomach is churning. I didn’t bring the leftovers with me today for lunch. I don’t want them. I will give them away. I don’t like feeling like I did as I was growing up. I am stronger now. But the texture, smell, and flavor of the pork chop is testing my mental strength. I can’t let my past pull me back in. I must continue to move on and let it all go.

Are You Being Held Back From Your Greatness?

Is your "usual" crowd holding you back? Are you surrounding yourself with people who support all of your excuses and sabotage your efforts?

Why not surround yourself with positive people who will support and encourage you?

Take control of your life today. Sometimes we have to leave people behind so we can move forward. Believe it or not.. but life isn't all about what everyone else thinks. Your life is about you and no one else. Everything else is just noise.

Not happy?

Do something about it. Acknowledge what is broken and move forward.

Are you scared? It's ok.

I’ve said time and time again that losing weight is so much more than a physical transformation. It is a mind body transformation. It’s a huge adjustment, not only for yourself but for others around you. Losing weight involves gaining mental strength which is the essence behind a total lifestyle change.


For many they have been over weight their entire life. So they don’t just feel the pain of being an overweight adult. They also feel the pain of being an overweight child/teenager. They know exactly what it’s like to be the last one chosen on a team, they know what it’s like to bullied on the school bus and in the classroom, they know what it’s like not to be invited to parties or asked to prom. There is so much self confidence and self worth issues and can result in feeding emotions with foods. When these kids enter adulthood they become a pretty face…something that newly overweight adults hear as well. Perhaps one of the worst things people can say is “…but you have such a pretty face.” We know in our hearts that it’s just a very nice way of saying we are overweight and could look so much better.

Then one day enough becomes enough and we decide to lose the weight. But the decision isn’t just to lose the excess pounds. The decision involves leaving who we were behind-whether or not we consciously realize it. We are choosing a new way of life that is more than shedding the pounds; it’s about shedding the fear and excuses.

As your journey continues and you see not only the numbers on the scale go down and you watch your clothes fitting looser and looser. You will also realize how good your body feels. You’ll realize that you are doing things that you never thought possible. You are behaving in ways that are new to you. Instead of grabbing something quick that is loaded with fat and calories you whip up a 10 minute bean soup without second thought. This is the type of change that you have made that others notice, that your body loves, and that is what is keeping you successful.

There will come a point in your transformation where you will get scared. This is the ultimate turning point. This is where you can either run away with your new lifestyle or you can continue to hide in the shadows. This is the point when the old you fights back because that is the piece of you that helped to create the unhealthy lifestyle that you have become accustomed to. That piece of you does not want to die. But in order to continue on your path to greatness you must let that piece of you go. You are evolving. The new you is stepping into the light and kicking out the old unhappy you. What makes this so scary is the unknown. Embrace who you have become and who you are becoming. In order to grow and gain strength you have to be willing to try new things. You have to be willing to not succeed the first time but willing to get up and try again. This will be the difference between the old you and the new you.

The changes don’t happen overnight, but they do occur one choice at a time.