Becoming the hero you need

Over the years and throughout my own personal journey I have come to realize that before lasting physical transformation can occur, one must change from within. I've tried many diets, exercise routines, weight loss pills and supplements. At one point I was so desperate for a flat tummy that I purchased this electric belt that claimed to simulate the effectiveness of crunches and sit-ups using gentle electric shocks to effortlessly build six pack abs while you sleep! I even resorted to surgery to fix my outward appearance. When I finally decided to get real with myself and dig deep, I realized why I was struggling with body image issues.

The formula for weight loss is easy but, applying it to your life is the real struggle. I used to think it was excuses and lack of motivation that kept clients (myself included) from reaching their goals. I would put so much work into creating personal meal plans and exercise routines for clients. Catering to individual body types, restrictions and requirements. Some clients would have fantastic lasting results. while most would lose the weight, stop training and gain the weight right back. Then there were the clients that needed help the most but, would quit just days into the program.

I realized that I spent more time coaching and counseling than I did training. It soon became apparent to me why most of my clients were struggling with the process and only few found success. My findings inspired me to take a unique approach with my clients that would transform them on a deeper level and address the real issues in order to shed mental, emotional, spiritual and physical weight allowing them to become their greatest version.

While I learned that there are many factors to maintaining a healthy life, the three most important things that I've learned are:

Your life and everything in it is a reflection of what you believe

This was probably one of the hardest concepts for me to accept. I remember looking back to times in my life and saying to myself "There's no way I did this to myself !" I wanted people and things outside of my control to be responsible for everything that wasn't going right in my life. I would say things like "I tried and it didn't work" or "No one is helping me" and "No one ever taught me" I was right! The evidence was real and undeniable. Things were done to me, people let me down, I experienced hurt and trauma, I was lied to, I was broke, I was poor, no one taught me any better. It was so easy to be the victim. because, It took the responsibility away from me.

I believed I didn't have to overcome the hard part because it was someone or something else's fault. When things got hard and I wasn't getting the results I wanted, I could lean on being "right" about the fact that I tried and it just didn't work. I could lean on being justified with my anger because someone lied to me or did me wrong.

I truly believed that because I was right, I was justified in my position and it was up to someone else to "fix it" and "make it right". It wasn't until I realized that as long as I held on to the fact that I was right, people and things would continue to have a hold on my life. Being right wasn't getting me the results I wanted and deserved.

I got tired of being right! I wanted to be happy. I wanted to be free of the burden of being right. I wanted my life to reflect the desires of my heart. I realized that as long as I held on to the belief that because I was right, I would always be a prisoner to things beyond my control. I had to do some deep inner work to reprogram what I believed to be true about myself regardless of the circumstances outside of my control.

A system is a collection of elements or components that are organized and implemented for a common purpose. Ego and entitlement became the driving force to my daily activity and produced a reality that was difficult to navigate. Understanding how my belief system has an effect on my reality has made a huge difference in my life. When things don't go as planned, obstacles crowd the path to success and human nature rears its ugly head, it is the belief system imbedded deep with in your subconscious mind and reflects in your reality.

Try or Do! There is no in between

Trying vs doing is a direct path to failure. My clients would cringe and roll their eyes at me when I would question them about following the meal plan or completing the work in their exercise program. There was always a reason why, when they "tried" to do the work something got in the way or because they "tried" and it didn't work they quit and didn't see it through.

I reassured them that as long as they tried, they might get results or they might get lucky a few time's but would never be consistent with success. You see, trying is the disclaimer that says I'll do it for the sake of saying I did it but if I don't get the anticipated results it's because of something else outside of my control. Where as doing affirms that you are operating with the intention that your actions will yield the intended result and if it doesn't you will reassess the situation, make necessary adjustments and repeat the process until you get it right.

Nike didn't become a multi billion dollar company with a slogan that convinced people to "Just try it". You can TRY to do what it takes to achieve your goals and hope that maybe one day you'll get it right or you can DO what is necessary to achieve them.

Living a healthy lifestyle is a journey

When I first began my fitness journey I just wanted to lose the pregnancy weight I gained and been holding onto for four years. I did it! I practically lived on the treadmill and starved myself of all the things I thought contributed to my excess weight. The weight melted off but the feedback was crushing. Every one told me I was too skinny and It crushed me to hear that because, that was the goal. I wasn't being celebrated for my accomplishment, I was being jugged for my results. I became pregnant with my third child and soon after her birth I was eager to get back to an active lifestyle.

This time around my approach to weight loss changed. I saw a group of women in the gym who looked absolutely amazing. They were fit, they looked so strong yet they still had feminine curves. I stopped wanting to lose weight and wanted to do whatever they were doing to look like that! So. I hired a trainer (or two, or three or four) learned how to eat to build muscle and shed fat. I slowly adapted to this new approach to health and became a fitness competitor.

After a few years of competing I had a thirst to continue to challenge myself. I felt like I had built the body I desired and at this point I was just maintaining it. I knew all about vegetarians and veganism but felt that wasn't a lifestyle choice for me because I enjoyed eating meat and didn't see myself ever giving it up. Following a meal plan and restricted diet was a necessity for competing so, It felt like it was something I had already overcame. However something about this desire to challenge myself was different that usual. This desire was constantly being followed with a voice that challenged my spirit. Could I make a lifestyle change that would benefit a cause greater than myself? I love animals and if I could sustain a healthy life with out consuming animals as part of my diet then it was worth saving their life.

I started with a 7 day challenge. No meat, dairy or animal products for a week. It was harder than I thought. Not because giving up my favorite meals was hard but because I had no idea just how much of the food we consume is an animal by product. That 7 days flew by too quickly and I knew that this challenge was going to require me to invest in more education and commitment to reprograming about what I understand about food and how it effects my body. 7 days turned into three months, which has now turned into 6 years.

My original goal to lose weight led me on a journey I never knew existed. If I would have settled for the life that was handed to me, I never would have discovered the power within me. Ironically it took me going on a journey deep within, to peel back the layers, face my "demons" and have the courage to live my truth in order for my life to reflect the desires of my heart.

The hero will appear

For so long I hoped to find the magic pill that would solve all my problems. I waited, I made excuses and sometimes I did nothing at all because I believed that something outside of myself was going to save me. I got to a point where I felt defeated, hopeless and unworthy because nothing was working. Not just with my weight but, it seemed like other areas of my life were also unhealthy. I had unhealthy boundaries, I lied to myself because it felt better than facing the truth and I gave my power away to people and things!

There was one person who was constantly by my side either convincing me to quit or forcing me to get up and move. Belittling me or encouraging me. Telling me I would never be good enough yet showing me the potential I had. It was my own voice and whether I believed in the good or the bad, It always came to pass. When I learned to develop a relationship with myself and nurture the parts of me that helped me become my greatest version while healing and reprograming the broken parts of me, I realized I was the magic pill I was searching for and my life began to unfold like a blooming flower in the morning sun.

You will meet many people along your journey. Some will teach you a lesson while others may serve as a guide and you will most defiantly face the opposition. You must be brave enough to face fear and defeat death in exchange for the ultimate reward