Time to Change

It's been warm weather lately and I finally found time to pull out my Rubbermaid bins of "summer clothes." The past 2 summers, I have opened up these bins and hung up about half the clothes stored in them because they didn't fit. It was depressing.

This last weekend as i started unfolding the clothes in the summer bin i decided i would try everything on again. Third time’s a charm - I finally can wear all my old clothes again! These clothes are the ones i bought when i had lost weight a few years back. The cute business capris from Ann Taylor and button up tops. Cute summer dresses and things with low cut backs. Man what a journey this has been.

Wow. I feel like I have a whole new wardrobe. Finally – I’m back on track and have a very tangible way of seeing it.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve always struggled with my weight. Losing weight the last time (which was about a year after college) seemed pretty easy because I was making such unhealthy choices before. Eating out all the time, buying cheap processed foods instead of cooking at home. So when I made changes to my diet and had a job that required me to be “on the go” for 12 hours at a time (I was a waitress) – I lost 25 pounds with relative ease.

When I gained the weight back (and then some) several years later – it felt like it happened overnight. But the truth is – weight gain doesn’t happen overnight. It happens when you are consistently making bad choices in your diet and your ignoring the need for consistent exercise in your life. Looking back, I remember putting on my pants and thinking they felt tighter. I remember deciding to grab something to eat “on the go” instead of bringing my lunch from home or cooking in the evening. I remember choosing chicken fingers and French fries and ranch dressing instead of a salad. It’s easy to ignore at first. Then you see a picture and you wonder when your arms starting looking so flabby or if you always had that double chin.

I know it because I’ve experienced it. I know what fat feels like. I know what losing weight and gaining it back feels like. I know what eating because you are stressed is like – and I understand how hard it is to change your habits so that things are different for you.

But most importantly, I also know what DOING something about it feels like. And it’s a choice you make. And you will make that choice all day long every day. The choice to get up and move, to meet friends for a walk instead of drinks, to try a restaurant with healthy choices vs something quick, a choice to change your order from a extra large mocha with whip to a cup of coffee with some skim milk or low fat creamer in it.

Ultimately – the choice is yours. And only you can take ownership of your life and your body. It’s your health – and if you want things to be different, you have to start acting differently. Your choices must change.

If you want to buy new clothes or fit into your old clothes (like I did) – then what are you changing about your life to get there?

I’ve lost some weight. I’ve met some of my goals. But I’m not done yet. I still have to KEEP making changes to my lifestyle to attain my long term goals. But it’s worth it. I’m worth it. Fitting into clothes that I’ve longingly looked at and continued to try on and not be able to button or zip up for 2 years is a HUGE milestone for me. And being able to do that made me go through my entire closet and get rid of everything that was too big for me now. What a change from last summer!

So for me – in order to move forward I have to learn to let go. On this journey – I’m not making any U Turns. And the only destination I have is something that is ahead – not behind me. So this weekend, I put all my clothes that were too big into a pile to take to Goodwill. I’m not going back. I will not wear those clothes again and there is absolutely NO reason to keep them around because that means that I don’t believe in myself and my ability to change my life forever.

I don’t know where you are on your journey. But if you are going to start moving forward (even if you’ve been spinning in circles for awhile) – you have to change something. That may mean letting go of something. That may mean adding something to your lifestyle. I can’t tell you that part – because you are in the driver’s seat and only you know what will get the car rolling again down your path.

But take control. DO something. Because just like gaining weight – LOSING weight and becoming more healthy doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a series of good choices you make that will take you where you need to go. And one day you WILL wake up and fit into those jeans or that dress again. And you’ll look back and say – “Man what a journey to get here” and you will be stronger, leaner, happier, and healthier than ever before.

Won’t that be worth it? And aren’t YOU worth it?

Tell me about your journey. Join me at http://teambeachbody.com/theotherdre and let me help you get to where you are going.

Blasting Through to Unchartered Territory

I'm here to tell you that it's possible. "What's possible?" you may ask.

Anything.

Why? Because I'm living proof of it. And you can join me at any time. Let me tell you how.

Have a goal. Have you written it down? Are you committed to it? I use a Bodybugg and the online subscription program to help me keep track of my food intake and it tracks how many calories i'm burning each day so its a constant reminder of when i need to be pushing myself harder.

You may think that seems a little extreme - but I'm meeting my goals - are you meeting yours?

Today was my first goal date. 12 weeks ago i set out to lose 12 pounds. Now this was in addition to the 15 i'd already lost. But i needed to focus and setting a goal date and a goal loss was important for me to keep my focus. I set up my goal as 1 pound a week. Stop trying to pretend like you are on Biggest Loser! Unless your full time job is to work out and cook for yourself - you aren't going to have 10 pound weight loss weeks. Anywhere from 1/4-2 pounds of weight loss a week is considered healthy. You might have some big loss weeks along the way - that's great. Just don't set your goal as 4 pounds a week or something - that's not realistic.

So today i hit my 12 pound weight loss goal. And guess what? Today i came up with a new 12 week plan - and you guessed it. My goal is another 12 pounds. 12 pounds from my weight today puts me in what i like to call my "uncharted territory." This is a weight that i don't remember being in my adult life. So I'm excited and nervous. BUT i'm also focused on my goal. I wrote it down. It's in my calendar.

AND i have a plan.

So that's #2. Have a plan.

You following me?

#1: Think about a goal and then WRITE it down.
#2. Have a plan to get you there.

Here's my plan:
Continue my cardio workouts - this is MAINLY TurboKick ( TurboJam for those who like to work out at home - you can buy it from me if you are interested on my website or ask for details!),

Keep pushing through my weight lifting routine with ChaLEAN Extreme (again - this is a BeachBody product and i can tell you more if you are interested in this or something similar)

Incorporate Shakeology into my daily meals. I've used Shakeology before, but I wasn't consistent. So this week i started replacing one meal (breakfast) with Shakeology. I ended up losing 3.6 pound this week - and Shakeology was the thing i added, so i'm feeling good about it! Shakeology comes in chocolate or greenberry - and its a powder and you can mix it with water, milk (i use soy milk) and fruit or yogurt (i use half a banana and a tbsp of greek yogurt) and it's like a shake. Having a sweet tooth - I'm all over a chocolate shake in the morning. I just blend it and take it with me on the way to work.
Delicious, nutritious (it's the equivalent of going to the salad bar like 5 times in one drink!) and easy. Let me know if you want details. I have some samples coming in the mail in the next week if you'd like to try it!

And lastly, i'm going to stay with my preplanned meals. If you need ideas for how to shop and pre-plan and cook all your meal - check out my earlier "notes" on facebook for full details and ideas!


So - now i have a goal, i'm committed to it and i have a game plan.


My last piece of advice would be to tell someone about your goal and tell them your game plan. Why? Because it's human nature to want to fulfill what we've said outloud. It's easy to pretend like today "really wasn't my goal date" if i didn't hit my weight loss goal. But because i wrote it down, and i shared this with so many people - i felt committed to making sure i did everything i could to get here. Sharing it with your friends, family - or if you are like me THE WORLD via facebook - helps me stay on track.

I'm happy to listen to your goals and your game plan. Even if you just need to talk out your ideas, get some help on how to get there, or just someone to report your progress too. I know that I'm much more effective when I am helping other people. So helping you helps me stay on track.

Connect with me on Facebook or let me be your Beachbody coach by signing up with me (it's free - no worries) at my coach website.

Remember - SET YOUR GOAL! Commit to it. Write out your GAME PLAN. Share it.

Pretty soon you'll be achieving the impossible and exploring your uncharted territory as well. Believe it!