On Jan 22, 2015 I started my own personal fitness and nutrition journey. For 6 months I worked with an online coach and lost almost 50 pounds. After that I made the switch from having an online coach to having a personal trainer and continued my weight loss and fitness journey. Up until I started in January, I had always been overweight. Like many, I struggled. I tried so many times to lose weight
on my own. I thought I knew what I was doing. I thought I knew what healthy eating was. I thought I knew what exercise was. So for more years than I can count I went through the same cycle: start a program, lose 10 pounds, lose motivation (for various reasons), gain back what I lost, feel sorry for myself, eat more, move less, gain even more, beat myself up, start a new program/plan... Repeat. When I first met with my coach to see how to get things started with the Online Coaching Program it took everything in me to get myself to walk through the doors of the gym (that I was already a member at because, you know, that endless cycle I talked about earlier). We didn't have an appt - I was taking a chance that he would be free. Driving there the mind games started "If he's there then I'm meant to do this". Well, he was there but he was with a client. "If he's done in 5 minutes, then I'm meant to do this". He was done in 30 seconds. "I guess I'm doing this! I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I was so embarrassed by how I looked I didn't even want to sit down and talk to him for 5 min. I desperately needed help - but embarrassment almost made me walk away. I was so scared of failing... again. My brain was automatically programmed with "you're going to fail" because that's what I had been doing for so long. I also knew that my coach had his work cut out for him. I thought I knew a lot, but I really didn't. He had to start me right from ground zero rebuilding my nutritional habits, rewiring my thinking, and get me moving and exercising the right way. Looking back, I am still amazed at the changes that have happened. Yes, I am smaller. Yes, I am more confident. Yes, I get to now walk into any clothing store I want and know that I can fit into those clothes. But the thing that has taken me by complete surprise is how much I love going to the gym and challenging myself. I want to lift heavier than last week. I want to run longer than yesterday. I want to shave 15 seconds off that last circuit. It's my "me" time. It's become my happy place. And along the way during all of this I discovered my desire and passion to help people achieve their own fitness and health goals. So with the encouragement of my trainer I started the process of becoming a certified personal trainer which was finalized on Aug 23, 2016! This journey has not been easy. I have struggled a lot. And I still struggle and probably always will but what's comforting to know is that I have been equipped with the tools that I need to keep succeeding, even if it means going back to the basics. One goal at a time.
