I’ve been asked about my diet, so here's a little about how this program has affected me. I began 2018 much like I have
started many previous years. At the top
of my list of goals for the year was to lose weight/improve my health. Every year I would decide on a program, start,
do the chosen diet plan for a few weeks, drop a few pounds, and then quit. I couldn’t get past the initial few weeks. That was until this year. I just turned in my 52 weeks check in to my
Stronger U coach. I still can’t believe
it. What has been different this time?
After some journaling and reflection, I feel like the
difference for me is that this program has been an educational program on
managing nutrition along with the support of a personal coach. It’s not just another diet program. Nutrition for my family growing up was about having
food to eat. Any food. Its nutritional value was not a consideration
as much as just having something to eat.
It wasn’t anyone’s fault. It was
just our situation. Added to that lifestyle
was the development of an eating disorder of binging and purging. Eventually the purging would be greatly
reduced but the binging would not. My
inexperience with healthy nutrition added to the fact that there is a plethora
of conflicting information about diet/health all over the place left me
confused, disillusioned, and feeling completely helpless when it came to figuring
out where to go for help. That is where
I believe stronger U stands out. They use solid scientific evidence-based methods to get results. No gimmicks or fads. You don’t even need supplements or cleanses. I am learning very solid, very maintainable healthy
nutrition management.
I wish I could say that I did this
program perfectly and was a model participant. I can't. My coach
has had their work cut out for them. I have argued my position on more
than one occasion for why I'm different. Why this doesn't work for me
like it does everyone else. I've chosen to ignore the direction my coach
gave me and coached myself at times. I've made many decisions to quit and
not to quit within hours of each other. I’ve had to fight my way through
this mental web of years of misinformation and bad experiences to acceptance
that I have been wrong and let being wrong be okay.
I’ve experienced many
things as a result of my SU experience this year. The biggest for me I think and not something I
expected to learn is that I can stop binge eating in its tracks. Lifelong
problem complicated more by the loss of my 8-year-old daughter in 2010. I
ate my feelings. I have a diagnosed binge eating disorder and I
thought there was no way around it. It was the way I handled life. Nope. There is a way to manage
it. I am going through the hardest months of my life (holidays and
anniversary of Hannah's death) for the first time without eating my
feelings. It means I have to let myself feel and do other things
with the emotions, but I do not have to binge. I have choices. For example,
when I am sad and want to cry, I ask myself, "Cry or binge? What
would a healthy person do? Cry it is!" This is pretty huge for
me. I hate crying. Like with a passion. It’s probably something I need to do though
and now I am. Instead of binging I will
take a walk around my center, listen to a podcast, read or post in the SU Facebook
group, workout, let myself feel and express emotions, or keep trying things
until I find something that works in that moment. I am eating mindfully and it is changing my
life.
In addition to the
above: I lost weight. At least 50
pounds but probably more. I am not weighing at this time. Shifting focus
from scale to building healthy habits for a while. I started walking and working out almost
daily. Before I wouldn't even walk at the park because I was too embarrassed.
Now I go every chance I get and sometimes with my friend. Never would walk with her before because I
was embarrassed. I can plan, weigh, log,
and track daily macro numbers. This was something I was sure I had no time
to do. Ha! It takes very little time once you get it down. I also finally got my certification from UCLA
for their PEERS program! I had enrolled and canceled four times!
Why, because I was scared I would get kicked off the plane for my size or not
fit in the seat, or I couldn’t walk the amount needed because I was so out of
shape. There is so much more but I think
this gives you an idea of what has taken place.
Some things I have
learned this year: It is not selfish or wrong to take care of yourself
and do what you need to do to be the best version of yourself. Saying no
is necessary sometimes. So is delegating and disconnecting from phone/computer
on occasion. 😊 Sleep is not an option. Neither is eating,
moving, or drinking (not alcohol) Ha! Focusing on creating healthy habits
is going to lead to long term success. Focusing on successes will lead to
more successes. Focusing on failures will lead to more failures.
Mess ups will happen. When they do, get up, brush yourself off, learn
from it, and get back at it. Not every meal needs to be a party in my
mouth. Food is fuel…and the list goes
on! It’s impossible to convey all the
lessons I’ve learned but each one has been impactful, life changing, and I’m
grateful.
As I go into 2019 my
goal is to continue creating and building habits that will move me into the
healthy life I desire. I hope to lose weight,
gain strength, and improve my fitness level in the process but solidifying the
habits I need to live healthy and free is what I want more than anything. I’ve been a prisoner in this body way too
long. I hope that if you struggle with
health and fitness and desire change that you will find the courage to try
again. Look for a program that stresses
change and that change is sustainable.
Happy New Year Friends!
Love,
MAC
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