Maybe You Need A New Goal
In our first session many clients have told me that they’ve been struggling with the same goals for months and even years. They make a little progress and then lose motivation. Or, maybe they’ve tried so many times to reach the goal that it’s hard to even get started.
Along the way we often talk about setting a fitness goal. Imagine how powerful it would be to cross the finish line in a race. What would it be like to bike for 10 miles? Imagine how much fun it would be to start a walking program and then walk around Paris on your vacation without being exhausted.
I know first-hand how exciting this can be. When I first started walking at 300 lbs I had a goal to walk to a specific point in my neighborhood each day. I was very proud the day that I made it to that point and it inspired another goal. Today as I pass that point it’s a source of pride that I can walk by it without even getting my heart rate up. Along the way I’ve had many fitness goals. Today my goal is to do multiple sets of pull-ups — I’ll be sure to let you know when I can finally do one set!
Weight goals and size goals can become meaningless after a while. Setting a goal that’s exciting and energizing is the key to success. Setting a fitness goal can get you moving and provide a sense of confidence as you see your body respond.
And guess what — you’ll probably lose pounds in the process!
After years of being a nutrition and fitness coach, if I had one piece of advice for anyone who is struggling with weight, it would be to eat a substantial amount of protein in the morning. By substantial I mean more grams of protein than complex carbohydrate.
If you check the labels of the foods that you might think of as good protein sources, you’ll find these are lower in protein than you might think. Sources of high protein are eggs, Greek yogurt, meats and whey protein.
Why high protein? Protein will keep you satisfied and energetic. You’ll probably find that the office treats are not so tempting and you’ll be less hungry at lunch. You’ll probably also notice that your energy levels are even higher in the afternoon and the afternoon candy isn’t as tempting as well.
Give it a try — By adding a high protein breakfast you’ll notice a difference the first day and probably notice an even bigger difference by the end of the week.
A recent study by Louisiana State University researchers showed that participants who ate eggs for breakfast lost 65% more weight than participants who were eating the typical high carbohydrate breakfast.
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
As I sat under the hairdryer waiting for my newly colored roots to find their permanent colored way, I could hear a beautician and her client talking about different ways they make enchiladas. Every once in a while, you would hear “and this is how you make it healthier.” Being the food girl that I am, I listened intently to their conversation smiling to myself and shaking my head. During all the “this and that’s,” my hairdresser interrupted them and said, “If you want to talk about ways to make healthy food, you should ask Flossie over there.” She went on to tell them I was the girl who she had done the hair for on the cover of FIRST for women Magazine and I am the one who lost 165 pounds. With enthusiasm, the beautician’s client said,
“It is really hard to lose weight! How did you do it!?”
That phrase “it is hard to lose weight,” I hear over and over and over. Yes, it is hard if you are baffled about all the information that is out there if you don’t have someone such as a weight loss coach who actually knows what it is like to show you the way. I was baffled for the longest time too. Now going on my 5th year of maintaining a 165-pound weight loss, when I hear that statement, it makes me shudder to think I used to think that way too!
When you have diet programs hitting you in all directions, it is very hard to stay on track it is easy to give up. Education about what you are eating today, yesterday, and tomorrow is the light that will lead you to success. After I wrote down the healthiest way to make enchiladas, and before leaving the salon, I had two more clients who are following in my footsteps and seeing it really is not that hard to lose weight as they now have the tools to empower them and give them control of their nutritional health!
Be Healthy Every Day, You Are Worth It!
Flossie
