What inspired you to begin your lifestyle transformation?
This is not a new journey for me, but Inspire21 really kicked me into gear. I’d been losing and gaining the same 20 pounds for 20 years! What finally made the shift for me was eliminating alcohol and sugar. Although I wasn’t much of a drinker, I did love my sweets. No matter how much I worked out, I would never lose much weight. Eliminating both alcohol and sugar was the pivotal move that changed everything. Weight just seemed to fall off, and I didn’t feel like I was depriving myself or forcing myself to do something temporary. In fact, I feel so good, I have no desire to drink or eat sugar anymore at all.
How did Inspirational Life help you achieve your goal and how have the results affected your life?
The unwavering support from Brian and Cathie really keeps me feeling positive, especially on those weeks that I didn’t lose weight when I expected to. Weighing in keeps me accountable, and I like that someone else besides me is keeping track of my efforts and goals. I’ve lifted weights and run my whole life, but I’ve never felt leaner, stronger, or faster than I do now, at age 47. I can see the definition in my arms, legs, and abs. I come to class three times as week as part of my unbreakable routine. I simply do not miss a class. And really, I don’t want to. Cathie makes sure I don’t go easy on myself, and though it’s fun to curse her for pushing me, I’m grateful that she does, that she believes that I can be stronger and faster. And she’s right!
The other, really important part of Inspire is the Inspirational family. The people who come here are so positive and upbeat, so full of energy and good will, that I find it such a healthy place to be. I would marvel at the transformations of the other clients of the month, women whom I assumed were always thin and beautiful. Not that they weren’t beautiful before, but I just assumed that they never had to struggle with weight, that they were naturally lean and genetically blessed. Seeing their transformations really made me believe I could be one of them someday.
The biggest change for me is the realization that the people in my life did not necessarily contribute to the kind of life I wanted to live. That is a tough pill to swallow, because these are good people and I have great affection for them. However, they are all drinkers and they don’t eat in the healthful way that I have embraced as my new lifestyle. So, I’m in a bit of a shift right now. I recognize that I need to bring more people into my life who share my values for living a healthy life. That includes a partner too, because I’ve continued to make relationship choices that aren’t consistent with the way I want to live. I finally had to get real with myself and accept that this journey I’m on feels too good to compromise myself. I have more energy, positive attitude, strength, and overall good health to weigh myself down with someone who drinks for recreation or who doesn’t believe in moving off the couch unless it’s to get another glass of wine. Nothing against anyone who enjoys these things, it’s just that I’ve come to accept that I feel so much better without putting alcohol and sugar into my body. I just need to make room for other likeminded people in my life so that I have people to enjoy physical activity with, not just food and booze.
Describe Inspirational Life in one word.
POSITIVE
What a gem you are