It Started with a Photo

It all started with a photo. 

 

It was about 14 years ago, almost to this very day, that I started making the decision to change my life.

 

That photo. 

 

It wasn’t even a candid, unexpected shot.  It was taken during Senior Night.  My daughter was a senior in high school and a basketball cheerleader. We posed for the shot, I was dressed for it, hair and makeup as good as they get and I was wearing the outfit I thought would cover my ‘heaviest I’ve ever been’ body.

 

This was me? How had I become someone I barely recognized? Heavier, certainly, but also unmotivated, unhappy, tired and (in my mind) helpless. Lost.

 

I remember going to bed every night, chastening myself for eating too much or the wrong things and vowing that tomorrow would be better. Not only did I not like the way I looked but I didn’t like the way I felt. I had just recovered from Thyroid surgery. Malignant growths had caused nodules that led to two surgeries to remove the entire thing. I would be on daily medication for the rest of my life and the “C” word had new meaning and brought very pressing thoughts about life…and death. I thought the surgery would be the answer—the answer to the migraines, IBS, terrible periods, ‘weird’ feelings and light headedness, and painful knees and hips. I had learned that the thyroid influences many things. Unfortunately, Not so.

 

All the symptoms of poor health, indicators of my ‘unfit’-ness remained. My thyroid wasn’t to blame.

 

It was a short time later that my dear husband started mentioning his desire that we both make some changes to improve our physical well-being –and appearance. We both needed to make these changes, but I turned it into a message about me, and his unhappiness with me. Please note – He NEVER actually said or implied this, it was just the way I received it-because I felt so badly about MYSELF. I’m pretty sure I am not the only one who has ever done this.  It took a few months, but I finally got to the place I needed to be to move forward in a positive way. Desperate.

 

Can you relate? Maybe you, too, find yourself staring back at the reflection in the mirror wondering how you got here, and even more importantly, what can you possibly do to change?

 

We find ourselves at the time of year when making changes and committing to new habits and goals is swirling around us –  New Year, New YOU! 

 

As a Fitness Coach, I encourage people to treat every day as a New Opportunity to create a new path to a healthier version of themselves; but today, I decided to ride out the excitement a new year brings and use the potential momentum to reach out—I want to be your partner in this journey.  I want to be Your Best Fitness Friend (Bff).

 

You will be amazed at what you can do in a year, or less actually, if you just have the right attitude and the right plan…and the right partner!  But before we approach that endeavor-

 

Here’s what I knew back then, 14 years ago: I didn’t like the way I looked or felt. I needed to make a change. It would involve getting active and, even more so, changing my eating habits.

 

That was about the extent of what I knew. I knew I needed to get more exercise and I knew I needed to eat healthier. Exactly what those two things looked like beyond that, I did not know. I did not have a plan or a trainer or a nutritionist. What I had was determination and desire (mostly to please my husband) …and the internet.

 

So much has transpired between today and that day 14 years ago. But I don’t need to tell you that I made those changes, I made many changes (even in my vocation), using the limits resources available to me and I no longer see pictures of myself and cringe (well at least not as often).

 

I look better and healthier and I feel SO much better.

 

I know how and what to eat to fuel my body so it can do what I want it to do, and look more the way I’d like it to. I also know how to choose activities that will keep it looking and feeling good.

 

It has taken me many years of learning to get to this place. Maybe you don’t have the time, energy or resources to go on this type of journey. That’s ok – you don’t have to. Not everyone makes a career change as a result!

 

I want to save you the time and tribulation of going it alone. If you bring the determination and desire, I will help you discover the other things you need to make ‘Better Choices for a Healthier Lifestyle’ in this new year.

 

The key to losing weight and keeping it off, looking and feeling good for life, is not a diet plan. It’s learning how to make choices that are not only healthy, but that fit your life and are sustainable for the long run, for  your future.  The best way to do this is to prepare healthy meals from home 90% of the time and limiting packaged, processed and restaurant foods in your food plan. However, I know this is a very difficult thing to do. You aren’t sure what to eat, you don’t know how to create a plan and you’re overwhelmed by the thought of prepping it all. I hear this from almost 100% of my clients!  But what I want you to know is that it does not have to be overwhelming or scary. You just need to commit to making small changes, one at a time.  You can develop a meal plan and prep habits that work for YOU and that you can do consistently.

 

Fast forward to TODAY–

 

Now that I have 14 years of a more fit life under my belt (as well as a few certifications), I want to commit to helping YOU commit to a healthier and happier you.

 

I can help take some mystery out of the journey. I can help break things down so they don’t seem so overwhelming.  I can help you discover answers to your questions –like:

 

• How do I know which foods to eat? What exactly is “healthy?” As Your Bff, I will break this down into simple concepts that make navigating any grocery store or menu easy.

 

• If I want to lose weight how much should I eat? Is low carb better, or low fat? As Your Bff, I will show you how to determine how much you should eat, and educate you about calories, and how to eat balanced meals every day without weighing, tracking or measuring everything.

 

• What should I make? I’m overwhelmed with knowing how much I need and what meals to cook! There is a simple way to lay out the plan that works for YOU and fits YOUR life. As Your Bff, I can show you how to plan an entire week’s worth of healthy, balanced meals and only spend about 2 ½ hours preparing them.

 

• My family is super busy, how can I add one more thing? No worries, we’ll cover all that, too. From taking your healthy, planned meals on the road, to eating out and packing snacks. There’s never a need to stress about what to eat.

 

• I don’t think I can afford to incorporate ‘higher quality’ food choices, how can I do this and still be cost conscious? Let Your Bff show you how you can avoid throwing money down the drain by laying out a detailed (but simple) plan, buying only what you need then preparing that food right away so you will use ALL of it and nothing goes to waste.

 

• Because I’m so busy I am too tired to cook or exercise when I get home at night. It’s just so much easier to get carry out or eat a microwaved meal…and NOT exercise. How will I change that? You know what’s even easier? Heating up the delicious, nutritious meal you made for yourself two days ago and stored in the fridge. Plus, not having to make decisions (or feel guilty) about what you’re eating. The dinner is already there and ready to be eaten because you prepared it over the weekend. Once you tackle your food challenges, you will feel more energized for those workouts, which are secondary anyway!

 

• I’ve tried meal planning and prepping before, but I just can’t keep it up. I always end up missing a week then falling off track completely. How do I make it stick? I recognize the key ingredient to successful meal planning and prepping is habit change. And you can’t just want to change. As Your Bff, I will help you develop a system of supports and motivation designed to help you succeed. And you need support – you can’t do this alone, so Your Bff will be there to guide you through the entire process!

 

We are on the door step of a brand-new year, and I am betting you have some goals in mind. Whether it is to lose weight, get more fit or improve your health.

 

How do you do that?

• By learning a do-able system of planning and prepping your meals every week
• By knowing what you’re going to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks inbetween
• By having it ready so that when Monday morning comes all you have to do is grab and go
• By understanding what your body needs and what it can do and
• By pushing your body so that it will work with you toward your goals

 

When I first started on this journey 14 years ago I did not know that meal planning and prepping was going to be a key factor in my lifestyle change. And it took me quite some time to get there consistently. Honestly, I have to recommit to it occasionally. But now I can say without a doubt, the one important habit (next to regular exercise) that I know makes the biggest difference in how I look and feel is meal planning and prepping. Now it is just a lifestyle, something I do and don’t even think about much. I only have to spend about 2-3 hours a week total from planning to prepping for the whole week.

 

And this is what Your Bff wants for you.

 

If I had the chance to go back 14 years and talk to the person I saw in that photo, I would tell her to shake off the doubt and worry and frustration and take action. That’s exactly what I finally did. But I did it alone….well with help and encouragement from my husband, which went a loooong way toward our success.  (I lost 35 lbs initially, 45+ total, and he lost about 80 lbs.). However, many of you don’t have the motivation and help of a partner in this.  Your Bff can fill that need for you!! And if you do have a support system, how about another team mate with your best interests (and some knowledge and experience) on your team…who doesn’t want that??!
What would a future you say to you, right now? I know 14 years ago mine was screaming for me to just get started, just make one little change!  That is exactly what I, as your Bff, would encourage YOU to do.  It is the best approach if you want to make long-lasting, helpful changes that will benefit you well into the future.

 

I keep seeing this–“This is MY year!” Is it? Is it the year you make the change you’ve been wanting so badly but haven’t known how to get started? Is it time to have Your Best Fitness Friend help you kick start yourself to an entirely new you with new, healthy habits?

 

I can’t imagine what it would feel like if 14 years after seeing that picture and feeling the need to change, I hadn’t. What if, after more than a decade, I was exactly where I was when that picture was taken – except older and even more unhappy? Don’t let the opportunity scare you, or worse, pass by.  Take a step, just one small, but important step-CHOOSE YOU!

 

I would certainly choose you!!  Connect with me today by commenting on this page or call (440-549-0407) email (suzy@imyourbff.com) or on Facebook at Your Best Fitness Friend.

 

I hope you  choose to start your journey today!

 

Be well-

Your Best Fitness Friend