4 weeks on the 5&1

I'm 4 weeks in on using the 5&1 and am very happy with it and my results.

I've procrastinated taking a before pic because I don't really want to remember that previous weight or look or how I felt. But my mentor coach and others have encouraged me. One gal even said that it is her before and after pic that keeps her going! Ok…I'll do it. A little late, but done!

I also have to say that the support from my coach and other coaches in our groups is so important. Having others working towards the same goals and cheering one another on is  seriously helpful! I have  days that it's a little hard and I want to cave, then I'll read another post by a fellow tsfl-er or my coach and I'll remember why I'm doing what I'm doing and that it's about long term health and longevity and then skip forward in my plan! I truly believe have a coach and mentoring group is vital to short and long term success.

I decided I will try to wear the same shirt through my pics in an effort to see the real changes. I'm down at least 2 pant sizes since May. Maybe I'll do a couple in my workout clothes tomorrow. 

What I like best about the program is the quick results and that the food is good! Well actually those are reasons 2 and 3, I like best how I feel! I love not wondering what I'm eating each meal and I love not counting points and trying to keep track of all that everyday/meal. 

I do still weigh my lean in my lean and green meal, and the green is 3 servings of veggies and I measure that pretty closely too. But, I'm getting to where I can eyeball it pretty closely. And…I find that really exciting because learning the new habits of health is the most important thing…and living them!

I want to help others feel great…forever….so I decided to become a coach. Even though I am only part way in my journey I can see the long term SUPER consequence of healthy choices and want to teach the habits of health to others now. So, if you so desire, please email me through this link and I will be so happy to help you reach your health goals. 

What does the blog title mean?

I want to give credit where credit is due. When I was deciding what name I wanted to be connected to my Take Shape for Life (TSFL)* experience I felt it was important to find something that denoted that my weight loss was not lost, because I have no intention of finding it again. I'd heard that said before so I surfed the internet looking for the source, nada, couldn't even find the comment. But, I did find this comment from Martha Beck and realized it encompassed my feelings about finding balance and how long it takes to feel at ease with change.

"It takes about four days of virtuous living to create a little weight loss. That also happens to be the time required to get used to eating less. In other words, if you can get past day three of a fitness regimen, things improve." -Martha Beck

I realized this applies to much of life and learning balance. It applies to TSFL because it takes about 3 or 4 days to get into fat burn. Since everything we do is really intertwined in one way or another I think it is helpful to think of this philosophy for each improvement we are choosing to make.

In Dr. Anderson's book "the Habits of Heath"* he discusses how things work together in our lives. Picture a venn diagram, now add each of the important things taking place in your life, now picture pulling each of those important things away from one another, do those things still mean the same thing to you when they are separated. For example, why do you work? because you love your job? and to support your family? what if you only had your job? or just your family? remove your good health…or add family but take away your good health, this would shorten your time with your family? Does that balance work for you?

There are steps, vital daily steps, to health and longevity. Dr. A lays these out very clearly in his books, they are worth the read.

*the links in this post lead to my personal TSFL website where there is potential for me to make $ if you chose to use the products offered if you chose me as your coach. I made the decision to contract with TSFL because I believe the principles in Dr. A's book can transform lives. For me it is about educating others and helping them to find their inner happiness and to find health and longevity on the road there.

The beginning of Take Shape for Life, for me

Can I show you a non-scale epiphany and victory? Life has been a little rough the last couple of years and Jan-May of this year was some of the roughest. I knew I was stress eating but it was too hard to think about anything but the things happening at the time. I knew by March I'd hit bottom but couldn't do anything about it at the time, and I knew I didn't want to try anything again that would be a temporary fix for the eating/weight issues. By late April I'd made a decision to look into Dr. A's stuff because of Kara's and Jennifer's success. I knew I couldn't depend on package foods long term and read about Dr. A's thoughts on food. I ordered his "Habit's" book in May and almost immediately began implementing the eating on there, well actually a little before that because of some stuff Kara posted in the files section on another fb page. But as I looked at my own profile picture I realized that I didn't really look like the same person as in Feb and that it wasn't just the new haircut. It caused me to go through some pics that I took of myself and never posted because I could see just how unhealthy I was looking/feeling. I know we are often our own worst critic with pictures and stuff so I decided look a them closer and I can see the healing taking place with the change in diet. I'm only a couple of weeks into the 5&1 but I realized that the results had actually began to show just by following the 9" plate "rule" and eating the kinds of food Dr. A suggested. I think I'm mostly feeling thankful for being introduced to this program and I hope to be able to introduce others to it as well.