REAL People I Respect

REAL People I Respect: Biggest Hurdle

June 10, 2011 By Tricia Gardner 14 Comments

What’s been your biggest hurdle getting (or staying) fit?

My biggest hurdle getting and staying fit is — Planning Ahead. Sometimes I do really well planning ahead – have my whole week’s food in the fridge and menus planned. Other weeks I don’t. I think planning ahead is the only way to go for long-term success, but I prefer to not have to plan!!

When going to a potluck, it really helps to plan ahead that I will NOT try every dish there! – and be prepared with a healthy salad or vegetables and dip, or humus and pita and cucumbers, things that I enjoy and that will satisfy me so that I won’t be tempted to try everything.

Planning for exercise and carrying through on that – like aquafit, yoga, Zumba dance/exercise classes, etc. as long as I join a class, works really well for me. However, if I don’t plan ahead, bringing exercise into my daily life becomes a challenge.

So, if I have to narrow down my answer to just one “biggest hurdle” – then the idea of “Planning Ahead” seems to be something I still deal with, frequently.

Angie Newton @ Losing It And Loving It

My biggest hurdle getting and staying fit is food! I was doing really well at one point with portion control and making wise food choices but fell off the wagon. It can be a real struggle to get back on but like I keep saying, if you stick with it and never give up, it will happen. Once one thing doesn’t go right it all seems to go down hill for many people, myself included. It’s really important, like I said before, to look at your past success and know that you CAN make things happen. You have to move on.

One other hurdle for me is getting bored with doing the same exercises over and over so it’s really important for me to change things up on a frequent basis and always make sure I’m doing workouts I enjoy. Sometimes you’ll end up doing workouts that you don’t love and end up quitting altogether. Don’t let that happen! Find workouts that will make you want to keep going back for more.

Filed Under: Plus Size Inspiration, REAL People I Respect

New Feature: REAL People I Respect: Favorite Exercise

June 3, 2011 By Tricia Gardner 4 Comments

What is one activity you LOVE and feel FANTASTIC doing?

Angie Newton @ Losing It And Loving It

The one activity I absolutely love and feel fantastic doing is boxing. I cannot even explain the feeling I get after a good boxing workout. You would have to experience it for yourself to understand. Whether it’s using the bag, mitts with a partner or shadow boxing alone, it makes me feel AWESOME. Another activity I love is spinning (cycling). It’s also a great workout and the class environment, when you have a good instructor AND fun class participants will leave you wanting more.

Angie Newton writes about her weight loss and fitness journey and shares tips on living a healthy lifestyle at her weight loss blog. Feel free to drop by for a visit!

Tishia Lee @ No More Plus Size

I absolutely LOVE dancing. Of course I have no rhythm and just kind of make up moves as I go…but hey that’s the great thing about dancing, you can do your own thing. I don’t do as much of this activity as I would like and need to change that because I feel so…free when I do it. It’s fun, I get a great workout and feel fantastic doing it. The one thing I love about dancing is you can do it in the comfort of your home whenever – put on some music and dance around as you’re cleaning the house.

If you’re looking for more of a workout based dance, check out Just Dance 2 (for the Wii – not sure if they make it for any other gaming systems). If you’re like me and have no rhythm it’s a bit challenging to get the moves down but you’ll have a lot of fun trying (especially if you have a 12 year old son who watches you try! lol).

There’s just something about dancing that makes me grin and giggle like a little kid

Tishia

http://www.nomoreplussize.com

Diana Walker – @ The Cravings Coach

I love Aquafit, Yoga and Zumba. I know that is more than one, but it is hard to say which I love the most!

Aquafit makes me feel alive. Being in water is essential for me. Aquafit is “aquatic fitness” and is a fitness class in water – as you probably know. It is amazing what a good workout you can get. I have awesome instructors at the local Community Center and I attend 4 or 5 one-hour classes weekly. Some classes are in the shallow end and some are in the deep end of the pool. The fitness class is done to lively music, which makes it so fun, the time goes by quickly, and it doesn’t feel like exercise.

Yoga is something I have loved since the 1970s…. I used to teach yoga and exercise classes on the beach in Hawaii. Yoga really helps with relaxation and flexibility, and I love it, and feel fantastic doing it.

Zumba has become a worldwide phenomena in the past few years. It is a combination of Latin music, dance steps, and exercise. The music is so lively and I feel such energy and motivation in class. Zumba is fairly new to me, and I love it so much that I am doing 2 classes a week and feel fantastic doing it! Be sure to see if there are classes available near you.

Are cravings for sugar, salt, junk food, sodas, and coffee running your life? For over 20 years, Diana Walker, the Cravings Coach, has assisted people like you in using natural, safe options for creating vibrant health. Learn more at http://www.thecravingscoach.com/blog and http://www.diana2.com

Jillian @ I’m Finding My Weigh

I love swimming and walking. Even at my heaviest I loved walking fast along trails or on our seawall, feeling my legs getting stronger.

My community rec center has a large swimming pool and on Sunday mornings I am usually the only one there swimming lengths. It’s so peaceful and I just love it. It’s a little bit of “me time” and I can even take a steam, a hot tub or sauna when I’m done. Heavenly!

Gillian is a wife, a mother, a career woman…and trying to juggle the fun that comes with all three!

She has two kids. The little man is providing endless hours of whining enjoyment as he enters the preschool years, exploring and pushing every boundary he can while keeping them laughing. The little miss is the newest addition to the family, arriving October 2009.

I joined Weight Watchers in December 2009 with a view to lose 50+ lbs. I’ve lost 70lbs and reached my goal on July 30, 2010. I am now a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers and I’m never looking back!

Filed Under: Plus Size Inspiration, REAL People I Respect

New Feature: REAL People I Respect: Dealing with Your Emotions

May 27, 2011 By Tricia Gardner Leave a Comment

How do you deal with your emotions?

Angie Newton @ Losing It And Loving It

When I’m feeling defeated and emotional, I ask for encouragement. Whether it’s on my blog, Facebook page or from family and friends, it really helps to have people cheering me on. The best tip I have for dealing with the various emotions you go through on your weight loss journey is to stay positive and never give up! Look back at how far you have come. That will change your mood quickly to see all the success up until that point. And remember exercise and healthy eating does wonders for your body and your emotions.

Angie Newton writes about her weight loss and fitness journey and shares tips on living a healthy lifestyle at her weight loss blog. Feel free to drop by for a visit!

Scott Tousignant @ Fat Loss Quickie

I believe that the question should have been stated, “How do you deal with negative emotions?” Most of the time I am filled with joy, love, happiness, and peace, but there are indeed times when negative emotions creep in. Being a former depression sufferer, I pay extra attention to my emotions to ensure that I continue living the life that I deserve.

When it comes to emotional eating I have become aware of my top two triggers… boredom and feelings of overwhelm.

After years of paying attention and becoming aware of these triggers I can catch myself in the act of rummaging through the cupboards or desperately digging through the refrigerator. What I do during these moments is challenge the thoughts in my head. There’s already a dialogue going on in my mind where I’m trying to justify eating junk food and too much of it, so I continue the conversation and challenge those thoughts. If I think to myself, “It’s ok, I’ll start eating better tomorrow”, I challenge that thought.

The first thing that I say to myself is that food has never solved any of my problems. Food is meant to fuel my body, not necessarily my mind. I remind myself that it’s ok to enjoy my favorite treats in moderation, but I also recognize that these treats only provide temporary satisfaction to my taste buds. I am also well aware that over-indulging in junk always makes me feel guilty and worse than I felt before I went looking for treats.

…yet, if I avoid emotional eating I feel victorious afterward. I no longer feel a slave to junk food. Instead I embrace it for what it is… a temporary satisfaction for my taste buds that doesn’t make me feel even remotely close to as great as I feel after eating a healthy meal.

I have found great pleasure in eating healthy foods, so I focus on those tasty healthy meals instead.

The most important thing that you can do is to reflect on the root cause of the negative emotion and fix it. If I’m bored, I get myself busy. I’ll go for a walk or a bike ride. If I’m overwhelmed I’ll take out my prioritized to-do list and only focus on the single most important task that needs to get done today. Once again, a nice bike ride helps me overcome overwhelm.

If you are sad and down in the dumps, watch a comedy show. If you are stressed, take a hot bath in the dark with candles lit around you and listen to relaxing music. Sometimes taking a nap helps. Sometimes, chewing gum helps.

Bottom line, you are emotionally eating because you don’t want to deal with your problems. You are much better off facing those problems head on. Otherwise you simply create more problems by turning to food instead.

$h!t happens. Deal with it! That’s my tough love lesson.

To achieving your limitless potential,

Scott Tousignant

Scott and Angie Tousignant have been helping busy men and women, just like you, transform their body and life for over a decade. This dynamic duo prides themselves on providing a balanced and practical approach that will motivate and inspire you to become the best YOU that you can be.

Scott and Angie have dedicated themselves to sharing their exact workouts, what they eat, and how they stay motivated to continue transforming their body’s and life. You can find them at Fat Loss Quickie.

Diana Walker – @ The Cravings Coach

Emotional Eating is a huge topic. I used to think it was only feelings of boredom, stress, anxiety, loneliness, etc. that made me eat emotionally. But through study and personal experience, I really realized that in fact happiness, excitement, joy, celebrating an event are also my Emotional triggers!

1. Nutrition…..I am fanatical about having the right nutrition for our brain health and emotional health. Calcium, Magnesium, B Vitamins, Dong Quai, Essential Fatty Acids, Sunrider Beauty Pearl – nutrition in Whole Food form whenever possible – are absolutely the very best assistance I feel I can get for balancing out my emotions. Any of the ancient and holistic remedies are my favorite solutions!

2. Breathing…..A favorite technique of mine – and one that everyone can use – is Breathing! That’s right, I said Breathing!! – everyone can do that, right? Whether I’m happy or sad or any emotion in between, I often need to just slow down. Breathing affects Emotions and Emotions affect Breathing. Take 10 deep breaths – In through the nose, Out through the mouth. 10 times. Just try it. It often works for me.

3. Physical Activities…..Another favorite solution that I find really helps with overcoming emotional eating is any physical activities I enjoy – like yoga, swimming, walking, Zumba dancing. Every one of these take me out of my current emotional state, and create positive feelings for me.

4. Positive People, Goals and Dreams…..Surrounding myself with positive people helps – so that I am prepared in advance – for any negative emotional state. I create and use Vision Boards to inspire me with my Goals and Dreams. I really believe “What you focus on, expands” – I find the more I focus on being happy, healthy, vibrant, and at the best size and weight for me, and create the image in my mind, the smoother life becomes. I am not on such a roller-coaster of emotions.

Diana Walker, Cravings Coach http://www.thecravingscoach.com

Tishia Lee @ No More Plus Size

I’m an emotional eater – always have been for as long as I can remember! Obviously once you’re on a journey to get healthy and lose weight eating when you’re emotional isn’t a good thing! I still struggle with it but I’m getting better. I have a few things that I do before going to the cupboard.

First, I blog. I started my No More Plus Size…eventually blog back in January 2010. At first it was just a place for me to help keep track of my progress. Soon, it became a place where I was writing everything I was going through on this journey – the good, the bad and the ugly. I realized that if I could touch just one person by sharing my story then everything I was going through was so worth it. But then it became a place where others started coming to encourage me when I was/am feeling down, pick me up when I had fallen and didn’t think I could get back on track, love me when I couldn’t love myself. The emotional ties that I’ve created with so many of my readers and the weight loss/getting fit community isn’t even something I can put into words. The encouragement and support is amazing. When I’m feeling down I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than on my blog or Twitter with all these amazing people.

Second, I go to a private Facebook group where a few friends, who are also on weight loss journeys, and I talk about what’s going on with our healthy lifestyles. It’s a ‘safe’ place where I can vent, “cry”, etc and not worry what the outside world will think. These are close personal friends that have known me for years now and vice versa. I share my emotions with them, again I share the good, the bad and the ugly. They are there to listen and offer advice, support and encouragement.

If someone is having a hard time dealing with emotions of a weight loss journey I recommend they find a group or a few close people that will pick them up when they’re feeling down. It’s a lot easier to not give up and keep trucking along when you have people around you that are there cheering you on and encouraging you to keep going when you don’t think you can. And just remember, this is a lifestyle change and a long journey don’t focus on all the negative emotions – oh I have 100 lbs to lose, oh I still am in a size 24, etc. Focus on the positives – well sure I still have a 100 lbs to lose but I’ve already lost 50, I may be in a size 24 but I was a size 28 when I started…or whatever. Take it one day at a time and stop beating yourself up (and yes, I’m preaching to myself here too!)

Tishia
http://www.nomoreplussize.com

Filed Under: Plus Size Inspiration, REAL People I Respect Tagged With: Dealing with your emotions, Plus Size Bloggers, weight loss

New Feature: REAL People I Respect: Getting Motivated When It Feels Hopeless

May 20, 2011 By Tricia Gardner 9 Comments

What is one thing you could say to someone who loses and gains the same 20 lbs over and over again?

Angie Newton @ Losing It And Loving It

I would recommend to them that they really take a close look at their life to figure out if the really want to get healthy.

Losing and gaining weight multiple times like that is unhealthy both for the body and mentally. Make a commitment to get healthy if that’s what you want to do. There will be ups and downs and it’s possible to gain weight back (I get it because I have experienced that) but someone doing it over and over again doesn’t seem to be ready to face it head on.

My advice would be to really dig deep, set goals and go after them. Find a support system to cheer you on to lose the weight and keep it off. And stop making excuses! Another thing I would recommend is to get to the doctor for a checkup to see if there might be an underlying reason for the multiple losses and gains.

Angie Newton writes about her weight loss and fitness journey and shares tips on living a healthy lifestyle at her weight loss blog.
Feel free to drop by for a visit!

Jack @ Jack Sh*t, Gettin’ Fit

What would I say to someone who loses and gains the same 20 lbs over and
over again?

WHAT would I SAY to someone who loses and gains the SAME 20 lbs
over and over again.

What WOULD I say to SOMEONE who loses AND gains the
same 20 lbs OVER and OVER again?

I’d probably just keep repeating the question until the person walks away in boredom or disgust. But if they do stick around, then I draw on my years of experience as a non-dietician, non-doctor, not-healthcare-expert, non-personal-trainer and non-fitness-guru to encourage that person to focus ALL of their energy and effort on getting through ONE GOOD DAY.

Not necessarily a perfect day and definitely not an OVERACHIEVING day. Just ONE GOOD DAY. A day that you can look back at the end of it and say that you ate a little less, ate a little bit more healthy and got in a little exercise. I think we have a tendency to gaze at the mountain off in the distance and trip over the hole right in front of our
feet. I’ve had my best luck when I narrow my scope to getting through one day relatively unscathed and then get up and try to repeat that success tomorrow.

Jack Sh*t is a weight-loss/healthy living blogger who does his thing over at Jack Sh*t, Gettin’ Fit. He’s chronicled his 70-lb. weight loss journey over the past two years and enjoys a readership of over a squatrillion (approximately). He also has a number of imaginary blogs, including Whittle a Bit with Jack Sh*t, Scrappy Jack’s Scrapbook Shack and The Huffington Post. When not blogging, Jack is married to the sea.

Scott Tousignant @ Fat Loss Quickie

If I could only say “ONE” thing to you, it would be to stop putting all of your focus on the end goal of losing 20 lbs and instead focus your attention on the greatest reward… the journey itself.

I encourage you to discover the joy in the process of transforming your body and life. I encourage you to become “Present” in every moment where the intention is to improve your body and health.

I encourage you to nurture the mind-body connection while you workout. I encourage you to embrace the baby steps and celebrate even the smallest of victories that you achieve each and every day. I encourage you to take pride in your body and your ability to become better from one day to the next.

I encourage you to make the most out of every moment. I encourage you to view the loss of this 20 lbs not as “THE” destination, but as “A” destination. Transformation is not just a 12 week period of time in your life. Transformation is your life. If you are not growing as a person, you are dying. You have the power each and every day to choose “Growth”.

During this new journey of yours, I encourage you to not “Lose” this same 20 lbs. Instead, I would like you to release it. Set it free. Avoid the temptation to peek inside the lost and found box, because your 20 lbs that
you released is nowhere to be found. It’s evaporated into thin air.

There may be a million things that you would rather do than work up a sweat and feel temporary discomfort in your muscles. What will make you successful in this journey is to recognize those things, yet go ahead and workout
anyway. For a while you may feel like this is something that you “Have” to do. In time, as you embrace this journey, it will become something that you “Want” to do.

Scott and Angie Tousignant have been helping busy men and women, just like
you, transform their body and life for over a decade. This dynamic duo
prides themselves on providing a balanced and practical approach that will
motivate and inspire you to become the best YOU that you can be.

Scott and Angie have dedicated themselves to sharing their exact workouts,
what they eat, and how they stay motivated to continue transforming their
body’s and life. You can find them at Fat Loss Quickie.

Jillian @ I’m Finding My Weigh

I would ask them if they felt they were really and truly ready to make the lifestyle change necessary to get past that 20lb hump. It really is a change in thinking.

For me, it was to realization that I would have to make CONSCIOUS choices and decisions every day for the rest of my life, if I wanted to maintain the success I had achieved. Every day.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not super strict every single day, but every decision I make is a conscious one, and I know the consequences.

A person who loses the same 20lbs over and over obviously has the will power and commitment to get to THAT point, so I would ask them what happens at that 20lb mark that makes them go back to old habits.

I know for me, back before I fully committed to making the lifestyle change, I would reach the point where people were starting to tell me I looked good, I was feeling better, and instead of going further and feeling even BETTER, I would start to slack off a little here and there. Well, THAT doesn’t work!

Gillian is a wife, a mother, a career woman…and trying to juggle the fun that comes with all three!

She has two kids. The little man is providing endless hours of whining enjoyment as he enters the preschool years, exploring and pushing every boundary he can while keeping them laughing. The little miss is the newest addition to the family, arriving October 2009.

I joined Weight Watchers in December 2009 with a view to lose 50+ lbs. I’ve lost 70lbs and reached my goal on July 30, 2010. I am now a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers and I’m never looking back!

Filed Under: Plus Size Inspiration, REAL People I Respect