Habit change is the same process, no matter if it’s starting to exercise, remembering to log your food or quitting smoking. There will be stops and starts. There will be bargaining and frustration. It often won’t “take” the first time.
Julie found this out the hard way.
Julie was at a new job, super stressed out and feeling as though her body was no longer under her own control when she came to work with me the first time.
I was sick of feeling…well, sick. My 40-hour work week was draining my energy and I couldn’t even enjoy my weekends. I would get home on Fridays and just want to go to bed. When I was younger I was always skinny and full of energy. In fact, I used to get made fun of for being too skinny, something I now realize could have played a part in eating more and gaining weight as I got older.
She heard about me from her friend, Denee, who was also a client of mine at the time. They were discussing how all of the stress was wreaking havoc on Julie’s system and Denee suggested exercise as a way to help manage stress as well as get back into shape. Julie contacted me and signed up for a 3 month program with one session a week.
One session a week is a gamble for beginners. When you are trying to form new habits regular coaching and reinforcement is important. Only seeing each other one time a week means there is plenty of time to veer off course between sessions. One session a week also means trying to pack a lot information into the small amount of time we do have.
Julie was dedicated during her sessions and diligently kept her food log. However when she had to stop attending training after 3 months it became clear that while she was motivated, she was not yet fully committed to a fit lifestyle.
I felt that I had a lot more knowledge, but I wasn’t completely ready to change. I still needed to get my stress levels under control. I’ve always loved cardio, but during the hiatus I did very little strength training and wasn’t consistent with my workouts. Around the holidays I took a picture for a Christmas card I realized I was back to where I was before we met. Even a bit worse. I decided I needed to stop making excuses and go all in.
She came back earlier this year with a new mindset and a new set of goals. This time she was mentally as well a physically ready to change. She committed to another 3 months of sessions, this time working with me twice a week. She committed to a 5K and living a healthy lifestyle. It paid off in 16 pounds lost, renewed energy and a reclaiming of her life.
Not only have I been losing weight in otherwise difficult places, but I feel less stressed and more full of energy. I’m getting back to my goofy self that I didn’t even realize had gone away. I thought eating healthy around friends would be difficult, but instead I have several of them asking me for food advice! Completing my first 5k was such a rush!
Julie’s experience is a true testament to the importance of not just motivation but also commitment when we want to make a true lifestyle change. It also shows that perseverance pays off. Just because it doesn’t click the first time doesn’t mean it won’t on the second or third. Her changed mindset helped her make great progress the second time around. This time going out on her own she is armed with new habits, a new mindset and a new feeling of confidence.
