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The Why I Needed to Loose
There are many reasons we each know deep inside we need to get in shape.
I am reminded during Memorial day weekends of people that have come and gone in my life. I remember my grandfather that has passed from cancer and who fought in a World War only to came back with his faith challenged from the tragedies he saw. I still remember his questioning the existence of God and the stories he told me. I remember my dad who died of cancer yet lived the life of a proud Marine even though his service time led to a broken back and a life of pain. I remember my good friend Jim who fought with his weight and struggled with diabetes all his life only to swiftly die too young. I remember each one and what they taught me. They taught me freedom isn’t Free, it has to be fought for.
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Each one stood for the idea that if we want freedom’s in our life we have to go after them. We have to claw, fight, struggle and seek those freedoms. Many would offer easy solutions but dedication and work was needed to get out of life the things that many people take for granted. By nature we all seek the easy road, but by design only those things that become habit and purpose will stay with us. Our life choices will determine the outcome, not some cosmic spinning wheel of fate or luck.
This comes to our health as well. We have choices presented to us moment by moment. Eat this, don’t eat that. It is all choices that will determine our weight loss or weight gain. It will determine if our body will operate at optimal health or something less than. It is never just simple calories in versus calories out. There is no quick fix although there are choices that will take us where we want to be faster. But like all choices we have to make the ones that will take us where we want to go. It gets down to choosing health or illness. Freedom or something less.
So today I choose to keep fighting for health. Fighting to help others find it. Taking on a different battle but taking in on with everything I have. Why? Because I have a legacy of fighters in my life that taught me that “Freedom in any area of life is worth fighting for!” And I take nothing away from the battles and the struggles those very dear to me fought. Today like many days I still hear them say to fight the good fight no matter where you find your battle. Live life to the fullest and help those who would come along beside you. For many people died so that you might have those choices to make each day.
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More From CoachRick
Don’t read this set of articles, if you don’t enjoy working with people. Don’t read them if you haven’t got time to spend with people. Last but not least, don’t read these articles if you don’t believe that you can make an impact on others performance. A coach has to be willing to go beyond their comfort zone and learn they can’t control others and they have to think differently.
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Many people who experience some level of success have a coach or a mentoring relationship. Health and fitness are no different. A health coach teaches people to build on their successes, work on their skills, come up with a plan, monitor important milestones, and stay on top of the feelings that go along with it.
When talking about success on any journey we have to remember that success is never an accident. It takes planning, training, commitment and monitoring. The dictionary defines a coach as someone who trains people in order for them to prepare. Wouldn’t we prepare them for success? What better success could be achieved that optimal health and fitness? My goal as a health coach is to improve your performance in all of the areas of health. Do it in a planned and tested way and offer guidance. But like all forms of coaching, the steps of the journey are still up to the person being coached.
In order to facilitate success a coach should have a range of learning experiences to draw from to help their client bring about improvement. I honestly believe that the most successful coaches are either very teachable themselves (intense observers and learners) or they have walked the same journey before themselves. Take a coach that has both and you have a power-packed combination of skills to assist and guide others.
Check Back for Part 2 – Why be a Health Coach? Health Coaches Role
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Yesterday was my birthday. It was a day of mixed emotions and feelings as birthdays normally are for me. My wife remembered as did many of my friends on Facebook. My son remembered by giving me an extra special dose of a hard time. My mother chose to be mad enough with me not to call so I had to deal with those emotions. Then at work the usual happened, I fell through the crack of the usual card and well wishes system we have there. All in all it was a very normal day, some sweetness, some sorrow and a lot of gratefulness for the good things in life.
But this morning I am reflecting on my own age and where I am. I am coming up on the first year anniversary of my 100 pound weight loss. The middle of April last year I went back to eating what I wanted and how I wanted. I looked at that this morning and realized after another year in my life I am in better shape than I was 30 years ago. I can do things that I couldn’t do physically and mentally. I am stronger all the way around. I have given myself the gift of life and as a weight loss coach I am able and willing to give it to others.
This time last year I felt like I had arrived. I had reached my big goal in life. Now I realize I am just getting started. This month alone I started working with three new health coaches. These people will join me in making a difference to people. Being there with them in a journey that can often challenge people to their core. The rewards are there each step of the way but it often feels like a hill that cannot be climbed. It is great to walk side by side with some one and say, of course you can do this, look how far you have come already.
Today then I am grateful for all the new friends I have. I am grateful for my journey even when that last step might seem a bit harder. And I am grateful that my spirit has moved me in the direction it has. I can’t express the joy I have being involved with so many good friends and people that are taking on the same journey. Optimal health is a journey, weight loss is just a beginning. Loosing weight is just the start of the search for better health and happiness. Come and join us!
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This last week was the first time in months that I was feeling so bad I had to take some time off from work and workouts. I came down with a cold or flu and just before that I had pulled something in my back during one of my last weight trainings. Reminder to self remember to stretch more. So imagine for a few short moments coughing and sneezing with your back spasms that would normally bring me to my knees if I could just get out of bed. That was just two days ago and this morning I was back up and walked out 2 miles.
No, I am no superman. I did have to dig in and find that hero I wrote about recently. I had to get back at it as soon as I was able. Why you ask? Well because it was the workouts and the weight loss that turned what would have been a full weeks worth of illness to just half a week. That’s right my recovery was faster because my body was stronger. It wasn’t hauling around an extra 100 lbs. It was not in the constantly worn down condition of no sleep and no reserves. When I got back there where still people out from the same or similar bug.
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I went and got my back adjusted as I had gotten it out of alignment. Feels much better today. Again a recovery that would normally take a couple of weeks before I would even think of going back to working out. In talking to the chiropractor we talked about recent vacations he had taken this last year and I commented that I used to think that action, fun-filled things like hiking and snorkeling where out of the question for me just one short year ago. That this last year I had hiked the Grand Canyon for the full day and loved every minute of it. I look forward to my next tropical vacation where I can get back in the water and enjoy the fish and swimming without feeling like I was going to run out of breath.
To answer the question I used for the title, I realized on my walk this morning that the way to recover is to start back at it. It doesn’t matter if it was illness or lack of weight loss that slows us down. It doesn’t matter that we are discouraged or feeling a bit let down. It matter how we overcome that feeling. It matters that we do what we can do. Last week it was keeping the hands out of the chocolate jar at work. This week it was going for a walk rather then slacking another day. All of it based on choices that stacked up over this last year that made it even possible to do it in the first place.
That’s right loosing weight and working out made me stronger and recovery was faster. Small price to pay to have along with it more energy and determination to keep going. What goal are you working on today? What are you willing and able to do to get there? Think about it and DO Something about it today!
Well the first two months are done. I am down 42.6 lbs. A third of the way to goal.  Doing the happy dance. And I feel great. I was talking to someone yesterday and they said you must feel great. And boy do I . That is like taking off four bowling balls off my frame. More energy, more joy and more commitment to continue on with the journey.
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I have averaged 20 lbs a month weight loss. I have exceeded my best attempt to loose weight in over 20 years. My blood pressure is back to normal. My energy level is through the roof compared to what it was just 2 short months ago.  Heck I even got two more compliments on my dedication to become healthy.
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Now to the stuff that really matters. This next week my brother and my mom will start with Medifast as well. So now I have begun the journey that helps others as well. To inspire them to loose the weight and become healthy. It touches my heart to read mothers who write how they want their children to grow up healthy go through their journey to inspire them to live well. I know there will be more to follow. But for now I get a great chance to save my brother from diabetes and stroke.Â
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It reminds me of the little boy at the beach story. An old man watches this young boy picking up on star fish at a time and throw them back in. The man ponders the action of the boy and finally goes up to ask him what he is doing. The little boy says I am saving the life of that starfish. The old man chuckles and says but there are so many on the beach how can you possibly think you can make a difference. The little boy looks up at him and says “I made a difference for that one!†as he smiles and moves on to the next one.
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I saw a tv program not too long ago that was sort of a weight loss scared straight kind of show. They took overweight families and brought them all in to be checked and looked at their diet and trends within the families. They the did aging pictures to show the parents what their kids would look like at various ages down the line of time. The one show I remember the most was when both parents (about my size) where told that they would love to show them their sons at a certain age but sadly based on all the evidence they would be dead before they reached that age. The mother broke down in tears. The family took the advice from the show and changed the way they eat and interact with each other.
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So when I read about the holidays and think about going off plan. I remember these things. I remember that each choice I make means that I take longer or shorter to release these pounds hanging around my body. I remember that each choice effects my life, which by design and grace effects others lives, and I make the choice that works best for me. As each one of us should.Â
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So for those that go on and off plan and it works for them, may your journey bless your desires and goals. For me, I knew when I went into this there are always holidays. But, when it is all said and done for me, there is only one now, and now is the time for me to shed the fat. Now is the time to stay on track. Next year there will be another Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. Next year there is Easter, and 4th of July BBQ’s. And next year a healthy me will enjoy the same holidays through the years with those that are dear to my heart the same way I always do. With the love and the joy from deep within me. And just maybe God willing and I embrace the choices I am learning there will be a lot more holidays to enjoy. For now it is back to one day at a time. Each day to make a difference in me. As it is so often is said around here that is what it is all about, me. For when I am good with myself, then I show up for others as well.
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Please know from the depth of my heart that for each of us this is our own journey. Each one travels it their way. And may each be blessed to travel it in a deep and inner peace towards their wholeness and health.
When we get serious about weight loss we also start monitoring the things that tell us how we are doing in releasing the weight from our bodies. As a weight loss coach I am taught to teach people the basic life style changes in order to facilitate permanent weight loss. So they learn to monitor. Monitor the scale and using a tape measure to see the loss of inches all over the body as their body respond to their program. This includes their eatting and exercise. All of it being measured and monitored. But often they leave out one more thing to monitor and that is their thoughts.
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Today, I was reminded that there is another tape that we need to look at in measuring our progress. That is the tape we run inside our head. See often through the years in various aspects I have been in a situation to counsel with some one and they have various sets of beliefs. Some are of religious faith. Some solely rely on themselves as a source of inspiration. But they all have some sort of struggle to overcome. Some know it to be “the enemyâ€. The enemy being, part of their past, an actual spiritual presence, and many other possibilities. These challenges are real and do exist for many.
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First it helps to talk about “the enemy†being within or without (inside our mind or an external force). See, I can’t walk in everyone’s shoes but I know that we are influenced by various things. Some even see food as the enemy itself.   I like to teach that if we start with the enemy within, we often will stop any battles from without. As a person thinks and where their mind is, so is their heart.
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So a simple tool to help is what I refer to as the simple tape system we have in our mind. See the mind is like a tape loop that can go in two directions. One is forward or positive direction. The other is backward (no wonder we call it backwards thinking) or negative thinking. However, we can feel like we are in such a battle. When you slow it all down the mind can only think one thought at a time. Go in one direction so to speak.
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Now the other thing about this simple tape machine in our mind is that when it stays going in one direction it seems to go faster. So for instance when we are in a positive frame of mind, everything looks pretty good to us. When we are negative the whole world can stink.
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So as a weight loss coach I like to start the tape in the positive direction. Help people to find their “Whyâ€. What will change when you release the weight? How will it feel to be lighter and able to move around? Will there be health benefits? Will it make a difference to some one you care about? How will it feel to get years back to enjoy your life? Get the tape moving quick and solid in the right direction.
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Cause the other way starts more like this and I see it in the blogs all the time. Man, I hope I can do this, I fail every time I have tried before. Ehhh, I don’t like the food! I miss eating the things I like to eat. I see others eat what they want and I can’t do this. See how it speeds up?
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So which direction is your tape going today? Mine is full speed ahead on goal. My plan is easy to stick to. I like the food more and more each meal. My friends and family will be so proud of me. I love feeling younger and having more of a spring in my step. I am already making a difference in people around me as they are making new choice for their own health. I will enjoy growing old with my wonderful wife. Heck I might even live long enough to see a grand child. Â
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I hope this helps some one on their weight loss journey (heck on their life journey) today. If nothing else just writing it down helped my tape speed up some more.
It’s the simple things I look for each day. Between weigh in’s the things to look at to keep motivated. A while back I had heard to pay attention to the simple things. To pay attention to something as simple as how do you feel when you walk.
Well apparently it stuck in my mind. I was thinking today on the way in, first it is the last day of the fund drive and I get to be back on a more normal schedule. Woot! It was the last day I had to start my days 2 hours earlier and finish them even 2 hours later. And we have had a great drive even during the economic challenge many people are going through. Yeah I know a lot to be thinking about that early in the morning.
So as I came into the building, I approached the stairs (two flights every time I leave or come in) and half way up that still small voice reminded me to pay attention. I noticed the ease that was behind each step. I noticed muscle that I had not noticed before. And at the top of the stairs I wasn’t short of breath. In fact I was breathing any more then a normal pace.
Small thing, just two flights of stairs, but it was a huge difference in just 6 weeks. Each day before I would reach the top and go whew, I made it. Man am I getting old fast. I thought it would be a lot longer before I started to feel old. Those where all the old thoughts running around in my head. Not to mention the ones that reminded me that I had really let myself go. Each day wearing me down a little bit more.
So simple choices, simple thought patterns, and the world looks different in a few short weeks. Today I felt stronger then I have in a long time. Today I knew that my new choices where worth every moment. Today I knew I was blessed and on my way to fulfill my destiny. Today I know my life matters and I can do this for me and all the ones I love so dearly.
So today is a great and blessed day. May it find you having the strength and blessing to have one to.
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