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| The classic before shot |
Eight years ago today I made a life-changing decision. It was my “half-birthday”, exactly six months
until I would turn the tender and significant milestone of 50. On that day, I weighed 175 pounds (I am 5’ 3”),
I had been diagnosed as pre-diabetic, I had back issues/pain, knee pain, and I
was always tired. I wore a size 16
(tightly, I might add), and most of the time my wardrobe was either a tunic top
or big jackets over elastic-waist slacks, and the occasional no-shape A-line
jumper. Even in the summer… in the
heat. I was forever pulling my shirt or
jacket or sweater around my ever-increasing self so that I could mask my
size. Sound familiar, anyone? So there I sat, close to “the big 5-0”… disgusted
with myself. I was sick and tired of
being sick and tired. Sometimes I think
you really have to hit bottom, to be completely and totally over yourself and
your issues to get to the point of choosing to change. It’s a hard, scary and depressing place to
be. But I knew I didn’t want to be like
that the rest of my life.
So…I made a decision… quietly, without fanfare… alone with
just myself and my mirror and scale. I
wanted to be healthy and strong again. I
wanted to have energy again. Yes, I
wanted to be smaller, but more importantly I just wanted to feel good again –
inside my body as well as about my body.
Like I said, I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I chose then and there to change. I chose ME, my life, and my future.
I went to a doctor first for a check-up. I began a food journal and personal journal, took my measurements
(yes, it was painful) and began to count my calories. Oh, that was a real eye-opener. You could have called me Cleopatra, because I
was Queen of DENIAL about how many calories I could eat on any given day. I was really shocked. But one thing that was very important to me
was that needed the freedom of eating anything I wanted to eat, be it
chocolate, pizza, whatever.
I knew if I tried this diet or that plan, I would fail – because that
was my track record. So I treated my
calories like a budget – and if I “spent” some on a slice of pizza (as opposed
to four or more like I used to scarf down), then I accommodated that with less
calories elsewhere. Now mind you, I didn’t
have pizza every day, or a donut, etc. I
began eating clean – fruit, veggies, chicken, fish… and lots of water. But when I really truly wanted a brownie, I
would stop and think about it first. I
became intentional and mindful about everything I put in my mouth. Was it worth “spending” the calories? Would it be a moment on the lips, then
forever on the hips? Was it worth the
hour to burn off the calories? If it was
on that day, then I had it. But I ate it
slowly, and enjoyed every mouthful, every delicious crumb. I didn’t just take two bites and then it was
gone.
I joined a gym and met with a personal trainer who designed
a workout plan for me. I also began
attending some of the classes there, and that’s where I fell in love with
Pilates. And so began my journey to
fitness. The weight starting slowing
coming off, and instead of rewarding myself with food (after all, I’m not a
dog), I would get something small (and inexpensive), like a lipstick, or nail
polish, or a book. I set
goals for myself each month on what I would like to weight, what size I would
like to fit into next, and BMI and body fat targets. I set fitness goals for walking, going to the
gym X number of days, and more minutes for stamina on my workouts.
Along the way I found my confidence growing, and I went back
to college online and (gasp!) began taking the ballroom dance classes that were
offered at the gym. It was great. Oh, I had setback days and times of
emotional eating. I began learning more
about myself as I journaled, and how my eating was a symptom of what was really
“eating me.” As time progressed, my
aches and pains lessened. The Pilates
classes strengthened me, as well as my workouts, and my chiropractor even told
me that, knowing my history of back problems, he now would never have guessed that
I had ever had any back problems. Of
course that’s not something you can guarantee for everyone, but it worked for
me. I also was no longer diagnosed as
pre-diabetic.
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| Today |
Since that day, eight years ago, I have lost a total of 50
pounds and kept it off. I have earned my
certifications as a personal trainer, TRX and kettlebells trainer, Pilates and
Pilates Reformer instructor, and Life Coach.
Next year I will (Lord willing) complete my bachelors in Psychology with
a dual specialization in Christian Counseling and Life Coaching. I dance as a hobby now and have done several
group performances. I am blessed to work
at the Robert Wood Johnson Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness in their
Pilates Studio with some absolutely wonderful clients. It’s been a long, hard road with pitfalls and
stumbles and tears. But it has been more
than worthwhile and I am in the best health and shape of my life. There was no magic… no pills or formulas…
just old-fashioned exercise and behavior modification and counting
calories. Slow and steady. I prayed a lot, and God gave me strength and
courage each day. Believe me, if I can
do it, ANYONE can. I don’t write this to
say, “Woohoo, look at me.” I write it to
encourage you and say you can do anything you CHOOSE to do at any point in your
life. Every day you wake up, every time
you sit down for a meal… you CHOOSE.
Make the choice today to choose YOU, your health, wellness, longevity
--- choose life for you and celebrate it every day.
Oh by the way, one of my goals eight years ago was
to celebrate my birthday surrounded by my friends, wearing a beautiful dress,
dancing and sipping a bit of champagne.
I’m really thankful to say that’s exactly how I celebrate my 50th
birthday.
Be fantastic at 40, fabulous at 50, sensational at 60, sexy
at 70, incredible at 80, nifty and 90 and WOW at 100!!!!!
Blessings,
Coach Linda Bush
P.S. And if you would like someone who's been there and walked in your shoes to coach you to come alongside you and partner with you to help you to your best self, give me a call. That's my passion and I'm here for you!
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