We are kicking-off a new series on following the progress of one of my new clients, Christine.
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| Follow Christine’s Post Baby Weight Loss Journey |
Christine is a 40-year-old mother with one child. She has had higher than average weight most of her life, and since having a baby has seen her weight creeping up and up. We’ll be working together over the next 12 months with my holistic, whole foods nutrition and exercise program to help her lose weight, improve her nutritional intake, learn to prepare healthy food for herself and her family, and develop a workout routine. You can follow Christine’s journey here on Grass Fed Girl through weekly blog posts about her experience with recipes and training tips from me to inspire others out there looking for motivation.
Week One: Getting with the Program and Overcoming Resistance
All last week I was so excited that I found a great trainer and nutritionist to work with, and walking home from my first meeting with Caitlin, I felt like I was walking on air. The promise of working with her filled my head with visions of a fitter, healthier me. Reading Caitlin’s blog got me pumped to kick off 2012 with a health overhaul; her philosophy of whole, healthy foods and moderate exercise really appeals to me. I want to lose 50 lbs in 2012, and Caitlin is going to help me do it.
Last year, one of her clients lost 50 lbs using Caitlin’s methods and this year it’s going to be me.
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| 2011 Success Story, Marie |
After meeting on Thursday night, I received my first email from Caitlin Friday morning, reminding me to start journaling my food and to eat protein for breakfast. Great! First advantage of working with a real person: email reminders from a live person who I’m accountable to!
When I sat down to journal my food, this huge wave of anxiety came over me. I had not shopped for “the right foods” and we had a busy family weekend ahead that included a date night with my husband, and burgers, fries, and ice cream we promised my 4-year old. This was not how I wanted to start off. I had visions of perfection in my head that I was not living up to. I did journal over the weekend as I had promised, but it caused me a great deal of anxiety. I felt like I was documenting failure. Caitlin will see how badly I eat sometimes; maybe she will think I’m not committed or that I’m a lost cause. By Sunday I realized that I wasn’t afraid to show Caitlin my food journal, I was afraid of seeing it myself. I couldn’t face the truth that I eat things I know are bad for me and my family and I make choices that don’t serve me well or move me towards my goals, even if I have a trainer and nutritionist.
I remembered a quote I recently read by Martha Beck:
“The thing you’re most ashamed of is attached to a thought in your head that says, basically, ‘You are bad.’ … That is the strongest lie that is in your way.”
Losing weight and keeping it off has been one thing I have never been able to do. I was on my first diet as a toddler and to this point in my life, I’ve never been what society or weight charts consider a “normal” weight. What I’m facing is a lifetime of weight loss failures and feelings that I can’t face is another failure. What I thought was anxiety about journaling was really about fear of failing. And potentially failing publicly.
When I looked at it from another angle, I realized that I wasn’t facing failure, I was facing the truth and my choices, and that is empowering. Since I’m the only person I can truly count on to show up for me, I’ve decided I won’t retreat at the first sign of struggle or hide in the comfort of fear of failure. I’m going to show up and do my best everyday, and know that sometimes I will fall short, but at least I’m trying.
My food journal is up to date and Caitlin has already emailed me some food recommendations to help me feel full and energized. That is one of the many benefits of journaling: personalized advice from Caitlin!
So exciting!! Can't wait to see all of Christine's updates 🙂
What a great start to your story. I look forward to reading more. It looks like you have a lot of great support. Congratulations on the start of your journey!
(a friend of Caitlin's)