THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG

Have you ever woke up just believing you were destined for failure?

You have a goal, yet you consistently crash and burn? This is where my journey started. In 2014, I had this idea in my head. I needed to lose 20 pounds. I started hitting the gym, taking classes. It was finally time. Time for me to lose the weight. I was dedicated, I attended fitness classes 6 days a week. That should do it, right? Pick classes that are fun, keep coming, stand in the back row, try to keep up, stay consistent, I got this!! Then crash...every time I stood on that scale, ugh another sinking ship. Why!?! Why won’t the number move? Yes, that was me. The Titanic, a ship full steam ahead into the fog, destined to crash and burn. I had no idea what I was headed for, but I was headed somewhere. 

Every time I hit the gym, and spent 2 hours at back to back fitness classes I was hitting the tip of the iceberg. Scraping the surface of the mountain that I was going to have to move, little did I know it was what was below the surface that would be the most important. 

After months of effort and very little to show for it when I stood on the scale I decided to seek out professional help. I hired a trainer. Wow, did my head spin. I never realized what learning to move correctly would feel like. Ugh, muscles I never knew existed were suddenly aching. This wasn’t group fitness, no more dance class, no more back row. It was all eyes on me, try and try again until it is right. This was retraining every movement, making my body efficient. This was working! I didn’t need to spend 12 hours in the gym, I just needed to learn how my body was meant to move. The scale numbers started moving. I was finally on my way!! 

Fast forward 6 months later, I had lost 20 pounds, but hit a wall. Why did I suddenly feel like I was back on that boat? It wasn’t a foggy day outside, yet I was still crashing directly into that same iceberg. I learned how to move, the fitness was working, what happened? This is when I learned I had only conquered the tip of the iceberg, but what was under the surface was going to be the true obstacle. If I really wanted to stop my ship from sinking time after time I was going to have to dig deeper. This is when I hired a nutrition coach. Yes, he was a personal trainer too, but he was different. He taught me how to eat, what to eat, and when to eat it, and was willing to hold me accountable.

This was hard. I didn’t know how to cook. Everything I prepared was out of the pantry. Boxed, or bagged with instructions on the back. How could I part with instructions? I wouldn’t even know where to begin. I had grown up in a single parent home with a simple protein, and Knorr pasta sides for dinner, occasional veggies, potatoes, pasta, and more pasta. Totally normal, we ate meals as a family...like a real one around a dinner table wholesome and cozy. Little did I know the comfort of my pantry meals was going to have to change. Whole foods, proteins, carbs with fiber, and fats he would say. My shopping had to change, only shop the perimeter he would say. My cooking had to change, no directions now, these foods didn’t come with labels. It was recipe research, it was trial and error, it was burnt food, and a lot of asking questions. This was an effort, but it was fresh, new and fun. I felt accomplished, and I stepped on the scale and guess what, it was moving again. I was renewed. It may as well have been day 1, my full steam ahead attitude was fresh. I was happy, determined, vibrant and ready to move this mountain. 2 months later I was down. What!! Did I read that right? I think I stepped on and off the scale at least 10 times that day. 25 pounds was more than my initial goal. Yes!! Keep going. Workouts were hard, learning to cook was hard, carrying around that 25lbs for years was hard, but the feeling I felt that morning after getting on the scale time after time was worth it. 

Every success was worth the effort. Just keep going. I wanted change, I wanted greatness. 

I had already accomplished my initial goal, but I wasn’t about to stop. Back in the goal-setting seat. Lets try this again. It was that moment I realized I had been selling myself short. 2 months of my life to lose 25, that was nothing. I wanted to prove it to myself just what I was capable of, so I was going to double down. It wasn’t like I was risking all or nothing. Simply having faith I could double my money! What was there to lose, just weight. 

What I have learned thus far in my journey is that if you want more,  something has to change. But what? Fitness was on track, nutrition was on track, what could be holding me back. Boom, lightbulb turned on. It was my moment of clarity. I had been the one selling myself short. Setting small goals, not believing in my potential. This is when I decided to take 1 critical word out of my vocabulary “CAN’T.” This is when I changed. It was like the heavens opened. If I believed I could do 1 more rep, I did. If I believed I could cook, I did. The empowerment that “ I CAN” brings is unimaginable, and trust me If you think you can, you will. There is truth in the phrase: “what the mind believes, the body achieves,” and I am living breathing proof that mindset trumps all. When you believe in yourself, doors will open that you have never imagined. So I dare you, think you CAN, and see what can happen if you just believe. 

Just remember, when you are setting goals, dig deep, because you may find your initial perspective only scratched the surface. 

Life’s a journey, make it fun!

-Coach Jess