Triumph Tuesday: Elizabeth Greer
It is Triumph Tuesday!!! Every month I hope to "spotlight" someone who is working hard to become their healthiest selves. If you or someone you know would like to share their story, please have them email me at sproutingtheseed@gmail.com. To get the ball rolling I decided to ask somone I know, so who better to start with than an old HS friend! Elizabeth is currently a beachbody coach who encourages others to become their best selves. Be sure to check out her Facebook Page.
Here's her story.
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It was March 2nd 2015.
That's the day I had my last soda, and the day that I REALLY began on my weight loss journey. Why did I put REALLY in caps? Well, because if you are like me, how many times have you stopped and started getting right with fitness and nutrtion.
I began starting and stopping in 2010 after I got divorced. During my first marriage, and my first child, I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I did not exercise or have any desire too. I wasn't happy with my body, but learned how to deal with the cards I was dealt. I joined a gym after having to close a chapter in my life. I even enjoyed going to crossfit in late 2012. I was getting in alright shape. Then boom. Pregnant. I tried to keep going to crossfit but I had a placental tear and I didn't want to put myself or the baby in jeopardy. I had a gym membership but it was hard to go, I had no energy. I'm suprised I was still alive after all the McDonald's cheeseburgers I consumed in that time of pregnancy. It was A Lot.
I only gained about 10 pounds during this pregnancy, and that shocks even me. (This is where the bad part comes in) I kept eating all that junk ie. {Candy, cookies, Mcdonalds, icecream. } when I wasn't pregnant anymore. So I packed on the pounds. He was born in July of 2013 and I didn't go to the gym again until the fall of 2014. I just felt he was too little and I didn't want him getting sick. Well after 1 time of going to the gym, the next day he had rsv and influenza b. Talk about scaring a momma. So, needless to say I didn't go back and workout at that gym anymore.
At this point I still really wanted to go to the gym but I didn't want to risk it. I started watching infomercials for Focus T25. I thought to myself "hey I could do that. It has a modifier and it's only 25 min a day." I however never ordered it. I went to work sometime in February and was talking to a co-worker that I knew was into beachbody programs; I asked her if T25 was worth it. She said yes, but then took it a step farther and asked me if I wanted to borrow her copy. Heck yes!
This brings us back to March 2, 2015.
That's the first time I pushed play on a beachbody program. Oh my! It was difficult for my then 265 pound body. I had to modify most moves but I completed the 60 day program by myself and was very proud. I lost 13 pounds and 24 inches. I wasnt eating right during this program as I had no idea how important nutrtion was.
The next thing to do was to decide what program was next. That ended up being Insanity Max 30. The first time I pushed play on this work out I was thinking "why did I do this? I'm gunna die," even though I was following the modifier. After the first 30 days I was able to join a challenge group for the last 30 days. Thanks to the accountability of the challenge group, and Insanity max 30, I lost 10 pounds and 3 inches. I gained inches in some places with this program but I'm going to say that was muscle.
Challenge groups?
What are those, you may be asking yourself. It's a secret closed facebook group with like-minded people who are also trying to reach their health and fitness goals. They are put on every month by beachbody coaches trying to help people reach their goals. Groups are full of support, positivity and accountability. After the first 30 days I got invited to be in another challenge group. So of course I said yes. I understand how it could be easy to ignore facebook posts in a group but I made a commitment to myself that this is what I was doing to get myself in better shape.
I picked a new program for the next thirty days. I picked 21 day fix extreme.This program is anyone proof. It tells you how much to be eating in different size color containers and it's all nutritional food that is not just a diet but a lifestyle change. And there are 7 different work outs for everyday of the week. In just 21 days I lost 7 pounds and 7 inches. I was impressed. This was around july. So it took me 4 or 5 months to completely realize how important nutrition is when you are trying to lose weight. The 21 day fix program really put into perspective just how important fueling your body with proper nutrients is.
It's CRAZY to think you could exercise your way out of bad nutrition. I can tell you first hand it's not possible and it won't happen. You must give your body the proper nutrients it needs to build and repair your muscles properly.
I haven't had a program that I wanted to stick to in a while. So my eating has been a little off key and I work out here and there.I love that all these programs come with calendars to follow. It really helps me stick to the programs. I know what I have to do and that takes the guess work out. All the programs also come with an eating plan. It's fail safe.
I can't remember if it was before I started 21 day fix extreme or after that I decided to become a beachbody coach, but I knew I wanted to help people achieve the same things I was achieving. So I signed up and became a beachbody coach. I can do it from home or wherever I'm at on my phone. I want people to believe in themselves, accomplishing their dreams and goals. My job as a beachbody coach is to encourage people of all fitness levels to reach for the stars. To find programs that will work for them and to give motivation and encouragement along their journey.
Basically to be there for them when the road gets rocky, because it always does, or to help them celebrate when they reach a goal. It's always nice to have someone to talk to who has been where you are or is where your at.
Now here I am, going on my 8th month of my journey. I have finished five programs and have just started another. It's nice to be able to switch things up and most of the nutrtion is the same with the different programs offered.
There were/are points I get to in my journey that things get hard. Or I can find it easy to make an excuse not to exercise . Even easier to eat 5 donuts because I already had 1 and fell off track. I am only human. I need grace. Lol. I do however enjoy helping people stay motivated and know that the end result they are reaching for it attainable. I have some great people on my beachbody team and some days it's their Facebook posts that keep me going, or get me up to workout or eat right.
This isn't the end of my story, as I am merely in the middle of the weight loss journey chapter. It has been easy; it's been hard. I've had struggles and success. I've been discouraged; I've been blessed. I'm not perfect, but I do my best. That's all anyone can do. Give it all you've got each and everytime you do something. Take pride in accomplishing the things you can accomplish, even if the task is 20 burpees and you can only do 2. You still did something to be proud of yourself for.
Each day is going to be different.
Each day will hold new trials and tribulations.
Just remember you want to be healthy. The weight on the scale doesn't define who you are as a human being, it's only a number; and you are more than that number.
