When I read Diane’s story in the June blog, Living in A Sea of Beliefs, I got totally inspired to share my story as well. Hi, it’s me, Laurie Gerber, President of the Private Coaching Division. Those of you who know me now or for the past 4 years since I had my second child know me as a petite size 4 who is almost entirely consistent at staying between 116.5 and 118.5lbs on my scale. You also know I love to eat, still eat plenty of carbs and grains and have a meal of anything I want once a week and two deserts of any kind each week as well. I am rarely hungry, I enjoy social occasions, and I feel free to choose. Unlike in the past, I now enjoy shopping for clothes. I gave up sugar when I was first losing weight—I knew it was bad for me, I knew I was addicted, I did not like that it has control over me, rather than me over it. And, as a life coach who pledges to “walk her talk,” I knew I had to prove I could be the master of these areas of my life—food and body. Because I am so used to maintaining my body through healthy eating and regular cardio and weights routines, I forget how it used to be. I was leading an event in May and explained that I used to be a size 14. Later people said they didn’t believe I was that big so I fished out these old pictures. Even I was shocked. Change happens. I didn’t just change my body though, I changed my mind too.

In fact, I changed my mind first.
Here were some of my personal philosophies that I changed:

Old: Nobody can tell me what I should and shouldn’t eat, limiting yourself is too authoritarian.
New: I am proud to choose consciously EVERYTHING that I put into my body.

Old: If food is free, you have to eat it.
New: You never “have to” eat anything.

Old: I can’t have fun in social situations without eating yummy food.
New: When you look for great, clean food and ask for it, you can always find it
I can find pleasure and deeply good feelings by connecting with people!

Old: What will my mother think, will she support me? What If nobody supports me?
New: If I am strong and steadfast in my commitment, others will support me. The stronger I am the more I will inspire others and they will want to join me. If I want to use others as an excuse to forsake my dream, they will be willing pawns I am sure, but that is MY choice.

Old: Exercise is too hard; if I push it I’ll get hurt.
New: This is what I was taught to believe but it is not true. The more you push yourself the stronger you get and the less likely to get hurt. Nothing feels better than to give 100%.

Old: Plain fruits and vegetable are boring.
New: What the universe has created through nature is beautiful, precious, divine and amazing. Have you looked at a kiwi or really tasted a good tomato or strawberry in its pure form. Healthy food is delicious, especially when I stop to actually taste it!

These are just a few, I could go on. Now, I want you to think about your own lives and call to mind a time when you changed, truly changed your mind and hence your behaviors, for the better. Please make note that it is possible with a little courage and a little support. Here are some suggestions if you are ready to go after your dream body like Diane and I did:

1) Write up what the dream body looks and feels like. Post the statement on your
fridge and read it twice a day or whenever you open the fridge.

2) Take Intensati. Or buy a DVD. Patricia Moreno of SatiLife not only gives a fabulous workout but she makes you question your beliefs through the entire workout—a double benefit at least!

3) Hop on a FREE Group Coaching call with HandelGroup master coach, Johanna Sawalha, and in the practice exercise use the area of body or any area you are ready to overhaul from the inside out.

4) Join a Group Coaching call and get yourself help to account for your dreams.

5) Have a $75 trial session with one of our coaches!