GoHuman Blog

The 8 Week Wellness program I’ve been participating is officially over…..or is it? Actually, it’s not over, but rather an evolving process to a new way of living.

My weight loss goal was 25lbs. My total loss was 10lbs. To many people, this may seem hardly like an accomplishment. For me, it’s nothing short of a victory or pure success! The mindset I adapted going into the program and the commitment I had to trying something different was key. My intent was never to focus on the outcome goal, but rather to focus my energies on the activities, changes and new habits I could incorporate into my daily routine that would lead me towards getting a “different result-” that would get me closer to the overall objective. What’s more, I’m still losing weight and in fact, have lost another 2lbs. this week.

The initial problem isn’t getting people to set goals, it’s getting them to set the right kind of goals; ones that provide direction and enhance motivation. As many of us learn from past New Year’s resolutions, it’s much easier to set a goal than to actually follow through with it. Very seldom are weight loss goals set realistically in terms of commitment, difficulty, evaluation of progress to achieve the goals. We need instruction on setting effective goals and creating a program that allows us to works towards them.

Effectively, my initial goal entering into this program was 25lbs. which would be considered the “outcome goal” I wanted to achieve. More important was determining how I was going to get there. What new activities could I implement each day, aka- “process goals,” that would allow me to work towards the end result, aka- “outcome goal.” Setting process goals serve as a roadmap to meet the outcome goal. Process goals tell you what you need to do or skills you need to develop along the way to achieve the outcome goal.

Focusing On The Process

When setting goals, many people only set outcome goals and then are easily discouraged a week into the process, when they don’t begin seeing immediate results occur. Eventually, they become so fixated on the outcome goal and how distant and unrealistic it seems, they give up, shortly after having just started. But the most critical part to the entire process is to first establish process goals. Process goals relate to how you prepare for your performance. For example, with an outcome goal of running a 10k under 40 minutes, a process goal could be in practice to achieve a negative split. Process goals are important because they help you stay focused on the process of your performance. In addition, process goals are more within your control than outcome goals. With a process goal, you can focus on incorporating correct techniques and new habits into your daily routine, similar to focusing on a fluid back swinging golf, rather than hitting par. By setting appropriate process goals, you put yourself in alignment and on the path to achieving your desired outcome goal.

The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don’t define them, learn about them or even seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them ~Denis Waitley

Habits aren’t broken. They’re replaced.  My whole purpose for participating in an 8 Week Wellness Program wasn’t to just break the habit of eating unhealthy foods; I wanted to create a new system that I liked better and would give me the results I wanted. Otherwise what have I replaced?

Always look for something better to replace your habit with. Subconsciously your habit is a survival mechanism.  At some level you think the habit is serving you. In order to let go of the subconscious clinging to the habit, you want to show your subconscious mind that the new system you’ve introduced into your life is even better! Then you can let go.

That’s the law of creation.  Create a replacement for the habit you don’t like.  Don’t react to the habit by fighting it off.  The law of creation is a law that can kick in at any stage when you’re ready to shift your mind. From breaking to replacing.

A mind shift is a shift in your thinking and allowing new ideas to be entertained. Most of us are limited by our current status or resources and therefore, we tend to limit our thoughts, in terms of our results, as well as the beliefs we have about ourselves. When we allow ourselves to shift into a new paradigm, we begin seeing and creating new things in our lives.

“When you know what you want, and want it bad enough, you will find a way to get it.”

~Jim Rohn

Allow the power of MIND SHIFT move you to the next level of your life!

Most people wonder what the easiest way is to do just about everything we do in life. We agonize on how to best start something new because we don’t want to fail. Diets are no exception.

To a beginner, it may seem as though the Paleo diet severely restricts your food choice, which it does. What’s more, when you think of it as restricting the processed and nutrient deprived foods that are around us every day, it comes down to the approach and choices we make.

While on my own wellness journey, through the Paleo diet, I’ve learned a couple key points that have been instrumental in the success I’ve experienced, thus far. The first is to pre-plan and know ahead of time, what you’re going to eat, “before” getting hungry. Once the hunger sets in, we seem to lose all sense of rationalization and want to eat the first thing that crosses our path. The second point I’ve adopted into my new eating routine is to always over-prepare. Make plenty of food so there are leftovers for the next couple of days. This makes absolute sense and a whole lot less work in the kitchen, especially during the week.

If you’re considering a new diet to attempt and not one to just lose a few quick pounds, I highly encourage you to do the Paleo diet. What’s unique about this diet is although the weight loss IS a gradual, work in progress, so is the transition and adjustment from bad eating habits to adopting good and healthy ones into our lives. Furthermore, as with most things we do in life, the objective is to seek and achieve long-term results that will allow us to live a longer, happier and healthier life and not a short term, quick fix that most often backfires, leaving us unhealthier and less fit than before we started the diet.

I wanted to share with you a few of the recognizable changes I’ve experienced since having started the Paleo diet:

• Effortless weight loss
• Better digestion
• More stamina
• General well-being
• Way more energy
• Less needed sleep (although you should sleep all you can)
• Less or no more allergic reactions to environmental triggers (yayJ!)
• More physical endurance
• Less or no cravings for sugary foods (big “yay,” again!)

Check it out for yourself: http://drchadedwards.com/176/exactly-what-is-the-paleo-diet/

”Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

~Maria Robinson

Four weeks down, and a lifetime to go! I just need to put it out there how great I’m feeling since having changed my eating habits. Once I entered adulthood, I never paid much attention to nutritional value. Make no mistake, when I was growing up, we were allowed McDonald’s once a week and that was pretty much it. Otherwise, my mom cooked homemade meals every night of the week. With that being said, I didn’t like vegetables then and I have yet to acquire much of a taste for them, now.

The greatest transition I’ve gone through over these past four weeks is the change in my physical well being. I wake up in the morning with more energy. I no longer feel lethargic during the day. And after eating a meal, I don’t feel like immediately going to take a nap. I’ve also noticed my mind is clearer, which allows me to focus better throughout the days. What’s more, this is usually peak season for my allergies to get completely out of control and (knock on wood) I’ve yet to experience some of the  usual symptoms that typically occur for me, this time of year.

The best part about this wellness program is the gradual process of changing old, bad eating habits and replacing them with new, good ones. This is equally true for the weight loss I’m experiencing. At this stage of the game, many people might be discouraged about how slow it’s taking for the weight to drop. However, just the other day, I suddenly realized I was using the fourth notch of my belt-loop, as opposed to the usual second.

During each weekly consultation with the dr., she gives me a new recipe to try out, which usually contains a few added ingredients that are more in alignment with the kinds of foods I enjoy.

What’s next? Dr. Angela is prepping me for “life after the wellness program.” Part of last week’s assignment was to provide her with a list of all the foods I’ve enjoyed in the past, i.e. tacos, fries, burgers, pizza, chocolate, etc. With that in mind, she’s going to show me how I can still have the best of both worlds, while still maintaining a healthy diet. What more could a person ask for? There actually is a way to have your cake and eat it too, without all the guilt ridden feelings that usually come afterwards. Literally!

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.

~John Quincy Adams

In week 3 of my 8 Week Wellness Journey, the biggest difference in how my body is responding to eating healthier and more frequently is my loss of appetite. That, frequent bouts of lightheadedness and some difficulty sleeping. But my energy level has definitely improved, big time! No sluggishness when waking up or after eating. No feeling of exhaustion.

I described these symptoms to my Dr. last week, who wasn’t surprised.  She explained that most likely my body was going through a detoxification process. When poisoning substances are drawn out of the body, detoxification symptoms accompany with the flush of toxins. It’s a healthy part of the process, but it is important to learn how to manage them.

I read about how to handle the detox process and one management technique is to consume healthy whole foods with a high fat content, i.e. nuts, avocados, seeds, etc. It’s also important to get a good night’s sleep, since the body is working harder than usual to cleanse itself and therefore, more rest is required. Daily water consumption of 2 liters is also recommended, to give the body a vehicle for flushing out the toxins.

You may wonder if this is really all worth it; and for some people, perhaps not. For me, it was absolutely necessary! A body needs fuel to run properly and more importantly, the right kind of fuel, just as a car requires the correct type of octane fuel. Good nutritional habits and a balanced diet aren’t developed in one day, nor destroyed by one unbalanced meal. Healthy eating means a lifestyle of making choices, decisions, planning and knowing how to make quick and smart choices when you haven’t planned.

My motivation comes from thinking about the person I am becoming, as toxic obstructions are removed from within. When health and energy are flowing around our system, we’re able to become the best person we can be. New ideas, plans and talents that were previously unknown, will reveal themselves, as the journey continues.

FYI- I asked to NOT be weighed this past week for no other reason than I didn’t want to be encouraged or discouraged if I had lost more/less than what I anticipated. My focus is on the actions I take today, that will lead me to the results I want.

As I blog about the start of week 2 of 8 eight of my wellness journey, I finish the last slice of a bowl of oranges.  I can’t recall a single breakfast of “cut up oranges”, but I am actually full after eating them! Who would have thought something so great tasting and good for you would also satisfy those morning hunger pains?

Let’s back up to last Friday’s first week progress visit.  Dr. Angela asked numerous questions and in particular wanted to know if I noticed any significant changes in energy level. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel much different, but my mindset was a completely different story. I let her know that every morning I’d wake up in a completely happy mood ! Why? Because for the first time in several years, the first thoughts to run through my head weren’t “Why did I eat all that junk food yesterday and then a snack at 10pm?” To not have those lingering, daunting feelings or thoughts be the first thing I think of when waking up, is quite empowering.

Next, was the weigh-in. Stepping onto the scale, I specifically told the Dr.  I’d intended on closing my eyes and didn’t want to know the results, because I wanted to give the diet one more week, to ensure I wouldn’t get discouraged, if I hadn’t lost anything yet.  As I stepped off and was putting my shoes back on, the Dr. had a huge smile on her face (my guess is she doesn’t play poker) and could barely contain herself. She asked if I wanted her to tell me the results and before I even had a chance to respond, she said, “You lost 5lbs.!” Maybe not a big deal to most people; however, for me, she might as well have told me I lost 30lbs. What that meant to me was that I had finally found a different system to follow that WAS giving me the results I had wanted for so very long, but had failed to accomplish in the past.

What’s on the agenda for week two? Changing up my fitness routine to consist of more high intense/low impact workouts and muscle building, to strengthen resistance and expanding my eating habits and cooking skills. For those of you who know or don’t know my cooking skills, this in and of itself, is a huge taking on for me. To put it mildly, the only appliance I’m familiar with in the kitchen, is the microwave. But I’m up for the challenge!

A George Patton quote sums it all up, “Accept the challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.”

The past few weeks I’ve been gearing up (myself and those interested in reading my posts) to begin a wellness program I recently enrolled in, through a local chiropractor. I know, who knew a chiropractic office offered wellness programs? I’ve chalked it up to a basic business philosophy that many entrepreneur’s/organizations tend to lose sight of which is that they clearly understand how important it is to the success of their business to continuously find ways to add value to those they serve.

Last week marked my first visit to the office, which was the initial consultation and program review. The Dr. was definitely on a fact-finding mission and asked a multitude of questions ranging from current fitness regimen and eating habits, to why I chose “now” to take action.

Some of you may be wondering what (if any) purpose does it serve others, for me to track such a journey, through weekly blogging. What’s more, how or does it even relate to coaching? The good news is that the two are very much in alignment with one another and “no,” I’m not self absorbedJ.

Coaching is about commitment, accountability, taking action for the results we want and doing whatever is necessary, in order to get those results. Coaching is a structured relationship designed to help the person being coached to move forward, to reach the goals that they have set, and to reach their potential.

Those who remain hesitant, may then be asking “Why would someone who’s built a career for themselves that’s designed to lead others to realizing the untapped potential they have within, seek their own assistance of an outside source to get more fit, become healthier by adapting new eating habits, to live a longer and healthier life?” My response is simple and nonetheless, truthful. I understand and know the value of having a support system who’s in my corner, rooting for me every step of the way. I know the value of having someone to help hold me accountable and offer a different perspective when it’s difficult to see the forest through the trees. I know the value of having someone on your side who isn’t there to criticize, but rather offer their encouragement to continue moving forward, after not having reached a weekly goal. I also know (all too well) that in order to change the things that aren’t working or are missing from my daily diet/fitness routine, means that “I” must make the commitment and “I” must take the action required, to affect the change “I” want.

When multiple award winning actress (and dubbed as America’s Sweetheart) Sandra Bullock landed the lead role in The Blind Side, in order to really get into her character as the headstrong football mom Leigh Ann Tuohy, one of the first moves Bullock made was to hire dialect coach, Francie Brown. Bullock hired Brown to help her refine her southern-style accent and incidentally, she won best actress for her role in the movie.

How about one of the best golfers of all time Tiger Woods who, regardless of the personal challenges he’s endured these past few years, also works with a coach. The coach may change from time to time but nonetheless, he always has one. Why does someone with his talent, his skills and his record have a coach? Because he takes constructive feedback from another golfer who he could undoubtedly beat with some regularity, if he were to compete against him. Just imagine what it’s like to not only be the very best in the world at what you do, but to be humble enough to admit than you can always get better and don’t know it all.

My commitment to all of you is to post weekly progress updates, as my journey continues.