Written by: Georgette LePage, Senior Level Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
As I finally see light at the end of the tunnel from many months of life coming at me hard, I recently paused to think about the story that I am telling about myself as I rebound from some challenges and hone in on my tried and true weight loss lifestyle strategies and action steps. If you have ever felt like life has handed you more challenges and obstacles than you deserved at once, join the club. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. I think I’ve made it in barrels, not pitchers this year! I’ve come to peace with the fact that life is unfair and is definitely 50/50 good and bad. Honestly, it is easy to think that the dose of difficult times outweighs the more joyful times when you’re in the thick of doing life and making your way in this world.
That’s an easy story to tell ourselves, so much so that it is easy to believe. It can be overwhelming, discouraging, defeating, and derailing, especially when it comes to weight loss. When life gets heavy and weighs you down, it is tempting to talk yourself out of focusing on your weight loss journey.
The story you tell yourself can become a way to avoid doing the work which in turn affects getting results. Here are some tips to tell your story in a way that supports your healthy habits and lifestyle:
When you say, “I’m not worth it.”, flip that sentence to say, “I’m worth the work.” Repeating these words daily can change your thoughts to believe that you are deserving of taking care of your health. Put your health first so that you can offer the best version of yourself to others. Expect to make an effort and to put in the work to make changes that last.
When you say, “I’ve tried everything to lose weight but nothing ever works.”, flip that sentence to say, “I’ve tried many ways to lose weight (x, y, z for example), and haven’t yet found the method that best works for me or my body.” Take time to list what has worked with you in the past and search for sources that offer programs/coaching/methods that fit how you find success. For example, if you’ve found success with journaling what you eat, follow an expert that includes food tracking as a strategy. If you enjoy a particular form of exercise, do what you love to do.
When you say, “Weight loss is hard.”, flip that sentence to say, “I have to put forth effort to lose weight.” This creates a storyline that weight loss is not impossible, which is a fact, and it empowers you to be motivated and eager to put forth the energy necessary for making changes in your weight. It puts you in the driver’s seat and in control of your own health.
When you say, “It’s easier for other people.”, flip that sentence to say, “I have to work at weight loss.” Drop the habit of comparing yourself to others so that you can stay in your lane and focus on yourself. Honestly, while it may look easy for other people to lose weight, that is not necessarily the case. We never know anyone’s full story from our vantage point, so we probably don’t fully know the work and effort others put into their results. It is unlikely that it is magically easy for anyone to drop pounds with little to no effort. Turn your envy into curiosity and learn from the facts, not assumptions.
When you say, “I don’t have time.”, flip that sentence to say, “We all have 24 hours in a day and how I choose to spend mine is up to me.” This mindset will set you up for success right away. It allows you to feel hopeful and positive about how much time you have to devote to your health. Chop up the hours in a day and schedule in food prep, exercise, and any other steps to get your health plan in order.
When you say, “I can’t do it.”, flip that sentence to say, “I can do this.” This is huge and does not pertain to only weight loss. It applies to every aspect of your life! Swapping “I can’t” for “I can” builds your confidence and pushes you into the direction of believing in yourself! In fact, you can do anything that you put your mind to, so find your why and keep reminding yourself of it daily. You will be able to flip the script and see results faster. This helps you to get out of your own way!
When you say, “I don’t know where to start.”, flip that sentence to say, “There are so many options. Let me do my homework and find the one that works best for my body and mind.” Another big mindset shift achieved! For sure, start with one thing: one habit to change, such as eating whole foods or cutting out sugar.
Resist the urge to do it all at once, since the less is more approach is so effective for our brains. Keep it simple and start with one small change! Just start now!
When you say, “I can’t ever stick to anything.”, flip that sentence to say, “I have found it challenging to keep doing certain weight loss programs, and now I’m open to finding one that suits my needs so that I can stick with it.” Tell the story of you being open to doing the work long term this time instead of sounding defeated. You have the power to change and grow and to leave your past mistakes behind you. Looking forward to progress serves you much better than staying stuck in the past.
Over the last handful of months in particular, the lessons of how to show up for myself and my health have become so clear because I have chosen to more intentionally bounce back from setbacks. It has strengthened my desire to remain healthy and to help others to do the same. I’ve chosen to use the struggles as fuel to recharge, reset, and regroup toward my goals. My challenge is for you to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, set a specific goal and plan, and start with one small step today!
How empowering it is to tell your own story about your journey through life with the ups and downs and everything in between! Chances are that you will have so much to say and you can decide what you say and how you say it! Talk about holding the power for your own life! I challenge you to tell your story with a positive voice. You will be amazed at who you are and how you live your life!
What story are you telling? What story do you want to live right now? What do you want your health journey to look like right now? A very good question to think about!
Georgette LePage, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Georgette LePage is a certified Health and Life Coach who empowers women all around the world to lose their mental weight first in order to then lose their physical weight. Her approach is honest, real, clear, and genuine with transformational habit change and mindset reset methods. Georgette's energy and enthusiasm are contagious. Her focus on a healthy lifestyle inspires her clients to leave behind old diet culture thoughts and patterns in order to embrace fresh and simple ways to live their best lives without diet drama. Empowerment, self-confidence, and self-care are cornerstones of the programs that she offers. She helps her clients to get the results that they want with realistic, real-life strategies. She lives her own life the way she coaches others. She listens to what her clients want and guides them with compassion and accountability as they achieve their goals. She works with people of all ages (teens to seniors and every age in between) who are ready to live a healthier, more joyful life. Georgette also hosts the talk radio show WHY WEIGHT? with Dr. Pat Baccili on Transformational Talk Radio. In addition to speaking English, she also is fluent in French and Spanish. Georgette has 32 years of experience as a World Language Teacher, as well. Her coaching motto is: Feel better. Look better. Be your best self!
