How do you feel about your health and body?

[Scott Tousignant]

Alright ladies, let's kick things off with some brutal honesty. There's no better way to go.

I would like to know exactly how you feel about your health and your body. Dish it all out here.

I find that a lot of woman are putting up a front. At first they tell me that they are content with the shape that they are in and that it's unrealistic to achieve 6 pack abs and a lean sexy body. Especially if they are in their 40's and 50's

20 extra pounds is ok isn't it? After all that's pretty much the norm now? So why change? Why go for better?

And then in the next sentence they see a picture on a magazine of a very fit woman and tell me that they wish they had that body. And then they go on to tell me how uncomfortable they feel in their cloths, how they cover themselves up in towels and wraps when they are around the pool and are afraid to reveal any skin, how they don't want to have the lights on during sex, and on and on.

It's ok to have these feelings and it's ok to want to be leaner and healthier. You don't have to resist it.

Don't hold your emotions inside when you think of how you feel in your body. If your friends and family really understood how you feel, they would be more likely to help you and support you to achieve the level of health that you wish for.

I'm not a woman but I can relate to how you feel. When I put on 35 pounds during a bout of depression and stress I felt lousy. I was embarrassed. I didn't want anyone to see me without my shirt on. I avoided the pool and the beach.

My pants were extremely tight as I refused to buy a larger size. I hated looking at myself in the mirror. I didn't feel comfortable in the bedroom (if you know what I mean).

I was always short of breath and it was uncomfortable bending over and tying my shoes or skates.

I felt that people were always looking at my stomach (this was all in my head). I was very self conscious.

Life certainly was a far cry from where I am now. And to think that most people thought that I was health during that time period. They thought that I was the 'normal' weight of what someone should be.

Let me tell you... life changes when you are living in optimal health. You will hear me repeatedly asking you to demand more from yourself and aim for bigger goals. Why? Because I know exactly how your life will change. Settling for less is robbing you of the life that you deserve.

With that being said, in addition to sharing how you feel about your body now I would like to know what you are striving for and how you think your life will change once you get there.

I look forward to learning more about you and how I can become a part of this awesome journey that you are embarking on.

[Suzette]

I guess I will go first! I must say that my self image has gone through some major changes in the past 18 or so months. I was thin and athletic in high school days, then went through the "freshmen 15" in college. But it didn't end there, unfortunately. That was the start of the poor body image. going forward about 12 years I had gained well over 75 lbs after having four "large" babies. I tried losing weight after each kid but found I just couldn't stick to if for whatever reason/excuse. After having my last child I couldn't stand it anymore, literally. I am on my feet at work all day and couldn't barely stand for more than an hour and had to sit down as my feet hurt so badly. the self image was this...I HATED my body and what I had let it become! I love that I have lost so much weight but hate what I have left scarred on my body. While I love how I look with my clothes on as I do look so much thinner, but I still hate how the skin looks now. All stretched out and scarred from stretch marks. It will take alot to get me into a bathing suit that will show any skin. Actually I haven't worn a bathing suit in public probably more than 15 years.
well, i've written a book here, so will let someone else share their thoughts.

[Angie Tousignant]

Hi Suzette! First off, I want to say 'Congratulations' on shedding quite a number of pounds! The before and after pictures are VERY impressive! You have and will continue to inspire many other women around the world. That is such an accomplishment. Well, it's all about the journey and unfortunately we cannot have it all at once like we would like! Yes, now you have the skin that is stretched out...however IT CAN be firmed up through resistance training.

I think that you have so much to be proud of .... and you will keep achieving bigger and better goals through your dedication and hard work! I think you should try to get that bathing suit on...it may just give you that extra confidence that you need !

Have a great day! Thanks for sharing. :)

[Suzette]

Thanks, Angie for your kind comments. The funny thing about my journey is that there were times where I thought I was comfortable with my weight even as I was losing and I would "stall". but then a challenge was put out there by Adam Waters on his blog and that pushed me to lose even more weight. So glad!
When I saw yours and Scott's idea of pro pics that got me to thinking that maybe I could do the same thing, but the loose skin was/is an issue for me. That loose skin issue affects my belief that i can have those tight looking abs. I know it will take time!!!

[Amanda]

I have always had self esteem issues. When I was in high school; when I was younger than that, I always hated my body, and thought I was fat, and was embarrassed to show any of it off. After I got married, I had kids pretty much immediately, and I of course gained weight, had the stretch marks, and have just sort of let it go because I was a mom now; had kids. Now, I look at those pictures from high school, and wonder what was wrong with me then! I still hate my body, but feel as if now I have good reason to, lol. Last year, I was at my peak at 201 lbs. This was more than I weighed when I was 9 months pregnant with either of my kids. I decided to do something about it, so I lost 30 lbs. Then I stalled out, and that's pretty much where I am now. I have been able to maintain that 30 lb loss over the last 6 months, but I want more! I want to lose another 20-25 lbs. I want to not have the flabby tire that hangs over the waist of my pants; which, by the way, I refuse to buy myself new clothes, because "I'm going to lose weight", so I would hate to buy clothes that fit me now, when they aren't going to fit me in a few! Silly, I know, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I hear women complain about "problem areas", arms, belly, butt, legs; I don't have a problem area I complain about; I feel as if my whole body is my problem area. I guess that's a good thing; I'm proportionately fat. But, yeah, I want to be a hot momma, and I want to be lean, and have the energy to get through my work day, and enjoy my workout, and feel like going to the park with the kids, and working in the yard. I want to feel good about myself, to be able to leave the light on in the bedroom, and not feel ashamed or embarrassed to be naked in front of my husband. I want to not be self conscious about my body when I go to the swimming pool, feeling like everyone is looking and comparing and commenting. It feels like it should be easy; I really want it, so I should be able to get it, right? It may be simple, but its definitely not easy. And for some reason, life seems to get in the way. Great excuse, right? Too busy for dinner, so we eat out? To busy with kids extracurriculars, so I skip a workout? Too busy with stuff around the house, and errands, and work, etc, etc, etc, so I just don't do it. Well, I can't be that way anymore. I want to be a strong person, not only to look good now, which would be nice, but I want to be that 60 year old woman who is stronger than most 40 year olds because she spent her whole life taking care of her body, moving it, keeping it supple, and flexible, and strong. You know who I'm talking about; you can tell a difference between the woman who has worked out all her life, standing next to the woman that hasn't.

I'm still working on making it work for me, but I want it to happen.

[Eszter]

That is a very good result!!! You are more than halfway through!! Keep up the good work!

[Juanita]

I want to lose 60 lbs. I feel horrible, ugly, hideous, tired, depressed (not clinically), low energy, low motivation, unhealthy even though no health issues other than FAT.

I was in a frame fortifying class for a few weeks and was told I was strong and moved well and should take advantage of that. I didn't ask exactly how to take advantage of it, but it sounded good. I could tell the exercises were working and I still stopped going to the classes. I see Angies videos are the very same exercises we were doing. I noticed my stomach beginning to firm up and lost one pound over the course of the few weeks I participated.

If I were to lose the weight and also be fit, I could look great even for my age. It would increase my credibility based on first impression and give me the energy that "attracts" whatever I want in my life.

But I DON'T DO ANYTHING. I just sit here.


Meanwhile my husband cycles 40 miles per day and my daughter runs marathons, qualified for the Boston marathon. I'm missing out on my last great years.

[Eszter]

Hi Scott, this is a very good topic. Im glad you raised this question. My husband likes me the way I am, (he is trying too sabotage me though...) So I am not as concerned with my shape as I used to be when I was living on my own (overweight, but not as much as now). Ok MY story goes back to high school, when I was athletic and thin, if not muscular. Right after going to university I had a heart disease (I'm OK now) and I wasn't allowed to (and I couldn’t do) any sports for a long time. Of course pounds began to come on... I felt aweful.in the end. I felt that I was so ugly that noone will look at me... well I guess these negative thoughts had a negative effect, because at that time I had notboyfriend or any kind of love affair... Until I had enough in 2004 and I lost some 10kgs/26pounds within 3-4 months with a Hungarian nutrition program, which I am using again to lose weight.. I was still 22 pounds away my high school weight, however I felt all right. (I must have I reached a plateau then, because I couldn’t lose any more weight however much I tried and I didn’t know anything about plateaus anyway). During this period I learned how to flirt again, I was more successful at work, I was fitter looked better, I was very refreshed and I found my husband.

As soon as I moved in with him problems started. I didn’t have any naughty food in my flat, but he bought much of this stuff. We both love Hungarian cuisine which is less than healthy. I also increased my portion sizes. I gained about 6-8 pounds, and then when I became pregnant. I was permanently hungry, and I could not stick to any diet. After the delivery I weighted 20 pounds more than right before becoming pregnant. An additional 6 pounds came on during breast feeding which came off right after I stopped breast feeding.
I have been struggling with the remaining 33pounds. I am feeling miserable. When I look into the mirror I still look pregnant!!!My thighs are full of cellulitis. Those holes are disgusting. I have a very big butt, and enormous lovehandles. I would like to wear a bikini during the summer, without feeling ashamed, I want to run far without getting tired. I want my husband to appreciate my new shape. I would like to see other people ( the ones I know) looking at me. I am at a steady 76 kgs/167.5 pounds, which simply refuse to disappear. All right I have no willpower and I have not heard anything about goal setting until very recently. The good thing is that I already feel better not that I have set my goals and began exercising.. Even though I am far from having 6 packs I still feel like it. I already feel a lot fitter. I can accomplish things a lot faster . Exercise does a lot of good for me . In this way fatness is bearable. Perhaps beacuse I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

[chriss_polson]

I was once 220 lbs. now I am 158, it takes the mind alot longer to realize the weight isn't there as much as it used to be. I hate hearing "well you look ok for having 3 kids", as though having 3 children is a license to be fat or something. I want to feel healthy,sexy, desirable. Damn I want to be envied!!!

[Kendra]

Isn't the reason women start exercise because they are unhappy? I know I am, I go clubbing and see women half my weight and I want to kill myself hahahaha..

[Kaari]

I went from a size 18 at my maximum size and refused to get to a 20. I was slowly losing on my own and reading the websites and newsletters from whoever would send them, and I did a popular program that didn't help a whole lot but got me started and motivated so it helped as that kick in the butt to get started. When my husband bought me a scale I weighed 164 at a size 12, and it shocked me because I didn't know it was so high...after losing from a size 18 I'm sure glad I didn't know what I weighed initially.
Now since March I've been doing mostly the nutrition emphasis with Holly Rigsby and have gotten down to a size 8/10. With the eating and nutrition really honed in, I'm starting to really kick the T.Training with Holly's program into gear and focus on my goal of abs, muscles and lower body fat. Nutrition alone won't do it, I need to follow the exercise schedule more rigidly.
I'm happy with my body, love dressing in small sizes, love my hair and skin. Even while on this program the results along the way are really wonderful. Like the other ladies, I've had to nip sabotage in the bud, but my family like it or not is on this program with me. Exercise for the kids and I, but for my husband I am lovingly following a better nutrition plan than before and he is losing body fat too with no sweat off his brow, just from the food choices and serving sizes. He is enjoying my continuing success and I feel more beautiful than I've been in many years (since Kid #1 was a toddler). I would say, if your husband isn't on board with your program let him appreciate the fruits of your labors and he'll get on board unless there are other issues involved.
Originally part of my motivation was for my friends to say how good I look and compliment me, but this hasn't happened. Friends have admired my hair but nobody has said anything about the weight loss. Blog friends have suggested that women don't freely compliment weight loss because you will insinuate that you looked dreadful before or something, so women won't necessarily compliment weight loss. Who knows? My female friends notice a new purse, a pedicure, a new ring, how could they not notice a total body overhaul? I know there is a visible change though because strange men look twice and they didn't do that a year ago.