We have a very special episode for you today with one of our member’s, Elaine Diesing. Elaine has had such an incredible journey in the past year, and in this episode she shares how she was considering surgery out of desperation to lose weight, and feeling like an embarrassment to her family to now being mindful and making healthful choices that has resulted in less knee pain and losing 11lbs (so far!).
Get the full show notes and more information here: https://thewlcc.com/92
We have a very special episode for you today with one of our member’s, Elaine Diesing. Elaine has had such an incredible journey in the past year, and in this episode she shares how she was considering surgery out of desperation to lose weight, and feeling like an embarrassment to her family to now being mindful and making healthful choices that has resulted in less knee pain and losing 11lbs (so far!).
Get the full show notes and more information here: https://thewlcc.com/92
Welcome back to the podcast. This week, we have such a special guest for you. I'm joined today by Elaine Diesing. Using and she is one of our members. Now Elaine has had such a remarkable journey since she started working with this program and we really wanted her to come on this show. To share with you a little bit about her story, because I think, you know, everything that she's been through is truly inspirational. Yes. She's had some fantastic transformations, which can be an inspiration in themselves, but Elaine also shares her real story. The ups and the downs. And some of the struggles that she has had along the way. Elaine came into our world back in March, 2022. And she was actually looking at weight loss surgery. At this time, she describes how she was in such a desperate situation. And she just wanted to feel better about herself. Part of her felt like she was embarrassing, her family and her husband for her being the way she was. And so she was just so desperate to feel differently about herself. So some of the things that Elaine has learnt along the way is to really tune back into her body and to understand when her body is giving A hungry synchronal as a physical hunger signal. And when she is wanting to emotionally overeat, She also describes how she now manages all of her urges to overeat when she's feeling emotional. So she's managing her emotional eating in a much better way. And this was a really big thing for Alaina. I remember when she came into our program, she used to describe her struggle with emotional eating, being such a huge thing. But now she looks at food in a very different way. She describes how she now sees no food as bad or wrong. And no food is good or, or better even food has just food. So she's able to eat pizza and have some salad at times. And then like all of us, she does have those times when she struggles, how she went to a wedding recently and went all out as she describes it. And how she went back off. Off the program a little bit, but then was able to get herself back on track. Much easier than she would normally do. And so she had much less guilt around everything that happened. So I hope that hearing Elaine story today can really inspire you, especially if you're in a place of considering weight loss surgery. Or some other option like that. I think one of the key messages that Elaine shares today is that there is hope even if you think surgery is only your option, there is hope. And so towards the end stay tuned because Elena's going to share with you her top three things that she finds works best for her. And by doing. Particularly these three things. She has been able to lose 11 pounds so far. She has had a reduction in her knee pain, which is something that's really important to her because she's also potentially facing knee replacement surgery. So, you know, if all goes well, hopefully she'll be able to avoid that. We'll wait and see about that. And the other thing is she's wearing clothes in a size that she hasn't worn in years so Elaine's story really is very very inspiring i hope you enjoy it
Keri:I think I've been with you guys since like March. Gosh, time flies. So yeah, you'll one of the originals. And it was funny because I was just looking for, you know, I, I reached the point of desperation where I was going to do surgery to get rid of this, and I was looking through podcasts and podcasts, and then I saw the two of. And your faces were just so precious and I started listening and I got hooked Oh, lovely. Brilliant. Well, thank you so much for being here today and sharing your story. You know, I just thought it would be wonderful to, for other people to hear, you know, the journey that you've been on because when we're on the coaching calls and when we're in the members community, you know, you share about what's been going on for you. And I know that there's been some really remarkable stuff. There's been some ups, there's been some downs, and you've really come through. Such a, an amazing journey in these 10, 10 months. But I wonder if, before we get to that, could you perhaps share a little bit more about what it was like for you before you mentioned actually that you were even considering surgery. So what was life like for you at that point in terms of like, how did you feel about your body? How did you feel about food? What was going on? I was just disgusted. My knees were hurting, My hip was hurting. I couldn't, I, I, I still can't, but I'm working on it. I can't get up off the floor. You know, playing with my grandkids, I always had to take a break. So I was, I was really desperate. I was at a desperate point because I was looking at you know, not the I was looking at the balloon surgery and all the other different kinds of surgeries that are out there now, and I just kept on thinking, Oh geez, you know, if I do this at this age, cause I'm 68. You know, there's lots of complications and things like that, and I'm pretty much, I'm pretty much healthy. But, you know, it's, it's scary to do those things. And then I said, Well, if God made me this way and with the stomach that I have, instead of getting a fake one or a balloon in there, why am I gonna alter that? I mean, really, Right. So, so I was pretty desperate at that point and I was looking for help, desperate help. And I went on podcast to see, You know, what was, what, what was out there? And I listened to, you know, one or two of your podcasts and I felt, oh my God, these are real, real people that have the same issues that I have. And I really felt that I can be helped here. And thank God I am. So thank you for that. Both you and Mateo have been marvelous for me, answering my text messages and everything, you know, when I'm desperate or whatever. So I'm really grateful for that. Oh, well, we're grateful to have you as part of the community. You know, it's, it's, you know, you are a really amazing contributor and you know, you are, you're so open to coaching and you know, it's just, it's really wonderful. I think you inspire a lot of people. Yeah, I think so. You say that you were desperate before, and I'm just wondering what were you desperate for exactly? Well, I wanted to feel better about myself. I didn't wanna look in the mirror and see this tonnage. I wanted to be able to look good in clothes and I wanted people to, you know, see me not as fat anymore. Cause that's just, that's just the truth. It's fat was another, no other word, you know? And I didn't, I felt like I was embarrassing to my husband, to my family because I was the size that I am. And you know, I'm a people please. That's me. So I just felt like enough is enough. You know, I'm, I'm getting older. When am I gonna be serious about this? When am I gonna do this? And the, the desperation kicked in. Mm gosh, that sounds like really powerful drivers. Yeah. Yeah. Definit. Absolutely. And so what changed for you since, since you joined? What's been going on? My goodness. Well, I learned my hunger signals for one thing. Mm-hmm. There's so much that I've learned, I've learned, you know, as simple as eat when you're hungry and stop it enough. That's like my mantra. Mm-hmm. you know? Mm-hmm. Eat when you're hungry, Stop it enough, you know? So many things have made sense. It's not the diet culture. That you know, you have to weigh, you have to measure, you have to count, you have to, you know, do this, do that, blah, blah, blah. And I, I, I can't be forced to do things like that. I, I won't do'em. I'll do'em for a minute and then that's it. I won't. So, you know, I've really learned to pause when I'm upset cuz I'm an emotional leader, very much an emotional leader. So I've learned to pause. And why do I want to eat this now? Am I hungry? You know, I've learned to ask myself of that. I've learned to be more aware of what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. And the really, the best thing is, is for me was to eat. When you're hungry, stop it enough. And the signals, you know, when I take that heavy sigh, I'm like, I've never thought about it. You know, it would never occur to me, but when I take that sign now, it's like, okay, I must be hungry. I mean, I must be full and I'll just take one or two more bites maybe, and then just leave it. And you know, I'm looking at my notes here cuz there's so many things. I can have a pizza and have a salad and not feel guilty. Yes. You know? And if I eat the pizza without the salad, then I'm like, Oh, wait a minute. You know, Matea always says balance it. You know, and, and that's what I've, that's what I've been doing. I've learned to eat, to live and not live to eat, and I've lived to eat most of my life. That's, yeah. Massive. Yeah. It is. It is. And and, and I have to remind myself that sometimes, you know, I just came from a wedding last weekend and went all. And, and I knew, I knew what I was doing and I did it anyway, you know? And then I said, Well, wait a minute. I should not feel guilty. This is a celebration and I'm gonna get right back on it. And I did right. And I did. So it made me feel good, you know, to do that. To be able to do that. My gosh. Drink, drink, drink. You know, when you're sick they say, Drink, drink, drink. Well, this is my life now. You know, I have this handy dandy, I love this little pink thing. Oh, 32. Mm-hmm. It keeps everything cold all day long. I drink. It's important. In Florida it's really hot where you're right, Yes. Yep, yep, yep. And I drink two of those a day probably. To the point where my husband says to me, he says, You're drinking too much water. And I'm like, No, not, You know, And that's okay. He can feel that way. It's all right. Yeah. I still drink my water. Yeah, I'm sorry. Can we just pause there because that's a massive shift because I remember you know, talking to you at one point and I might have been at the water conversation. In fact, it might have been that very question, like, my husband says, I'm drinking too much. Am I drinking too much? And we did a little bit of around how does it feel in your body, What, you know, what feels right. What's the color of your pee? How do you assess what's going on in your body to know for sure within yourself, is this the right level for me? You know, which is a similar conversation around food and anything really. So that's an amazing shift in itself because at once upon a time, I remember you were saying, Oh, is he right? How do I know? I don't know. And now you're just like, Yeah, I know. I, I'm drinking the right amount of water for me. Thanks. Thanks for your comment. Thanks. Don't worry. You know, so that's, that's massive, but literally it's the color of my. Yeah, that's how I go by it. You know, at the end of the day, if it's, you know, tea color or you know, lighter, I know I drink enough. Yeah. And that's good for me. You know, I, you know, I wake up a couple of times in the middle of the night, but that's okay. Mm-hmm. you know, because I know, And then when I go to the doctors, You know, my kidneys are fine, my liver is fine. All those important levels are fine. And I know I can attribute a lot of that because of the water that I'm drinking. Mm. And has that changed, Have any of those numbers changed for you? No, they're still good. You know, they were never, they really weren't ever in, in, in jeopardy, per se, But they're still good. Nice. And that to me is, is amazing. And you know, when I went to my doctor the other day and she saw the weight loss, she was like, What are you doing? Mm. And I told her, you know, I said, I'm following this podcast. She says, Well keep doing it. Keep doing it. And that, you know, that made me feel really good. Brilliant. Two doctors have said that to me. You know, when they saw my weight loss, one of them was pushing. To go and get the surgeries. Mm. You know, she was really concerned. My endocrinologist and I, I just, just never wanted to do that. Yeah. Yeah. So I don't have to. No, you found the right way forward. What an incredible story from going from a point of considering surgery and being worried that, worried about it to now. Coming to a place of feeling, you know, confident in your body. Signals, understanding when you need to eat, what to do when you're emotionally eating, knowing that you're emotionally eating, knowing what to do, even when other people around you are questioning what you're doing and what you're putting into your body. Really, really different place to be. So that's a reminder. Very, very. Very different because a lot of those outside influences, for some reason in my life, I'm very much like my mother. They influence me and they make me change because somebody is not happy with what I'm doing. So in order to make them like me and be happy with me, I will change and do that. Well, slowly and slowly I'm learning, you know, that's okay. You can feel that way, but I gotta do what I gotta do. Yeah. So I'm in a place and my third trimester of life, I'm in a place where, you know, I matter and I need to take care of me. Yes. So that's what I'm doing through this wonderful program. Wow. What an empowered place to be. Incredible. Yeah. I, I mean, and it's not every day. It's not every day. It's always a struggle, you know, It's not like, you know I, I, I struggle because I know that I'm such a people. Yes. So I have to really, before I do things, I have to be very mindful. That's another key word, mindful for me. Mm-hmm. I have to be mindful of what I'm doing, why I'm doing it, and who I'm doing it for. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And I, I see the journey from being a people pleaser and also an unconscious people pleaser, not realizing that you are doing it. It's a little bit like the practice of losing weight in a sustainable way and using the mindset tools as well that we teach. You know, it's like a daily practice and you commit to that practice and you do little bit by little bit by little bit, and eventually it will shift. And it sounds like you are committing to that practice of the people pleasing and undoing all of that now. And, and I think the food as. Window into the people pleasing is a really, really great way to see just how much this mindset can play out in all areas of your life. It's really amazing. Isn't that, And that, that's, that's the thing about this program. Everything that I learned food-wise goes to everything else in my life. Mm-hmm. you know, I have to be mindful of what I'm eating, but I also have to be mindful of what I'm feeling and why, and who, and. You know, and apply that. And I think if you apply all of that, it really helps with the food. Mm-hmm. it really does. You know I come from a home. My, my mother was Puerto Rican. My father was a Mexican. I call myself a New Mexico Rican and they were both chef. So food was major, a major player in my life, all my life. Wow. Yes. And when I was little, I was not allowed to leave the table until I ate every single thing, because the kids in Africa couldn't eat it. You know? They didn't have any food. So it was the guilt thing. You know, and my parents were great parents. We they always cooked vegetables. I remember my father sitting at the table chopping up all the vegetables, fresh vegetables, so, you know, we always had good food when somebody else was cooking it. Mm-hmm. But everything was fried. You know, Latin food, we had Latin parties every Sunday. It was Sunday dinner, but they were always parties. So, you know, all my life it's been, food has been the center, the main attraction mm-hmm. and that's really never gone away. Yeah. So it's been something hard to fight all my life. Wow. Wow. You know, when I, when I got hurt, I got rewarded with sweet. Candy ice cream cookies. When I was sick, I got, I felt better because I had a cake or cupcake or something. Mm-hmm. So my reward, whenever I was feeling poorly, food, cakes, sweets, candies, whatever, always made me feel better. Yeah. So that was my relationship with food. Yeah. He felt lousy. He. You were sad. Have a cookie. You know, and, and like I said, my parents were phenomenal, but that's what I was taught, you know, And that's what I passed on. But luckily, my kids are a little bit smarter than I am, and they are very strict about what their children and my grandchildren will eat. So I'm grateful. Yeah. They don't have to fight this, you know, like I fought all my life. Absolutely. Yeah. And I think, you know, our, our parents and our grandparents grew up in such different times. They just didn't know the effects of sugar like we know these days and the effects of some of the fried foods and all of that stuff. So I think, you know, when we look back, we can see that they did their very best and they were great parents. Right. But, you know, they, they only knew what they knew. Right. So, you know, You've really like broken that pattern though with this as well, which is amazing to have that transformation, you know, even in the third trimester of your life, as you say. So your, your kids will still see that, I guess, and see what's happening with you and just learn so much about, about all of that. Yeah, yeah, definitely. No, definitely. And it's been it's been really a an amazing journey. Hmm. You know, like, like I said, I was writing notes and things to really realizing that up front and to know where I am right now, it still a struggle. Mm-hmm. it really is a struggle, but I feel like the more that I stay in tune with the podcast, with the coaching calls mm-hmm. with, you know, texting, both you and Matea, you know, Hey, I'm screwing up here. I'm messing around like, like I did last week. Mm-hmm. you know, when I just poured my soul out and everybody responds, you know, all the people that are in this program are so kind and, and loving and giving you support and giving you ideas. You know, try to this, try to do that. Why do you feel that way? You really have to think about that. I never really thought of why I felt the way I was and why I was eating the way I was until now. Mm-hmm. And it does make a difference. It really does make a difference. You know, when you're thinking about, when you are more aware if it's in front of you. Yeah. You know, Whereas it's in the back of my head, you know, I don't think about that. But now I have learned to think, you know, why am I doing this? Why am I eating like this? Why am I not taking care of myself? You know, Matea shared a while. When she was talking about journaling your food and just writing it down and keeping it simple, which I don't do. I'm very analytic and a researcher in my heart, so I tend to write every single thing down. And then she said, Just keep it simple, you know, salad you to write everything down that's in the salad. Yes. She said something, she said to write down on the top of the page, how can I support myself today. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. and I've. You know, I, I can't say that I'm gonna be honest. I don't write the food down every single day, but boy do I write it down a heck of a lot often than I do, you know, at least three times, four times a week, I'm writing down, you know, what I ate and I started out with how can I support my body today? Mm. And that really does kicks it right in. You know, when you saying that and you write it down and you're seeing it, it really. It makes you want to support your body today. At least for me. It makes me wanna support my body. Amazing. Amazing. Yeah. I always think with that kind of stuff, it's almost like you are, you're planting the seed for your brain because you are thinking through in advance, like, How could I support myself? Maybe I could do this, maybe I could eat this. You know, maybe I could think this you know, whatever. And then it's like, You don't need to just automatically respond to the events around you because you've already planned it out in your mind. So even if things do go a little bit astray, you've already set, you know, the course for the day and you're much more likely to stick to that course because you've asked yourself a question like that. So it's just amazing how it works. Yeah. Yeah. Just a simple thing like that and just writing it down for me. I have to write things down and then they stay ingrained in my brain. Mm. And just simply writing makes me want to support my body today. Yeah. So I mean, it's, it's wonderful. And all the topics that I, you know, that I've heard in the podcast, you know, about alcohol and, and, you know, sex in the body and all the different guest speakers that have come on. And I'm looking forward to the keto one. Yes, that's coming up. Yes. So for those of you who you are listening to this podcast, so she should have been published by that stage. So it's Patricia Daily and she is a nutritionist who focuses on keto, which is a really fascinating topic for metabolic health rather than just drastic weight loss. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah. So I love before how you mentioned it's still a struggle and you mentioned as well, You went, I think it was when you went to the weddings and you had lots of events and you know, things didn't go as you ideally would like them to go. And it's such an important thing because a lot of people think that, Ah, I found this, you know, amazing thing now. And it's all just gonna go, you know, perfectly and it's gonna be easy. And that's a little bit like what we think. I sometimes when we find new diet programs in the past, it's like, right, this is the answer to all my problems, you know? And I love that you mentioned that, that. I do still struggle. And I wonder if you can talk through a little bit about, you know, what happened, What was that struggle and how did you get through that? You at the wedding? Yeah, Yeah. Well, we went to the rehearsal dinner and of course they had pasta. Mm-hmm. And I've been trying to stay away from gluten because of my issues with my thyroid. And they had an A salad, so I bumped up on the, I said, Oh, great, good. There's something there. But I did have a little bit of the pasta, both pastas they had, and it was delicious and I loved it. And they had a whole tray of desserts and I said, Okay, I'm gonna have some dessert. And thank goodness they were little, little pieces. So I had two, you know? So I said, Okay. So I didn't feel like I was Neglecting myself, you know, in the way of not being able to have fun with food because it was a celebration. And what do you do when you celebrate? You eat? Mm-hmm. So there was that. And then at the wedding itself, it was really very interesting. They had a taco bar instead of your traditional wedding, you know, foods and cakes and whatnot. They had a taco bar. And I bumped up on the lettuce. I bumped up on the cheese, you know, and and just, just ate. They had delicious cakes, very non-traditional, all different kind of cakes. I did have some more than one, and you know, it was like, I didn't even think about the program. I didn't think about anything. I was just having fun and I was eating and I was celebrating. And then Sunday, After the whole festivities and I said, All right, this, I cannot continue this. This has to stop. So I started writing, how am I gonna best support my body today? I had a very good, healthy breakfast. We came home, we had a great healthy dinner, and I felt, I felt like, okay, I celebrated, I went off the wagon, I said that I'm back. And it felt really good for me to be able. Go back easier than I have in the past because when I have blown it, I have blown it. I mean, for weeks and weeks and weeks at a time and getting back has just been just a struggle. But it felt good that I had these tools that you teach. And they keep on playing in my mind. And that's what I mean about how important it is to stay with the program and to, to listen to the podcast and everything because they do stay ingrained in my brain. Yes. And they pop up, you know, they come from the back of my head to the surface. Yes. And I'm able to easier get back on track. And that's what I've been. You know, getting my veggies in, that's so important for me anymore. You know, I wasn't not really a veggie eater, even though my parents cooked them and everything like that, you know, I always felt forced to eat them. Mm. Now I don't. Now I want to eat them. Mm. Because I know what it does for my body. I know how healthy, how good it is. Like last night, man, I made such a good soup and it had so much vegetables in it and I. Good that I was, my husband was eating something healthy and that I was eating something healthy. Mm-hmm. you know, and it was delicious. amazing. We have lots of extras, you know? Yeah. So those kinds of things. And what all the tools that you teach really have helped get back on track. Mm-hmm. you know, weekends are crazy. There's always something going on on the weekends, but in my mind, I plan. We're gonna go out. I'm getting something grilled and I'm getting some veggies, so it's already planned in my head, you know, to do that, you know, like you have taught, if you're going out to a restaurant, check the menu first. Mm-hmm. see what it is, what you're going to eat. Don't look at the menu anymore and just order what you said. Yes. That is so helpful. And, and you know, you can get any menu online anymore. Mm-hmm. And that has been amazing for. You know, And not that I stick to it all the time, quite honestly, you know, sometimes I'll take it to at that menu and go, Oh, that looks better. Mm-hmm. but nine times outta 10, I do. And that feels good. You know, if I know I'm going to a Mexican restaurant, you know, I know I can have this and it's grilled and it's got lots of veggies, so I'm good to go. Mm. Brilliant. Mm. One of the things that I really love about what you were just saying was how, you know, even though you know more, more recently, you haven't always been able to attend the live coaching calls, but you know, you're trying to listen to the podcast as much as you can or the other content that we have, and just to stay in touch with the group, and you've found that. Then all of these decisions, all of these ideas, it just comes up. And I think that's a really important point for anyone who's in the program that may feel like they're struggling. Quite often, we, we, you know, have you know, members in the program and we've got a human brain and we often think to ourselves, I'm behind. Oh, I didn't attend the coaching call this week out. Haven't done it perfectly. I haven't watched this module, therefore I'm behind, therefore I'm failing. And I think that's a really great point. Even just by listening, you know, to what you can, when you can, doing a worksheet here and there, when you can, it all goes into the subconscious mind. It all gets reprogrammed and you, you are doing stuff. You just, yeah. You know it, it's happening. And you don't even need to make that much effort. Things do change. Yeah. I like favorite thing when I go to the Y, I'm sorry. When I go to the Y and I do my exercises when I'm riding the bike, I got you guys in my ear. Nice. Yep. So that pretty easy catch up. Yes, Yes. That's when I do my catch up type thing. And now things have changed a little bit in my life where I'm not watching children, you know, as much anymore. So I'm able to get those schedules and and participate more. But always, even if I've listened to a podcast before, You know, there's some really good ones that really pertain to me the things that I was feeling, and I just go with it. I just listen to them. Mm. So that's how I feel. That's how I stay connected when I can't attend the coaching calls or, and I always watch the replays. Thank God for replace. Mm. Because it's, it, they're, they're, they're just so helpful. Yeah. You know, and it's real, it's all real things that, that you all are saying and, and it just makes so much sense. I, I can't believe how the diet culture has really messed up so many people's minds, myself included. Yeah. You know, thinking about this and that. Weight Watchers, how many revisions have they had? Mm. If it, if it were to work, why would they have to change? Right. You know, Jenny Craig and, and all these other meal plans and things like that. Why, if it works, then it doesn't need to change. Mm-hmm. they don't work. They just don't work. It made me feel guiltier and it made me, you know, even though, like you say for the first, you know, week or two or month or whatever, oh man, I'm going, ho, this is gonna change. It's gonna be great. Mm-hmm. and then it's like, no, say old again. I remember going to Weight Watchers one time and. Oh, it was like, I don't know how many times was it the third time? I'm not sure. And, and I remember, you know, it, it really sunk in at one point. Someone was saying there, who was leading it about how you can never eat chocolate again. I mean, I'm sure their program isn't like that. That now it's, it was when I was younger and I remember my heart just sinking and literally sitting there thinking. Never again in my life. I don't think I'd commit to that. I'm gonna be fat, right. And eat chocolate, or you know, I never get chocolate again. How do I decide? Mm-hmm. you know? Mm-hmm. You know Yeah. Mm-hmm. It really, really shocked me. I remember it so clearly. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And that's not life. It's not life. You know, if we go into a place and going to a birthday party and they're having pizza, Fine. You know, I'll, I'll have a slice, I'll have a small slice or whatever and I'll make up for it later with vegetables if they don't have any vegetables there or anything like that. You know, I love that you found your way that works for you. It's not like a specific plan, right? This is what works for me, This is my life. Yeah. It's just life, you know? It's, you just deal with it as it comes, and I just know for me right now, I'm just so much more aware and mindful. About what I'm eating and you know, when they struggle emotionally, I don't right away go for it. I, I'm thinking, Okay, what's going on? I didn't do that before. I didn't care. I just shoved it. Yeah. You know, and just took the pain away. But now miracles. Right. And now I have the tool of thinking why taking that pause mm-hmm. and then even writing it down. Yeah. You know, I've, I've written angry letters to people that have hurt me, and it just feels so good to just write it down and tell'em off, and then toss it. It's a great tool. It's a phenomenal tool. Yeah. Just get it out of your system. Cause I think that stuff, it just festers inside of us and we think when we hold all this negativity around, you know, other people and how they've wronged us, that, you know, that is gonna hurt them somehow or it's gonna get them, and it doesn't. It hurts us. It poisons us, you know? And then, It's just, it's not, it's not good for ourselves. Yeah. No, no. I mean, I, First thing I did was eat over it. Yeah. You know, that, that's, that's my, that's my, my go to, you know? Yes. I lead over it to get rid of the pain, but now writing has been a really amazing tool for me and getting it out, because getting it out is better than eating it in. Mm. So, you know, I try to do that. Love it, or I'll go call my girlfriend or go over her house and just, you know, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, whatever. It just feels good just to get it out, get it obvious stuff. Absolutely. Yeah. Yep. So it literally doesn't eat you away. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. So we've talked about huge amounts of transformation, like internally, inside, what's shifted for you from a mindset point of view? What about weight loss? Have you actually seen any weight loss? I have. I have seen, I've had an 11 pound weight. Amazing. You know, which is good for me, you know, I'm happy, but even, even more better than the weight loss is I'm getting into clothes that I haven't been in in years. Mm. You know, and that to me was phenomenal. I you had a young lady, I can't remember what her name was, but she talked about dressing, dressing yourself in. Oh. Getting the, Forget who it was. Yeah. June. Mm-hmm. Yes. Yes. Mm-hmm. Yes. And she said, Get rid of all the stuff that doesn't fit anymore because you were gonna one day fit back into them again, and to get clothes that fit you today. Well, I did that. Yeah. And oh my gosh, it felt great. I have some really nice shirts in my closet that I use. Yeah. And some jeans that I, that I new ones that I haven't been able to get into. I went out and I bought some pants that fit really nice. Mm. And it just made a world of difference in how I feel about myself. Mm-hmm. you know, to be able to get rid of the old cause. That's what this whole thing is. This whole program is get rid of the. Think of all the new things that you can do and that includes clothes. Yeah, it's as simple as that. You know, I can go to Walmart and get a shirt. It doesn't have to be a$50 outfit. It doesn't matter. It's just new. It's something new that fits the new me. Kind of. Exactly, exactly. I love that. And it's also, I think, a, a sign to yourself, it's like a gesture of I accept you and I love you as you are, and I wanna address you with care as you are right now. It doesn't say mean to say we have to stay this way forever, but. I love you enough. I, I care for you enough right now to take the time to dress you in a way that really works, rather than, you know, the big square outfits that cover everything up, or, you know, that's the kind of thing that I used to do before I, I really locked into that. Yeah. You know, and she was so, she was really good about that when she said that, you know, to make yourself feel really good about the clothes that you wear, you know, and even the. I got me some new videos. I love them. Nice. Nice. Yes. And they make me feel good, you know? They make me feel very comfortable and relaxed. Yes. You know, and it's so, it's so funny how those little simple things really. Change your mindset about yourself. And I celebrate with the kids. You know, I text the kids, Oh my gosh, I'm in a different size. I got new clothes. Look at this shirt. You know, they celebrate with me, which is makes me feel really good. I have the support. Definitely have the support in my family. That's amazing. That's amazing. Yeah, and I think that really speaks to the whole philosophy of like, you know, self love and self care and self worth, because, If you want to take care of yourself enough to wear lovely pajamas to bed that you feel comfortable in, so you have a beautiful night's sleep and dress yourself in a way that makes you really happy, no matter what your size is, you know you are just showing yourself that level of love and acceptance, and then you take that with you on this weight loss journey. It means that when you get to. Whatever your goal is, when you get to that size body, you're not still looking for the thing that you wanna beat yourself up over. Because I've certainly experienced that myself. I, I know I, I've slimmed down before in the past, cause I have a yoyo diet history. I'd get to a smaller body size and I'd be like, Well, you know, now I'm, now I'm, my skin's all saggy. Now I'm looking like I've got wrinkles. You know, and there's always something new to pick on because you've got that mindset. Yep. Yeah. You know, and it's really funny that you say that, you know, you know, as you lose weight, you get a little bit flabby or whatnot, you know? But that doesn't bother me. No, it doesn't because it means that I'm, that I've lost. You know, I, I've won by losing weight. So, you know, it's, I, I guess I'm not vain that way. Mm-hmm. you know. Yeah. But that's, but that's, it's OK to be vain. I mean, but I'm not, it doesn't bother. Yeah. Yeah. I love that perspective as well. That's such a nice way of looking at it, that actually this is a sign of victory for me. This is a sign of success, you know? Yeah. This is not something to be, and again, that's, you know, if. Your self-love cup is filled up enough, then you might have that kind of perspective rather than, you know, that self discussed. And you did use that word before, didn't you? That you felt that disgusted with yourself before? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. When I look in the mirror, you know, it's, I can see little changes, you know, And that makes me feel good. Yeah. I still got a belly. Oh yeah. My hips. Oh yeah. You know, but I can see a difference. And especially with the new size. Mm-hmm. you know, that's, that's just amazing. I love new sizes, lower sizes. Yeah. You know? Yeah. And I quit. I really quit saying, Okay, I wanna be this many, this many pounds, or I wanna get into this size. I stopped that. You know, because that was my main goal. Oh, I wanna be a size 12. Well, I may never be a size 12. My body may not like a size 12. My body may like a size 16, and I'm okay with that. Yeah, yeah. I'm okay with that. I quit. I stopped making those unrealistic goals for me. Mm. I love that. I love that. That is just such an empowering thing, and you know what, when and if, and whatever you get to around size 16 or whatever, whenever you feel like you're at that size, you might even change your mind at that point, and that's okay as well. You know, this is. Beauty of it. Yeah. Yep. Yeah, definitely. So you've seen around about 11 pounds as your weight loss. What was it like before you joined for you? Was it like you, you were stuck at one level and, and it was like that for a long time, or was it increasing? What was your story before that? Up, up and up. Up, up and up, Up. Okay. So could, some people might look at like, well, you know, 10 months, 11 pounds and might say, but you know, diet culture standards that's slow. Quote unquote. But actually, if your weight is progressively going up, up, up, up, up, up, you know, the fact that, you know, even if it is 11 pounds over 10 months, that's, that's a very big change overall in how, you know, your body is changing. Yeah, yeah. And you know, with that 11 pound, it's been up and down, You know, I've, I've. And then I've gained some. And then I went, Oh wait. And I've lost, because remember in the beginning, I hated weighing myself. I did not wanna weigh myself. Cause that was, you know, remember. Mm-hmm. And now every Wednesday is way day, regardless. You know? It's not Monday because you have the weekend and Yeah, sometimes I fall her over the weekend, so, you know, it's unrealistic for me. But Wednesday, like midweek, I weigh myself from hill or high water, you know? I've been on a plateau. Mm-hmm. But that's okay. You know, because eventually it'll kick in. Yeah. And I know for me, if I was in a plateau, forget it, I would give up. I'm like, well, you know, it's not working. You know, and I, I, I don't do that as readily anymore. Mm. I'm like, No, just stay. Just stay. Just, you know, you're doing the right things. You're eating more vegetables and more fruit than I ever ate before. Mm. You know? Mm-hmm. So I just keep doing what I'm doing and eventually it goes out and it does. You know, even if it goes down a half a pound, that's a half a pound. Yeah. You know, if I walk around with something that's 11 pounds, I really actually can feel why I was carrying around with me. So, you know, even, even a pound, I'll take a pound weight and I'll walk around with it and I'm like, That's a lot. You know, so it, it's, for me it's visual. Everything is visual. Absolutely. So if you lose five pound and you're not happy, you know, take something that's five pound, walk around with a five pound bag of sugar, you know, and you'll see the difference. And it, it's, it's like a light that goes off, Man. That's a lot that I've been carrying around with and I'm not carrying around with that. No. No, exactly. No. What about the rest of your body? Has anything changed? Like, how are you feeling physically since, since these since you're eating more vegetables and things like that? Yeah. Well, my knees aren't hurting as much anymore. Mm-hmm. because another big kick in the, in the butt for me was that I had to have knee replacement. And I really, really, really don't want to. So I'm really, really trying hard to not have to mm-hmm. you know, But if it's inevitable, then it's inevitable. But And I feel like, I mean, at the Y when I go to the Y I started out with like 20 minutes or or so on a bike, and now I'm doing like 30. you know, I started doing the treadmill. I wasn't doing the treadmill because I was getting out of breath because I was too heavy. Mm-hmm. you know, now I'm doing five or 10 minutes on the treadmill slow. I'm not running by any means, you know, I'm not, I'm not a run, I've never been mm-hmm. but now I can do 10 minutes on the treadmill. Mm-hmm. I have increased my weights. Instead of doing 30 pounds, I'm doing 35 pounds on some things and increased my reps. And, you know, that to me is. Because I haven't been able to do that before, you know? Never. So I feel like I'm getting stronger. I don't see the, you know, the muscle definition or anything, but that's okay. That's okay, because just by increasing my weight and increasing my reps, I know that I'm improving. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And that feels good for me. You know, like I said, the clothes too. I mean, it's huge for me to be able to get in smaller sizes. Absolutely. Yeah. Amazing. So, I mean, things are obviously going in a really great direction for you and you've had some wonderful transformations and thank you so much for sharing your journey so, so candidly I really wanted to ask a couple of questions to wrap up and, and I'd really be curious to hear what your response is actually. So I'm wondering what do you think are the top things that work really well for you? Some of the tools or the ideas or the practices that you've put into place, Maybe like the top three, that, that, the best things for you. Well, the first thing is eat when you're hungry and stop it enough. Mm-hmm. that's a mantra. You know, and I take with me everywhere when I'm going out to eat with my friends, when I'm going to the restaurants, whatever. That's really been number one for me. Mm-hmm. honestly, another thing has been, you know, the pause. Mm. Why do I want to eat what I wanna eat? You know, what's going on? I need to do that more often. But I do do it and I'm really happy about that tool. Mm. And another one for me was you all say no food is bad. Mm. And I would see bad food. Well, nothing is bad. You know, and I've really learned that when I want to eat, you know, a cupcake or whatever, eat half mm-hmm. or eat a quarter mm-hmm. you know, or eat the whole thing. Go ahead. Just don't do it every day. You know, allow yourself the Joy Eats. That's another, the big one. I use the Joy Eats a lot. Yeah. And and that's okay. As long as you, you know, learn how to do it. To support your body. So I think those three have been really big for me. Amazing. You know, as well as eat to live and not live to eat. Mm. I love that phrase. Yeah, that's, I think that that is so powerful to think that that's completely reversed, you know? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Really, really powerful. Yep. And so for women who are listening to this podcast who are perhaps in a situation just like you were, You know, considering surgery, desperate, you know, looking for an answer. They might just be listening to the podcast and don't have all the knowledge that we have inside the program. What would you say to them? What would you say to them to get off the ground to get them some help now? I have shared these podcasts with so many women, and I tell them, it doesn't matter if you're heavy, it doesn't matter if you're thin. Mm-hmm. this works in all aspects of your life. You know, just, and I have, I tell'em, just listen to the podcast. You know, just listen and you know, don't judge, just hear what they have to say because it's so real and it's so I wanna say, It's just very calming to listen to other women that have gone through the same things that you have gone through that have felt the same things. You have felt that, think the way that you have thought, you're not alone. That's the biggest thing for me was like, Oh my gosh, you know, I thought I was the only one thinking like this or feeling like this, and that's not the case at all. So I really felt a big community. You know, listening to the podcast about real people living and going through the same things that I was feeling. So it wasn't, you know, just stick with it. Just, just keep listening is, is the best thing that I have to say. Yeah. You know, it was just listen. And if you can't do the coaching calls, do the replays. You know, if you can't do the replays, sit and listen to a podcast, you know, And it's the best thing is to just stay with it no matter how desperate you get. Cause I've been there, you know, in, in all these months, you know, I've been to like, geez, it's really not working. And I listen to a podcast and my gosh, ba you know, something I need to listen to, something I needed to hear comes up. Yeah. You know? So if you're feeling. Desperate. If you're feeling like you gotta have the surgery and that's the only thing that's gonna help just plug into the podcast. You know, there, there's a ton of titles, a ton of different subjects, you know, and all these guest speakers that come on and just say the things you need to hear. You know, just stay with it. Don't get desperate. Hang in there, Absolutely. I love it. Well, thank you so much for being so open for sharing your story today. I'm sure you know, like you say, it's the voices of other women and it's the voices and it's hearing that you're not the only one thinking that you're not crazy. Other people think this. Two. And so you coming on and sharing this story, I am sure is gonna inspire an awful lot of women. So yeah, thank you so much for your time today. Thanks for having me. It's been great sharing my story. I hope it helps somebody else. Thank you.