When we embark on any sort of journey that has a relative progression, we can sometimes forget what it felt like to (a.) start on that path; and/or (b.) what it was like to even consider starting that path.
Here at Tips of the Scale, we give listeners a quick and dirty through our Show Notes (the descriptive attached to each of our podcasts) as to factors that attributed to our guest’s weight gain, how this affected their life, and often times the turning point and how they embarked on their new found lifestyle.
(explicit content and topics ahead; reader advisory)
What often times is missed in these stories (and no fault to anyone, really), is sometimes the true, raw emotion that happens when we are face to face with that ‘turning point’ and what the daily fight truly feels like. I mean, we’re all storytellers. That’s what we are here to share – our stories, our experiences, our voice; after the fact. But unless you have failed your first push up, felt as though your breakfast would end up on the floor during a tough workout or experienced the ultimate overwhelming feeling of choosing yams over white pasta, it’s hard to imagine the daily fight that takes place.
Some people found change in the voice of their five year old daughter (me); others were clinically dead and were given a second pass on life; some were who were just fed up of living a life of existing and wanted to experience everything to its fullest.
Quoting one of our guests here who posted this on her Facebook Page recently:
I started my journey on May 2, 2012, when I was finally sick and tired of being sick and tired. I’m thankful that I made that decision to change my life as my decision not only changed my life, but the lives of those around me in a very positive way.
Where and how do you start?
Well, the beauty about the road ahead is that you’re the driver. You make the decisions. You are in control. This is both the blessing and the curse of the journey. It is 100% you that decides. You can celebrate when the decisions are made in favour of your goals and reflect when things didn’t go as planned. And the best thing of all is that you are able to pick up passengers along the way if a little navigation is needed – friends and family that will cheer you on, experts to guide the bumpy and sometimes dark road ahead, and strangers that just pop up in the sidelines to be there when you are needed and pass by when your needs change.
You are here today. That’s a great first step. Maybe you found our site when searching Weight Loss; you may have overheard Sam’s amazing voice on someone’s laptop at work as they plugged away in Excel listening to one of our podcasts. Whatever the reason, you’re here with us today and between the 130+ guests and writers here in our Community, we can help you help yourself. That’s what we do as we have been where you are, this very moment, right now.
The one thing I have learned over the almost two decades of yo-yo dieting, self hatred and abuse and learning the art of ‘funny’ to mask my pain, is that you need a reason to do all this. I have learned, after meeting hundred of others on this path, is that judging someone’s why is effing stupid. If your why is to fit into your wedding gown again for your 40th anniversary, I think that’s a pretty kick-ass goal to have. If it’s strictly health related and you don’t want to be on the gurney of death again, hell, props to you. If it’s because you want to experience counter-sex for the first time (previous post on my personal blog), DO IT! it honestly doesn’t matter to me why you’re embarking on one of the toughest things I have EVER done in my life. What matters is that the reason you choose is big enough to outweigh every excuse, every reason to go back on your goals, every dumb-ass argument you will have with yourself.
Now what?
[cjtoolbox name=’SWV Box’ ] [/cjtoolbox]
Once that why is found, making small changes has proven to help our guests here on Tips. If you are starting off inactive, taking your first five or ten minute walk is a wonderful goal for today; tomorrow; the week ahead. Some of our Scale Warriors decide to cut out pop/soda to see the amazing benefits of drinking water daily instead. Others reach out to friend or professional to help heal some of the wounds from the past and work on loving themselves again. Small steps become small habits, which over time become part of your daily routine.
Does this mean you have to start downing kale shakes, chia seeds and protein powder? Does it mean you have to spend $1500 on a gym membership and different coloured mesh tanks for every day of the week? No – it doesn’t. We know that changing everything at once is both daunting and scary. You want to set yourself up for success and little goals, measured and fine-tuned is what will show results.
We know you can do this. All of us, every single one of us here, has been exactly where you are… right now; confused as to what eat, how to move, what to be telling ourselves in our heads to get us through. It was a support system outside my circle of friends and family that helped me get started. It was making changes daily that helped. It was the support of others who have experienced setbacks in the road that has and is helping me refocus and get my shit together.
There are no clear cut instructions for what you’re embarking on today. It is not as easy as A to B with a linear path with no hills and valleys. It’s hard. But we believe in you and know you are worthy of a life of experiences, possibilities and ultimate fulfillment.
Thanks for reading…
~A
Adina is an ex-corporate HR Manager with a new-found interest in helping other women move their bodies, create a healthy relationship with food and discover the amazing power of their minds to change their lives. As a certified personal training specialist, she continues to learn and educate in the field of physical fitness. She regularly blogs at 
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