Kim asked me to post here to celebrate my successes so far in the Live Healthy program. So, here goes – it’s a mix of tangible victories, having the “right” supports, and those “special sauce” components that I call the mental side of my game.
From our first call, Kim said, “I’m 100% positive I can get you there” – “there” being the destination of sustainable change of a leaner, stronger, capable body that feels good, plays hard, competes, and lives fully again.
I was in! I BELIEVED — I believed in my coach, the program, myself, my wife, Kathy Murphy (“Murph”), who is doing the program as well, and our dear friends Kathy Conard and Sally Gillenson, who, by their incredible examples, have both inspired and supported us throughout with their tough love, support, and humor. My belief in Kim comes from the way she shows up – steady, thoughtful, and fully invested in the people she’s helping. You know that calm, grounded Kim-style that keeps you accountable while still leaving you feeling supported and inspired.
The key pieces were in place and I BELIEVED. This was back on Day 1, no weight loss yet, no proof yet, but I just knew it was a gamechanger and that this journey would get us off the bench and fully into the game of life again. Like any other challenge or athletic goal, I knew it would be hard work to get there, but I BELIEVED I will, we will!
To date (6 weeks in and ready to start the 7th soon), I’ve lost 19lbs (that’s a little preview for you Kim for our Monday call). I’m fitting into clothes I haven’t worn in a long time, and I know I’m headed in a direction where I’ll be moving on from those sizes. I’m loving the healthy whole foods we’re eating (kudos to my wife, Chef Murph). We’re vegetarians so vegetables weren’t scary, but making sure there’s variety had been a challenge in the past – Murph has hit it out of the park with her recipes and adapting the recipes Kim has shared. I’m feeling good and energized as I work each day to show up for myself in the Live Healthy program. I’m not sitting on the sidelines anymore – I’m taking dog walks, birding walks, playing pickleball, and excited for more activities as the weather warms up. I’m making myself a priority again!
So, I’ve shared my tangible successes in my weight loss and activities, my supports (Kim, friends, this community), but what’s my “special sauce,” my mental game? Well, I envision the B-E-L-I-E-V-E sign from the Ted Lasso show (if you haven’t watched it, I highly recommend it). It serves as that visual, or cue word, that I tap into as a source of optimism and perseverance even when I’m facing real life challenges during the program. It helps me keep that positive frame, that focus to keep going and going beyond – even when life’s stresses are tough.
Thanks, Kim, for this homework – it helped me focus on what’s helping by writing it down. I would love to hear what my fellow athletes in this program use as their “special sauce” – let’s inspire each other to B-E-L-I-E-V-E!