You should know three things about the type of person I was three months ago:
1. Honorary member of the clean plate club.
2. Carbs equaled life.
3. Didn't enjoy running (to put it nicely).
After a decade of trying to figure out what worked for me, I write to you to say that I'm pretty sure I have. I've lost 16 pounds, and I'm only 5 pounds away from weighing less than my husband, which is goal No. 1.
But let's back up.
I live a life of a busy entrepreneur who is married with one fur baby. I work long hours at my computer, and like everyone, I love food. At the beginning of 2019, I decided that this year was going to be about learning and self-care.
This means learning new skills that will continue to improve Dogwood Social's services, regular massages and getting fit. When I worked with my life coach, I set an alarm that goes off at 7 a.m. every morning that says FIT, Admirable Leader and Kind. The latter of the two felt doable, but being fit hmmm wasn't sure there.
Then a significant career move was made, and I, along with three other women, were given the opportunity to purchase Jefferson City Magazine. We said yes!
Ah, the thought of all the photos in my swollen (how I described it) state.
Shudder.
I now know that swollen feeling I had is called inflammation. I was inflamed.
As a business owner, I know the value in bringing in help when I'm not good at something.
Enter my personal trainer, Erin Bidlack.
Erin started coming to Campus Coworking Space to train me before anyone would get there in the mornings. We had a long room where I learned what "bear crawls" are and nearly passed out the first time we worked out.
I was sore for three days.
Even though working out at Campus was really convenient, my dog Preston missed his morning walks. Erin and I started hitting the Greenway trails so Preston could get his exercise in, too.
Multitasking. Gotta love it.
I asked Erin, "OK, what should I not be eating?"
Surprisingly, she said, "Don't go on a diet or anything. Just be conscious of what you're eating."
"OK, doable," I said.
From there, what I ate was my decision. It wasn't someone telling me what I couldn't do. I still made the decision to eat pizza, but soon decided it wasn't worth it.
Fast forward to 16 pounds lighter. Here's the regimen that I've gradually adapted and is working:
- Intermittent fasting
- Shakes for lunch
- Cleansing every Tuesday
- Lean and green meals for dinner
- Training with Erin twice a week
- Running 2 miles with Preston four to five days a week
- Weighing in monthly at Supplement Superstore with their InBody test
Mentally, I'm (finally) motivated to lose weight. My goals are more important than wedding cake. Fitting into my favorite clothes is more important than sleeping another 45 minutes. Seeing myself in photos and being happy is more important than having to shower more.
But seriously, if I can do this, you can do this, no matter how busy, how much you love carbs or how much you dread running.
Summer is a great time to sweat it out, so get moving!
Missy Creed McFerron is the CEO of Dogwood Social, publisher of Jefferson City Magazine, superhost for MACSAirbnb and co-owner of jeffcityblog.com and Campus Coworking Space. When she's not cheerleading for her hometown of JCMO, you can find her relaxing at the lake with her husband or chasing her fur baby on the Greenway Trail. She takes her coffee black, believes travel can cure most ailments, practices yoga, likes making decisions and loves Beyoncé.