What inspired you to adopt a healthier lifestyle?
“My boys are 2 and 4 now, so I couldn’t use the excuse “oh I just had a baby” anymore. I would see photos of myself pre-babies and kept saying, ‘oh I will get back to that’ but never did anything about it. I had always been an athlete and sports/working out had been such a huge part of my life through high school, college, and up until I had kids. I didn’t feel like ‘myself’ anymore, I certainly didn’t recognize my body, and it was time to take steps to get that piece of me back.”
Had you tried other things in the past that did or didn’t work for you? What was it about “this time” that helped you stick with it?
“Not in the past 4 years or so. I always had the excuse of being pregnant, having an infant and breastfeeding, etc. It wasn’t enough for me to keep saying, “Oh I should…” I needed to literally speak it out loud to someone and know that that person was going to be calling me in two weeks to check in so that I wouldn’t want to let her down.”
What’s your favorite activity or challenge within the Sonic Boom program?
“Using Coach’s Corner has been the best thing for me. I needed the accountability to get me started back down the right path.”
If you’ve experienced weight-loss, how much have you lost and over what period of time? (If you’d feel more comfortable, you can choose to share the percentage of weight reduction instead of pounds.)
“I lost 10 lbs. right out of the gate by changing my eating habits and starting to work out again. That part was easy and it gave me a lot more confidence. We started with simple changes – changing out cream in my coffee for almond milk, eating Greek yogurt with fruit instead of sugary breakfasts, etc. Then I plateaued and struggled to lose any more. My goal is to lose 5 more. I’ve been working with Katy to not just ‘eat a little better’ but now to be more conscious of servings, stepping up the number of servings of fruits and veggies, and replacing my not-so-good snacking habits with better options. We worked to find at-home workouts (or at the park) with my kids around that I could do instead of trying to carve out time to go to a gym—not sacrificing time with them, but including them in that time.”
Sonic Boom isn’t only about losing weight but living an all-around healthier lifestyle. How has yours improved? (A few examples include improving your “numbers” or being taken off medication, improving your nutritional intake, noticing improvements in your marriage/personal relationships, increasing work productivity or overall energy levels, better confidence, etc.)
“As a former athlete, I have to be comfortable in my own skin. I’ve never been too hung up on ‘numbers.’ For me, it is more about feeling more like myself again.”
Is there anything you’d like to say to help inspire other Sonic Boomers at City of Mesa? Tips, tricks, or motivation?
“Sometimes it’s not a matter of whether or not you can do it. It’s a matter of finding the motivation to start. For me, I needed to speak it into existence, and find the accountability to keep moving forward. The Health Coaching was just what I needed!”