Weight loss and fat loss are challenging objectives to achieve and sustain for many people, especially for those who have lost and gained weight. Many people find themselves, consciously or not, sabotaging their weight-loss efforts and/or their weight loss maintenance stage.
On August 6th, 2020, Kathy went to her dentist and he took her blood pressure. When he read back to her “170 over 100”, Kathy felt fear come through her body. Her doctor was especially concerned with a high diastolic (bottom) number which indicates her heart is working very hard to pump blood to the rest of your body. If high diastolic pressure is consistent, it can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Kathy sent me a text message telling me what had happened after the doctor’s appointment. She also wrote “I gotta get it [blood pressure] down. I need to reduce weight.” I called her back to check in on her and talked about it. I know how important being healthy, strong, and independent is to her. Kathy asked if she could come by for an in-person ‘wake-up’ workout session.
The next day, as I guided her through a routine that would make her feel good and energized, she shared more of her thoughts and emotions about her weight gain. That high blood pressure reading scared her. I thought to myself…how many other women and men could benefit from hearing Kathy’s story?
So I asked Kathy if she would be willing to share her story after our workout. I wanted her voice to inspire the listeners to NOT LET GO of their bodies and mind like had done in order to prevent the negative consequences, whether weight gain, high blood pressure, emotional and mental stress, etc.
The struggle is real. We want to prevent the yo-yo and the feeling of failure or disappointment by actions we take daily.
Here is the spontaneous and unedited conversation Kathy and I had after her workout session.
- Kathy’s reawakening to her health journey [1:28]
- Reaching out for help [2:33]
- Why Kathy let it go and how made it feel [4:33]
- Is weight loss the answer to happiness? [6:24]
- Filling the void and self-sabotage [7:37]
- How does weight lifting make her feel [10: 00]
- The importance of getting knowledge and having a coach [11:37]
- Could unresolved emotional baggage interfere with weight and fat loss [14:20]
- Kathy’s big why and what keeps her from giving up [15:44]
- Why we shall not wait for a tragic wake-up call to take charge of our health [17:28]
For your reference, here is a summary of levels of blood pressure and what they mean:
Normal blood pressure: Below 120/80
Pre-hypertension: Between 120/80 and 139/89
High blood pressure: 140/90 or more
The systolic blood pressure (top number) refers to the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts and pumps the blood forward into the arteries.
The diastolic pressure (bottom number) refers to the pressure in the arteries as the heart relaxes after the contraction.
I would like to thank Kathy for opening up with heart with us. It takes courage to do so.
If this story resonates with you, I encourage you to
- Sit down and write down what’s truly important to you.
- How do you want to age and what’s your current state of health right now?
- Are there aspects of your health and fitness that if improved can improve the quality of your life?
If you would like a personalized plan, take the first, SCHEDULE your wellness strategy session HERE.
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