Trust The Process
Hi Friends,
Happy 2022! I hope that all of the dreams and goals you’ve all set out to achieve this year are fulfilled! Remember that a dream is only wishful thinking if you don’t put action behind it. I encourage you to take the necessary steps so that you can began to see each of them accomplished this year.
I am very excited about today’s blog! Boy, do I have a treat for you. Before I continue, I want to take this time to thank you for always supporting me through my writings. Thank you for reading my blogs and my books, it really means a lot to me. Now, how many know that January is a month where we make our resolutions and create vision boards for the year? We are all full of hope and expectations; the sky becomes the limit and there’s no stopping us. However, unfortunately that feeling starts to die off as the weeks and months go on and many times what we had set out to achieve doesn’t get done.
If you’re looking for motivation on this last day of the first month, look no further. This is a must read; A real life success story from one of my dear friends Karen. I wanted to have her on here so she can share a little bit of her health and fitness journey with all of you. Over the years, she has gone through this phenomenal transformation which I have personally witnessed. Her resilience and will-power is so inspiring. I know this blog interview will motivate and encourage you to not only trust the process but keep moving forward in whatever you have set your mind to do. It will never be easy, but it will always be worth it.
I hope you guys enjoy this interview as much as I have.
We’re all given 24 hours
the same amount of time is allotted to all of us. It's a matter of how well you manage your time that will determine if you will succeed or not.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Karen, I’m 32 years old with a beautiful three year baby girl named Mila Zo. Currently, I work for Tampa General Hospital and I’m also going to school for Respiratory Therapy. I’ve always been passionate about helping people in the medical field. I have one main hobby and that is to work out. If you know me, you know the gym is my thing. Working out and challenging myself day in and day out is what I love to do. Transforming my body is the one thing I truly live for.
2. When did you realize you needed a change and why?
I have always been a big girl. I’ve never felt comfortable in my own skin. I hated the girl staring back at me in the mirror. I was sick and tired of the way I looked. My journey started around the age of 18. Back then, I was working out but I didn’t have a “Why.” Although I knew I needed a change, it wasn’t clear enough for me to see the importance of why I needed to change.
Fast forward to 2018, my life drastically changed and I became a mom. After giving birth to my daughter, I thought I would “snap back” to my pre-baby body but that wasn’t the case. Instead of losing the baby weight, I was gaining more as the weeks and months went by. I don’t know what it was. I just couldn’t stop eating all of the “good” food our bodies crave but in reality, it’s junk food. I failed to meal prep like I had faithfully done in the past. I wasn’t making the time to workout. I was coming up with all types of excuses as to why I couldn’t do it. Bottomline, I became LAZY and I knew that wasn’t me. I was frustrated, angry, disappointed and depressed; how did I let myself go.. again?! How did I get up to 264 lbs? When did this happen? So many questions… I felt like a failure!
I got to the lowest point in my life and a choice needed to be made. I had a heart to heart with myself and said, “This is not who I am and this is not who I am meant to be.” I looked at my beautiful miracle baby girl, my gift from God on October 2019 and said, “Enough is enough!” I literally said, “that’s it and I cannot continue to live like this. My daughter cannot see me like this. I can’t and won’t give up! From that day forward, things began to change for me. It wasn’t easy but I started to put in the work. I eliminated the excuses and made the time. Let me just interject here for a moment and say that when something is important, you will make the time. Slowly my body was changing not only physically but internally something was shifting. For the first time in my life, I started to love myself. I began to believe that I could lose the weight and be healthy.
Although I began this weight-loss journey without a “why”, today I can firmly say that my daughter is my WHY. I need to set an example for her. I want her to live a healthy lifestyle as well. However, it first starts with me setting the example so that she can follow in my footsteps.
3. With so many options out there, why did you decide to lose weight the natural way with exercise and eating healthy knowing it would take longer to see results?
I find that losing the weight naturally is a lot more sustainable in the long run. A healthy weight loss is 1-2 lbs a week. When opting for the natural route, you really learn what works best for YOU. This includes the types of foods and workout routines that best suit you. My personal opinion is that if it comes easy, it won’t last long. Whatever you truly work for, you’ll appreciate and cherish even more.
4. During this metamorphosis process, what have you learned about yourself? What has been your greatest lesson?
This process has taught me many things, Most importantly, it's taught me how strong I can be both physically and mentally. Being on a weight-loss journey is a mental game. If I’m not in it mentally, I’m not going to achieve my goals. If I don’t commit to myself, I’m just wasting my time. Also, I knew that no one else was going to do this for me so it was up to me. I’ve learned to trust the process and literally take it one day at a time. Above all, I’ve learned to give myself grace. I didn’t gain weight overnight. Therefore, I’m not going to lose it overnight. Patience has been my greatest lesson. Without it, I would have given up a long time ago and I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today.
5. What has been the hardest and most rewarding thing about this whole process?
The hardest part for me is the nutrition. I eat 5-6 meals a day so every 2-3 hours. On top of that, I drink a gallon of water and take my supplements. Not to mention, the fight to wake up at the crack of dawn 5-6 days a week to put my body through a routine. My workout consists of three leg days and two upper body days. It’s so rewarding when I look in the mirror and I am able to see the hard work pay off. I love the transformation portion of the process. I love to see the changes my body has made and continues to make. For the second part of the question, I would have to say that the biggest reward of all is my mental growth. I can wholeheartedly say, “I LOVE MYSELF.” Working out is not just about the physical transformation. I had to transform the way I viewed myself in order for my body to follow. You can’t have negative thoughts of yourself and think you’re going to succeed in this journey or in anything In life. You must constantly renew your mind and filter out the garbage that is constantly fighting to enter into your mind.
6. What would you tell your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to make better food choices. I would encourage her and teach her the importance of being active. I would sit with her and whisper in her ear to love herself more. I would tell her to look in the mirror and see how beautiful she really is. I would tell her that although life can be harsh at times, she doesn’t have to be harsh on herself. I would advise her to be patient because she’ll need it. I would also tell her to brace herself for the many tests she will go through but through it all, to trust God and trust the process. I would assure her that everything will be okay even if in those moments she doesn’t see it. Finally, I would remind her to dig deep for the strength that lies within her because she is stronger than she thinks.
7. In moments of discouragement, what kept you going even when you didn’t want to?
What kept me motivated in times of discouragement was looking at old pictures of myself when I was overweight. I would think back and remember how I felt back then which was more than enough for me to keep going because I wanted to make sure I didn’t feel like that again. This is why I keep pushing.
Most importantly, we were given the body we have and it is our responsibility to care for it. We are our Father’s creation, made in His image and neglecting to care for it is disrespectful to our Creator.
8. Nowadays, what does a typical day look like for you?
Do you really want to know what my typical day looks like? Lol! Well, here it goes: I’m up no later than 4:15am and head to the gym. My workouts start around 4:45-5:00am and they are divided by three leg days, two upper body days and four post weight training cardio sessions. I’m out the door no later than 6:30-7:00am.
I come back home to get Zo ready for school. I drop her off and then work 9:00-5:30pm. After work, I go to school. This is all while making time every 2-3 hours to eat my meals. Then I go home to get things ready for the next day. I cook dinner, do my homework, and take care of my daughter’s needs. I try to be in bed no later than 10:30pm every night. It’s hard, I know. Sometimes, I don’t know how I do it but God is my strength. I am a single mother to a toddler. Not to mention, that mommy duties never end. However, I am still able to do it. We’re all given 24 hours, the same amount of time is allotted to all of us. It's a matter of how well you manage your time that will determine if you will succeed or not.
9. What’s next for you? Where do you see yourself in the near future?
My goal right now is to keep losing weight, build muscle and continue to tone. One day in the near future, I would love to compete in a body building competition within the Wellness division. I want to be able to compete in shows and possibly even win one. Thankfully, I have coaches who are pushing me through every aspect of this rigorous journey. They’re helping me get ready not only physically but mentally as well. I am more focused than ever on my training and staying on track with my meal plan.
10. What advice can you give someone who feels stuck and does not have the motivation to do what needs to be done for their health?
Do not think about what you want to look like in six months but instead, take it one day at a time. If you woke up today and had a healthy breakfast, you’ve already won the day. The next day, just add one more new routine and begin building on that. The goal is to keep adding something new each day. Small changes everyday lead up to big results. When you look back, you’ll see that those little wins you gained on a daily basis were fundamental in reaching one of your many fitness goals.
Do not expect transformation to happen overnight It’s just not going to happen. You have to trust the process, put in the work, and be very patient. Motivation will not always be there. Discover your “why” and ask yourself, “Why do you want change?” Write it down so that in those days when you just don’t feel like putting in the work and staying on track, you can read it and be reminded of your “why.” This will motivate you to get up and keep pushing. TRUST ME! I’m not always motivated but when I look back to where I started, that’s enough motivation to keep grinding everyday. Find a routine that works for YOU and I promise you’ll see the changes you’re looking for. Like I said before, we all have the same 24 hours in a day, I’m sure you’re able to spare 30 minutes of your day to stay active. Also, find a couple of hours during your week to cook your meals and be prepared to crush your goals. If I can do it as a single mom working two jobs and going to school, YOU CAN TOO! Where there is a will, there is a way. If you have the will, God will give you the strength and power to get it done.
Thank you Karen for being so open and transparent. I know everyone who reads this, in one way or another, will be impacted by your story. If you wish to follow Karen and her fitness journey, you can find her on www.instagram.com/kk_nohemi
Be Encouraged, Be Blessed!
~landypf
