35 Pounds Lighter One Year Later

One of my clients shares his testimonial about his experience at Be the Change Nutrition after recently reaching our one year anniversary of working together!

In Mike’s words:

Corinne’s Be the Change Nutrition is saving my life and I am going to tell you about it.

I have been overweight most of my life, with surges of activity and better eating, but only to fall back into lethargy and bad habits. Corinne’s dedication, patience and insights are exactly what I needed to start – and continue – losing pounds after all these years.

It was “fun enough” to be a big, fun guy for all these years, but in reality, the tears of a clown are what were hiding behind the chuckles. Overweight people will know that being fat means ‘selling yourself short’ and ‘accommodating others’ over looking out for yourself.  There is a real psychological element to being overweight and these issues can not be fully tackled by just- the familiar but limiting “eat less, exercise more” simplicity, or a stack of diet books or some type of “I’ll go to the gym everyday until I’m in shape” mentality.  One must really have the help of a trained, and compassionate, licensed nutritionist like Corinne Goff to really break through these obstacles of a self-sabotaging mindset and the negative behaviors associated with being obese.

Corinne knows what she is talking about. Upon meeting her, you will discover that she has a very healthy physique and happiness to her face that most of us would envy.

More so than “what to eat and what not to eat,”  Corinne helped me discover the ‘whys and hows’ of my overeating. Case in point: I never realized just how much bread, carbohydrates, sugars and sweets I had been eating until Corinne had me document my food intake with a journal. Only then, could we really see together the mistakes I was making. Yes, I will use the word ‘mistakes’ because, to cut to the chase, to eat like I had been my whole life was a detrimental mistake, not only to my looks, but to my health, my career as an Actor, and my enjoyment of life.

I will never get back the years I spent being overweight, all I can do now is move forward, and I advise anyone reading this to remember that every day you put off getting help is another day of misery. Or even worse, mediocrity. Because when you are miserable, at least you feel it. When you are just mediocre, you don’t feel anything.

This is your wake up call. If you are fat, pleasantly plump, ‘large and in charge’, a BBW, ‘not fat just husky’, Big & Tall, portly, jolly,  or whatever you and your friends like to think of yourself as… that is mediocre. That is not living up to your best potential. You are hiding behind the fat. You are hiding behind fear.

Kill the excuses. The fact that many, if not most, of us  Americans are overweight is not a good excuse. The fact that your family, or your friends, or your spouse or even your kids are overweight are not good enough reasons to not apply yourself now to losing weight.

If you are struggling, then you know you care. Call Corinne. She will work with you, to make things happen for you. You can do it and Corinne and her Be the Change Nutrition can help!

Corinne Goff’s  Be The Change Nutrition consultation helped me lose 35 pounds in twelve months. Every pound has been a challenge and Corinne has been with me the whole time.  I started in September 2015 at 302, then reached my goal of 289 by Jan 1, 2016. Just getting to 289, even if I had to take my shoes off!,  and making that simple first goal was great.  We have set monthly goals since, most I have met, some I have not.  But we keep pushing forward, meeting every single week. I weighed in at 267.6 at my last weigh in with Corinne in early September, 2016. The next goal is 259 by January 1, 2017. I may get there sooner. For 2018, I will focus on my life-goal weight. But, one step at a time, and I am slightly ahead of schedule. That’s the nuts and bolts.

Beyond pounds, for me the real deal is how I look and how I feel. I don’t have that same “tired” feeling all the time, or that usual “bloated after eating” feeling… that feeling I had all day, no matter what or when I ate. I don’t have that ache in my lower back anymore. Well, there’s 35 pounds less to carry! Also, for the first time in years, I got in the “30s” for pants size. From 42 down to 38. And, for the first time since college, I am into a size 2XL shirt, instead of a 3XL or even a 4XL.

It’s great to be “a big guy.” I’ll always be a big guy. But to be a big guy in a 2XL instead of a 3XL… that is the change that I want to be. And now, that is the change that I am!

If you are overweight and/or unhealthy, and have read this enough to feel a glimmer of inspiration to call Corinne, I urge you to call her now, before thinking too much about it, or “discussing it with my spouse” or “sending her an email when I get home from work.” We all know those are the delays that we put in front of us to avoid taking action.

You aren’t going to figure this out on your own, and you won’t be able to “wait until next year” or “when my schedule clears” or to “get back to this later because now is just not the time” to lose weight. These are the lies we tell ourselves.

Start telling yourself the truth. You need to lose weight. Call Corinne now and get started. – Mike

Before working with Corinne and Be the Change Nutrition (May 2015).

One year into working with Corinne and Be the Change Nutrition (Sept 2016).

Thanks so much for sharing Mike!

What do I believe helped make Mike’s nutrition counseling experience such a success?

Definitely his positive attitude!

No matter what type of week he’s had, he keeps his focus on his long-term goals and the behavior changes he needs to keep working towards.  He does not let any setbacks get him down.  He knows and accepts that making changes is challenging and never gives up.

When you know what is important to you– you find a way to make it happen.

There is nothing I want more than to see my clients get where they want to go with their nutrition/health goals.  Mike is an excellent example of what you can achieve with persistence, patience and a positive attitude.  I look forward to continuing to work with him through his weight loss and wellness journey.

Note:  I take client confidentiality very seriously.  Your personal information and what is discussed at our meetings is never shared.  Mike graciously volunteered his story for my website.