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I had the distinct pleasure of attending the NASCAR Awards Banquet in New York City this past weekend. It is a big deal - a weeklong plethora of festivities for the champions of this every growing sport. It is held at the Waldorf-Astoria, has a "yellow" (red) carpet full of paparazzi, and all glitz and glamour that would even make Hollywood jealous.
When I received the invitation, I was so excited. Then was smacked with the question of "WHAT TO WEAR"? For men, it's pretty simple - Wear a Black Tux. For women, however, this is a “Project”. There are so many details and questions: what color, what style, what length, earrings, jewelry, hair up or hair down, what accessories, manicures, pedicures, etc. I decided to make it a fun adventure and set out to find my dress - the "one". On a trip back to where I called home for 18 years – Los Angeles, California, (I now live in Virginia), I found my grail – I deemed it “The Princess Gown". It was magical when I tried it on. I felt sparkly & pretty.
I then headed back home where I am a success coach and I coach people on up leveling all areas of their life. In all of my clients, regardless of their main goals, they work on their weight, health, fitness and energy level. I've been so proud of them for their achievements. Because of their tremendous progress, I got the inspiration to release my OWN “last 10 pounds” in anticipation of the event. I had wanted to restructure my body for a while now and this was the perfect motivation to do it.
KEY POINT 1 to weight release: A Timeframe.
I needed a timeframe because often goals will take the amount of time you give them. Have you ever noticed that you can clean your house or write an article in 15 minutes or take all day to do it? If it is too long, we lose momentum. If it is too short, we set ourselves up for failure. My timeframe was a couple of months for this event in NYC Nov 30th. It was a doable yet encouraging timeframe.
KEY POINT 2 to weight release: A Motivation.
I needed a motivation to do the behavior changes necessary to achieve my desired result. The unconscious mind seeks pleasure and avoids pain. The motivation has to be more pleasure than pain for us to take action on it. I held in my mind how much fun the trip/event would be if I were feeling the best in my body. The event was my motivation.
KEY POINT 3 to weight release: A Visualization.
I needed a visualization to hold in my mind as my finish line. Some people use a weight on scale, or a BMI, or fat percentage or feeling or finally getting into their skinny jeans. The visualization creates the feelings and invokes the emotions necessary to take the actions. The Princess Gown was my perfect visualization. I hung in my “home gym” on the mirror. Every morning, I would see it and I would get excited to wear it.
KEY POINT 4 to weight release: A Plan for Nutrition.
I needed a plan for nutrition to help me structure my success. I am a coach for T Harv Eker's company - Peak Potentials. This summer, Harv held the "Seminar of the Century" in Aspen, Colorado. He invited all the top motivation speakers to attend. It was tremendous. One of the speakers was John Gray. As you probably know he wrote the book, "Men from Mars, Women from Venus". He has a new book out now called the "Mars & Venus Diet & Exercise Solution". He has studied brain chemistry - serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, endorphins, and testosterone and how it affects weight release and relationships. I found it fascinating that he had shared ways to offset that low energy feeling that people often experience from other weight loss strategies. Besides, this program allowed me to eat Cacao (organic chocolate). Any program that allows me to eat chocolate daily and still release weight is a good one for me! There are many great programs out there – Check Zeenami website for recommendations for you.
KEY POINT 5 to weight release: A Plan for Fitness.
I needed a plan for fitness to help me structure my success. I decided to keep it simple and to an hour. I’m a busy girl. I will walk on my treadmill for 30 minutes; do 10 minutes on the rebounder (a mini-trampoline), 5 minutes of situps, 5 minutes with weights, and 10 minutes of stretching.
KEY POINT 6 to weight release: A Daily Action Step.
I needed to do a daily action step toward my goal. Some days it was easy. Some days it was hard. Some days I was energized. Some days I exhausted. Often I could only do 5 minutes on the treadmill. If that was all I could do, that's what I did. One requirement was not to judge myself if I didn't do it "perfectly". The other requirement to this is to do the daily action regardless to build the habit and keep the focus.
KEY POINT 7 to weight release: A Celebration.
I needed to do celebration for myself. I was a cheerleader in high school and in college. Now, I am a professional “cheerleader” for my clients. How fun is that? You'd be surprised how happy people are, (even CEOs) when I celebrate them. I celebrated my every workout and every half pound. I'd rather be in the energy of celebration that the energy of struggle. Wouldn't you? I celebrated all through the week in New York and thoroughly enjoyed and savored every delicious moment.
KEY POINT 8 to weight release: A Lifestyle Change.
I now need a lifestyle change to maintain. Now that I'm back from the event and the pressure is off, I have a choice. I can go back to my habits prior or can continue my new habits. THIS IS THE POINT OF CONSCIOUS CHOICE! I suggest you plan your next timeframe, your next motivation, your next visualization, your next plan for fitness & nutrition and take your daily action. Even if you are at your goal weight, keep that number in mind to maintain and work on up leveling your fitness. Oh, by the way, my next timeframe is Dec 15, my next motivation is a Christmas Party, and my next visualization is a "GODDESS GOWN"...
BEST WISHES TO YOU ON ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS!
Lori Banks, M.A., C.L.C., P.C.C. is a professionally certified life coach with her Masters in Psychology. She is a SuccessTracs coach for Peak Potentials, has her own coaching practice - In Bliss, inc. and is launching a new membership website for women…COMING SOON! She is on the coaches’ advisory board for Zeenami. Contact her at Lori.Banks@inblissinc.com for more information or a free session.
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