Working in in the fitness industry for over 22 years I’ve seen a lot, and I mean a lot of programs, trends, secret formulas and fads come and go when it comes to helping women on their weight loss journey. Typically, those programs throw out claims like “Lose 20lbs in 20 days”, “One month to a shredded new you” or some other such nonsense. But, the thing that really sticks in my craw?
It works (no, not the wraps…don’t even get me started). That marketing works. It’s effective and you plop down your hard-earned money and buy the product/program/magic pill.
You spend your money on their marketing. And hey, I’m not judging you at all, I get it. I’ve bought those programs myself. Everyone wants a quick fix, a secret formula, a magic pill that melts fat off my cellulite-dappled ass. A lot of people, and I’m talking 80+% of women when asked if they could lose a few pounds say “yes, absolutely, I want to lose weight”.
But, my questions is why? Why do you want to lose weight? Health reasons? To fit into your jeans again? Improve your quality of life? More energy? What is the real reason you want to lose weight?
I would suggest to you that the real reason you want to lose weight is that you’d like to feel better in your own skin. Yes, yes, yes…some of you need to lose weight for health reasons and your doctor has prescribed exercise (I seriously love those doctors) but for the majority of the women I’ve spoken with, you simply want to feel better, have more energy, love yourself again, be more confident.
That…has nothing to do with losing weight. That has everything to do with how food and fitness can make you feeeeeeeeel.
I’ve created numerous programs through Hot Mama. I’ve created a 12-week fitness and nutrition education program called Body Smarts. AMAZING RESULTS. I’ve developed at 28-day at-home workout program called IGNITE designed to increase energy. AMAZING RESULTS. I’ve created a 10-day reset program called Back on the Bandwagon. AMAZING RESULTS.
With all of these programs, women comment in our Support Squad FB Groups about the inches and pounds lost. Do you want to know what I immediately ask them? The number one question you should always ask someone who is on a new fitness and nutrition/weight loss program?
“But, how do you feel?”
That is what you should be asking someone who is trying to “lose weight” or “get healthy”.
“How do you feel?”
There are a lot, a lot, a lot of programs out there where you can lose weight. But, they’re not all designed and developed to leave you with energy and feeling amazing. I can’t tell you the number of women I’ve talked with as they’re going through a “30-day shred” or “cleanse” or whatever the heck magic potion they just bought and I ask “how do you feel” and they say “I’m so tired. Exhausted. Horrible. TERRIBLE”.
Sure, sure…the beginning of any new program is difficult. You’re changing habits, breaking cycles and “shocking” your body with *gasp* movement and healthy food. Your body needs time to adjust, to go through sugar withdrawal, break cravings, adapt to you drastically changing how you’ve been living your daily life! But, at the end of the program, if you’ve lost weight but still feel terrible…is that a good program?
Is that the way I’m supposed to market my programs? Because I refuse.
Here’s an example: I created a program called Screw the Scale. It’s a fitness program that not only takes you through 6-weeks of workouts and fitness education but it also it incorporates self-love exercises and focuses on using fitness as a tool to really learn to love your body as it is, right now.
Screw the Scale is an emotional program. It’s hard work. It’s one of the best programs I’ve ever designed if not the best. But, it’s not a hot seller. Why? Because YOU HAVE TO DO THE WORK. There’s no secret formula. No quick fix. It’s emotional. You’re going to cry. You’re going to sweat. And, at the end of the program, you’re going to send me messages saying things like: “I’ve never loved my body this much” or “Screw the Scale has completely changed how I feel about my body, myself and my energy…I love me again”.
Did people on Screw the Scale lose weight? Probably. Do I care? Nope. I care how you feel.
“How do you feel?”
So, I guess I stand tall against typical fitness marketing and hope to God the shift we’re seeing towards loving your body no matter what continues. I refuse to market my programs where the focus is on weight loss. Will I mention it? Yup. Mama needs to hook you somehow and apparently telling you that you can love your body, be more confident and have more energy isn’t enough. But, I swear to you, Mamas, the focus of all I do for women is on making you feel better, love yourself and have more energy to get you through your beautiful life.
I beg of you, help me shift the conversation. The next time you speak with someone who is trying something new and trying to lose weight, don’t ask them how much weight they’ve lost, ask them how they feel.
It’s the MOST important question you can ask someone on a fitness and nutrition program. The. Most. Important. Question.
“How do you feel?”
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