Eva
STRONGER TOGETHER!
OUR STORIES
Eva - Client of the MonthAugust 2017
Last May, Eva joined our Guidance program all the way from Chicago! Since then, she never ceased to amaze us! No matter what was going on in her life, she made a commitment to put herself first and not let excuses get in the way of her health journey. Throughout the program, Eva has been managing to keep up with her nutrition and training all while traveling, not having all the equipment in her home, learning and reading, letting go of old beliefs that never served her well, and just be incredibly persistent! She took ownership of the process, and that's why she's getting amazing results! She has some good insights to share...
Q: What was your goal when you originally signed up?
Eva: I needed to be healthier and more fit! I also needed someone to hold me accountable with this because I couldn’t hold myself accountable, and neither could my friends! I had a friend who was trying to, and they gave me Pilates exercises to do, but it wasn't enough! I really needed to have a structured approach!
Q: Why was it important to you to get healthy and fit?
Eva: I had a very stressful year the previous year! I had put on a lot of weight, and I felt like I needed to get healthier and reduce stress in my life. I wasn't doing well health-wise, especially with sleep and fitness. I wasn't happy, and I wasn't comfortable with my body!
Q: Tell me more about some of the symptoms you were experiencing before we started!
Eva: I wouldn't sleep through the night! I would always get up at least once or twice to go to the bathroom. I’d sleep in, and never get up early. I’d also go to bed late. I could go until like 1 o’clock before I had my first meal. I’d work, work, work, and then forget that I hadn't eaten. I didn't eat very many meals! I shoved my food down fast (as fast as possible) my entire life.
I didn't do any cooking whatsoever! I only bought what I thought was healthy at whole foods, like some protein with quinoa salad, or salad with carrots or broccoli. Pretty much everything was from the deli. I was cutting out all sugar and dairy. The only dairy that I ate was some half and half in coffee. I even went lactose free, but it wasn't the same! I loved and missed cheese, dairy, sugar, and ice cream! I thought I was eating healthy, but I never cooked unless I was having friends over!
Q: What would you consider the things that held you back before starting the program?
Eva: I had so much to do, and I couldn't focus the stuff in my life. Me and my health were always the last priority. I just got that in if I had the time. If I didn't have time it was because my work and other stuff got the focus instead!
Q: How did you hear about us? What made you decide to sign up with us?
Eva: I had seen you and met you through dancing! I looked at the way you looked, and you appeared healthy. I wanted to try something different and be in the program. The first thing I saw was when you had that reboot program, and I thought I could do that 28-day reboot! It was affordable, and that’s what drew me in. I was intrigued by the holistic approach!
Q: How were you feeling about yourself when you first started the program?
Eva: When I first started the program it really turned everything I had heard read about fitness and nutrition upside down! Not as much about fitness, but definitely about nutrition! I used to do a lot of cardio for example, but I decided to give this a go, sign up, and trust it. If it works, it works! If it doesn't work, at least I tried it! So, I’m going to go in with an open mind and just do it! I put my preconceived ideas aside and went go for it. I bought "How to heal your metabolism" by Kate Deering, and started reading the book before I started the program. When I started the program I just read what I was supposed to do! I’m just focusing on the stuff I must do, and eventually I’ll dig deeper into the “whys” and explanations!
Q: What makes you stick with this program, continuing on with the guidance program, after completing it?
Eva: It’s working! It really changed a lot for me! It has reduced stress in my life, made me more focused, and I no longer put myself last! There are so many changes that I could go on for a long time. I wake up in the morning and have coffee and orange juice with gelatin, then I have breakfast. I eat more meals during the day. I actually eat before I go to bed, and I sleep all night almost every night. There have been just a couple of nights where I wind up going to the bathroom, but I sleep all night and I try to go to bed early. Most of the time I’m asleep by 11 and up no later than 8, which NEVER used to happen! I sit at the table when I eat, and I eat slowly. I actually cook! Since I started the program I haven't bought any pre-made food from the salad bar, or anywhere else, other than a few times I'd been obligated to go to restaurant. When that happens, I pick what's best for me! When I travel I make sure I bring gelatin and snacks! I try to go to stores as soon as I can! I bring my coffee and little drip cone. I also always leave the house with some fruit and some protein in my bag, in case I get stuck outside for longer than expected, so that I can have something to eat. I don't get upset and go off in the same way that I used to! I’m more relaxed and have gone down in the medication that I’m on. I have a calmer more rational outlook on things! There’s been a lot of inner changes, and a lot of changes in general, in my life! I also looked at myself one day and saw that my cellulite somewhat disappeared. I look at my stomach and see that it actually shrunk. I know that’s the last thing that comes, and I really don't focus on that! I focus on other things, just doing the things that I need to do like making sure I eat my carrot. I make sure I eat many meals, and I track my calories. I log my food religiously! In the beginning it was a pain in the butt, but now I just get it done! I was also a little frustrated in the beginning because we didn't start the workout right away. We started the food thing first, and I wanted to start working out! It took a while before I actually got the program! I was kind of dragging a lot of the time to get my work out in! I’d wait until last thing in the evening, but now I’m more excited about doing it! I have better energy. I workout three times and go for a brief walk every now and then. I considered doing some cardio, but that’s not what the program says, so I should just do the program as is. I go home and declutter! This isn't just fitness! That’s the least of it actually!
My mom is thrilled that I’m actually cooking! She knows how much I hate cooking! Also, I’m not so focused on my appearance, body shape or weight because I think that is irrelevant! I still see that my body is changing! I don't always like what I see when I see myself in pictures, but it's where I am at right now! It’s okay, because I know that eventually I'm going to get somewhere else. The process is going to need to take its time! I haven't even set an end goal when it comes to my size, but I’m improving, and there are so many other positive things that that will come eventually! I’m in no hurry to get, because there is no end!
Q: What is it that you love the most about us? What is different about us compared to what you’ve tried in the past?
Eva: Well, I think since it’s not so much focused on the fitness result, it is a very holistic overall approach! A lot of other programs are about changing the way you eat, but it doesn't really consider your sleep, stress, and lifestyle! You know that stress will put weight on, but here you really try to give tools to reduce stress. I like that it isn't about exercising a lot, because I don't like to exercise for hours! I love that I don't have to exercise “more,” because it's about HOW I exercise, and I can eat more and what I really love, which makes me happy! I had also stopped eating cheese in the past, even though I LOVE CHEESE! I've always loved cheese! Now I can eat things that I really love to eat, and I really don't miss stuff that I used to eat. I don't eat anything I don't like! You know, I lick my plate! I’ve made food that is so good, and I don't even use a recipe!
Q: For someone looking to start a program with us, what advice would you give to them?
Eva: Be open minded! Go with the program, commit to it, and just be open minded! You can question, but just let go of everything else you thought and give it a chance! You’ll be amazed how it can change you!
Q: Do you think it helped reading Kate Deering’s book, “How to Heal your Metabolism,” before you started with us?
Eva: I don't know if it helped me, but it gave me a little bit of insight on what I was in for! It may have helped me a little bit, but I felt that once I started I was just going to go with it, because obviously I need help. I can't do it alone! What I have done and was doing just wasn't working!
