This week marks three years since I started using a health coach to guide many of my life
decisions. I can honestly say that using HPHI, Tyler and Lacie LaFleur, has changed my life for the better in so many ways. I’m not only down 60 pounds, but my mental health is so much better.
Reasons for Change
I began my journey with my health coach for one reason, and one reason alone. My husband began coaching with Tyler, and was losing weight. He felt so great. I’m sitting here like, “Good for him, I’m so proud.” Then one day, I was looking over his shoulder as he weighed himself. WE WEIGHED THE SAME! I’m here to tell you that buying a size 18 clothing didn’t bruise my ego. I was fine with my body, but weighing the same as my dear husband was a huge hit to my pride. I knew I wanted to do something, so I got in touch with Tyler. His first question was, “What are your goals?” My cringe worthy answer was, “To weigh less than Justin.” Talk about searching for a healthy lifestyle for all the wrong reasons.
The Beginning
Tyler had me sending pictures of all my meals to him. He never asked me what I weighed. Just what my food goals were. After completing a health assessment, he believed he could help me with my allergies, and hip pain. I was shocked, I did not know that my diet was affecting how I feel every day. After a month of eating a ton of fruit, veggies, and protein, while watching my carbs, I was down a few pounds, but more importantly I wasn’t waking up with sinus headaches anymore. I wasn’t constantly popping allergy meds. My hip pain wasn’t keeping me up at night. I felt like a new person.
After about a year of health coaching, I began working out. It is incredibly difficult to carve time out of my full time job, two kids, church responsibilities, etc to find time to work out. Some days it’s 20 minutes in the living room. Some days it’s as long as I want at the gym. What I learned once I started working out, was that my mental health was dramatically improving. I was no longer stress eating sweets. I would crave healthy food, like a delicious salad. I would become cranky and short tempered when I wasn’t able to workout for a few days. I also learned that certain foods would make me irritable. If I wasn’t taking care of my body and mind, by eating right, working out, resting, and so forth, I wasn’t a happy person.
What I’ve Learned
I’ve learned so much over the past three years, but if I could sum it up in a paragraph, I’d say this: You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. I think our 
tendency as moms is to put our husbands and babies first. If their needs are met then we should be happy. But along this healthy journey I’ve learned that my needs are important too. The scale doesn’t matter like it used to. Feed your body what it needs, and the scale is secondary. If I take care of myself, then I’m far better at taking care of them. I’m a happier mom, and not nearly as short tempered. I also have more energy and don’t need a nap like I used to. I’m more attentive to my husband and his needs. It’s nice to usually have the energy to help him out. I definitely don’t have time for cancer or other health issues, so I have to make time for being healthy. So moms, I encourage you, take time to take care of yourself. Hire a health coach. Get a gym membership. Leave your kids to go for a 20 minute run, even if they whine. You are important, and your needs count too.
