Long-Term Success

We returned home from our trip yesterday afternoon.  Our Take Shape for Life health coach convention was outstanding - lots of learning and inspiration and it was wonderful connecting with many friends and meeting new friends.

Because of the growing obesity epidemic, I felt a sense of urgency at this convention - more than I've ever felt it before.  More and more people have crossed the line from overweight to obese and the health repercussions are wreaking havoc in their lives.  This growing epidemic is evident everywhere we go and was certainly visible at the airport and as we spent a pre-convention day at Downtown Disney.  Seeing people struggle to walk, some literally huffing and puffing, others barely fitting into airline seats - it breaks my heart!  I was there once and I remember how I felt, I remember how hard it was.  That fuels my own passion to help as many people as I can!

What was interesting was seeing how different our group of 2,500 health coaches was when compared to the general population.  The average weight loss per person in that room was 60 pounds, but some have lost much more than that.  Some coaches are still on their weight loss journey so not everyone there was at their goal, but the percentage of people at a healthy weight in that room was far greater than the general population.

Seeing and talking to people who have successfully maintained their weight loss for as long as nine years was incredibly inspirational and encouraging!  It also speaks to the reality that truly embracing this program in its entirety - including Maintenance - ensures long-term success.  These individuals have beaten the odds that say that over 85% of people who lose weight regain the weight, plus additional weight, within two years.




Maintaining over time doesn't just happen, of course.  These individuals made a conscious choice to permanently change their eating habits and their lifestyle.  That is a choice that has to be reinforced every day.




Interestingly, there was another factor that impacted the ability of these individuals to maintain their weight loss.  Take Shape for Life/Medifast just completed a two-year study looking at long-term success rates and found that Take Shape for Life health coaches are four times more likely to reach and maintain a healthy weight - FOUR TIMES!  I believe one of the reasons this is true is that we can't coach with integrity unless we're actually doing these things ourselves.  Talking with others keeps me mindful of what I need to be doing myself and keeps me in a health-focused mindset.  I became a health coach to help others, but it has also made the difference in helping me maintain my own weight loss and continue my own optimal health journey.

No matter where you are on your journey - just starting out, nearing (or at) your goal, or somewhere in-between, you have in your hands the tools you need to reach and maintain a healthy weight.  The tools I'm talking about aren't just the Medifast meals (although they are wonderful and are the catalyst for our weight loss).  You are learning new, healthy habits along the way: eating small, frequent meals, drinking lots of water, incorporating activity and exercise, tapping into support, and making daily choices that support your long-term goal.  All of these things together will ensure your long-term success!

That long-term success begins with the choices you'll make today, so choose wisely :-)