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Changing Your Mindset

Anytime you are trying to change a behavior or lifestyle you first need to really take a moment and dig deep down and change your current mindset.  I also like to call it “find your click”. I believe when I first started on my journey, I was ready to make the change and embrace this new lifestyle journey and because I knew the amount of weight I wanted to lose, I needed to be 100% committed.  There was something that was driving me to be so determined that I found “my click” and it has been on ever since.  Now, I want to also note that you will want to remember that your journey is about progress NOT perfection!! If you get caught up in the fact you need to be perfect, you will get frustrated and potentially be derailed. 

Ways to Keep Your New Mindset

I found that by writing down positive statements on note cards and keeping them in my daily journal, they were then available to me whenever needed. Again, try to remember that you do not need to be perfect but do work on keeping your motivation and determination.  The following are some bullet points that I’ve written down to help me not only get started and/or keep going:

  • What is important to you
  • What do you need to be successful
  • What steps do you need to take to remove barriers (clean out your cupboards; clean out your refrigerator; have a family meeting to share your goals and give them ways that can help you )
  • One statement that I would repeat is “nothing tastes as good as thin feels”

Keeping a journal can also really help you with exploring your emotions through the process.  There seriously is so much more to losing weight than just calories in and calories out!  In the past, if I would have a few cookies, I would beat myself up so much that I would say screw it and just eat the rest of the sleeve of cookies.  In these past 19 months, I have really worked at listening to my body, really thinking about everything I consumed and then enjoyed and savored what I was eating, thinking about how it is nourishing my body and to really think about what I’m going through emotionally.  

Life Happens and How to Work Through it 

Throughout the last several months, learning how to cope with life and not turn to food was a big step for me! In November, 2019, I had surgery to remove my gallbladder and just as so many others across the world experienced stress and loss due to the pandemic, I lost my dad to a heart attack during this time.  I was devastated and at a loss during such a sad and stressful time. Normally, I would turn to food to soothe the emotions and “help” me feel better but through my coach at Profile and talking to my husband, I was able to find other ways to channel my emotions.  I would go for a walk, clean out a closet, journal, brush my teeth, anything I could do to not turn to food.  Learning to listen to your body and mind is so crucial to your success.  Really take the time to listen before grabbing that cookie, chip, extra brownie or whatever it is. 

As you continue to go through your own journey, remember how important it is to accept yourself and give yourself grace! You are in charge of your own destiny, no matter what happens.  

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It Started with Profile!

Welcome to JCAPSJourney where I share my journey with Profile by Sanford and my experience on all sides of weight loss in forming a healthier lifestyle.  It wasn’t all glorious and there were a lot of twists and turns that I will dive into! I also want to shine a light on the behavioral and emotional feelings behind weight loss and how we interact with food! I hope by following me along this journey, you will connect and know you are not alone in your own challenges.  Let’s start the conversation on breaking down barriers to becoming a healthier YOU!  My journey with Profile has already been over 18 months but it is just beginning as the hardest part of my journey is keeping the weight off! 

How did Profile happen?

Profile has given me the tools to redefine my health and how I look at food. It has also empowered me to be dedicated to making the changes which have improved my life and made me feel alive again! 

I believe there are signs in life; when you pay attention, they give you guidance. I was actually talking to another co-worker waiting for someone else to join our meeting and she was telling me about her success on a program called Profile by Sanford.  I had never heard of it, but I was intrigued! I liked the fact that it was developed by physicians from Sanford Health and designed specifically for me. She told me they provide tools to help make nutritious choices, learn how to enjoy food that is good for the body, and help with long term health! I still had not made the call, but it was a week later at a friend’s house and she happened to have Profile on her counter in her kitchen. She also shared her success with me.  It was then I knew, this was a sign for me to make it happen for myself! I have been working for years to lose weight, watching my carbs, working out but never could make progress. I did not want to give up on my dream to lose the weight, so I was thrilled to learn about this program. After learning it was developed by physicians, well…that sold me! 

Challenges Along the Way! 

There were challenges along the way as I was an emotional eater, I would turn to food when I was stressed, sad, happy, etc. While with Profile, I have persevered through some very stressful times throughout my 18 month journey, a surgery, loss of my dad, and let’s not forget a pandemic – COVID-19 but  I never gave up – I didn’t turn to food, I channeled those feelings to some other avenue like going for a walk, listening to music, lifting weights talking through my feelings with my husband, daughter or a friend. I feel STRONG and CONFIDENT that I have beat that emotional connection to food but not to be naive that the challenge will always be there, and it is important to acknowledge it and keep it at the forefront of my decisions. 

I am most proud of my focus to stay persistent to the Profile program and keeping my goals in check. I must also state, I acknowledge this journey is about progress NOT perfection which I often remind myself.  I have been persistent, I kept my goal in check and kept true to the Profile program.  My husband (who is one of my biggest supporters) would always say to me, “Trust the Process” and I have said that to myself a million times! In fact, I keep index cards in my daily planner that has words and phrases that I have repeated to myself throughout my journey and I take them out periodically to remind me to keep moving forward and to keep making these positive changes for my health, for myself, for my family! 

Fulfilling Dreams! 

My feelings through this journey on Profile has allowed me to reach down and grab what it takes to fulfill any dream.   I have always been a very outgoing person, but this has allowed me to feel better, have more energy to do all those things I’m used to doing but with more ease. It has given me more confidence in myself and that there are no dreams that are impossible! I keep pushing myself and I think even at the age of 51, it is important to never give up!! 

If you have been thinking about joining Profile or are hearing about the program for the first time,  I have said this numerous times, if you are thinking about joining Profile….run don’t walk and you will never regret it!!   It is important for your success on the program that you attend your coaching sessions.  My coach, Sarah, has been with me through my entire journey – – we have cried, and we have laughed together as we worked through challenges and victories.  I am forever grateful for Sarah as she was and is a vital part of my journey and definitely contributed to my success!!  If you follow the plan and attend your weekly coaching sessions, you will have the tools for success.  You are in charge and there is nothing you can’t do to achieve it! Believe and “Trust the Process”! 

Because of my journey, I have found a passion for sharing my success that I have had with Profile and love sharing my story. I love seeing others be successful in their weight-loss journey and enjoy having conversations with others whether it is answering questions, sharing recipes or ideas on what works for them and encouraging during challenging and successful times.  Being that emotional support sometimes is what it is all about. I know what it is like to struggle with weight most of my life. Now, having a company that has developed a way to work with each of your own DNA make-up to make that weight loss change is inspiring and I hope to help others make that decision to “run” through the door! 😊

Support System

I also want to say that I have had an AMAZING support system, my family was behind me 100% and I didn’t start this journey because of how I looked (not that it isn’t an amazing feeling to get into 7 sizes smaller clothes) but to be healthier so that I can hopefully be around for a long time to watch our kids have careers, families and a life of their own AND to enjoy my husband and our next chapter in our lives as we prepare for retirement! One of the most beautiful things my husband said to me was that he wanted me to know that he loves me now just as much as he loved me 130 lbs ago! My daughter was my inspiration as well, she had lost over 100 lbs on her own weight loss journey and we have pushed each other as we know this is not the end of our journeys but the beginning AND we will have to work hard to keep it off which may be more difficult to do than losing the weight, but we are aware and we encourage each other to reach our goals. It has been a great way to build her confidence as well!  As women, we are so hard on ourselves and we encourage each other to celebrate the things we love about ourselves and that it is ok to do so!