Health Warrior - Patricia

I've worked with Patricia since early 2018 and, over the past 2 years, I have watched her face challenges head on, overcome obstacles and diligently go after her goals. And boy has she achieved them!

Patricia has lost over 70 lbs., eliminated her knee pain and completely reinvented her relationship with food. Not only that, but her stomach issues have been resolved and she's become a weekly regular at the gym.

 It's been such a privilege to partner with Patricia in these pursuits and I'm so happy to have the chance to introduce her to all of you! 

If you're looking for a little inspiration on your fitness journey, want to hear some words of wisdom or just need a kick in the pants (in the nicest way possible), then head over to the blog to read my interview with Patricia.

I hope her story will encourage you to stay positive, ask for help and, no matter what, keep going! 

C: Hi Patricia, tell us a little bit about yourself and your health journey!

P: Hi! My name is Patricia and I began my journey because I wanted to be healthier. At 34, I was overweight and had bad pain in my knees and I knew things were not going to get better as I got older. I needed to do something. I started this journey in 2018 with simple goals in mind. Eating healthy and exercising. I just wanted to lose weight so my knees wouldn't hurt and my stomach issues would get better. Now I'm on a low-carb diet and my body is happy with that! I have lost 70 lbs. and don't have the knee pain anymore! Taking out gluten and sugar has also helped a great deal.

C: That's amazing. Did you have any other goals that you've been able to accomplish since we started working together?

P: I do - I can go to the gym without fear. I'm able to exercise and go running, which I never thought I would be able to do. And I'm even working on being able to do a pull-up :)

C: That's incredible. You've accomplished a lot. In your opinion, what's the most important part of a healthy lifestyle?

P: I think the most important part of a healthy lifestyle is being happy with the choices that you've made in life and realizing it's still a work in progress. Also staying positive!

C: Absolutely. Do you find that your perspective has changed since you first started?

P: It has. When I first started, it was stressful and so hard. I had to force myself to do it, but once I made it a routine, it became so much easier. Now I approach health and fitness as something fun and challenging. I enjoy going to the gym and doing more outdoorsy stuff as well.

C: It definitely can be hard at the beginning, but you stuck with it! I love that. Do you do anything to set yourself up for a healthy day? Walk us through your typical morning routine.

P: My typical morning routine is really boring! I get up early (around 5-5:30) and make myself breakfast. I'm an early morning eater and a coffee drinker. Breakfast is usually eggs with toast. Personally, I prefer to have all my meals earlier in the day, so that I don't eat too late and go to bed with a full stomach. I usually don't eat past 7pm. Some days I exericse in the morning before work. But generally I just try to do little things throughout the day to make me healthier. Trying new recipes, or parking far away from the store so I walk more. That kind of thing.

C: Those kinds of little habits can actually make a big difference! Do you have a favorite meal that you've discovered from trying recipes?

P: My favorite go-to meal is stir fry. You can't go wrong with eating meat and veggies! I just replace the rice with riced cauliflower and I love it. I'm on a low carb diet, so I have to replace a lot of my carbs - but now I find that I'd rather eat more veggies and meat than other foods. I don't really eat high carb foods anymore. I prefer protein-rich staples, like nuts, peanut butter and yogurt.

C: Yummy. How do you set health and fitness goals for yourself?

P: I have you to help me with those! You've helped me to measure my progress and it reminds me of how far I've come. Honestly, my health goals are just to keep doing what I'm doing.

C: That's so good. It sounds like you've found a routine that really works for you! What would you say is one non-negotiable part of that routine?

P: I go to the gym 2-3 times a week. That's a must. I know myself and I have to keep this as part of my routine or I won't do it. Also, I don't deprive myself of things that I'm craving. If I want the cookie or candy, I eat it. But I only eat a part of it and save the rest for later. That way I don't fall off the wagon.

C: It's so important not to deprive yourself. A sense of deprivation can be a big barrier for a lot of people when it comes to getting healthier. What was the biggest barrier that you've had to overcome?

P: The biggest barrier I had to overcome was myself. I thought that I would fail and that there was no reason to become healthier. But then I realized that I had to be brave and to believe in myself. I had to believe that I could overcome challenges. And I needed help. I went to the doctor for advice. And a dietitian to help me develop a healthier relationship with food and a personal trainer to help me exercise properly. Without those people and the new mindset, I would have failed. So thank you!

C: Of course! It's been awesome to watch you take on these new challenges and take your health into your own hands. How do you stay motivated?

P: I consistently tell myself, "You can do it." It's important for me to stay positive.

C: And what's the best advice that you could give to someone who is at the start of their fitness journey?

P: Don't be afraid to ask for help. Lean on others when you stumble. Start simple and just have a single goal in mind and try to reach it. For me, I just wanted to be healthy. I started by controlling what I ate and then slowly worked on adding other goals. It's ok to fail, but it's more important whether you get up and try again.