10 Incredible Lessons From 10 Years in Health and Fitness
Ten years ago, I walked into Jim’s office (the hubs) and announced, “If I am going to work, I am doing what I love and where I can make a positive impact.” At that time, we were pulling up our bootstraps from a failed startup, and our three kids were in High School.
Ten lessons I learned in no particular order doing what I love.
1. It takes Guts, Determination, Resilience, and Courage to run your own business.
Who knew how fun it would be to pick myself up over and over again? Through being tired, rejected, humiliated, and lacking belief comes invigoration from picking oneself up off the muddy floor. I never imagined I would be in business for myself, and I love every second of it. Have I considered throwing in the towel? Hell, Yes! But the gift of learning, meeting gifted people in the health and wellness space, and creating something that is my own is powerfully rewarding and has gifted me with a meaningful career.
2. Everyone is “Stressed Out.”
Our bodies, cells, gut, and brain are overloaded. Life happens, and no one is immune to struggle and suffering. Unfortunately, the human capacity for dealing with excess stress is taking a grave toll. Working as a personal trainer, I began to see the impact of stress on my clients and knew there had to be better ways to respond to these stressors. Establishing rest and recovery are at the heart of work with my clients today.
3. Health and Nutrition is not about Food
Most of my clients want to Know What to Eat, and What Not To Eat. Herein lies the problem; more knowledge doesn’t always equate to power. Everyone is unique, and therefore, what works for me, or your friend may not work for you.
It is not more knowledge you need; it is a deeper self-belief that you are worth experiencing all the juiciness in life. Believing others in your life are grateful you are in it and want the best for you. You have to be willing to let go of doing it all, to step out of your comfort zone, and be you. You have to be looking forward to a future where your health allows you to do the things you love.
If not…you settle for Pizza and Ice Cream, then blame it on lack of discipline.
My role is to help my clients discover where they get stuck. Remove any obstacles, and ease into creating habits and choices that work for them.
4. It Is Not Calories In vs. Calories Out Alone
Hormones Matter. While a calorie deficit is necessary for Fat Loss, Hormones dictate metabolism. Knowing what influences your metabolic hormones from Environmental Toxins to our thoughts, and from when and what we eat plays a role in our weight, weight resistance or flexibility, brain, and gut health.
5. Slow Down, Pause, and Wonder
“I wonder?” It is a Magical question when we slow down, stop pressing, attempting to control all that is around us, and accept where we are at the current moment. The women I work with have a tremendous amount of pressure, leading to Dis-Ease, exhaustion, anxiety, and more.
The incredible gift of productivity, creativity, success, and optimal health happens when we take a step back, sit in quiet, breathe, walk, play, and laugh.
6. I Suck at A lot of Things and it is OK
Marketing, Branding, Website Development, Writing, Content Creation are all the “things” I never considered I might have to learn, get good at, or find great people to help or hire. Today, after hiring a website designer for health and wellness professionals, you are reading my first blog, with my new company name - Deb G Health. Thank you, Ambra. Take away message - Find your peeps, ask for help, hire help, and be OK with failing.
7. Listen, Really Listen
The practice of listening is a continual process. The art shows up in the tapestry of stories many women have shared. Stories of joy, pain, fear, suffering, determination, and resiliency. Be open, listen, and the opportunity to hear incredible stories will emerge.
People want to be heard, and they want to know you care.
It has taught me to hear and understand the intricacies and commonalities we all share.
8. “All Disease Begins In The Gut”
Today, this is truer than ever. We are learning more each day about the gut microbiota, which contains tens of trillions of microorganisms. The gut breakdown and damage is hard to avoid due to herbicides, pesticides, plastics, stress, and more. I promise to be speaking more about the gut.
9. Mindset Matters More Than You Can Imagine
The power of the mind may play the most influential role in our daily choices. It is critical to do everything we can to dial-in our mindset and habits, to master the internal negative stuff. There are mindset techniques to create the life we desire. Small mental, emotional shifts practiced consistently over time add up to the quality of HEALTH and LIFE we want.
10. One Step or Day At A Time
When I began 10 years ago, I had no vision of where I would be today. I continued to put one foot in front of the other, leaned into resistance, and have been willing to create, learn, fail, and try again along the way.
There will always be fear, and you can’t expect to know how something will turn out. I could easily allow my age to hold me back. I encourage you to leap, to take the 1st step towards the thing you know you need the most. When you do, I promise you will breathe a little easier and be able to take the next step.
You know the saying Life is Short - So Don’t Wait - Take the Leap!