Lean Bodies Consulting Newsletter
Volume 11, February 28, 2008
Well, it's been a bit too long since the last newsletter, so I apologize. I've been quite busy. Anyway, welcome to another addition of the LBC newsletter. If you haven't received the previous issues of the newsletter and you'd like to, you can find the archives here.
In this issue the second part of an interview with LBC client Lyn Sherrell who's currently lost over 60 lbs and counting.
What’s New At Lean Bodies Consulting?
Not too much new with Lean Bodies Consulting in this update. Contest season is upon us again, which I always find exciting. We've got quite a number of girls in full prep mode for their 2008 figure competition seasons, starting with the Arnold Classic amateur this weekend, and everyone is coming along well. My first trip this year will likely be to the 2008 NPC Junior Nationals where I'll have a handful of girls competing. For a sample clip of a client workout, check out this clip put together by Noel Clark. After a very successful off-season she's pushing around some pretty big weights. Figure Prep for the 2008 Junior USAs
More Exercise Demos
We're also planning on making a big addition to the LBC exercise demo database in the coming months. Right now it is a 90+ exercise database and we're looking to at least double that on our next filming opportunity. This update will include a number of not-as-common exercises as well as many functional and bodyweight movements as well as additional variations of some of the movements we already have up. Stay tuned.
And while I've been rather lax on the blog updates lately, I did have a chance to put up two articles recently; the first one Interval Training & Fat Loss, which will be published in a print magazine shortly and a second on diet-induced Metabolic Damage. Check them out here.
LBC Client Interview – Lyn Sherrell Part 2
Picking up where we left off ... and Lyn is now down over 70 lbs.
EL: What kind of past difficulties have you had when trying to lose weight?
LS: I've pretty much had the same problems that most people who are trying to lose weight have. Before I started working with you, I was pretty overwhelmed by the amount of information that's out there. I mean, how do you know what's correct and what's not? There are so many misconceptions out there and it's frustrating to have to try and sort through all of it and find something that works.
Also, I was like most people, I wanted a quick fix to get the weight off. We are an instant gratification society and this is definitely evident in the weight loss industry. I can't tell you the number of times I tried the "Lose 30 pounds in 30 days" promotions with the reasoning that if I did that for 3 months I could lose close to 100lbs in that amount of time. Also, with me, there was a whole lot of fear of the unknown involved. It takes a lot of courage to stop doing everything you've been told and trust someone else to steer you in the right direction using a technique that is completely different than anything you've ever done. I think getting past that is the scariest part.
EL: What kinds of reactions have you received from family and friends?
LS: Overall the reactions have been very good and people have been very supportive. One thing you have to remember is that 20lbs lost on me doesn't look quite the same as 20 pounds lost on someone smaller. That was a hard thing for me at first. I can remember asking you in the beginning where in the heck was my definition? After I had been doing this for a while, I began to understand more about what to expect and not to compare my progress with anyone else's. Getting back to the reactions, I'd say that my mother had the biggest reaction because when she saw me in September of this year, she hadn't seen me since Christmas 2006. She was quite shocked by the changes and has been my biggest supporter since finding out about what I am doing.
I have also received positive comments from friends and coworkers. It's kinda funny; sometimes I'll hit a milestone and nobody will notice but if I drop half a pound it seems that people will comment. It has also been a learning experience for me to be able to accept acompliment from someone and not downplay it. Unfortunately though, along with all of the positive comments there has been some negative ones as well. I think that is to be expected because it all goes back to change. I think people are intimidated by change and how it will affect them. People are afraid that if you start eating differently or exercising consistently you will immediately start judging them based on their diets and activity levels or you will stop spending time with them due to your newfound interests. Also, there is the jealousy factor, because you are consistently doing something that a lot of people can't and are getting results, but I think (or like to think) that it's more fear than anything else.
EL: What made you decide to use an online trainer this time around and how important a variable do you think that's been in your current success?
LS: Well, I didn't specifically set out to find "online" trainer. In fact I didn't even know they existed when I started looking for an alternative method to lose weight. At that point I just knew what I was doing wasn't working and I needed help. I wanted to go with someone who was knowledgeable and I thought I could trust to help me reach my goals. I had followed your work through your postings on several Internet forums and I was very impressed with your overall knowledge, your approach to training, and the progress that your clients had made. In addition to that, I liked the way your program was structured. I was tired of thinking things out for myself and wading through all of the conflicting information. I needed someone to take control and just tell me what I needed to do in order to reach my goals. At the time I wasn't even sure if you worked with clients that weren't competitors. I was hoping that if you didn't, by using my charm and witty personality, I'd convince you to make me your first.
EL: What is your ultimate goal in this process?
LS: You know, this is still such a weird concept for me...the whole goal-setting thing. I've never been really good at setting long term goals or really even goals in general. In the past, my goals were always to lose x amount of lbs for x event. Funny, I can literally remember to the date the first time I was asked what my physique goals were. Noel Clark asked me on March 17th of this year in the middle of Dillard's Department. store's make up section what my goals were. We actually laughed later about how confused I looked while trying to answer this question. That event was literally a "light bulb" moment for me because for the first time that I can remember I couldn't tell her about some party or event I was attending that I wanted to lose weight for. I realized at that moment she was serious, this wasn't some temporary quick fix, this was the real deal and I needed to get serious about what I wanted out of this or else I was wasting my time as well as yours. Very rarely am I rendered speechless but at that
moment I had nothing. You have no idea what a terrible feeling it is to have someone asking you something because they truly care and want to encourage and support you and nothing of any importance to say back to them.
So after having giving it a lot of thought, I realize that while I still stink at setting tangible long-term goals, I do have a much clearer vision of what I want from this process. I think that a lot of times we get way too bogged down in the end result versus enjoying the journey. I know that goals are important, but I think it's equally important to enjoy all of the steps, missteps, and valleys, not just the peaks and the high points. The best part of this whole process is seeing over time what I really look like. Having been overweight for so long, I have no idea what my body is supposed to look like and what it's capable of, so each change is utterly amazing to me. Having said that, ultimately, over the long term, my vision simply is to carve out and create the best physique possible for me and then sharing this experience with others who think what I have achieved isn't possible. I truly believe that had someone not believed in me or had taken the chance on me, I would not be where I am today and my goal is to offer that same support to others.
Lastly, if there are still figure competitions around in 2015 when I've finally shed all of the fat and gotten some definition, don't be surprised if you see me somewhere on somebody's stage struttin' my stuff in a sequined suit and 5 inch clear heels ... or spaceboots, whatever the case may be.
EL: What impact do you think social support has had on your success? You get a lot of support on your blog as well as on the forums at www.leanbodiesfitness.com. Do you think that support has played a big role in your ability to stay focused on your goals?
LS: Personally, I think the need for social support depends on the individual. Some people need the support of others around them in order to succeed, others do not. I think I pretty much fall somewhere in the middle. For me, it's certainly nice to have the support of family and friends but wasn't 100% necessary for success I've enjoyed so far. I say this because when I decided to contact you, I had already made the decision that what I was doing wasn't working and whatever you had planned for me, I was going to do it regardless of what anyone else thought or did. While that mindset may work for me, I do understand that depending on someone else's individual circumstances it may not work for all. For this reason, I do think that resources like the LBF forum are a great option to have for those who need support that may not be getting in from their family and friends. It's great to have hundreds of like-minded people literally at your fingertips to offer support and different perspectives on things. I have learned so much about fitness and nutrition as well as countless other topics by participating in forums. I have also been very fortunate to have met several members in person and have made some wonderful friends because of the time spent on these forums.
EL: Great interview Lyn. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. We'll have to do a follow up when you hit your final target – this year.
“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable
combination for success.”
If you know anyone you think would enjoy or benefit from this newsletter, please forward it on and pass on the newsletter sign up link LBC Newsletter. Remember, when they sign up to receive the LBC newsletter they also get a copy of my 22-page report on the Top 10 Not-So-Obvious Fat-Loss Mistakes.
Until next time, thanks for reading.
Erik Ledin, B.Kin, CSCS, CISSN, NSCA-CPT
http://www.leanbodiesconsulting.com
http://www.leanbodiesfitness.com
http://www.leanbodiesconsulting.com/blog
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