1st Printing
The Weight is Over
Copyright © 2009 Dr. Stacia Pierce
Published by Life House Press at Smashbox
3000 W. Miller Rd. Lansing, MI 48911
Distributed in the United States of America.
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DEDICATION
The Weight is Over is dedicated:
to my loving family for making this journey so rich and rewarding;
to my creative and committed staff,
and to my partners and readers everywhere who have taken the challenge to change their life! You inspire me!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part 1: The Weight is Over: “Discover the beauty of a better you!”
1. My Candid Tale of Food & Fashion
2. Putting My Waistline Online
3. From My Dream Weight to My Dream Life
5. Fashionable: Health as it Should Be
6. Don’t Run Away from the Runway
Part 2: Muse & Motivation: “Haute ideas to stay health-inspired”
9. Does Prada Come in Plus Size?
10. Create a Weight Loss Look Book
16. When Willpower is Not Enough
Part 3: Diet & Dining: “Develop a fill-osophy of good taste”
Part 4: Fit & Fabulous: “Healthy habits for stylish living”
24. Laziness: The Unwillingness to Inconvenience Yourself
25. Superstars Don’t Stop & Sit, So Keep it Moving
26. Girls Just Want to Have Fun
28. Workouts for the Working Girl
Part 5: Emotions & Enjoyment: “Lighten up and live it up!”
31. Overcoming the Fear Factor
33. How to Conquer Slip-ups, Slumps & Setbacks
35. Fill Up on Your Passions, Not Your Plate
Part 6: Beauty & Body: “Good health is glamorous”
37. The Perfection of Imperfection
38. The High Crime of Self-Neglect
40. It’s More than a Numbers Game
42. Take Charge of Your Health
Part 7: Fashion Finale: “Making the good life your way of life!”
46. Confessions of a Blogaholic
Introduction
If you’ve ever waited for something to happen and then experienced the bitter despair of a dream delayed—or worse yet, denied—I’m here to tell you that you needn’t feel that angst ever again. How can I confidently and boldly promise you that your life is going to get better from this point on? Because it can and it will, with one simple choice that is entirely in your power to make. I present to you the choice to stop waiting. That’s it—the big secret? Yes! Whatever it is you have been waiting for, the wait is over! Stop waiting to lose weight, improve your skills, get a new job, go back to school, start a family or anything else you’ve wanted but haven’t obtained. What do you really want? You fill in the blank: _____________________. Now look in the mirror and tell yourself, “Stop waiting!”
Today, you can choose to go for it! There is something you can do now to place one pretty, pedicured foot in front of the other and move toward your dream life. Today marks the farthest point from your goals that you will ever be, because today you will begin to pursue your deepest desires, not wish for them. There’s no better time to improve yourself than right now. Stop waiting for it and go for it!
You see, I’ve been there. In many areas of my life, I’ve experienced incredible heights—I’m a thriving entrepreneur in the fashion and beauty industry and I’ve built a successful company from a local sphere to a global empire. I love my family and have the spouse and children of my dreams. I enjoy serving as a success coach, community leader, philanthropist and author of more than 20 books. In coaching sessions, I have probably heard just about everything. I’ve been able to help thousands of women recognize the power of choice they possess and do incredible things with that gift—for themselves, others and humanity at large.
Not only have I coached others into their dream life, but I applied these principles to slay my own black beast, or “bête noir” as the French call it: that of losing weight. After years of yo-yo dieting and several serious health wake-up calls, I chose to apply on myself the secrets I’ve shared with countless others I have coached, and stop “weighting.” I did and lost the weight once and for all, dropping six dress sizes in six months! The truth sets you free no matter what your goal.
After experiencing such dramatic results in an area that was so personal to me, being asked by so many to “put it in writing,” and hearing “you really must share your secrets and story with the world,” I decided to take you all up on the offer. You asked for it and you got it—this is the book I always wished I could find when I was in the midst of my weight loss challenge. It’s the book I wished I could point my clients to—those who wanted to conquer the weight battle, gain confidence to go for their dreams or simply enjoy a richer, more rewarding life. I always wanted to find a book that would be equal parts fashion, fun and functionality … substance meets style in an easy-to-follow roadmap to healthful living. Well, here it is … The Weight is OVER!
This book is a lifestyle tool to help you improve yourself inside and out. I will help you lose the weight, but also gain a lifestyle. Losing the weight—as I discovered—is only half the battle. The other half is liking who you are on the inside, finding your own inspiration for healthy living and developing a life that motivates you to look and feel your absolute best. This book is for you. Discover the beauty of a better you by learning how to enjoy fine dining, embracing the help of a dream driver and gaining the rich dividends of a mental and physical makeover.
I wrote this book to get you in motion—physically, with the benefits of a good workout regimen and moving toward improved health, but also to get you in motion in every other area of your life. I want you to pursue your dreams of making more money, having a beautiful family life, looking your best and feeling worthy of a great, big life all the while. Ladies, the wait is over for you to improve your life!
You can go have a dream body and a dream life. And here’s a little secret: You can do it even if you don’t think you have what it takes or you’re a little afraid. I promise I can coach you into conquering that nagging fear within the pages of this book. Breathe in deeply and get a whiff of the wellness that awaits you. You were created for health, wealth and happiness, despite what your circumstances or past attempts have told you. How you think shapes your reality and you are about to gain a whole new mindset, which in turn will open up a world of opportunity. The principles I share will help you rethink your plate, your personal presentation and your priorities and align them with the life you’ve always wanted, creating a whole new set of life possibilities. I promise to keep the steps simple. They won’t always be easy, but they will be entirely possible and we’ll do it together! You’re a daring diva, so let’s get to work building your dream body and life. The “weight” is indeed over … for you!
*******
PART ONE:
“Discover the beauty of a better you!”
*******
CHAPTER 1
My Candid Tale of Food & Fashion
My penchant for fashion developed early. As a young girl, I loved the window dressings in department stores—a matching handbag to adorn an impeccable dress and of course, great shoes to top off the look. The thrill of the ever-changing, ever-moving beauty of fashion and all things girly always intrigued me. My childhood friends remember fondly how I always added an extra flair to our ordinary school uniforms.
I was a mover, a go-getter in school. I was moving from activity to activity, meeting to meeting and of course, mall to mall. When I got older, I continued moving as a young entrepreneur, wife and mother. I was an image consultant and worked on runway shows and with models all over the country. Staying active wasn’t an issue for me.
Although fashion was my passion and I had the figure of a model, food was a big part of my life. I loved a great meal. I vividly recall waking up to my mother’s breakfast. In our home, every meal was designed for a king—it was a feast! Dinners were for a family of eight, not four. I learned early the joys of good cooking and cuisine.
Just as I sought out the best in fashion, I sought out the best in cuisine and food. When my husband and I started dating, we enjoyed trying new restaurants and eating at all the finest establishments. This carried over into our married life. I love entertaining and would go overboard to thrill my guests with a one-of-a-kind experience. I would fly in cheesecake from New York, exotic baked goods from Italy and specially made treats from all corners of the United States. Having an abundance of food of all kinds became the norm in our house. In fact, we still feed entire families from our leftovers. Good food and a variety of options just makes every dinner a fabulous feast. With plenty to go around and an acquired taste for foods rich in calories, the good life began to add up.
After I had my first child, Ariana, I quickly regained my svelte pre-pregnancy figure. I slipped back into my jeans with ease and thought nothing of it. However, after the birth of my second child, Ryan, I noticed that taking off the weight was harder than anticipated. My model-like metabolism slowed and I was a little surprised to see that I didn’t bounce back to my original slim figure. I quickly gained perspective of where this was headed. For years, the coveted couture of Chanel, Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton had filled my storyboards, closets and shoe collection, but I began to feel a squeeze—not on my wallet, but on my waistline.
As my size fluctuated between a 14 and 16—quite a step up from the sizes 4 to 6 of my 20-something modeling days—I never allowed it to stop me from looking my best. I would go to whatever lengths possible to wear my designer finds with flair. Because of my contacts in the fashion industry, I would have clothes custom- made and specially ordered for me. Sales associates would keep me on their mind and contact me when certain looks could be designed or altered. I became bosom buddies with my personal tailor, who kept me looking Fifth Avenue chic no matter what size the tag had written on the inside. But that was just it: I knew the tag on the inside, and that tag was tugging on me to make a change that would impact my life forever.
SLIMMING SECRET
Grab your favorite journal and write down 10 things
that inspire you to lose weight! Then include
an action plan to add more of what you love into
your life to keep your weight loss journey joyful.
As my husband and I flourished as successful pastors and motivational speakers, I was immersed in raising two active children and juggling ministry, business and family endeavors alongside him. Plus, I was developing my own niche in empowering women around the country. I became known as a best-selling author, host of one of America’s most influential women’s conferences and a highly sought-after life and style coach to many of the nation’s top celebrities and public figures. Life was great and moving at lightning speed. Everything I had imagined for my life began to happen at the same time. All that I had visualized began to take place. Reflecting back, I realize that all of my public success could not take away my need for personal triumph.
My Wake-Up Call
One day while cleaning out some clutter, I came across an old photo from years ago. It was a picture I hadn’t seen since the day I took it—me in a bikini looking fit and fabulous. I showed it to my husband, who had never seen the photo because it was taken a few years before we got married. He jokingly whistled and commented, “You used to look like this?” His playful teasing sparked an epiphany: Yes, I used to look like this! Here was a picture of a gorgeous woman in top shape, and it wasn’t cut out of a magazine— it was me. I came to the realization that if I looked like that once, I could do it again! It was time for the weight to be over.
I had been able to write 20 books in less than 10 years, develop a local company into a global beauty business, thrive as a motivational speaker and television host and successfully coach some of America’s top talent. I had conquered so many things. Why not this? It was with a bit of amazement that I realized my son Ryan was now 10, and I had been trying to lose the baby weight for a decade. Enough was enough. Why had I tolerated a weight problem for so long when I spent a good portion of my time coaching others to stop procrastinating on their goals? The answer was clear: Losing weight had been my goal, but gaining a healthy lifestyle had not. I had never really made either my consuming focus. Everything else I aspired to and focused on had happened, but I had never truly applied the same principles or passion to take care of me. Not only was this hindering me physically, it was capping off my success.
Once I made up my mind, there was no stopping me. It has been an intense journey, one I had to make up my mind right from the start to be totally committed to. To get motivated, I wrote down what a new body and better health would do for me. Now it’s your turn. Describe in a paragraph what your new body will mean for you. How will it help you? Why do you want it so bad?
If weight is not your issue, what else is weighing you down? What issue have you let linger so long that it is now weighing down your progress, your success and maybe even your health? Make a decision right now to take a stand. Write a list of 10 things you need to finish or start that you haven’t. It may be a home improvement project or a plan to get out of debt. It may be to go back to school or to change your image. You know what’s weighing you down—if you take a few minutes and list it out, you can prepare to conquer it.
“Everyone has a success mechanism and a failure mechanism. The failure mechanism goes off by itself.
The success mechanism only goes off with a goal.
Every time we write down and talk about a goal we push the button to start the success mechanism.”
-Charles “Tremendous” Jones
It’s not where you start that matters, but that you get started. You don’t need a perfect plan to get started. You just need a plan. This is the time to make up your mind. This time is really different. Commit to yourself to be your personal best. I believe you are ready! You are ready for the weight to be over in your life. Now that you have chosen to better yourself and your health, I am going to have you make another list. This time, list five action steps you can immediately take to get you going. With that list, choose one thing to do within the next 24 hours. Successful people don’t wait until tomorrow to do what they can today. If you are serious, change today! Breaking it down into small steps will get you there.
Getting started is half the battle. Get moving now. Weight loss comes down to three simple things: eat less, eat right and move more. You can do it! Develop a can-do attitude. No matter what, you can do it! Keep going and believe you can succeed. The good life is waiting for you when you take action … now!
CHAPTER 2
Making my private life a public campaign was a huge personal risk I was willing to take. Already in the public eye, I took my push to lose weight as an opportunity to personally change while I pulled others in the same direction. I had to meet my goal not just for me, but for the whole world that was watching. I knew if I could prove I could do it and share my secrets on getting there, other women would follow suit. My heart has always been to motivate change in the lives of ordinary women—to show them how they can be extraordinary. I decided to make the sacrifice and take on the pressure of the public eye, in exchange for making a powerful impact in the lives of many. It is usually pressure that forces us to change anyway.
When I made the decision that this time would be different, modern technology was a part of that solution. From speaking with women across the globe at life coaching workshops, I discovered that many of them were ready to shed their weight, but just couldn’t find the motivation. What is the hottest way to network now? Online, of course! Voila—my blog, www.mydreamweight.ws, was born!
My Online Weight Loss Diary
The blog became my online journal. On my blog, I share my journey in detail, from day one to now—what it felt like to start, what kept me motivated in the middle, places where I got stuck and then unstuck, and how I lost the final few stubborn pounds to reach my dream weight.
Each week I would write motivational blog posts and share my personal stories with readers. The blog is a place where those interested in losing their “weight” can gather to be encouraged and gain inspiration. I announced the site at one of my Successful Living Women’s Workshops and hundreds of women committed to join me to reach their dream weight. Through the powers of technology, I can connect with the touch of a button and inspire others with similar goals. My bloggers continually offer me inspiration to keep setting an example for others to follow.
Since starting the blog, I’ve added hundreds of weight loss tips and secrets along with recipes, meal plans and several downloadable forms like food journals, goal sheets and measurement charts. On the site, I also share diet and exercise strategies I’ve personally proven and that work wonders. The site is stock-full of health resources, articles and most of all, inspiring blog posts from other women who are after the same goal as you. There’s nothing like logging on after a long day, just when you are about to talk yourself out of your workout, and reading comments from someone who felt just like you but overcame it. Where else can you get a lifeline of support from women all over the world right at your fingertips? That jolt of encouragement can make a difference in your daily outcome.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return
for their work: If one falls down, his friend
can help him up. But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
-King Solomon
Study after study shows that those who join support groups—either in person or online—lose more weight than those who don’t. Studies also indicate they are more likely to keep the weight off for the long term. You don’t have to go solo when it comes to weight loss. As women, we are created as social beings and we live in a social world. When you combine your drive with others working on the same goal, you can become an unstoppable force.
My Journey Online
When I began the blog, I wore a size 16. Six months later and still counting, I wear a 6. What a rush to have achieved this goal all while in the public eye. What an even bigger rush to be able to go into the store with my daughter and shop on the same rack, and purchase the same thing if I so desire. I successfully defeated a 10-year battle—not only for myself, but for thousands of other women who would come after me. I still blog to this day, because I’m just as committed to helping women reach their dream weight as the day I began my own battle. My Dream Weight is a lifestyle and an ongoing community of support and belonging, not an event.
When you sign up on a weight loss blog group such as mine, your community is customized to fit you. No matter what your profile—whether you are a 20-something mom who is looking for support in slimming down, in your 40s and focused on fitness or in your golden years and looking for a pal to partner and share aging secrets with—there’s a network of support for you.
Identify the type of support you need and connect to it, but be sure to return the favor. When it comes to encouragement, receiving and giving are all part of the exchange that makes everyone stronger. Many of my bloggers say they feel empowered online, especially when they don’t have support at home or from their spouse. Other women find it helpful to survive inevitable peaks and valleys on the way to their goal. Even when you miss the mark and fall short of your goal, it’s helpful to blog. At www.mydreamweight.ws, we celebrate every pound lost as a victory. It’s my motto and my fans agree. If you’re missing motivation, connect with me and the My Dream Weight blogging crew! I promise to cheer you on to the finish line.
Become a Beauty Blogger: How to Sign Up and Get Started
It is easy to get started on the My Dream Weight blog. Simply:
1. Visit www.mydreamweight.ws and sign up. It’s free to create your profile. Be sure to upload your picture.
2. Set your health and fitness goals. Determine your overall health goal. Post it on the mydreamweight.ws site. Your goal may be a lifestyle goal like “Eat healthy meals every day” or a certain amount of pounds or inches you want to lose. You choose your goal. Posting it online allows others to cheer you on in support.
3. Focus on action steps. Whether you want to lose 50 pounds or train for a marathon, it is going to take time. Give yourself smaller, shorter goals to shoot for to build momentum toward your overall goal. This will make it easier, you’ll be more successful and you’ll have more fun.
4. Follow my posts. Several times a week I share weight loss, dining, fitness, beauty and lifestyle secrets! I share what works! I love to share with you practices I’ve proven and easy, safe ways you can speed up your results. From time to time, I will also post “challenges” where I will be asking you to join me in making a healthy lifestyle change— things like “Drink eight glasses of water every day this week!” Together we will make positive changes!
5. Blog with me. Share your stories, successes and strategies with other bloggers. Offer encouragement and support to others and receive some. Blogging keeps you accountable and motivated. We are one big, happy beauty community!
6. Develop a blogging habit. Daily blogging is a cornerstone of effective weight loss. Those who blog with me regularly are the most successful. One of my frequent bloggers lost 100 pounds in less than a year!
Don’t wait until tomorrow to do what you can do today! Connect with others who share the same goals and are conquering similar issues. There is online motivation “weighting” for you. Visit My Dream Weight now and join the rest of us on the path to better health!
CHAPTER 3
From My Dream Weight to My Dream Life
Winning in one area puts you in a new category of success. When stars conquer an area, they are encouraged to try another. When you lose weight, you gain confidence to try more and be more. Paths of accomplishment are progressive. Accomplishment produces confidence, which fuels risk-taking, which results in even more accomplishment. It’s a cycle of success.
Losing weight has opened up many avenues for me. During the past year, the very arenas I desired to be a part of were opened up to me because I changed the way I looked. I discovered new possibilities for my life when I gained new disciplines. The disciplines acquired through weight loss positioned me to make confident strides in other areas and I garnered more attention because my product was more authentic. Sometimes areas are not open to you simply because you haven’t paid the price to be there. For me, the price I had to pay was establishing good health habits and daily diligence. It’s amazing what one change can do to your entire life.
I am living my dream life. Shopping is so much more fun now! Surprisingly, I didn’t think this was possible. Of course, the thrill of the hunt hasn’t changed, but it’s what I’m hunting for that has changed. In the past, swimming was never an option because I wouldn’t shop for swimsuits, much less wear them. Now I own five and I love shopping for them. It’s a whole new way of life.
What can I do now that I lost the weight? Everything! I can fit into a larger variety of clothing, which adds more fun to my life. Everything looks great. It takes all the fuss away. I no longer have to spend hours to get ready; instead I can spend hours trying on all my clothes. What fun!
Now that my weight is over, I have the energy to go out and enjoy my family like I never did before. I can enjoy outdoor activities with my children and husband without getting so tired. My relationship with my husband is on a whole new level. Weight loss changed the intimacy in my marriage.
My husband and I have always enjoyed an incredible, active intimate life in our marriage—regardless of my size. We both are extremely into each other, enjoy a high sex drive and love frequent times of passion and play. I’m all for keeping it real, so here’s what most won’t tell you—but I’d do a disservice not to. You may be secretly wondering, is it different now that I’m smaller? Yes! Absolutely! When you lose weight, you become more confident and enjoy intimacy more when you don’t have anything inhibiting you. This is a turn-on for both parties. There is another level to intimacy that you can enjoy to the fullest extent only when you are fit.
You’ll have to attend one of the marriage retreats my husband and I host to get inspired ideas for a whole new “workout,” but trust me … it’s intimacy on a new level and it’s one of the highest- attended events we host. Couples who attend look forward to the nightly “homework” we assign and leave the weekend with an entirely renewed relationship. In fact, we don’t even advertise much, because the retreat sells out long before the brochures are available. You don’t have to be in shape to attend, but you’ll be inspired to be when you leave. The point is, fit girls really do have more fun!
While losing weight, I also built a new network of successful others who are on the path to the good life and make health a top priority. Many of these people had a net worth that far exceeded mine, but we shared a similar life and health philosophy. Although our relationship started out being centered on discussions about health, nutrition and fitness, it opened doors to talk about our families, business enterprises and life goals. One door opened up to the next and I walked into deals, contracts and new market opportunities that I could only have dreamed of. I’m convinced that when you make a decision to choose the good life, the good life chooses you back. God has already—since before you were born—set aside for you an abundance of everything good you desire. It’s your portion, it exceeds what you could ever dream of and it has your name on it. It’s on reserve right this very minute for you and literally right in front of you. When you get a dream life mentality, your new attitude and outlook give you eyes to see the opportunities that surround you, exposure to the people you need to connect with and divine opportunities for you to step into your dream life. I can tell you firsthand, it’s worth it!
By making a conscious choice to live a healthier life, all the other areas of my life, marriage, family and enterprise have gone to heights I never dreamed of. There isn’t an area that I can say has not been affected and improved because of my weight loss. My dream weight led to my dream life and it can do the same for you! It doesn’t matter where you are presently or what your nemesis is. The My Dream Weight system can work for you! You can conquer whatever “weight” that is weighing you down and step into your dream life!
SLIMMING SECRET
Be brave and honestly answer this question:
“What does my dream life look like?”
Don’t edit your thoughts. Close your eyes and imagine
living out your dream life when the weight is over.
I want to leave you for a bit to sit and ponder this thought: “What does my dream life look like?” Imagine it. Create a visual picture that is so clear in your mind you can see it in Technicolor. Let your dream life vision become so clear that you get moved to action. Now, you’re ready to start the domino effect and tackle what’s right in front of you, which will lead you to the next opportunity and the next and the next. Until one day, you will be sharing with me, and possibly even the world, about your amazing, incredible dream life! I, for one, can’t wait to celebrate. Cheers to your amazing dream life come true!
CHAPTER 4
A better you begins with absolute honesty. Be courageous and admit it: you want a better life. You want a better body, job, income a better everything. You want to live better, look better and feel better. You want it all! I don’t blame you; I do too! In fact, that’s the life I enjoy right now. But it all started with admitting to myself that I wanted better and learning that to have better, I would have to become better.
Commit yourself to becoming your personal best. Stay in a process of continual self-development, inside and out. Your greatest prize is the potential of what you could be. In order to realize these possibilities, you must be willing to change and improve yourself. Like me, for many of you reading this book, that may mean losing weight—some physically, while others need to shed the weight of past failures, bad thinking or lazy habits. Whatever your weight is, losing it is about realizing a whole new you and the possibility of creating a new life for yourself. The beauty of becoming better is that it affords you a new world of fulfillment, opportunity and enjoyment.
What good is it for life to be a journey if you never get to enjoy the ride because your car is always broken down or stalled on the side of the road? That’s the reality of your health. Your body is the vehicle of your life, carrying you throughout the joys of your career, marriage, parenting, shopping adventures and more. All of these are more pleasurable when you are in good spirits and good health. I love feeling healthy for the physical benefits alone, but I also like how I look when I’m at my healthiest physique.
Good health is so glamorous! I have never been one to believe that taking care of myself is selfish, vain or frivolous. I see too many women who put themselves last on the list of priorities and resign themselves to a lack of self-care. I believe taking good care of yourself is essential to a happy, good life and furthermore, it’s glamorous. Every stylish woman I’ve seen (and I’ve been among the best) exudes an air of self-care. It needn’t be that they were extremely buff, wealthy or lovely, but they were definitely polished and well-kept. I’m writing this book to tell you that you can be this woman. Taking care of yourself physically is so rewarding. When you have shown yourself the proper care and keep, your own self-worth and appreciation will skyrocket. And isn’t life far too good, rich and incredible to waste on hating your body? Ladies, it’s simply criminal to neglect yourself. If you don’t pay attention to you, how can you expect others to?
When I was inspired to write this, I wanted a book that would bring you a timeless appreciation for your health and life. It’s trendy to write a book on the latest fad diet, but like runway clothing, fad diets come and go with the seasons and can be a bit extreme. Although I love trends and have a closet full of exotic finds to prove it, a true fashionista knows a classic bag and shoe are worth their weight in gold and can last you a lifetime. That’s how I approach good health and the philosophy behind this book. I want to inspire you to well-being, health and abundance—all things that never go out of style! The steps we will take together are principles that will last you a lifetime, through all the delightful adventures you will experience on your way to fulfilling purpose.
It is essential to our well-being, and to our lives,
that we play and enjoy life. Every single day
do something that makes your heart sing.
-Marcia Wieder
I am not here to coach you into a sense of deprivation, loss and denial; but to fulfillment, enjoyment and wholeness. I am going to build your confidence, pump you full of creative ways to eat better, move more and look your absolute best! I can coach you to a better you and help you enjoy the process of becoming your best. I want you to subscribe to a lifestyle of gorgeous living that comes with good, whole foods, adequate rest, fabulous fashion finds and great beauty rituals. You deserve to be happy, healthy and abundant. After all, God created the world for man and shouldn’t we look, eat, enjoy and feel the best?
Yes, the good life will require change, but I won’t force anything drastic on you. Little by little, you will see the beauty of your own potential and then it will be easy for you to shed all that is weighing you down and holding you back. Once you are educated and empowered, you will want to make better choices for your life. You have in your hands the book I always wished was available when I was trying to lose weight—a book that was fashionable, fun, witty and wise and left me feeling like a winner from the start. Plus, you have me as your daily life coach to keep you inspired along the journey. You can gain a healthy lifestyle without losing all the fun. I have tons of tips in this book to help you nourish yourself with good foods, secrets to help you pamper yourself pretty and dining hot spots that cater to health-minded divas.
My goal is to coach you to add health to your life with as much pleasure, passion and purpose as possible. Life is simply too short to be unhealthy or unhappy. Get the most out of your body so you can get the most out of your life. You’ve started down the path to good-life living, which I think deserves a toast. So grab a wildberry cream protein shake and raise your glass. Here’s to a more beautiful, better you!
CHAPTER 5
Fashionable: Health as it Should Be
I have always understood the art of shopping. I know where to go, what to buy and how to make the most of the season’s styles. I devour every fashion magazine I can get my hands on each month, whether from the U.S. or Europe. I enjoy browsing and buying in the top stores and fashion houses in the world. Despite being a fashionista at heart, I lacked the physique to go with it. What I really wanted was to be small enough to buy clothes and items right off the runway. I wanted to not just have the runway look, but the actual runway garment. I soon realized that being healthy was worth the effort if I was going to reach this goal.
Good health is what makes the good life great! What is the point in building a life you can’t enjoy because of illness, disease and sickness? I’m sure if you ask any person who is overcoming an illness, they will tell you that the key to life is living well. If you could change the rest of your life with a few healthy choices, wouldn’t you?
Living healthy doesn’t have to mean a list of dos and don’ts and a lifetime of restrictions. Life is too short to not enjoy it to the fullest. Although I do believe self-discipline is needed to achieve results, I am not one to prescribe a remedy chock-full of what not to do. Like in fashion, there are rules and any fashionable woman understands that rules are there to provide guidelines. However, women with style know that fashion becomes interesting when you aren’t afraid to take a few risks.
Fashionable health can be yours, if you desire to make it a lifestyle. Well-being is a way of life—a standard of living that is upheld through daily choices like where you eat, how much you move, the sleep you get and proper self-care. What style does your health have? Is it all pain and toil, or a fun-filled expression of your passions and pursuits? Style comes from knowing who you are, the goals you want to reach and who you want to be. Adding style to your health is about enjoying wellness, exercise, sleep, nutrition, pampering and social refinement. Plus, being healthy should be fun: Wearing the same size as my teenage daughter is fun! Having my husband love to see me get dressed is fun! Having the energy to do what I love is fun!
You can have a life of fashionable health if you make a commitment to the fundamentals:
Learn how to edit. Change all of your non-productive habits. Drop the habits and practices that have not led you to success. Clear out your pantry of all the sugar-laden sweets and foods that only lead to weight gain and mood swings. Use your schedule to map out your exercise times and meal plans. Let go of those people around you who are pulling you farther away from your goal, instead of closer to it. Edit your shopping habits. Choose water over soda and carrots over chips.
SLIMMING SECRET
This week, edit your refrigerator and pantry.
Toss out all soda, chips, cookies, pastries, candy,
ice cream and packaged food. Now restock with
bottled waters, dried and fresh fruit, nuts,
raisins and fresh veggies.
Invest in the basics. The basic health accessories are the staples that never go out of style, but showcase your attention to fine living. A fashionably healthy woman uses the basics as the building blocks of her healthy living wardrobe. The basics are:
*Bottled water—good for the diva on the go
*Fruit—easy to carry and helps curb sugar cravings
*Vegetables—help your digestive system and promote healthy skin
*Protein—provides a great energy boost to help keep you moving all day long
Pack your plate or lunch bag with these delectable treats and you will see results in no time.
Find a good tailor. A good tailor is there to support you and to make you look like a million dollars. They can transform the way your body looks with a few seams and a little creativity. A good tailor will make you look 10 pounds slimmer. Just as a tailor can make you reach your peak potential, so can a life coach. Where a tailor will make you look 10 pounds thinner, your coach will make you 10 pounds thinner. Join me as your life coach and together we will create a tailor-made lifestyle for you that will promote healthy living from the inside out.
Invest in the best. Upgrade every single area of your health regimen to incorporate the best. Choose the best-quality food you can find. I highly recommend organic fruits, vegetables and proteins. Invest in quality footwear. When I began to run more, it was important to me to buy the best shoes on the market to protect my feet from painful problems due to poor support. Upgrade your water. If you drink tap water, invest in a water filtration system for your house. To encourage my family to drink more, we purchased a Culligan system so fresh, cold water is always available. Ladies, the point is to upgrade! Each level has a certain look. When you invest in the best for your health, it pays off on the outside. You start to not only look like you belong on the next level, but to think like it as well. Wellness is a look and a mindset, so go ahead and upgrade!
Just like good style, living well is something that all of us can achieve with a little information, inspiration and application. Put it all together and you have a good foundation for creating a haute- inspired healthful life!
CHAPTER 6
Don’t Run Away from the Runway
Ever since I was a young girl, I have been into all things fashion. I can remember watching runway shows and awards shows. From New York Fashion Week catwalks to the red carpet rolled out at the Academy Awards, Emmys or Grammys, one thing is for sure: Every supermodel or celebrity to grace the spotlight owned the runway. They didn’t duck, dodge or dip; they owned their spot in the sun. They oozed confidence, looked glamorous and walked with a determined glide in their stride. I believe if superstars can have that confidence, so can you and I. After all, you are the star of your life! You might not have paparazzi peeking around every corner or an entourage of stylists, trainers, beauticians, agents and publicists at your beck and call, but you do have a starring role in your own life. It’s up to you to stand up and own the part.
Whatever shape, size, scope or style your dream life or body comes in, I’m here to coach you into a runway resolve to go for it! It’s not enough that you know I’ve coached others or even used the principles on myself if I can’t convince you they can work in your life too. I’m talking about helping you embrace and master the nitty-gritty details of your lifestyle and crafting the life and body of your dreams. The good life, in the unique way that you define it, can be yours! You don’t have to wait for it. You already deserve it! You are worth the effort, attention and drive it takes to become your best. You were created with a unique expression of brilliance in mind. Your dreams are your own, so really own them. Give your body and health the recognition they deserve—your own self- appreciation. If you count yourself as unworthy, others will too. But when you decide to show up on the stage of life, the support, resources and opportunities you need will meet you in the wings. Stop avoiding your unrealized dreams; embrace them.
Anything I’ve ever done that ultimately was worthwhile...initially scared me to death.
-Betty Bender
Own up to the possibility of something new, even if it’s scary. Admitting your dreams still exist may invoke feelings of being stifled, panicked, paralyzed, dissatisfied or discontent, but owning up to it will help you move past these emotions and open you up to new emotions like hope, optimism, expectation and passion. You can believe anew that your life can be what you really want it to be. Unsettling feelings are often an indication that we care deeply about something we have been ignoring or overriding. Calm these emotions by getting quiet and tuning in. What dreams and desires are you denying?
When you own up to your dreams, you begin to put a demand on yourself and your environment to bring these dreams into existence. Your faith begins to soar and you are in position to partner with God to create a great life. Admit it to yourself: you want to believe dreams still can come true … for grown-ups! They do.
Your dream life starts by accepting these four truths:
You Want It!
You are either one of two people: the person who admits “I really want it” or the person who secretly wants it, but is too afraid to admit it. Either way, you still want it and that’s OK! It’s OK to want the good life. You were created for your best life so deep down, the desire for it is there.
You Need It!
Seize the spotlight and become a role model for the good life. Personal wellness and dream fulfillment are essential to the good life. It’s important you learn about food, fitness, fun and fashion so you can look, feel and achieve your best. I’ll coach you into a lifestyle of wellness that will help you flourish amidst the busy and often competing demands of real life. Happy and healthy go hand-in-hand, so we’ll have to tackle both to get you to your maximum level of success. Wellness, abundance and success are not merely a desire but your birthright—you need them to fulfill your created purpose. It’s God’s desire that you be in health and prosper, so act like a princess: Don the tiara and claim health, wealth and happiness as your inherited right.
You Can Do It!
You can take charge now. When you read something like this, the first thing that may pop into your mind is a negative statement about yourself—something like, “No, I can’t because I’m too ____________” (scared, uneducated, old, young, etc.).
You’re not as hopeless as you think (or as you’ve convinced yourself). You’ve accepted something as truth that’s not. It’s just a thought you’ve decided to make a fact. You can break free from this self-imposed barrier by choice. Change begins simply by changing your mindset and perspective, and defining yourself differently than you currently do.
You are more powerful than you think! Helplessness is a mindset weighing you down. Lose it. Let it go and embrace your real power to change your life. Change starts with a desire and attitude, which builds a belief. Many people mistakenly think they have to believe it’s possible to start. I suggest you simply start and then it will build in you a belief that it’s possible.
SLIMMING SECRET
I confessed my way to my dream weight.
Every morning in front of the mirror I said, “I am a lean, mean, exercising machine. I love my new body.”
Try this for 30 days and your esteem and results will soar.
You Have to Go For It!
Focus on what would make your life fabulous and go for it! Your health is worth it. You are worth it. You’ve got only one life and you don’t get any time back, so don’t let another minute pass without going for it.
“Go for it” begins today. You are in control of your today. You get to decide what takes priority. That may mean letting some other things fall lower on the totem pole of time. You can have it all— just not all at once. If your consuming goal right now is weightloss, make that your fabulous focus and prioritize accordingly. Decide to give your best performance and master making yourself a top priority.
Go big! Strive for your biggest, most daring goal. If you are going to put in the hard work to achieve something, why not go for something really big, something you really want? Do you want to wear a bikini again? Are you ready to tackle a marathon? Maybe you want to hike a mountain or compete in a sport. Make it something so big that it slightly unnerves you, yet thrills you at the same time; so big that it calls upon every talent, strength, bravado and brains you were given—plus a good dose of faith and fortitude—and it will be sized just about right. That’s what you really want; now go for it!
You might be afraid or discouraged, but still go for it. We can overcome all of this, one step at a time. I’m here to coach you. I have helped myself and thousands of others, and I’m here to help you within the pages of this book.
Are you starting to feel like the star that you are? Roll out the red carpet, step into your best stilettos and step out into your destiny. Today is the day you take charge of your total life’s wellness. Strike a pose and let’s go!
CHAPTER 7
You have the ability to create the life you want. I believe happiness is a choice; a conscious decision we all make. In spite of obstacles, we can always choose to be optimistic. I refuse to allow myself to get down. Life is too good to get caught up in the tangles of a bad fabric. There is always a silver lining to every situation. It’s up to you to see it sparkling ever so brightly in front of you. Your happiness is your choice.
As I have lost weight and coached others to do the same, I have seen that those who truly made a commitment to embrace a healthy lifestyle have lived a much happier life. With each pound lost, each health goal attained, I noticed a spring in each high-heeled step. They radiated confidence and it clearly showed. Healthy people are happy. They have a force about them that attracts others. They have a high level of energy. They are naturally more optimistic, because they have committed to action. When you make the decision to lose the weight in your life, you too will have a more positive attitude. Moving forward toward a goal increases your confidence and self-esteem
Developing a healthier lifestyle significantly improves your quality of life. Healthy people generally:
*Feel more positive about their life
*Have stronger marriages
*Have good relationships with their children
*Are satisfied with their life
*Are more active in every area of their life
Healthy living improves the physical aspects of life, because the body does not have to work as hard when it is not required to carry around excess weight. It also has a positive impact on your mood. Everything you do affects how you look and feel. As I often say, when you look good, you feel good and you perform well. In other words, health and happiness go hand in hand.
Let me give you some insider information on the secrets of extremely happy people. You too can join the ranks of the glass is half-full club with a few shifts in your mindset and attitude.
1. Happy people plan to be happy. In other words, they intend to be happy no matter what. They leave all the skepticism and cynicism on the shelf. It’s not that these thoughts don’t come; they just choose to remain optimistic in spite of them.
2. Happy people don’t play the victim game. Happy people take responsibility for their lives. They refuse to act like victims and don’t waste energy placing blame on others. When I made the decision to change my lifestyle, I was empowered by the fact that I was in control. I could improve my own life through my own actions. Blaming others serves no purpose and doesn’t get us what we truly desire. Instead of wasting energy on pointing fingers, put yourself to work creating a better you.
“The willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life is the source from which self-respect springs.”
-Joan Didion
3. Happy people are action-oriented. People who intend to be happy look for ways they can improve the situation. They don’t wait for others to make them happy. When you have an optimistic attitude, you are more willing to change things for the better. What do you need to take action on? Take a moment right now and create your very own Healthy and Happy List. List all the things that contribute to your healthy body and happy mind. The more of these things you do, the more fulfilled you will be.
On my Healthy and Happy List are things I enjoy that enhance my mood and health:
*Shopping (of course!)
*Cleaning and organizing
*Journalizing
*Reading
*Exercising
*Catching up on my weekly fashion glossies
*Spending time with my family
*Doing something creative
*Working on something that pertains to my purpose
*Giving to help someone else
4. Happy people learn from mistakes, but don’t repeat them. On the way to wellness, you aren’t going to do everything right. You ate the entire box of Girl Scout cookies—so what? Life doesn’t stop there. Chalk it up as “What not to do again” and move on. Sitting and sulking will not bring back the box, so use this opportunity to get moving in the right direction. There will always be disappointments, but you don’t have to let that stop you. If you make a mistake, admit it and move on.
The bottom line is that you are in charge of creating your own happiness. It’s not as hard as you might think. Life is good—when you believe it can be. Put aside pessimistic thinking and flaunt a happy attitude!
CHAPTER 8
“Stacia, why haven’t you lost the weight yet?” As I wrote in my journal, the answer finally came to me: I was a successful author, life coach and entrepreneur, but I had not won the battle of the bulge simply because I made too many excuses of why I couldn’t win. I was going to battle, but not to war. When I put away all the excuses, I realized that I was the secret ingredient to my success. If I would start to apply what I knew to do without excuse and put myself first, I could win once and for all.
It’s time, ladies, to put away the excuses and embrace the fact that you can control your destiny. “Excusitis” is a state of mind, not a real diagnosis. Action precedes and promotes action.
We can make and justify excuses with little effort. However, you and I both know that if we want to achieve something in our lives, we must take full responsibility and refuse to make excuses. Excuses are just like desires: both come from within, but the difference between them is huge. Desires will drive you toward your goals, while excuses will pull you from your goals.
Always remember this: When you make an excuse for something, you’ll always lose the power to control the situation. If you fail to achieve your goals, don’t make excuses. Instead, give empowering reasons that will keep you moving forward.
If your commitment is lacking, you’ll make up any excuse to justify failure. If excuses are not a good thing, then why are there so many people making excuses all day long? The answer to that question is this: Excuses make you feel better. But the painful truth is that they do nothing to make you actually get better. All excuses do is help you rationalize in your own mind why you are not doing or achieving something you’re supposed to achieve or do. If you were honest with yourself, you’d know that feeling better never lasts with an excuse. Eventually you feel low all over again and then there’s another excuse waiting in the wings to keep you on the path of inaction. I’m here to inspire you to break free! Move past the excuses that are limiting your success.