Why...?

I have been asked several times why I chose to become a Genesis client. I started this program with the goal of becoming a Genesis coach. I learned from a dear friend and Genesis coach that Genesis was quickly growing and they were anticipating the need for more coaches in the near future. In order to become a coach, I needed to experience the program. As I have mentioned, I was familiar with the program and had been curious about the details for a couple years. I would bump into Sheri, my coach now, and drill her unmercifully with questions; I drove her away from the chiropractor's office where I worked and she was a patient with my questions. I was terrified of her but so drawn to her work and the lives she was changing I couldn't seem to leave her alone. But I rejected Genesis because I did not want to think about food as much as the Genesis clients thought about food, I thought I knew what defined healthy eating and how to keep my body in shape and I was one of those who "could eat whatever I wanted." After I had my second daughter I started running and walking, pushing my five year old in the jogger and hauling the baby on my back, skipping meals, trying to get my body back into "shape." My body kind of bounced back but I was frazzled, I was always tired, I never really felt like I was back in shape, everything just felt hard. When I learned of the need for Genesis coaches, it suddenly felt just right. I had realized that there was no way I could think about food any more than I already was and my body needed a break from the frantic exercising and my version of fueling my body. What started as a job search has become one of the most amazing learning experiences. It has also been instrumental in drastic changes in my family, my relationship with my husband and my relationship and commitment to myself.

What I am learning about habits...

We are all habitual, big surprise. Our habits form our days. Our food choices are habitual. The way we feel, our moods, our reactions, it is all habitual. The funny thing about habits is that they sort of sneak up on us and once they are rooted into our being, they are pretty hard to change. I used to habitual eat all the cookies in the house, at least if I ate them all I would not have to think about them anymore. Then the following day I would be frantic, needing exercise, snapping at my husband and daughter for the slightest thing. I patterned my days around chaos, knowing that if I could just change the methods, life would calm down. But I had put myself in a habitual state of chaos and it was largely dictated by the way I was fueling my body. Another funny thing about habits is that even when we think we have made a change and we are feeling great, they sneak back in. Lots of us are used to feeling bad; feeling fat, frantic and chaotic, generally not liking the people we are. It is comfortable to be in that place, not making changes, even if they make us feel better. The problem with that comfortable place is that when we start to change and feel good, we tell ourselves that we don't deserve to feel good, because we are so used to feeling bad. So then we do whatever we can to make ourselves feel bad, whether it is eating all the cookies in the house in order to bring back the chaos, or whatever else is stuck in our memory bank. I am trying to go through my days making changes, eating an apple instead of cookies, not snacking on a giant bowl of popcorn even if I am full, being o.k. if I am not running for an hour, starting my lifting sets with the left side of my body instead of the right, making small changes so it is not such a shock to my system, and not so easy to fall back into the patterns that make my life difficult. So, with that rant, I challenge myself to do something different, difficult, scary, non-habitual each day.

There is nothing more precious than the self!

Week 2...wee

I felt good the 2nd week, for the most part. I had a couple days of feeling pretty tense, short fused and emotional. A good chance my body is experiencing a bit of detoxification. I started working out with Jamie and Samantha, 2 of the Genesis coaches/personal trainers. The base of the training work is building core strength and proper posture. These workouts are really humbling. I am realizing that my core is really weak, as are my legs and arms. It is amazing how, when you focus on your core and maintaining proper postural alignment, even walking can isolate your core muscles. I am finding myself feeling less competitive with myself and those around me. I am easing back on poses in yoga in order to maintain proper alignment and realizing that I just don't have the strength to power through. I am enjoying going for slow walks and even letting other people carry or push the baby. In the past, I was always feeling like I needed to get the most exercise possible, pushing myself to the point of nagging aches, pain and guilt. So much of this process is learning to change habits...ah habits...a rant on habits to come!

Live life from your heart, you will be the most effective.

My first week...in a nutshell

Good bye sugar. Cookies, ice cream, all the maple syrup in my "healthy" homemade granola, the glass, or two of red wine, and all the other things I ate uncontrollably because I was going for a run the next day, oh and watch out if something messed up my plan to go for a run! This first week is an eye opener! I quickly realized that preplanning my meals for the day is imperative! The funny thing about preplanning is that once I started planning ahead for my own meals, I started planning everyone else's. I started making Lily's lunch for school the night before, I knew what was for dinner at noon instead of at 6pm when everyone was freaking out. I also realized that like alcohol or drugs, sugar is an addiction. I went through withdrawals! But after all the sugar had moved out of my system, my moods leveled out! I was not as manic nor did I freak out about little humps in my day quite so much! I never thought I would eat so much spinach!!!

My birthday was this week. It was a sort of hard day. I had crazy sugar and salt cravings. It was my first social outing since starting. I wanted a glass of wine, I wanted apple pie (my all time favorite!), I wanted to eat the chips and salsa that were sitting on the counter. It was hard it pass up all the snack stuff that I would have typically eaten, before sitting down to eat dinner. There is no mindless eating with Genesis.

I have also realized that so much of the exercise in my life has been a direct correlation to the food going into my body and when I removed the sugar and crap from my diet, I was happy going for a walk and if it didn't work out, it was just fine! What a week. All in all it was fairly surreal. After thinking about the Genesis program for so long, to finally be a participant feels a little like I am living another life.

A note about Genesis coaching...

Just a quick heads up...all of the Genesis coaching work is done on the telephone, so if you are interested, do not be discouraged by distance! We just need a 30 minute time slot once a week for a phone conversation! Be well! Erin

Sept. 20th Just Starting...

HEY!!! Don't forget, I am looking to coach few clients as I progress though my training! Check out the Genesis website, www.genesistransformaton.com and contact me if you or anyone you know is interested!

Here I am the first days as a Genesis Transformation client. As a new client, and periodically through out the process, it is necessary to have front and back view pictures taken. What a strange experience. I knew the photos were only an assessment tool for my coach and were going into a personal file but I felt so self conscious and vulnerable. Another tool is the scale. I have avoided scales for the last few years so getting used to weighing myself each morning has been a practice. My weight when I started the Genesis program was 130 pounds. I did not start with any goals regarding my weight, but I did want to improve my posture, strengthen my core muscles and build muscle definition in my arms and legs. I thought I was eating a healthy, balanced diet. As it turns out, I was getting about 35% of my diet from fat and only 15% of my diet from protein. So for my first couple weeks of fueling, the initial phase of Genesis, my daily caloric intake was 2300 calories with 24% coming from protein, 56% carbohydrates and 20% fat. It did not take long for my body and my head to start reacting and and recognizing the habits I had been ignoring for years...

A call for clients!

I just returned from the first Genesis Transformation coach training retreat! It was an amazing experience that filled my brain with information and sent me home with inspiration and motivation. As I progress through the coach training process, I will be taking on a few "practice" clients. I am excited to share all that I have been learning. Take a few moments to check out the web site, http://www.genesistransformation.com/ If you or anyone you know is interested in experiencing the Genesis program, please contact me.