Where’s the best place for listeners to connect with you?: 

Instagram: @williegillis
Podcast: What I Live For

What’s one habit you do almost daily?: Gratitude List with meditation and journaling being a close second.

What’s on of your normal routines?: I log all of my meals that I will eat at the beginning of the day in the Lose It app to not waste mental energy on what I want to eat during the day.

How long did it take for the above routine to stick? : It's a routine that I used in my previous weight loss attempt and it kept me consistent. I decided to do it again during this current weight loss phase to continue that consistent nature.

Describe your weight loss journey.: My weight loss journey has had lots of down and just as many ups. Lost the majority of my weight from 2011-2012 and ultimately losing 300 lbs in just under 22 months. Since 2013, I've slowly gained back a little over half of that weight loss back from not dealing with the underlying issues that got me to my highest weight of 492 lbs in the first place. It's been a wild ride but I've learned more about myself from the journey.

What’s a skill you developed as a result of working through your weight loss journey?: During the first phase of my weight loss journey, I learned a lot about consistency. I learned that doing the same thing over and over regardless of it being boring or not is the best way to see progress. Weight loss isn't glamorous. It's work. It's not about speed. It's about doing the work day after day.

This current phase, I've learned about coping in healthier ways. As an emotional eater, I used food as a way to cope with my emotions. Instead of feeling the feelings, I buried them down with food. I cope in other ways now that don't use food.

What has that skill lead to outside of weight loss?: Consistency has lead to me building more aspects of my mindset. Doing things like journaling, gratitude, meditation, therapy, stretching and just reading development books has lead me to building that mind muscle. Strengthening aspects of my mindset that were never present before embarking on this weight loss journey.

What have you learned about yourself over the last year or so?: I've spent a lot of 2019 and 2020 in self discovery mode. I lost my identity after my first phase of weight loss. I was an empty shell and didn't know who I was. I've spent a lot of time in 2019 becoming the person I want to be. It's made me a better interviewer, friend, son, husband, father, and human being.

What advice would you give to anyone working through their weight loss journey?: Consistency is key. It's not about speed. If it took you a decade to put 100 lbs on, expect it take at least half that time or more to take it off. The weight loss journey is all about chasing progress. It's about making the best choices. Weight loss isn’t a straight line. The scale is a tool. Data tells a story. Food isn’t good or bad. Fix your relationships. Cope in healthier ways. Stay consistent. Progress is everything!

What resources would you recommend listeners check out?: Books:
1. Atomic Habits by James Clear
2. The Mind Monster Solution by Hazel Gale
3. Chasing Excellence by Ben Bergeron
4. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
5. Obstacle Is The Way by Ryan Holiday
6. Ego Is The Enemy by Ryan Holiday

Podcasts:
1. American Glutton
2. The Nikki Hynes Podcast
3. The Fat Guy Forum
4. Chasing Excellence
5. Let It Out
6. The Joe Rogan Experience

What are you working on now?: Currently on my next phase of my weight loss journey. Working on improving my skills with jump rope as my main form of cardio at the moment. Working a lot on emotional health and mindset which is my foundation for everything I'm working on right now. Spending a lot of time doing DDP Yoga and working on flexibility and mobility. As well as working on improving my interviewing skills on my podcast, What I Live For.

Is there anywhere else you’d like to point listeners to? Please provide link if possible: I would love to connect with other like minded people who just want a better life. You can reach me on Instagram (instagram.com/williegillis) or just check out my podcast, What I Live For (anywhere you listen to podcasts).

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