The Your Level Fitness Podcast 027: Chat with Erin
Where’s the best place for listeners to connect with you?: Instagram (@ErinLaurens) or my blog on FB (Finding Myself, My Keto Journey)
What’s one habit you do almost daily?:Meditate in gratitude.
What’s one of your normal routines?: Sunday meal prep is like church to me. Setting myself up for a successful week ahead.
How long did it take for the above routine to stick? : Did it right from the beginning of my weight loss journey. Gave me no reason to cheat and taught me how to fuel my body by controlling every single thing that went into my body.
Describe your weight loss journey.: To call it a blessing would be an understatement. I woke up Feb 1st 2019 and just had had enough. Almost 320 pounds at my heaviest and was always overweight. Edema in my feet, pre diabetic and needing glasses for my vision, taking advil and tylenol every day with extreme headaches... was watching a girlfriend lose a great deal of weight using the Keto diet in general and thought I had nothing to lose and gave it a week. That week was life changing. That week I decided that I was going to turn my life upside down and reinvent myself before I hit 50. And that was exactly what I did. From a size 22 to 8-10, cured my vision issues and regained my health. Simply by putting myself first for the first time in my life.
What’s a skill you developed as a result of working through your weight loss journey?:Controlling my emotions. Literally micro managing them. Why am I feeling like this? Where is it stemming from. I literally was using food for YEARS as a comforter... the minute I took that away I had to actually FEEL. And feeling is very hard. Now looking back... that was where all the growth took place.
What has that skill led to outside of weight loss?: A new found confidence and a group online that I try to motivate as well. I am unstoppable. Anything I can put my mind to I can achieve. I don’t sweat the small stuff. I have learned how to pick and choose what I let get to me and how deeply it affects me. Its an amazing skill.
What have you learned about yourself over the last year or so?: That I was far stronger then I ever believed. That each little decision I made I made sure that I was putting my needs before any other and all those small decisions could turn into bigger victories. As well, being transparent and open about all aspects of this journey have paid off ten fold. I had no idea that if I simply reached out for support that there would be so many amazing people there to help me and in reaching out.... I became a light to them as well with each small victory we shared together.
What advice would you give to someone working through their weight loss journey?:Be gentle with yourself and to know that you are far stronger then that negative self sabotaging voice in the back of your head. Put yourself first. For the first time in my life I didn’t put my daughter, or my 4 grand kids or anyone for that matters needs before my own first. I stopped cooking for my family which in turn made them more independent... you simply have to make you number one to make such huge changes in your lifestyle and to make them stick.
What resources would you recommend listeners check out?: I listen to anything motivational. Every day on the way to work I search Motivational Speeches on Youtube and crank it. It forces you to have to look at your own life and how things pertain to you personally. It is very hard to be depressed when you are listening to such powerful words. They over time will change you. Some you just listen to but there are moments when things speak so powerfully into your life. They are very powerful.
What are you working on now?: One last 20 pounds! And getting back into the gym post Covid. Its time to take things to a new level. And that would be my fitness. Time to get to my goal weight and pray for the ability to get surgery. I don’t have the funds but I believe karma will make its way and part of that is helping others each and every day to learn to love themselves and see that anything is possible if you want it bad enough.
Is there anywhere else you’d like to point listeners to? Please provide link if possible:Nope. Just my Insta and FB if they would like to follow along. I’m simple that way.
