You are working hard, and nothing is changing. You push, you try the next plan, and your body does not seem to respond.
That was me, before I ever thought about writing this.
When Nothing Was Working
I was going to classes almost every night, sometimes two in one night. I was on the treadmill every morning. I tried every diet imaginable. And no matter what I did, my body did not seem to lose the weight or get stronger.
I was ready to quit everything.
That is when I decided to start yoga teacher training.
I did not go in wanting to become an instructor. I just loved yoga, and honestly, I was hoping it might finally help me lose the weight. I had no idea how it would actually do that.
It Was Not About Flexibility
People assume teacher training is about flexibility. It was not. It was about being comfortable in my own body, learning to listen to it, to love it, and to give it exactly what it needs.
I still remember one class where I finally felt comfortable enough to take off the baggy clothes and do the class in my sports bra, the way most of the other participants already had. My body did not look like theirs yet, but I felt comfortable inside it. I stopped worrying about what everyone else was thinking.
Something shifted after that.
How My Eating Changed
I started eating healthier foods, and not because I was tracking calories. For the first time, I was listening to when I was actually hungry and choosing foods that made me feel good.
After years of trying every diet imaginable, this was the first approach that did not feel like a fight. I was not following someone else’s rules. I was paying attention to my own body.
How My Movement Changed
I still took a lot of classes, but I chose the ones I enjoyed instead of the ones that burn the most calories. I did more yoga and less cardio.
I also stopped forcing myself onto the treadmill every morning. I only got on when I felt like I needed a pick me up, and even then it was not a chore. It became something my body wanted to do, so I let it.
I started noticing that movement became easier. It was something that I looked forward to and felt great afterward.
How My Confidence Changed
That one shift, from making my body move to allowing it to move, changed more than my workouts. My confidence rose in so many other areas of my life.
That is when everything else started to fall into place, not because I found a stricter plan, but because I finally stopped working against myself.
What I Learned
Listening works better than forcing. For years I tried to make my body do what I wanted. It was only when I started paying attention to what it needed that things began to change.
Comfort comes first. My body did not look like the others in that class yet, but I felt comfortable inside it. That feeling came before anything else, and it made the rest possible.
A stricter plan is not the answer. I did not need more rules. I needed to stop fighting myself.
Your body is giving you information. Hunger, tiredness, and the urge to move are all signals. They are not weaknesses to push past.
Try This Today
Pause once and ask yourself, “What does my body need right now?” Then answer honestly. It might be water, a stretch, a walk, or just five minutes to sit down. Give it that, even if it is small.
Where This Led
That is why my book is not a rule book. It is nine habits built around real life, starting with the same thing that started it for me: listening to your body instead of fighting it.
The second edition of Transformational Habits is coming November 10th, and I will be sharing a lot more between now and then. Visit the book page to sign up for the virtual launch, and you will be able to order the book there as soon as it is live.
Want to Talk It Through?
If this sounds like you and you are tired of working against your body, let’s talk. Book a free Clarity Call, and we will look at where you are right now and what your body actually needs.
