Client Success Story: This Mom is Setting New Records for Herself
Today’s client success story features my wonderful client Nicole! Just last month, Nicole (40) completed one year of online coaching, and we decided that it was time for her to fly free, since she had been steadily (and pretty effortlessly) maintaining her lifestyle and her 20-pound weight loss month after month.
One of my absolute favorite things about Nicole is her mindset. We started working together on a 10-pound weight loss goal post-“Mommy Makeover” surgery (you’ll read more about that in a moment), and from the very beginning, her perspective was balanced and realistic. She focused on all the right things: creating sustainable nutrition changes, cultivating enjoyable exercise habits, and – most importantly – developing a positive self-image that is resilient to life’s ups and downs.
In the climate of our current fitness and wellness industry, I sometimes feel that people feel forced to choose between self-acceptance and transformation. What clicked immediately for Nicole is that you don’t have to choose – self-acceptance is part of the process of transformation.
Thanks to this healthy mindset, Nicole got unstuck and has now not lost only 10 pounds, but 20 pounds, and her confidence in herself is off the charts. But it’s not just about a smaller dress size – it’s the deep satisfaction of following through on your commitments to yourself, and achieving goals that you never thought possible. As she says: “Never in a million years did I ever think I would become a runner. Fast forward, I have completed a handful of races and continue to set personal records.”
Nicole is a great example of someone who focuses not just on outer change, but also inner change. If I could bottle that, I would, because I wish this was something that I could give people. But I have learned from years of coaching that it’s only something that you can create within yourself. I am grateful every day for clients like Nicole who “get it” and use that insight to transform themselves.
And now, in Nicole’s own words….
The Mommy Makeover: “What was meant to help me feel better about myself had negative consequences on my mental health…”
After three very difficult pregnancies, I no longer recognized myself. In 2021, I underwent reconstructive surgery to repair an umbilical hernia and significant damage to my abdomen due to multiple pregnancies. You may know this as a “Mommy Makeover,” however I know it as one of the most debilitating and painful things I have ever experienced. Recovery was challenging and I was truly limited in my mobility and strength for months. What surprised me most was the weight I gained post-surgery.
Ironically, what was meant to help me feel better about myself had negative consequences on my mental health.
The internet became valuable to me, and I learned many women had the exact same experience which was encouraging. Walking quickly became my best friend. I purchased a Peloton treadmill and, as I got stronger and received clearance from my doctor, I slowly entered a new world of running.
But by 2023, I felt I had hit a wall. I had physically recovered from my surgery, I viewed my diet as relatively healthy, and I had become very active with Peloton. While I wasn’t necessarily “overweight,” I wasn’t comfortable in my skin and still hadn’t lost that last ten pounds. I came to terms that this is just the way it is at this point in my life.
Enter Rachel.
Starting Coaching: “My habits started naturally changing…”
When I started working with Rachel, I was very clear that I did not want to count calories or be forever dieting. Together we made small modifications (mostly based on increasing protein and being mindful of portions). With my busy life, meal prep wasn’t always possible. Rachel gave me the tools needed when ordering dinner or attending a social event. My habits started naturally changing and I feel I have a very healthy and sustainable relationship with food now.
With Rachel’s support and understanding of my love for Peloton, I had structured workout plans which included running and strength training. I have three children, a full-time job, and an MBA program, so time isn’t always on my side. Rachel and I figured out a way to incorporate exercise into my life in a way that didn’t feel burdensome. This could mean taking a meeting outside on a walk or spending ten minutes strength training on those busiest nights.
Any movement is good movement and I have really learned to appreciate that. Sometimes we feel so much pressure to intensely work out for hours – but taking 30 minutes a few times a week is really all it takes. And when I am tired, I rest. I am ok with that now. It is so important to stay in tune with your body.
After a year of training and nutrition coaching, I have lost 20 pounds and feel better than ever. I am stronger both physically and mentally and feel I have found a sustainable approach to my overall wellness.
“I wanted to be healthy and present for my kids without my confidence getting in the way…”
Looking back, I was in a pattern of eating “right” during the day and completely letting go at night and on the weekends. As a full-time working mom, my husband and I ordered out a lot, typically late at night after an evening of activities with the kids. Exercise was already a big part of my life, but my workouts were not very organized or structured. What I did know was that I didn’t want to be constantly dieting or sacrificing things I really loved. Most importantly, I wanted to be healthy and present for my kids without my confidence getting in the way.
While my physical appearance was important to me, Rachel and I really worked on my mindset which was what was actually holding me back. The biggest shift in my mindset since working with Rachel is my confidence and perseverance. Not every day is perfect. Not every meal is perfect (nor should it be!). Rachel has given me the tools to be ok with imperfection.
Turning 40 this year was hard! We see so many images on social media of what 40 should look like and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t still hard on myself sometimes. I remind myself how far I have come. Sometimes we just need to let ourselves have those bad days and then move forward. Rachel was there for me during difficult weeks when I wasn’t feeling my best. Normalizing that my body is changing as I get older was very important in my journey. It doesn’t have to stop me; I just have to know how to respond.
Fast Tips from Nicole
On Goal-Setting Beyond Weight Loss…
I think setting goals is important to sustainability. For me, it’s hitting a new running pace, or a personal best in a 5k. Never in a million years did I ever think I would become a runner. Fast forward, I have completed a handful of races and continue to set personal records. Running has truly become an important outlet for me.
On Strength Training…
Strength training is critical to running so I try and incorporate that into my routine at least 1-2 times per week. Slowly increasing weight is also a fun way to continue challenging myself.
On Exercising as a Mom…
As a mom it can sometimes feel uncomfortable taking time for yourself (and I am extremely thankful for my husband, Sean, who has been my cheerleader every step of the way). I have found that working out in the evening works best with my lifestyle. I can help with homework, drive kids to activities, make dinner etc. and then set some time aside for a workout. My kids will join me in the basement and even workout with me. I do try and plan ahead which nights I am most likely able to fit a workout in which is helpful. And on days it doesn’t work out – that’s ok. Tomorrow is always a new day.
On Handling Ups and Downs…
I just returned from a week away with my family. I set the goal to workout twice which I accomplished (something about running on a cruise ship!) and I did not restrict myself from things I enjoy. I expected the scale to be up when I returned. This is not the end of the world because I know I will be right back to the habits I have created with Rachel.
On Making Small Changes…
The best advice I could give someone is to give yourself some grace. Perfection is unattainable. Making small, realistic changes can make the biggest difference. Great things can start by just going for a walk!
Rachel here again! I can also point out a few strategies (and mental reframes) that Nicole used that made her very successful in achieving her goals:
- She didn’t do anything while “dieting” that she couldn’t maintain… this is why maintenance has been so easy for her. She never counted calories or macros, and simply created new routines based on our conversations and my recommendations.
- She doesn’t do exercise she doesn’t like just to lose weight. She loves her Peloton, as well as the app’s classes and bootcamps. She leans in to what she enjoys, and therefore exercise does not feel like a negative chore.
- She outsources the areas where it makes sense – she uses a meal prep service for weeknight meals since she and her husband both have demanding careers.
- She really understood and embraced the concept that I talk about with clients, that every meal is a chance to hit re-set. You only eat one meal at a time – if you feel like you “blew it” earlier in the day, you don’t have to overcompensate (or give up). Every meal is a chance for self-care in some way.
- Because of her experience with the “Mommy Makeover” (that nickname, by the way, makes her cringe), she had a realistic mindset about the power of lifestyle change. She knew that long-term, steady change was the only solution to achieve her goals, and she came ready to work.
If you’re ready to reinvent yourself from the inside out like Nicole, get in touch for a free 30-minute consultation! We can talk through your goals and make a plan for you.
Just a note that the reconstructive repair surgery that Nicole had, which is often nicknamed a “Mommy Makeover,” is often a catch-all term for a surgery that can include as many procedures as a liposuction, tummy tuck, breast augmentation, abdominal muscle repair, labiaplasty, and more, and not all women have the same version of a “Mommy Makeover.” This surgery is often thought of as a “quick fix” (either negatively or positively), but the reality is that it is a major surgery that requires significant recovery. What I always tell clients is that plastic surgery of any kind will do things for you that weight loss cannot do, but it will not do for you what only weight loss can do. Make informed decisions that you feel good about!
