Why your mindset is the most important...

 I was a bit apprehensive about writing this at first, because I panicked that I wouldn't be able to provide tonnes of "scientifically backed" evidence as to why your mindset and your fitness are oh so related. Then I remembered that this blog is about my experience in the fitness space as a regular person, not someone aspiring to get a bodybuilder physique, not someone who is training for a specific event such as an Iron Man or a Marathon. Just your run of the mill mama of two littles who underwent a massive life change when she decided to put her health first.

So let's get into it, why your mindset is so important if you're on a weight loss journey. In my experience, it's when my mindset shift from people pleasing to pleasing myself that I saw the biggest change. To give you a bit of context, I started my weight loss journey with my online coach in September 2021 after he cold DM'd me on Instagram and we scheduled in a phone call. I was married at the time to my now-ex-husband and father to my daughter Jessica. After our chat, I just had this urge to get going, let's be honest, I had tried all the weight loss trends and fads previously and nothing had stuck, so what did I have to lose? In October 2021 I left my ex-husband with my 2 year old because I was starting to see my own worth and the marriage no longer served my new found self-worth. We will leave it there, I just felt like some context was required!

Over the next year and a half, I tracked my weight loss journey with my coach and in total lost 25kg (about 4 stone) with his support and accountability. Throughout that time, the determination to succeed was, 90% of the time, through the roof. It became a passion. A passion to make healthier decisions for my body and I saw the health benefits in abundance. Including my arthritis easing off, the pains in my knees and joints was drastically reduced. All because I accepted that I deserved to be looked after and I would be the one to do it, not just for me but for my daughter as well. I wanted her to be raised in an environment that prioritised good food choices and daily movement so that she might not go through the same struggles I endured as a teen. 

I found myself (and still do now) regularly talking about fitness as a topic of discussion - even more so after a started lifting weights in the gym. I found a new passion for being in the gym environment and lifting weights which for so long I did not think was something women were "supposed" to do but upon further education from my coach, I learned that lifting weights would be the thing that changes my body composition and most importantly, makes me strong. So now I was a woman on a mission, to not only be in the best shape of her life but to also be the most physically strong that she has ever been. I was pretty much addicted to the high I felt after a good weight lifting session, so actually turning up at the gym was never a chore.

So my values had drastically changed, I felt like a completely different person with new hobbies and a new lease of life after spending so many years feeling like "the fat friend" or unworthy of love because of my size. It's not always been sunshine and rainbows. In 2023 I fell pregnant with my son! My partner and I had not long been together so there were a lot of anxieties across the board and I spent my pregnancy feeling incredibly sick, depressed and basically gained the weight again because I had to constantly be nibbling on food to keep the nausea at bay. I did, however, continue to train throughout my pregnancy because I knew that would be the thing to keep me sane no matter how my body changed. We're now 7 months postpartum and over 20kg have come back off again as I continue to be in the mindset of "I am the woman who prioritises her health, good food choices and daily movement".

I continue to remind myself that I deserve the self care of this whole journey. Losing weight, going to the gym, exercising or even just getting your steps in every day for me is an act of self care. When your mindset shifts from "this is a chore" to "this is self care", it all becomes much easier. In time, these choices you make will become habits - but that's a whole different topic to discuss entirely!

For me, little things like reading books that make me feel empowered - Stronger by Poorna Bell is a great read for any woman thinking about getting into weight lifting. Not a Life Coach by James Smith is another one for an education on mindset & healthy habits and Atomic Habits by James Clear is an absolute non-negotiable read for if you're starting a weight loss journey. Talking to my friends and family about my journey so far and consuming helpful content online (by helpful content, I mean content that makes you feel empowered and educates you, if you are consuming content that makes you feel crap about yourself, I urge you to hit UNFOLLOW) are all things that help my mindset stay on track for reaching my goals. Because when I do the actions that make me a step closer to the person I want to be, I feel on top of the world. 

So I urge you to nurture your mindset, it'll be the thing that makes you successful.

Love, Amber xo