Skip to content

Posts from the ‘Quotes & Fun’ Category

Nov 14

Balancing fun with the girls & staying on track

Girls Gone North 2016 - HikeI just got back from a much-needed girlfriends getaway. Girls Gone North to be exact.

My “besties” and I headed to the North Shore of Lake Superior this past weekend for our Annual Girls Gone North Weekend at the Bluefin Bay Family of Resorts. It’s become an annual tradition. We celebrate sisterhood, friendship and the fact that no boys are allowed! (Well, okay, this year the boys from North Shore Winery were allowed because they hosted our fun wine tasting event. But other than that, it’s sacred girl time.)

We hike. We laugh – a lot! Sometimes we “spa.” We catch up on all things “feminine.” And, we eat and drink — sometimes a lot. You get it! Girlfriend getaways are necessary and good for the soul.

But what do you do when you’re trying to eat healthy and stay on track? I get asked that question a lot. So, coming fresh off our November girls weekend seemed the perfect time to share some tips. I’m feeling especially proud of maintaining my weight loss while on vacation and coming home right on track.

This has not always been the case. Read more

Sep 26

Maybe what matters most is being brave

EDITOR’S NOTE: This blog is dedicated to the beautifully brave women in my life who have reminded me recently how awesome it is to both EXPERIENCE and WITNESS courage in action. Whether it’s facing a life-changing medical crisis and remaining strong and brave in the face of uncertainty, like my sister Lisa and my cousin, Donna. Or the beautiful and brave women who leapt despite their fear to put themselves and their health and happiness first as they embark on their own In-the-Equation journeys. To all the beautiful and brave women I know — this one’s for you. #brave #bravegirls #onebravething

lori-bravequote1When I was in the physical part of my personal transformation journey — nearing my weight-loss goal — someone asked me what the tipping point was for me. How did I find success this time when I had tried and failed so many other times?

To be honest, I don’t remember my exact answer. But I remember thinking later that I needed to know the real answer for myself. So I kept asking myself — what WAS different this time? How DID I do it?

A few days later, I noodled on a napkin the words: “Everything changed when I learned I could be brave and afraid at the exact same moment.” I lost 200 lbs and made my health, happiness and life a priority, the day I was brave and afraid at the same time…and acted anyway.

It was both the act of deciding and taking action that was brave. And little did I know at the time, but life with Lori-in-the-equation would require living a brave life — every day.

Too often we let fear stop us. The fear of putting ourselves out there, the fear of what others will think, fear of failure, fear of the unknown, even fear of success, can stop us dead in our tracks. When fear stops us, we play it safe. We retract and don’t go for what we really, really want. Often we stay stuck or living small. We don’t let ourselves truly shine. And for many of us, it means we don’t reach our personal and greatest potential. Can you relate?

There is another way. The brave life. Read more

Sep 9

Learn to live a WHOLE life, not just a busy one!

Join us in Bangor, Maine on Oct. 4th for this interactive and eye-opening workshop

in-the-equation-green-gem-workshop-2016Are you too busy to be healthy? Have you given up your biggest goals and dreams? Do you find yourself stressed about how to fit it all in and get it all done? If yes, then you’re not alone.

As modern day leaders, we juggle many different roles, and we’ve become the undeniable experts at multitasking. Many of us pride ourselves on our ability to juggle and do it all. But is that a good thing? What happens when we slip out of the equation of our own lives and end up doing everything for everyone else with precious little time to care for and nurture ourselves?

Trust me, I get it! I got so far out of the equation of my own life that I wasn’t even in it. I spent much of my adult life building a successful career and business, working myself almost to death – literally! At my tipping point, I weighed 381 lbs., worked 12 to 18 hours a day – seven days a week, got precious little sleep, and survived on a diet of fast and processed food.

But then I learned to put myself in the equation and practice self-care. Read more

Aug 29

Minnesota State Fair — fun sans the stick

Yes you can have a healthy & fun State Fair experience without the stick! #healthygirlsdothefair

loriandsandra-horsebarnThe Minnesota State Fair is home to more deep-fried foods and food-on-a-stick (pork chops on a stick, pronto pups and corn dogs, merlot-marinated grilled lamb on a stick, pickle dogs…) than any other place on the planet!

As a former 4-H’er and farm girl, I practically grew up at the Minnesota State Fair eating things on a stick. Well, actually, that’s not true. Foot long hot dogs, cheese curds and malts at the Dairy building were among my favs and they weren’t on a stick. This love of the “Great Minnesota Get Together” and my history of 12 days of “pigging out” on all things fried, fatty and greasy — on a stick or otherwise — might have something to do with how I got so overweight.

Fast forward 30-40 years and what’s a healthy girl to do when she loves the State Fair, but is beyond tempted by all that fatty, greasy, stuff on a stick? Read more

Aug 22

The Post-it Note Plan. #intheequation

post-itnoteplan-intheeqationWho loves post-it notes?

O.K., ME! I am a (colored) post-it kinda gal. I use them for creativity and organization in my work, and in my personal life when I feel stuck, blocked, or like I need focus.

For the last few days on my morning walks, I’ve been noodling a NEW Lori-in-the-equation plan for 2016 to get me better focused on what I can control in my life, and to practice letting go (with grace) of the things I can’t. I’ve been feeling like SO MUCH in my world is out of my control these days. And to be honest, I’ve struggled with that.

Being a pessimist, a victim, a stuck or stalled kinda gal, does not suit me. So while I live in this crazy difficult year and the space between “no longer” and “not yet,” I’ve decided to honor it by thinking about WHAT in this space and time I can control that would propel me forward toward my goals. That includes sorting out what I really want and need to care about right now. Where I want my time, energy and focus to be. And, at the same time, WHAT I can let go of…because it no longer serves me or because it is 100% out of my control and worrying about it only keeps me from focusing on the things I can do something about. Read more

Jul 5

Get movin’ & get your happy on!

Join the In the Equation Team at the Color Run Twin Cities July 10

Lori-Christine-postcolormerad.jpgHey peeps, Happy TUESDAY! I hope you had a happy, healthy and fun Independence Day weekend. Summer is flying by so fast.

I’m writing today to personally invite you to join our In the Equation Team this Sunday, July 10 in the Twin Cities Color Run 5K at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds! This fun and family friendly 5K is one big dance party promoting healthy, happy and fun — plus it benefits the Minnesota Special Olympics! Come walk (or run) with us and get your groove on.

I started an In the Equation Team for first timers to the Color Run. People who have never done a 5K or any type of competitive race, and especially for those who want to walk at their own pace but need a little encouragement and support to get out and get movin. We’ll walk as a group and celebrate living happy, healthy and in the equation!

The Color Run is the most non-competitive and fun race environment you can imagine to promote healthy lifestyles and it benefits a great cause. There are no winners (well we’re all winners for doing it) and no race times. You walk or run at your own pace and have fun getting your groove on and getting blasted with color along the way.

I did my first Color Run in Madison, WI, years ago and I loved it. Last June 2015, I did a second color 5k with my friend Ellen in the pouring rain and loved it! Read more

May 18

A girl and her mountain.

Lessons from the mountaintop — 200+ lbs lighter…
Celebrating 4 years of Lori-in-the-equation!

lori-oberg-anniversaryhike

2016 Anniversary Hike – Oberg Mountain

She climbed until she saw…Until she dropped the heavy weight she carried as a shield.

She climbed until she discovered she was enough, just exactly as she was.

She climbed and climbed and climbed until she found self-acceptance, self-love and compassion…until she mastered self-care as priority.

She climbed until she found a WHOLE life, not just a busy one. Until she learned to say no to things that no longer served her and YES! to the big wide-open world of possibilities.

She climbed, until she learned that indeed she could not only climb — she could FLY!

She climbed until she saw.

When I started my personal transformation journey, I also started this blog to document it. That was in Nov. 2010. At the time there was no question what the blog title would be — She Climbed Until She Saw.

Climbing mountains has been a metaphor for my transformation journey. Thus, at every milestone I find myself back on the mountaintop reflecting on the lessons and the gifts. Read more

Apr 25

2 Comments

Some days you have to fight for it!

Nike-fitness-quote-just-do-it-wallpaperMake yourself proud. No excuses! Just do it… (I tell myself).

Nope. I don’t want to! I am not feelin it today…(self replied).

Sometimes you have to just get up off your butt and do it. There is no easy path. No magic bullet. No internal motivation that is going work, so you just do it. Plain and simple…

Ever have a conversation with yourself that goes something like this? The truth is, some days you have to fight for it. Today was one of those days for me.

On a damp, gloomy mid-April Monday — after a weekend filled to the brim with work, family gatherings and obligations — I just wasn’t feelin it. All I really, really, really wanted to do this morning was pull the covers over my head and stay in my PJ’s — all day. The last thing I wanted to do was go for a long walk, do my strength and stretch routine, and practice mindfulness. Nope, I was mindful that I wanted to sleep. Read more

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers: