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Posts tagged ‘success’

Mar 5

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So you’re not perfect. It’s okay. Perfect isn’t cool!

Ever hold yourself to a standard of perfection, only to find that it kept you stuck, stalled & living in a state of constant worry? Good News: Perfect isn’t cool! And striving for it can actually be a form of self-sabotage.

Last week I was on vacation with one of my “besties” in sunny 80-degree Florida! It was a planned birthday trip, combined with a respite from winter in Maine, and a much needed soul recharge to visit a close friend.

The Tampa weather was warm and sunny and it felt amazing to be walking outside every day. I walked 2-4 miles most mornings for outdoor cardio and we walked the beaches as much as possible. Truthfully, I couldn’t get enough! We ate healthy, too. My friend, Mary, is a dietician and an amazing cook who makes the best salads! Plus, I was on a personal mission to eat grilled Gulf shrimp and Grouper as often as I could.

The combination of eating healthy on vacation and moving outside in the sunshine every day totally lifted my spirits. Not to mention, the added psychological benefit of laughing and spending quality time with one of my closest friends. I came home focused and re-energized. Just the way it should be after vacation. Right?!

Reality set in when I returned to a very windy and cold Maine, and resumed the task of making a new life where I have yet to establish a solid routine. Transitions are hard for me in general, but I know this and was determined to continue my momentum upon returning home.

Fast forward a few days and, well, I am struggling. So what happened?

Well, life! Nothing too crazy, just normal stuff. Can you relate? Read more

Jun 14

Sometimes we all need a little help

Mindset, Motivation & Momentum — an accountability group for weight loss & healthy living

Me at 6 years healthy, May 12, 2018. Keepin it real.

Ringo Starr and the Beatles were definitely on to something — sometimes we all need a little help from our friends. Or, rather, we get by with a little help from our friends! 🙂

Asking for help — personal or professional — is often challenging for people, especially when we are struggling. When it comes to weight loss or wellness, we often believe that because we know WHAT to do, we should be able to “just do it” on our own. We might not want to be a bother or burden to others. Perhaps we’re ashamed that we actually need help and can’t bring ourselves to admit that we’re struggling for fear of what others might think. So, we continue in excuse mode. We struggle, and stay stuck or stalled alone instead of reaching out for help. Does any of this sound familiar?

Today, I’m leading by example. I am both asking for help and giving you an opportunity to do the same. Read more

Jun 8

Motivation Monday: Inspiring success stories!

ITE_YouCan_QuoteWhen it comes to health and well being, people define success differently. To some, it’s about weight loss — the number on the scale. To others, it’s how strong and fit, they feel. For many others, it’s about improving the numbers and lowering risk factors for chronic disease. For some, it’s how much they can bench press? And so on.

For me, success is living from the center of my equation and prioritizing my health and wellness — especially when the going gets tough. It’s been an internal journey as much as an external or physical one. The changes on the inside are as important to me (or more) as the changes on the outside.

People often ask me how I’ve been successful at both losing 200 lbs and keeping it off — for three years, now. I tell them — by working at it, every day! By making myself the priority instead of last on the to do list. I am better for myself and those in my life. Everything is better!

Read more

Nov 10

The 90% Rule

Progress not perfection. 90% = success!

perfectionI woke up this last Friday morning after two days of real struggle working toward my “In the Equation Challenge goal” and remembered: I am not perfect! I am fantastic, strong, smart, courageous, beautiful, passionate, diligent, determined…and perfectly imperfect at the same time. And I LOVE that about me! I am not perfect. Thank God.

One of my favorite quotes related to perfectionism comes from Brene Brown in her book, The Gifts of Imperfection. ““Perfectionism is self destructive simply because there’s no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal.” Here, here. I finally get it and embrace it!

Brene goes on to describe the difference between healthy striving and perfectionism. “Healthy striving is self-focused, how can I improve and grow? Perfectionism worries about what other people will think.” According to Brene’s research, perfectionism is not about excellence or healthy striving. It’s a way of thinking and being that says, “If I look perfect, do it perfect, love perfect, work perfect, I can avoid or minimize shame in my life.”

In other words, perfectionism is the ultimate fear that we might fail, and/or the word is going to see us for who we really area and we won’t measure up. Yes, perfectionism is fear. I get that because I’m a recovering perfectionist. I spent most of my adult life trying to be perfect and beating myself up when I was not. It kept me small, and stuck. On the sidelines and NOT in the arena for far too much of my life.

These past four years as I’ve personally transformed both inside and out, I’ve worked to embrace “progress not perfection.” I’ve learned the difference between healthy striving, learning and growing as a person vs. the impossible standard of perfection. And, most importantly I’ve learned self-love and how to offer self-compassion when I slip or fall or fail. I truly believe, I am enough. And that has made all the difference.

Which brings to me to why this blog — the”In Your Equation Challenge” and my revelation of this past week. Read more

Nov 5

When was the last time you challenged yourself?

…REALLY challenged yourself. What happened next?

ITE_Quote2Most of us live inside our self-defined comfort zone. Often that means we play it safe or live masked by fear of going for what we really, really, really want in life. For some of us, that fear can mask itself in excuses and rationalization.

I know this because I lived in a safety net of fear and a default mode of “not going for it” for most of my adult life. But when I found the courage to push past that fear; when I figured out what I REALLY wanted and went for it — well, amazing things happened. That’s when I realized that I can do anything! And that’s when I started living from the default of “going for it” instead of playing it safe.

It’s not easy to challenge yourself to do hard things. But I find that every time I do, I not only feel a sense of pride for the accomplishment, but it ups the ante of what I’m capable of and what I attract in my life. And that is the coolest thing! Read more

Jun 5

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Defining success. It’s personal. That’s a good thing.

LoriSchaefer-After-7People often ask me how I’ve been successful at keeping my weight off for two years. My answer: I work at it every day.

The goal I set when I started this journey was not a weight loss goal, but rather a mindset. I decided that I would “never, ever quit” and that’s how I’ve been successful. This is now my mantra, and it’s how I define success. I am successful if I’m still going, still learning, still growing, and keeping Lori in the equation every day. Because the truth is, if I do those things, the weight will stay off.

To do this requires focus and diligence. It doesn’t leave my conscious just because I hit a number on the scale or wear a size 8 instead of a plus size. Rather, it’s something I know I have to actively work at for the rest of my life. I accept that. Embrace it. And live it. It certainly beats the alternative! Read more

May 12

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Celebrating one year in a “little” black dress

Lori in the equation - one year laterI reached my weight loss goal on May 11, 2012. One year later, I am a fit, active, healthy and happy “girl” living in the center of her equation, embracing life with energy, passion and love!

This past weekend was the one year anniversary of reaching my goal weight…so I guess you could say the anniversary of my physical transformation and a celebration of the internal one.  Though it is never quite that black and white. I started my personal transformation journey in Dec. 2010 and after 18 months of work to get to goal, I celebrated last year with a party and a makeover May 11-12, 2012. (See celebration party photos here. I’m still smiling about it one year later!) Read more

Oct 2

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Persevere. And when you falter, persevere.

There are days I need the reminder. This is indeed one of them.

When all else fails…when you feel stressed and beaten down…when you are emotional and aren’t sure why…when you slip and fall, and your inner voice is telling you to give up and throw in the towel. It is then – most of all – that you must persevere. Read more

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