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Posts tagged ‘Transformation’

May 10

Resilience. The key to happy, healthy & whole.

GOOD NEWS: If you don’t have resilience, you can develop it!

lori-speakingfitfest2016This week, I’m celebrating four years of living from the center of the equation of my own life as a fit, active, happy and healthy girl. Yes! A big deal.

I’m more proud of maintaining my -200 lb weight loss and Lori-in-the-equation life for four years than I was to lose the weight and get to my goal in the first place. And that’s saying a lot, because I was ecstatic to get to goal on May 12, 2012 and celebrate with my special peeps!

While losing and keeping the weight off is a huge accomplishment and changed my health trajectory, the greatest gift I gave myself was a WHOLE life. I got off the hamster wheel of a busy life, where I was drenched in self-doubt and worthiness issues, and learned to take care of my health and happiness first. I learned to live more from intention and less from habit. To honor and respect myself. To practice self-care consistently. And to stop doubting myself, beating myself up and being a victim of my circumstances.

WHOLE is not easy! And living a whole life manifests differently for everyone. I define it this way: WHOLE = happy + healthy + hard. I didn’t get here by taking the easy road. One of the most important skills that I developed along the way was resilience. I’m learning now — four years in — it makes all the difference. Read more

Dec 31

2015: Finding & celebrating my strong

MtM_holiday_card_2015_final_front2015 was a year of happy, healthy and hard.

Naively, I did not expect “hard” as I entered the new year steeped in hope and opportunity, with big dreams and deeply in love. At the time, I was experiencing a new level of happy in my now WHOLE life. I was on a roll!

But ironically, it was the “hard” that was the greatest gift of 2015 because it reminded me that I am strong and resilient. It gave me the chance to again prove to myself that I can do absolutely anything.

I first learned this lesson five years ago when my transformation journey started in weight-loss boot camp. Now, here it is again, reminding me: YES, indeed: I am strong. I am resilient. And I can do anything that I make up my mind I’m going to do!

2015 gave me the opportunity to rise strong. And I celebrate that.

Read more

May 15

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3 lessons I learned on the mountaintop

NOTE: This week marks my 3-year anniversary living as a fit, active, healthy, happy girl from the center of her equation — maintaining a -200 lb weight loss. To celebrate, I’m working on a series of blogs sharing the lessons of the road of the past three years of healthy living. This is a continuing journey. It’s been the ride of a lifetime and I wouldn’t change a thing — even and especially the hard stuff.

Lori-ObergMountain-April2015

Hello mountain. Hello fresh spring air. Hello switchbacks and ascending trails….expansive and breathtaking views. Hello critters of the forest. It’s just us today. Just the way I like it. Good morning!

As I pass the entrance to Oberg Mountain and hit the ascending trail, this is my internal conversation — with myself and my mountain. It’s been months since we’ve met and it feels like coming home again.

Oberg — on the beautiful North Shore of Lake Superior — was the first mountain I ever climbed. And like a first love, it will always have a very special place in my heart.

That was not always the case. Read more

Feb 9

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How I lost 200+ lbs & reignited my life

The key to success might be what you THINK!

Lori Schaefer with Dolvett Quince on The Biggest LoserSince I shared my story on NBC’s The Biggest Loser last week, I’ve had the privilege to connect with so many amazing people. Thanks to those who’ve shared their personal stories of struggle, challenge and heartache — as well as successes and triumphs — along the path to weight loss and better health and happiness. I am honored that you entrusted me with your personal stories and your questions.

It’s probably no surprise that the most frequently asked question I get is: “How did you do it?” Or, “What ONE thing was the key to your success?” Immediately followed by questions like: “What diet did you follow? Can you tell me exactly what to eat and how much to exercise? …” Read more

Jan 28

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Guess who’s on the NBC Biggest Loser Finale?

I’ll give you one guess!

It’s true. I’m in LA with LoriSchaefer-After-BigPantsmy mom getting ready to tell my transformation story on the live finale of NBC’s Biggest Loser, Season 16. I’m thrilled to be here and meet everyone. And, I’m excited to share my story.

Tune in to your local NBC channel from 8-10 p.m. ET (7-9 p.m. for all my peeps back home in Minnesota) and watch the amazing two-hour Biggest Loser finale. You can see me share the story of how O’Neal Hampton and the Biggest Loser inspired me to a -200 lb weight loss, and watch all the amazing transformations from this season. Read more

Sep 8

“Put yourself In the equation” at Blue Hill YMCA

This Wednesday, Sept. 10, I will be sharing my transformation story and tips for putting yourself in the center of the equation of your own life and achieving your big, hairy audacious goals and dreams. Join us at the Blue Hill YMCA, a branch of the Downeast Family YMCA, at 5:30 p.m.. The event is free and open to the public. Details below. Please RSVP to save your seat, seating will be limited. Hope to see you there!

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Jun 26

Success = warrior. Not quitting, no matter what!

Meet Kendra the warrior. Success story #2 in my blog series titled, “Success. It’s personal. And that’s a good thing.”

KendraMalloy

Kendra Malloy. Success story #2.

When I was first asked at weight-loss boot camp to set a goal for the two-week live-in camp, I said without hesitation, “I will not quit. No matter what!” I didn’t know it at the time, but it was one of the most important things I would do to achieve success. I still have that goal today, and it serves me well…over and over.

Most people focus on weight loss as the goal. And in our boot camp nearly everyone, but me, focused on how much weight they wanted to lose in the grueling two-weeks. I get it. But, I’m glad I had the foresight to focus on the bigger picture. Because for me, that was key.

I knew myself and knew that staying in the game when the going got really tough, when my emotions got the better of me and I all I wanted to do was eat myself deeper into the black hole, that was key.

Just over a year ago, I had the pleasure of meeting someone who exhibits that same tenacity and determination. The minute I was introduced to her (virtually), I knew she would be a success and her transformation would be both internal and external, inside and out. I offered to support her transformation journey for those reasons.

Meet the lovely Kendra Malloy from Berkley, Michigan. Kendra calls herself a warrior. And she is! Kendra’s transformation success story — while still in progress — will inspire anyone who can relate to starting out with focus and determination and throwing in the towel when it gets really emotionally tough. Like me, that became part of Kendra’s story. Like me, she struggled with body image and self worth. But this time, like me, Kendra has gone all in! She has NOT thrown in the towel or let herself quit. And to date Kendra has lost 150 pounds, gotten stronger inside and out, and is able to show herself compassion and love! That’s real success and it deserves to be celebrated. Kendra, so do you! Read more

Jan 13

Half their size

People Magazine Half Their Size 2014I picked up a copy of the new People Magazine Half Their Size issue yesterday (Jan. 2014) anxious to see who was featured, and how old they were. I look forward to it every year but this year with new anticipation.

It’s probably not surprising that I have renewed interest given my personal transformation and passion to help inspire and motivate others to get healthy and transform their lives.

People Magazine Half Their Size features “regular” people who have lost half their body weight through diet and exercise, no surgery or gimmicks. And, while I am inspired every year, I also note that the vast majority of people featured are younger — namely in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40 at best.

Of the five people in the main feature this year, ONE was over the age of 40. Her name is Debbie Lazinsky, age 58, from Wheatley Heights, NY. She lost a whopping 185 pounds — well over half her body weight. (Yay – Debbie, that is awesome! You go girl!) Read more

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