Guest Post: Sarah Guenther – Beachbody Coach
In March 2016 after looking, yet again, at a picture of myself and not being able to recognize the woman staring back, I finally decided that enough was enough. I needed to do something about my health. At this time, I really had ZERO idea as to WHAT, but I knew that it needed to happen, and it needed to happen now. As I began to search Pinterest for ‘healthy meal plans’, and was quickly overwhelmed, I came across an online health & fitness event for busy moms that an extended family member had posted on Facebook.
A Little Back History
I had followed and UNFOLLOWED this woman’s public Facebook fitness page many times. You see, I watched her fairly closely for 3 ½ years and I wanted nothing to do with what she was doing (or so I thought). I saw her go from someone who recently had her third baby and needed to lose the baby weight, worked the corporate world making a good six figure salary, to now being a full time ‘momprenueuer’ looking AMAZINGLY healthy & fit and to top it all off, making a bigger six figure salary all while staying at home with her 3 babies. The reason why I was so wavering in my ‘Facebook following type of support’ was because I was jealous. I didn’t realize it at the time and I couldn’t actually admit that though, not until I started my own journey and looked deep into myself.
I figured whatever she was doing was the biggest scam. And she had fallen prey to it and I was not going to be as naive as her. So, I watched. And waited for her to fail. And then it never happened. Shoot. Now what? Was it possible that it wasn’t a scam, even though I truly believed that if something was too good to be true, it had to be a scam? Now I was desperate for the help and her fitness bootcamp event for busy moms had me intrigued.
If there was ever a definition of a busy mom, I had it slapped across my forehead. Here I was working 4 days per week, going to school full time, managing (or barely) a household with 3 kids, one with special needs, and a husband.
This is Where it Gets Interesting
I did not realize that this was not only a bootcamp for busy moms, it was also an opportunity to become an entrepreneur (an online coach) just like her. Oh boy. I don’t even understand WHAT that means!! I thought about it after she had asked me if I had an hour a day to invest in this business. Um, no. I was pretty sure I was in the negative hours every day, let alone having an extra hour. But I was so desperate to take care of myself and get that transformation that I said I would find an extra hour. Not really sure what I was supposed to do with that hour, but she promised me that I would be trained. I have to admit, I was intrigued.
Now, back to the fitness aspect. I needed to lose weight, and fast, but not like before. This time it NEEDED to stay off. I was so uncomfortable with myself, and I know that we are supposed to love ourselves where we are at. But I just couldn’t. Where I was at, was NOT the best version of myself, and not what God had intended for my life and body. I truly believe that God created each and every one of us to be healthy and thrive. I was in self sabotage mode, and for many years!!
Breaking the Cycle
I didn’t know how I was going to get out of that cycle, but I saw others with success, so I was willing to try something AGAIN. Before my new fitness package came in, that included my workout on DVD, some color-coded portion fix containers, and a shake that was full of nutrients, superfoods and whole foods (for real, that was completely foreign to me), I started in on some ‘training’ for coaching. Immediately I fell in LOVE with the possibility at changing the direction of my life, both physically and financially. I sat and binge watched story after story of these people who had overcome so many things and transformed their lives. From living in their cars, bankruptcy, alcoholism, broken marriages, anxiety, depression and so much more!! It created this SPARK along with this PEACE within me and I knew that it was meant for me.
All of a sudden my many excuses of ‘busy-ness’ became a challenge that I was willing to overcome, rather than a burden. I started with scheduling my workouts. I knew that I had to PLAN them out or else it wouldn’t happen. Not willing to rise before the rooster, I decided to schedule my workouts at 10pm. The husband and kids would be sound asleep and no one could sit and watch me awkwardly move about while trying to do a pushup, bear crawl (big emphasis on the CRAWL), or jumping jacks. It didn’t work for that long. I was tired at 10pm at night and would often skip it. I was worried I would fall prey to my old habits (of basically doing nothing).
In the meantime, I was listening to an audiobook called, “The Compound Effect” by Darren Hardy. It started to change my thinking when it came to getting success in my life. I was learning that doing something little, day by day, would compound to something bigger.
Here’s What I Did to be Successful, Even as a Busy Mom:
- I scheduled my workouts and SHOWED UP!!
- I started getting up EARLY to get my workouts in. Having them done early in the day made me feel accomplished
- I surrounded myself with people who also wanted to better themselves
- I had my accountability group keep me accountable and check in on me
- I gave up mindless tv or social media scrolling. I would ask myself, ‘does this get me closer to my goals?’ If it didn’t, then I didn’t do it UNTIL I had my workouts or other important things done
- I made it a point meal prep weekly, and with my husband! We made it fun! We put on Netflix, poured a glass of wine and started prepping
- I packed healthy snacks in my car for busy after school activities
- I started listening to daily audiobooks to make sure my mindset was where it needed to be
Making the TIME in my busy life needed to be a priority. Because my health mattered. How was I supposed to be a good wife and mother if I wasn’t making myself a priority along with my health? I was also a part of an accountability group and decided to run my OWN to stay even MORE accountable in my journey. I ended up losing 28lbs, 30” and gained a crazy amount of confidence, or ‘momfidence’ as I like to call it. Not only did I gain success with my health, I also helped many others do the same! My coaching career took off and I haven’t looked back since.