Over weight and Over worked?
You think you have figured it out. You “eat healthy” and focused on your nutrition. That was my case! I would occasionally meal plan, and liked to do outdoor activities like hiking. Surely, this combination of healthy activities would help me meet my goals!? I was so wrong, and not because I didn’t have the intention of being healthy and fit, but because I just didn’t know.
Have you hit the bottom?
We all have a “bottom” or a catalyst that pushes us toward change. In 2014 I moved to San Diego, CA from Orange County, CA. I had to essentially start fresh and this meant taking a managerial position at a pizzeria and brewery while attending my first year of grad school. This meant I was working full time, going to school full time, and interning. Most of my days started at 8 am and ended at 2 am. I was exhausted and all the FREE pizza I could ask for was at my disposal so I gained the freshman 50…not 15!
The Shift:
While I saw my life and health spin out of control I was looking for deeper connection and yoga has always provided that to me. I’m very active on social media and was browsing around and found a cool girl that at the time I didn’t know was a health coach like the one I would become! I was just looking for someone to do yoga with and make new friends. She invited me to her yoga class and I asked her about the foods and workouts she had been posting on her social media feed. She then asked me my goals and invited me to a virtual health and fitness challenge. At first, I was skeptical but I was willing to give anything a try at this point!
Basic facts:
This online challenge provided me with the tools to embark on my ultimate journey of growth so that I can now help others with their home health journey. I learned you can actually overeat healthy foods and that we all need different types of food and portions and timing to sustain our health goals. I learned that you don’t just have to do a cardio program for hours on end to get results. I learned you can get amazing results with the right nutrition and moving your body effectively 20-30 minutes a day. I learned that nutrition doesn’t have to be hard, can be fun and there are simple meal plans and recipes out there that effectively aid in sustainable weight loss. I learned that health and fitness are sustainable not just a fad diet.
What Now and How?
I’ve lost over 50 pounds and been able to keep it off. I’ve become a yoga teacher and health and fitness coach. I did get my degree in Social Work and live a much simpler life. I still enjoy the healthy foods I loved before but I portion them correctly and eat at the right times to properly fuel my body. My at-home fitness programs allow me to maintain my strength and weight loss so I can still enjoy all those outdoor activities I was talking about. You know, the ones that don’t aid in sustainable weight loss but the ones you need to be healthy to enjoy! I started using supplements to optimize my fitness and nutrition for optimal performance and wellness. This has become a part of my daily life and I have never been healthier or happier and feel it is my duty to share what I have learned with others because WE ALL deserve to live healthy and fulfilling lives.
Why does it matter?
Why does this all matter, Why is this important? This matters because not only do I have my life back and even better than before but I now know how to help others do the same. This health and fitness journey has broken me wide open to numerous possibilities. Last summer I was healthy enough to ride 1900 miles on a bicycle through the Rocky Mountains. If you had asked the girl managing the pizza place, working 60 hours a week and getting no sleep if she ever thought this was possible she would have told you that you were crazy. That bike ride changed my life and the ability to do it all started with a decision to join a community of people taking baby steps toward transformation. I now live in the Rocky Mountains, can walk to work, get adequate sleep, am on track with my nutrition and fitness and have the ability to be outside playing at my leisure! Simple daily nutrition and exercise with the support of others on the same path and the ability to go at my own pace gave me the ability to take control of ME. My health is priceless and as a wise woman (Dr. Mamak Shakib) once told me, the only person who truly cares and is in control of your health is YOU! So if you’re reading this, know you have the power to take control of your health. Take it one step at a time and you may be surprised what you find.
What does it take to start?
It all starts with your willingness to take steps toward living a healthier happier life. For most people looking to lose weight or get on track with transformation starts with nutrition. I am a firm believer we all have different needs and that is why plans should be fitted to those who are vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten free, dairy free, you name it. That is how I coach and start my clients on. I always start with simple meal plans and add in portion control (which is WAY simpler than you think and you still get to eat a ton of food I promise!), and supplements as needed. If desired, a fitness plan that accommodates your goals, ability, and injuries is added. What is important is to have your coach accessible and by your side as well as a sense of community which is done the new age way, the online supportive community.
Think about what you could gain from taking control of your health: Is it more time with your family, more time to play, more time to breathe, the ability to take risks, the gift of simply living your best life? Whatever it is, I hope this inspires you to take a step toward something, toward a gift that is truly priceless, your health and longevity.
Sarah Savino, MSW, RYT200
“Sarah Savino is my recommended Wellness and Nutrition Coach who resides in Colorado but has a community of clients she guides and manages nationally. She has her frequent retreats that her clients are encouraged but not required to attend and someone who knows first hand how it is to be overworked and overweight. She is a living truth that once within the right community and with the right guide, everything is possible. Check out her bio. under ‘Meet Our Team’, available on the website here.”- Dr. Shakib