A personal training & food journal. Read about our weight loss progress at Train With Ron in Chicago, our nutritional habits and the life changes we're making to get in shape and stay healthy!

New bike for the summer, have been riding about 20 miles on weekends to mix things up.

I remember a few years ago watching Jenny McCarthy on a news show or something talking about her recent weight loss after giving birth. She said it took her a year to lose 85lbs and she was being defensive about it from the start, as if that was too long to lose that weight. This to me (210lbs at the time) meant that if I can’t lose at least that amount of weight in a year I am a failure. Did I even start to exercise after that motivating morning? No, I didn’t. It wasn’t motivating or realistic and quite honestly it was depressing. When I was 210lbs, depression could be just a couple of words away at any given time. It didn’t take much for self doubt to set it.

Preparing to, and going through weight loss can do a number on your way of thinking. Just take into account your own struggles and habits with food and exercise and it can be daunting. Mix in external stimulants and influences and it’s enough to send you into a negative state of mind which ultimately may convince you to give up. Fighting through that and convincing your mind and body to endure the necessary and be positive while you’re doing it will get you smiling on the other side of your journey.

Depending on how much weight you have to lose your struggles may be different. You have to know, this is not an easy thing to do for anyone. Why? Well, you’re going to be at odds with your old way of thinking. Your brain does not like to put your body in pain so it will do it’s job and try to convince you to go back to your old comfort zone. You always hear people say ‘it’s more mental than anything’ and ‘think positive’, well that is the best advice you could take. Listen to those weight loss food ads, it’s always trying to convince you that you barely have to do or change anything. This is not realistic. 10 minutes a day x 3 times a week is NOT a weight loss exercise routine, it’s a way for the commercial to convince your mind that it doesn’t have to endure any pain or discomfort while still reaping the benefits.

There are so many tools available to you that are healthy choices. They come attached to some hard work though. What you don’t want to do is compare yourself to shows or people you see on TV. I think you should definitely have some inspiration, don’t get me wrong, but have it be realistic and close to home. If you can have a friend join you in the process you can motivate each other and hold yourselves accountable.

Consult a professional when you want to lose weight, they will guide you. Do not just pick a number (lbs) out of a hat without knowing first, if it’s even attainable and two, if it’s a healthy way to go. Don’t set yourself up to fail. Know from day one that it will take positive thinking to do some of the hard work and come to terms with the fact that things are going to change but for the better.

Train with Ron changed my life and I am in such a better place today than I was a year and a half ago. Mind and body. When I have my mental or physical struggles I have 3 great personal trainers that are there to help me with food advice, motivation and customized workout. One thing I know though is as much help and advice as anyone will give you, YOU will have to work hard and YOU will have to initiate the actions that are in place to benefit you.

I promise though, when you are on your way and you see the changes happening, the pride you feel will be your fuel to keep pushing and to reach your next goal. My worst days are typically the days when I am negative. I try to not start my workout by saying negative things but I am human and when it’s a humid 85 degrees and I’m about to run for 3 miles it’s tough. And when it’s tough, that’s when it counts the most. That’s when you need to be positive the most. So I try to say positive things when my mind wants to complain.

Let me know what you do that helps you stay positive on those tough days.