Be Your Own Biggest Loser: A Story featuring Jillian Newlin

Have you heard of the popular NBC show The Biggest Loser? Some of us have watched an episode here and there, while others tuned in weekly to watch real life people share their personal stories battling weight and health challenges. Today, I have the honor of sharing a story about Twin Cities local who completed a version of her own "Biggest Loser" journey.


 

 
DID YOU KNOW?  More than one-third of U.S. adults (34.9%) are obese. Genetics and medical issues are a few elements of our health that sometimes cannot be altered. While Americans continue to improve their lifestyle choices overeating and lack of exercise still remain underperformed in the U.S.

The journey to lose weight, or even to maintain a healthy lifestyle, is no easy task. For some people it is a very difficult physical & mental obstacle to overcome. To "walk a mile" in someone's shoes who battles obesity is unimaginable unless you're the one that's short of breath, struggling to find a pair of jeans that fit comfortably, or even feeling self conscious in public settings. 

An equally important note: underweight individuals can also have a hard time maintaining a healthy weight just as the rest of the American population strives to stabilize their weight.



I recently had a chance to catch up with a "Big Loser," and good friend of mine, Jillian Newlin. I hadn't seen Jillian in nearly 2 years, and I was SHOCKED by her drastic weight loss and success story. 



Coming Soon! Part 2: Jillian's Tips and Tricks

Jillian is Twin Cities native, who leads a busy life as most of us do. She is a mother of 2 young boys, a loving wife, works a full-time job, and very active with her family and close friends. Her recent journey to finding a healthier and happier lifestyle has lead her to a remarkable weight loss of over 60+ pounds! 


The "moment" Jillian realized she needed to make a change was when she saw a picture of herself that left an imprint on her mind.

What lead you to begin your journey?
What really ended up being the final straw for me was seeing a picture of myself that was so completely unflattering; my jaw dropped open and I was shocked by how I looked. I had been overweight since high school, but after getting married and having two babies in a two year span I had just kept gaining and gaining.

When I would look in the mirror I would try not to look too long or too closely, so I didn’t really have to face it. Once I saw that picture (above), I realized just how big I had gotten, and that was enough. At the time, I had a newborn and a two year old at home and I was under a lot of stress. After my maternity leave I had started working out, which became my “me time” and time to de-stress.

What held you back or derailed your weight loss?
Staying motivated! I had started workout plans before and tried to eat better, but this time I was more determined. The other main difference between this time and my failed attempts in the past was the fact that I started slow.

What did your work out schedule look like?
In the past I tried to do too much way too fast, and I was overwhelmed. This time I started by walking on the treadmill 3-5 days a week, but did not change my eating habits. I did that for 6 months and only lost 8 lbs. Then I realized that I needed to change something else. I started doing Jillian Michaels DVD’s that incorporated High Intensity Interval Training, and once I started doing those about 5 days a week (30-40 min/day) I lost 8 lbs in two months (instead of 6 mon).Then I began running (when I started it was run/walking at intervals).

What were some of the biggest challenges?
One of the biggest challenges was learning how to eat better. When I started using "My Fitness Plan" I found it very hard to stay under 1200 calories. I did get to eat more calories if I burned them off with exercise.

Another challenge with the eating was trying to get my husband and kids (but especially husband…lol) to try new foods. For instance, for dinner I like to make chicken quinoa, but neither the hubby nor kids are very fond of quinoa- instead they will have chicken and potatoes and a vegetable.

What were some of your motivating factors?
What kept me going was the progress that I saw. Every week the scale went down and stayed down. I knew that what I was doing was working and it was such an amazing feeling, so I just kept doing it! What is harder is staying motivated once you have hit your goal.

What programs or tools did you use or suggest?
I am now a Beachbody coach! Beachbody is a company that produces and distributes at home workout DVD’s (Ex-Insanity, P90X, Turbofire). I have now completed Insanity, T25 and P90X3. As a Beachbody coach, my goal is to help people that are looking to lose weight and improve their health by showing them my success with the Beachbody programs, and by doing workout challenge groups.

In addition, I also am a certified Insanity instructor at Studio K Group Fitness in Andover. I instruct a 45 -minute Insanity class every Wednesday and Fridays. 

What advice do you have for others during their weight loss journey or maintaining their progress?
For those battling weight loss challenges, the only one that is going to motivate you to do it is yourself. You have to want it bad enough. The biggest difference isn’t my pant size, but how much better I feel inside and out. I would encourage people to just imagine how much better they could feel physically AND also how much better they could feel about themselves if they make a healthy change.

For those that are struggling to maintain, I now struggle with this sometimes, too. My advice would be to think about how you felt BEFORE you lost the weight, and how you never ever want to go back to that place. Then I think about my next short term goal, and I just keep going!

"Healthy living is just making healthy choices. I'm not perfect, but I try my best. I make working out a part of my daily routine, and I make sure it's a workout I enjoy so I keep coming back and look forward to doing it! The healthier choices I make the better I feel"

Follow Jillian
Jillian's Beachbody Site 
Jillian's Get Fit for Life Beachbody Facebook Page
Studio K Group Fitness: 3450 Bunker Lake Blvd, Andover MN 55304 (2nd floor)

 

Expand your Travel Experiences

What would you do if you won the lottery? Travel! The most common response (aside from paying bills) is the desire so many of us have is to travel. 

Finances seem to be a main factor as to why we travel as often/infrequently as we do. Also, time is precious, and it can be difficult to request time off from work, school, and commitments. 

One thing I wish I would have done in undergraduate school was to study abroad. Many of my friends took the opportunity to temporarily study in another country, or even to travel for fun. I was nervous (and careless) with my finances in my early 20s, so I always felt like I was too broke to travel. 

I have recently decided to spend less on material things and spend more on experiences. I enjoy concerts, social outings, and wine tastings.... But I love to travel! I love majestic scenery, meeting new people, and the attractions/activities in other parts of the world are so appealing to me... And of course the social scene and food :)

(Also read: Finding Balance http://hitatalk.blogspot.com/2014/02/finding-balance.html?m=1) 

One of my goals for 2014 was to take at least 3 trips (domestic) and plan for an international trip. Thankfully, I have amazing family and friends across several states that welcome me to stay with them, and give me more reason to "impluse buy" a flight as opposed to shop for a pair of shoes or jeans that I truly don't need. The international trip takes a little more research and savings. I would like visit Egypt, Dubai, Africa, Brazil, India, Thailand, South Korea, London, Paris, Rome, and Fiji. Uuff, Sounds like I may need that lottery to help :)

Las Vegas is always a fun city for me! I can't go wrong with Florida, and of course California is my #1 "go-to" place. But HOW is that I've never been to New York!? The Today Show is waiting for me! Well, not to worry friends, I will be making my first trip to the Big Apple this summer as a 30th Birthday gift to myself. Total so far in 2014: that will be 4 trips :) Mission accomplished!? Well...I think I will keep it ongoing.

Are YOU also Longing to Travel?

One of my favorite travel reads is: "Longing to Travel," http://longingtotravel.wordpress.com/

This is a great source for those looking for educational insight, tips/tricks, lodging advice, reviews, etc. The blog is created by a young, married couple and close friends of mine, Pouneh and Chris, who share their personal experiences from their worldwide adventures, and future plans.

https://m.airbnb.com/s

Traveling can add up, so I have to plan for the initial big spend of booking the flight. Then, lodging is another priority. Through many recommendations by friends, I will be using "Air BnB" to find a nice and affordable place to stay without breaking the bank or being on the outskirts of all the action.

Trip itinerary: I don't mean the flight number and departure/arrival times. I mean the FUN stuff! What TO DO when we travel? For a true "vacation" I love the all-inclusive packages for my tropical destinations. For other activities, I research the hot spots, landmarks, and recommendations from friends. 

I love to explore, hike, and dance. Therefore, I try to plan ahead or have ideas to do some sightseeing where I go, then find a well-known location to hike and enjoy the beautiful view, maybe go on a few excursions, and later on grab a bite to eat and join the nightlife.

I find that my travel experiences are rather healthy. I have a chance to take a short break from "reality" to unwind and destress. It allows me to be vulnerable and try new things, meet new people, and demonstrate my social skills or ability to think/act independently. I love sunrises and sunsets, so anywhere I can go with breathtaking scenery is a happy place for me. The diversity in our country is amazing, so I would like to see for myself how different cultures live and interact. I also like to keep myself educated by learning the history behind the places I travel to. And of course, trying different food is definitely a given. 

The world has so much to offer, and I don't want to miss opportunities to experience them. Traveling solo is something I would like to try one day (a tad intimidating, but I can do it), and traveling with those I love is always enjoyable.

In a nutshell, I highly encourage you to travel. Travel to a new town (even if you drive a few hours), hop on a flight and visit a new state, or save a few extra dollars and venture overseas. You will learn a lot about yourself, others, and our amazing world.

Bon Voyage! 

When One Door Closes...

...many more will open!

Have you recently gone through a big change in your life, or looking to make some changes?

You are certainly not alone when it comes to making "life decisions." Through my recent experiences and past encounters, I have realized that life changes are bound to happen whether we plan for them or not. It is how we learn and grow.

 

We just have to remember that we can only control our own actions, in the current moment...regardless of how much we communicate with others and how well we plan in advance.

How we handle our actions and reactions, and how we maximize our time is what matter most. Whether if it's a relationship change, home/move, career, education, financial, spiritual, etc we must remember that these are difficult elements in life we go through to get to where we ultimately want to be. Be open minded. Be Patient.

What if something happens unexpectedly? Stressful or joyful, all we can do is embrace the moment, ask others for help if we need it, and hold ourselves accountable for improving the situation to the best of our ability.

We've all heard the popular phrase before, "things happen for reason," so we must remind ourselves to be patient and positive.

Sometimes we must make big decisions, that are difficult in the moment, but what is yet ahead of us is unknown until we reach that moment. All we can do is welcome the future, good & not so good moments, and keep an open mind!

 

I recently made some big changes related to my future career goals, and ultimately I have decided that my mental & physical health/well-being and happiness is far more important than continuing on a path that was derailing my personal and professional success.

The decision to pursue my passion in PR and Entertainment work is exciting and very intimidating all the same time. All I can do is follow my intuition, reach out to others for their support and guidance, and push myself as hard as I can because this is what I want for myself. People around me will have their opinions, which I am open to hearing, but ultimately the decision is mine.

So for those of you who are looking to make a change, or who have unexpectedly had to experience an unplanned situation, my suggestion is to do your best to keep a positive mindset while continuing to seek opportunities that will benefit your well-being as well as financial and family priorities. 

For every door or two that closes it allows time and room for many more doors to open. Control the things that are in your hands, and set-aside the negative energy that may be distracting to your success.

Spring Ahead!

I think it's safe to say that this endless winter seems to be coming to a close! Many of us have been waiting for what seems to be an eternity for a break from the Polar Vortex cycles.

                               

With spring less than two weeks away, many of us are excited to see the sun and catch a breath of fresh air. But are you really ready?
        

While the snow mounts and ice trails are melting away this is a perfect time to get ahead of your Spring cleaning, buckle down on your nutrition and exercise plans, and stop procrastinating on any other project you have in the works.

Spring Ahead! Get started on your TO DO list today rather than making last minute arrangements. 

If you had a new years resolution to lose a few pounds, then make sure you're holding yourself accountable to maintain that goal.

If you need to file your taxes, then get going before April 15 comes knocking at your door.





If you need to reorganize and clean, then crack open the window, put on your favorite song (click), and get started! Little by little, one room at a time.

If you have a project deadline rapidly approaching, then try to spend a few minutes every day to finish it early! 

We've all been cooped up inside far too long, so let's all spend the next 2-3 weeks finishing up tasks we put off all Winter. Why waste any time for when the sun actually comes out and the temperature is above 40 degrees?

All I can say is that as soon as the ice has melted, I will be at Lake Calhoun! Come on, you got this! Make your list, and start checking things off this week. 

See you outside!