Latest / The Wholehearted Enneagram Podcast / Happier Healthier Holidays | a conversation with health coach Heather Deese

Transcript

Happier Healthier Holidays | a conversation with health coach Heather Deese · The Wholehearted Enneagram Podcast

0:17
SPEAKER_02: Hi friends, welcome back to the Simply Whole Hearted Podcast.
0:20
SPEAKER_02: We are so glad you're here today.
0:22
SPEAKER_02: And if you are new to us, we are welcoming you.
0:25
SPEAKER_02: Here at the Simply Wholehearted Podcast, our mission is to continue to encourage and empower you to live more unplugged, purposeful, and intentional moments in your life no matter what season you are in.
0:38
SPEAKER_02: Today we get to officially kick off our special holiday season.
0:42
SPEAKER_02: And for those of you who are strictly know Christmas music until after Thanksgiving, well sorry, had to sneak this music written and recorded by John Thurlow.
0:52
SPEAKER_02: This is track number 13.
0:54
SPEAKER_02: It's the instrumental version of Ocome, Oly Faithful, and you can find this on his Christmas album on iTunes.
1:01
SPEAKER_02: It has been around for a while, I think since 2009, but I wanted to make sure we played it today because I wanted an excuse to talk about his newest album called Different Story.
1:14
SPEAKER_02: It's his ninth one and it releases tomorrow, November 17th.
1:18
SPEAKER_02: So we're really excited for this album to be released.
1:21
SPEAKER_02: It's been in the works for over three years, and I think you will, um if you are already a fan of John Furlow's, I know you'll love this album.
1:31
SPEAKER_02: And if you're new to him, you'll really um appreciate the thoughtful lyrics and the beautiful music that surrounded.
1:39
SPEAKER_02: So be sure you can find out um about this music, play even samples of it, and uh read the lyrics from each of his songs.
1:48
SPEAKER_02: You can find that at forerunnermusic.com forward slash different story, and we'll be sure and put that on the show notes.
1:55
SPEAKER_02: You can find out about his other eight albums as well at johnthurlow.com, including his Christmas album.
2:02
SPEAKER_02: And next month we'll be airing our conversation with John.
2:05
SPEAKER_02: I can't wait for you to hear more about his story.
2:08
SPEAKER_02: Even though I've known him for a long time, I learned a lot during this conversation, and it was just really inspiring and encouraging.
2:15
SPEAKER_02: Today we're talking to Heather Deese, who's a health coach, a wife, and a mom of five kids.
2:23
SPEAKER_02: I have known her for over 15 years, and I've watched her live full of passion and focus in all things ministry, family, and health.
2:32
SPEAKER_02: Today we're gonna cover all of these topics, and Heather will also share a ton of practical advice about taking care of yourself during the holiday season and beyond.
2:40
SPEAKER_02: I know some of us are thinking, what?
2:43
SPEAKER_02: Health and the holidays?
2:44
SPEAKER_02: Those two don't go together.
2:46
SPEAKER_02: We should be talking about this at the new year.
2:48
SPEAKER_02: But I kind of like to get the head of the game sometime, ahead of the game sometimes and ahead of my new year's resolutions, and start thinking about it now.
2:56
SPEAKER_02: So that way I don't dig myself deeper into a pit and hat that I have to dig out of come the new year.
3:01
SPEAKER_02: So uh she will have some real specific things that you can implement now before those holiday parties and all the feasting begins.
3:09
SPEAKER_02: Because I think the feasting should be enjoyed and it should all bring a lot of life and health to all of us and our family.
3:17
SPEAKER_02: And I think you'll find her story encouraging, and we'll be talking more about how you can follow her and how you can learn maybe even how she could be your health coach, which would not only be a blessing to you, um, just because she's just kind and encouraging and full of wisdom, but she can also help you on your health journey as well.
3:39
SPEAKER_02: Today we're also sharing with you our new podcast sponsor, which is Seed Effect.
3:46
SPEAKER_02: I learned about this organization at a conference in October, and I was really impressed by their vision and their fresh approach.
3:53
SPEAKER_02: They're committed to bringing economic empowerment and Jesus to the world's poorest countries.
3:59
SPEAKER_02: They empower participants through savings and credit-led microfinance.
4:04
SPEAKER_02: It's a hands up, not a handout.
4:07
SPEAKER_02: And I will also be sharing more about them on a podcast conversation coming up next month as well, so you can learn more about this incredible ministry-owned organization, how you might be interested in partnering with them and gifting to them before the end of the year.
4:23
SPEAKER_02: So without further ado, here's our conversation with Heather Deese.
4:33
SPEAKER_02: Well, we've got a lot of catching up to do, so I'm just gonna dive right in and I mean because we've really just lived, you know, peripheral lives.
4:43
SPEAKER_02: We catch up via social media, and that's it.
4:47
SPEAKER_02: Um, we haven't even seen each other in person for how many years?
4:50
SPEAKER_02: I mean, my friends, I mean probably our weddings.
4:54
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think there was like one visit you guys made to the springs after marriage, and maybe that would have been the last.
5:00
SPEAKER_02: But usually when you'd come, you'd have to like see family and a million other people.
5:05
SPEAKER_03: So how long are you yes?
5:06
SPEAKER_03: How long have you known each other?
5:09
SPEAKER_02: Uh I don't know, what 18 years?
5:12
SPEAKER_02: Oh wow.
5:13
SPEAKER_02: Oh yeah.
5:14
SPEAKER_02: Probably crazy.
5:16
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I know.
5:17
SPEAKER_02: That makes us old.
5:18
SPEAKER_03: I know.
5:19
SPEAKER_03: It's like half a lifetime then.
5:21
SPEAKER_01: Because it was after college for you when that happened.
5:24
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
5:25
SPEAKER_02: So I mean, I graduated in 2002.
5:30
SPEAKER_02: Okay, so let's see.
5:32
SPEAKER_02: So 16 years ago, like right after it would have been that fall or something.
5:36
SPEAKER_00: That's crazy.
5:37
SPEAKER_02: Crazy.
5:38
SPEAKER_02: Oh, I love it.
5:39
SPEAKER_02: And so many good things have happened in your life.
5:42
SPEAKER_02: And you and Kevin have been married how many years would that be?
5:46
SPEAKER_01: We just celebrated our 13th anniversary in October.
5:49
SPEAKER_01: Yay! Oh, I can't believe that either.
5:52
SPEAKER_02: Yes, and you know, that's probably I I we I actually like that whole time um was like just you guys dating and engaged.
6:02
SPEAKER_02: That was like a really special time in my life too.
6:04
SPEAKER_02: Um found a lot of freedom, got to lead a missions trip with Kevin, and that was huge.
6:11
SPEAKER_02: That was like it was truly like a huge piece of healing for me.
6:14
SPEAKER_02: So um and then did you guys get engaged before that trip?
6:18
SPEAKER_02: Yes, right before.
6:20
SPEAKER_02: Okay, yeah, I was thinking.
6:22
SPEAKER_02: And so, yeah, that was and so you guys got married and then you went off to where?
6:26
SPEAKER_01: I was we right after we got married, we went off to Nebraska.
6:31
SPEAKER_01: That's right.
6:32
SPEAKER_01: And we did um Kevin was a pastor out there doing college ministry out in Nebraska, and then shortly after that, we helped plant a church um kind of in the downtown area of Omaha.
6:47
unknown: Okay.
6:48
SPEAKER_01: Um within a year of moving there.
6:51
SPEAKER_01: So, and then we stayed with that church and lived in Nebraska for seven years.
6:56
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
6:56
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
6:57
SPEAKER_01: And that's when uh our pastors for both you and I in college ministry, Jossie and Pastor Aaron and Jossie Stern came through and stopped to have lunch at our house in Nebraska.
7:12
SPEAKER_01: And we had already been praying about the next church plant.
7:15
SPEAKER_01: God had really put church planting on our hearts.
7:18
SPEAKER_01: And so when they came through and shared that they were going to be church planting, we thought it was just gonna be a catch-up lunch, which really it was.
7:26
SPEAKER_01: Uh-huh.
7:26
SPEAKER_01: Um, but they were sharing what God was doing with them and how God was gonna be moving them to Fort Collins.
7:32
SPEAKER_01: Uh, our hearts leaped and couldn't let go of maybe we were supposed to go.
7:40
SPEAKER_01: So that was awesome.
7:42
SPEAKER_02: They're still like the best people to church plant with for sure.
7:45
SPEAKER_01: They are amazing, so amazing.
7:47
SPEAKER_01: So yeah, God allowed that to happen.
7:49
SPEAKER_01: It was like boom, boom, boom, our household.
7:51
SPEAKER_01: It was total miracle after miracle, and we ended up in Fort Collins and um were there, helped plant another church there, um, Mill City Church.
8:02
SPEAKER_01: And that was we were there for five years.
8:05
SPEAKER_02: So okay, and they have what two campuses?
8:09
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, they just launched their second campus.
8:12
SPEAKER_02: So Aaron is um gonna be speaking this Sunday.
8:16
SPEAKER_02: Oh in Kansas City at Radiant.
8:19
SPEAKER_02: So yay! Yes, I know I'm so excited to see him because it's been years as well, really since they did the church and everything.
8:26
SPEAKER_01: So love it.
8:28
SPEAKER_01: They're they're amazing.
8:29
SPEAKER_01: They're amazing.
8:30
SPEAKER_02: There was many times that when Spencer and I were debating about like, should we stay here in Kansas City or move to Colorado?
8:36
SPEAKER_02: I'm like, well, I'd really like to just move to Fort Collins.
8:39
SPEAKER_02: I don't know what job you could get there, but I'd like to be part of Mill City Church.
8:43
SPEAKER_02: Connected the dieses again and start, that would be awesome.
8:47
SPEAKER_01: Oh that's awesome.
8:49
SPEAKER_01: God's ways are much better than ours, though.
8:52
SPEAKER_01: So yeah, this is true.
8:53
SPEAKER_01: Um yeah, so then um about two years ago, our hearts were stirring, and what my husband and I have really come to know about who we are is that we are starters.
9:05
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
9:06
SPEAKER_01: And there comes a time when you have to kind of move on to start something else.
9:13
SPEAKER_01: And um so we had some friends of ours that contacted us and asked us to start praying about helping get a inner city ministry going down in Fort Pierce, Florida.
9:25
unknown: Wow.
9:26
SPEAKER_01: And so uh we started praying about that.
9:29
SPEAKER_01: We went on a little short trip to see if that's what God had for us next.
9:34
SPEAKER_01: And uh let's just say that that was like I could not believe that it was still part of like part of the United States.
9:44
SPEAKER_01: I felt like I was on a mission trip to a third world country, so to speak, in what we came across.
9:50
SPEAKER_01: Wow.
9:51
SPEAKER_01: And both of us just kind of my husband and I looked at each other and we were like, yeah, this is not it.
9:57
SPEAKER_01: Way too bad.
9:59
SPEAKER_01: And you had a couple of so we prayed, and within 24 hours, God started to open up our hearts just to be open to it and praying into it and um and what he would have for us.
10:13
SPEAKER_01: And so we started to see it from his perspective and felt compelled to it was an invitation, not something we felt we had to do, but an invite into what he was wanting to do and a deeper uh thing that he I think he wanted to do in our family too.
10:32
SPEAKER_01: So we felt like we were supposed to go.
10:34
SPEAKER_01: And honestly, one of the hardest things I've probably ever done in my life was leaving my family and friends and everything that was comfortable to me.
10:44
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yes, but oh, and choosing to to leave it all to come to really what felt like nothing, but was has been quite the journey for us for two years.
10:58
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I feel like it's just been a matter of months that we've really settled down because it took us about 18 months to get our house, and we bought a uh 70-year-old home that has lots of issues.
11:09
SPEAKER_01: Oh man.
11:11
SPEAKER_01: So we've renovated a kitchen and just lots of things like that.
11:14
SPEAKER_02: I'm always seeing those Facebook updates of all the different house projects.
11:18
SPEAKER_02: So I didn't know the entire story behind it, but it looks like it's ongoing.
11:22
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it is quite ongoing.
11:24
SPEAKER_01: It tests me quite often.
11:26
SPEAKER_02: And how many kids do you have, Heather?
11:28
SPEAKER_02: I think this is important to Yeah, we have five kids.
11:32
SPEAKER_01: Um ages?
11:35
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, our oldest, she will be 11 in January, and then our second is Joa, and he is nine, and then we have a seven-year-old, five-year-old, and three-year-old.
11:46
SPEAKER_01: Nice, we have two years.
11:48
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, we have kids right about the same age.
11:50
SPEAKER_02: Our first are like three weeks apart or something, and yes, that's right.
11:54
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, and then our seconds are are pretty close together, and yeah, and then seven, and then I stopped.
12:03
SPEAKER_02: I decided that was enough coming from me.
12:06
SPEAKER_01: Yes, we all have our different yeah, it's it's so full, but it's so great.
12:11
SPEAKER_01: And God knew, you know, when you see the makeup of your families, you just know that God has purpose in each person that he adds to your family, and you know when it's complete.
12:22
SPEAKER_01: And honestly, I thought our family would be complete after having four.
12:26
SPEAKER_01: That was always my dream.
12:27
SPEAKER_01: And I felt God say, What if I had one more for you?
12:32
SPEAKER_01: Do you care to know what I want for your family?
12:35
SPEAKER_01: And I thought, well, you put this on my heart.
12:39
SPEAKER_01: It was four all along.
12:41
SPEAKER_01: And so I started praying into it, and uh my husband and I both we felt like God had one more, and we, as you know, the makeup of our family, it's girl, boy, girl, girl.
12:51
SPEAKER_01: And I felt God tell me from the very beginning, I have another little boy for your family.
12:56
SPEAKER_01: So when we found out we were pregnant with a boy, it was just confirmation that that's what he was doing, and so yeah, it's been quite the journey to uh say the least.
13:07
SPEAKER_01: So we are down here, we're in the inner city, and it's very different compared to anything I've ever lived in before.
13:14
SPEAKER_01: We have a recovery house across the street, and we have uh the poor living down the street.
13:20
SPEAKER_01: The needs are so numerous.
13:22
SPEAKER_01: Always you walk outside and you see a need.
13:25
SPEAKER_02: So um and you homeschool in the midst of all of this, so your kids are really involved.
13:32
SPEAKER_01: Yes, and you know what, that was the best thing for our family too.
13:35
SPEAKER_01: So God's ways are so much higher than our own because I honestly I would have never considered homeschooling.
13:43
SPEAKER_01: That was not something that I thought I was capable of as a mom or wanted to do even.
13:49
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but God has used it in ways uh just because of the system, the Florida school system is not necessarily the best unless you do other routes of education and we financially can't afford those routes.
14:04
SPEAKER_01: So um yeah, homeschooling has been such a gift to our family.
14:08
SPEAKER_01: I never would have seen it as a gift before, but it definitely has been a gift and to be able to have those aha moments with my children and to be present with them, knowing the work that our family has been called to is crucial uh helping them with their character building and all of that.
14:26
SPEAKER_02: So yeah, that's awesome.
14:27
SPEAKER_02: I love it.
14:28
SPEAKER_02: I did um I did homeschool for many years.
14:30
SPEAKER_02: This is our first year doing um private school.
14:33
SPEAKER_02: And I just I'm so grateful to, like you said, be a part of some of those big milestones in their learning process and aha moments and just discovering things differently.
14:42
SPEAKER_02: And it's the right thing for them um this year, what we're doing.
14:47
SPEAKER_02: Um, but I definitely like but homeschooling is a stretching thing as a mom for the kids, for the family dynamics, everybody involved.
14:55
SPEAKER_01: It's a big deal.
14:57
SPEAKER_01: It is a big deal, and we're we've never been a homeschool all the way type of family, and we've just said, you know what, we're gonna take it year by year and pray what God has for each of our children and yeah and see as we go along what He has for us.
15:11
SPEAKER_01: And I think there will come different seasons and different stages of different needs that need to be accomplished in that year, and so we trust that God will provide for that as needed for our children, and that's awesome.
15:23
SPEAKER_02: So tell me some about um obviously the ministry is like right there in your front yard.
15:28
SPEAKER_02: Um is this something that is really beginning?
15:31
SPEAKER_02: You talked about being starters, um but like what how does that dynamic play out for you guys?
15:36
SPEAKER_01: Is this something that's gonna be duplicated, replicated other places or within the city or so they're actually from where it started, it started in Omaha of an inner city ministry that was kind of um modeled after, and it's kind of worked into a little bit different our intention of coming down and doing what we had originally planned on doing.
15:59
SPEAKER_01: You know, sometimes God uses a vehicle to get you to where he wants you to be, but then he transfers you to a different vehicle, um so to speak.
16:11
SPEAKER_01: Our vehicle has changed so um and that's good.
16:17
SPEAKER_01: Like we're just still trying to figure out what it is that God has for us and how our ministry will look here, and a lot of it has to do with there's a lot of low-income uh families in our city, and so we feel that part of our role in our ministry is to provide jobs and work and income for people here, and and actually, and I'll you know, helping them the fishing pool.
16:43
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
16:44
SPEAKER_01: Um so that's kind of our role.
16:47
SPEAKER_01: We're looking for I mean, just ways to pray and minister to people around us and be open to whatever the Lord would have us to do.
16:57
SPEAKER_01: Uh but the ministry that we have, the intention of it is being intentional with our neighbors in relationship with them, in them knowing that we are here for them, we're praying for them, uh physically, financially, in any ways that we can help them.
17:13
SPEAKER_01: And so um that's kind of the intention of it, knowing that then it'll grow into, you know, we hope to have a small group with it and eventually just continue to trust the Lord.
17:26
SPEAKER_01: I honestly, it's like day by day, we don't know what the next are.
17:29
SPEAKER_01: We're trusting God with the future of what it will look like and holding our dreams and visions for what it will be loosely and trusting that He knows what's best for our neighborhood and the people that we're uh living amongst.
17:44
SPEAKER_01: And um, it's been I you know, even like what you were saying, Amy, like with homeschooling, like it's much more about God doing something internally in the mom's heart than it is about the people or your kids.
17:58
SPEAKER_01: What they learn.
18:00
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and it's the same with I feel like this inner city ministry of like, you know, you come down here and you think, well, I'm gonna help and I'm gonna be the one to help them, but really it's my heart that's being ministered to you.
18:12
SPEAKER_01: And it's not like a mission trip, I mean but living in in it and seeing the daily struggles and uh learning the different uh struggles with people and relationships and all of those things and learning how to navigate it with raising children in it.
18:28
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that's intense.
18:29
SPEAKER_01: It's something that we're growing in and learning as we go and trusting the Lord as we go.
18:34
SPEAKER_02: So wow, that's amazing.
18:36
SPEAKER_02: Okay, so this is a little bit of what I wanted to hear and catch up on for me personally, and I really want people to know just your guys' heart, because that's you guys, that's just who the dieses are.
18:48
SPEAKER_02: Um, I mean, Heather has always been one of the sweetest people, one just a dear friend, and just one of those that you can pick up where you you know leave off.
18:56
SPEAKER_02: And Kevin's the same tender-hearted, pastoral, very pastoral for sure.
19:01
SPEAKER_02: So when I started noticing this health transformation journey thing, I was like, Well, I'm really curious, I want to know more.
19:10
SPEAKER_02: And you know, like I know you're a beautiful person, you've always seemed, you know, very healthy, and I've never thought anything differently.
19:18
SPEAKER_02: But you know, after five babies, our bodies go through a lot.
19:24
SPEAKER_01: So tell me a little bit about the health journey and all of that.
19:27
SPEAKER_01: Yes, I'd love to share more about that.
19:30
SPEAKER_01: So when we got to Florida, um, I'm trying to think, my youngest was uh about a year or a little over a year old at that point.
19:40
SPEAKER_01: And as a mom, you know that you start putting the needs of your children in front of your own, and um taking care of my health got put on the back burner in in some seasons.
19:54
SPEAKER_01: Um I would say I was pregnant or nursing the majority of the 10 years that I had to do it.
19:59
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
20:00
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
20:00
SPEAKER_01: Um so those things just you know, after I'd have a baby, I'd get motivated and try to get started, but then I'd get pregnant.
20:07
SPEAKER_01: And so I never felt like I could lose the baby weight.
20:11
SPEAKER_01: Um and it was it it became more than just a weight loss thing for me.
20:17
SPEAKER_01: I started to feel like as a mom I was losing myself and who I was supposed to be and called to be, and getting lost in maybe some of the things that I knew God had for me and um and taking care of myself so that I could take care of my children and my husband.
20:35
SPEAKER_01: And so by the time I got to Florida and realized, oh my gosh, I cannot go to a gym.
20:42
SPEAKER_01: I cannot take my kids.
20:44
SPEAKER_01: I you know, taking five kids to a gym is just kind of hard.
20:49
SPEAKER_01: Financier a strain on the budget.
20:51
SPEAKER_01: And so um and just even trying to make it work where there were some seasons when we didn't quite have five, but you know, three or four, and trying to make it work so that I can go have some time.
21:04
SPEAKER_01: Um Kevin was always good about that to let me go to the gym, but then I found myself at a gym being like, okay, what do I do now?
21:11
SPEAKER_01: Like I'm gonna get on a treadmill and try to run or do something for 30 minutes, and hopefully that'll help me.
21:19
SPEAKER_01: And but I would find myself even more frustrated and feeling like I'm doing it, I'm trying to eat healthy, I'm trying to exercise, I'm trying to, and I'm nothing felt like it was working for me with my weight loss journey specifically.
21:34
SPEAKER_01: And so when I got to Florida, uh there was a friend of mine that I saw online who invited me, knowing that I would also just need a community and being down here and not having any community.
21:47
SPEAKER_01: And he reached out to me and just said, Hey Heather, there's she was a coach, she had done Beach Body, which if you're not familiar with Beach Body, maybe you've heard of some of the workouts they have uh like people.
22:01
SPEAKER_01: Yes, one of my favorite yogas, Pinsanity.
22:04
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
22:05
SPEAKER_01: Yogas, they have everything.
22:06
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
22:07
SPEAKER_01: But um, and I was like, I don't know, for some reason I really hadn't heard of them.
22:13
SPEAKER_00: So you were busy raising babies.
22:16
SPEAKER_01: Right.
22:16
SPEAKER_01: I was like, what is this?
22:17
SPEAKER_01: I don't have a beach body.
22:20
SPEAKER_01: Um and so she just started sharing that it was an online workout program uh in which they provided portion control containers to learn how to portion out my food, um, provided like a super shake that was a meal replacement, um, and also just accountability and encouragement through an online group of just checking in daily after a workout, checking in, reporting like what I was eating, and I thought, oh my gosh, I so need this.
22:49
SPEAKER_01: High accountability.
22:51
SPEAKER_01: Going into it, yeah, accountability for sure.
22:54
SPEAKER_01: Uh going into it, I was a little skeptical.
22:56
SPEAKER_01: I thought, can I really do this from home?
22:59
SPEAKER_01: Is this really gonna work?
23:01
SPEAKER_01: Um I I I I am a very motivated person, but at the same time felt like, gosh, I just don't know.
23:07
SPEAKER_01: I've tried so many things.
23:08
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
23:09
SPEAKER_01: For me, I had tried so many different diets, so many different things, and I just felt like it hadn't worked.
23:14
SPEAKER_01: So I think my heart was a little skeptical of I don't know if this is gonna work.
23:19
SPEAKER_01: But so I went into it slow.
23:21
SPEAKER_01: I didn't dive into the full program, which is um the workouts, the food, and the shake.
23:26
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
23:28
SPEAKER_01: And I found myself after like a couple months feeling like a little frustrated of like, why is this not working?
23:36
SPEAKER_01: I am doing everything these other women are doing, and they are losing the weight like crazy.
23:41
SPEAKER_01: And so I contacted my coach quite frustrated, and she was like, Well, to be honest, you you haven't fully committed and bought in.
23:48
SPEAKER_01: And and I was like, Ah, dang it.
23:52
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, not what I wanted to hear.
23:54
SPEAKER_01: For me, that was so good to have somebody that was willing to step up and challenge me.
24:00
SPEAKER_01: Um, so my coach challenged me in a way that was really good for me, and so I just surrendered and was like, all right, I've done it my way.
24:12
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna try it your way.
24:14
SPEAKER_01: But you know what needed to happen in those few months of me doing it my way was the Lord had to go into a deeper work in my heart of total and complete surrender.
24:26
SPEAKER_02: Of yeah, it's not easy.
24:30
SPEAKER_02: Not fun my sister has that tattooed on her foot because uh she knows she needs to be reminded constantly.
24:37
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's all doable and um not easy, but I think the Lord had to redirect my why.
24:44
SPEAKER_01: He had to redirect my reason for what I was after, and it was not about the weight loss, right?
24:51
SPEAKER_01: Um, and which was the goal when I jumped in.
24:54
SPEAKER_01: Sure.
24:55
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and it was more about my reasons where I was doing this so that I could be the best wife and be the best mom.
25:03
SPEAKER_01: But even more than that was that I could be all that God had created me to be and walk in wholeness and freedom of what was holding me back and part of that being weight and just unhealthy, and trying to fill voids where he wanted to fill those places of my heart and my life.
25:23
SPEAKER_01: So by the time I was really fully ready to surrender and be like, okay, God, I want to be at that place of healthiness where you can use me in the in the ways that you have made me to be.
25:36
SPEAKER_01: And I jumped in, and so for me, I feel this whole journey has been a complete mind, body, and spirit journey for me.
25:47
SPEAKER_01: It's it's never been just about my body, and um when it was, it's what I right.
25:54
SPEAKER_01: When it was, it did not work because that's not that's not wholeness, yeah.
25:59
SPEAKER_01: It's not the way God created us by any means, and he wants us to live in the fullness of who he's created us to be, but he wants us to be in the right mindset to do that, and so for me, it was getting in the right mindset and the right heart posture, too.
26:15
SPEAKER_01: And so when I jumped in, uh that's when I really started to see the weight loss happen.
26:21
SPEAKER_01: It was doing it fully to the way the Beach Bodies program was set up, and I lost eight pounds in that first month, and it just continued from there, and within eight months, I had lost uh 30 pounds and 35 pounds.
26:35
SPEAKER_02: Wow, that's awesome! That's so cool.
26:39
SPEAKER_01: Me, like it was just so much freedom involved in it.
26:45
SPEAKER_01: Like, I can't even describe taking the load off literally off your shoulders, off your body.
26:50
SPEAKER_01: So in my mind, in my body, and my spirit, and it has been something that for me I have loved because it was a lifestyle change.
27:00
SPEAKER_01: It was not about a diet, it was not a quick fix for me.
27:03
SPEAKER_01: It was none of those things, and to maintain it, it requires a continual heart posture, mind posture, body posture.
27:13
SPEAKER_01: I have to continue to do it, and it's only helped grow me in areas and grow me in the freedom that I'm walking now in and my identity in Christ and who God has called me to be.
27:26
SPEAKER_01: And because I've experienced it, I then wanted to jump in and help others experience the same freedom that I have.
27:31
SPEAKER_01: And of course, because that's who you are.
27:34
SPEAKER_02: Once you learn, you're gonna go help.
27:36
SPEAKER_03: And I think it's really cool how oh, go ahead.
27:39
SPEAKER_03: Well, I was just saying how a change in one area, like you you in your body, but how it impacted the whole rest.
27:45
SPEAKER_03: I mean, we're body, soul, spirit, and so a change in one area or a discipline in one area carries over and has such a deep impact and all the other things.
27:53
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's so so true.
27:55
SPEAKER_01: It is so true, and I just feel so grateful to now I've been coaching.
28:00
SPEAKER_01: This is my tenth month.
28:02
SPEAKER_01: I'm coming up on wow, that's so great.
28:05
SPEAKER_01: Will be my one-year anniversary, and I've maintained um my lifestyle, and actually it's just gotten better.
28:11
SPEAKER_02: Um yeah, because I think a lot of times for women, we are so focused on the pounds, but really the strength and the shape change that we experience when we continue in a lifestyle is really where it's at.
28:24
SPEAKER_02: I mean, for me personally, I'm I'm totally speaking from experience.
28:27
SPEAKER_02: I used to be so focused on a number, and um, but when I've really just lived a lifestyle, that is what the Lord wanted me to do.
28:35
SPEAKER_02: Like I look back and like, wow, look how far I've come.
28:38
SPEAKER_02: And it maybe didn't reflect how I thought it was gonna be.
28:40
SPEAKER_02: But then, you know, you try on those pair of pants or those jeans that have been in the closet and you're like, oh yeah, they're loose, they're you know, like, you know, getting stronger and you know, all of those different things that and just healthier and having energy, and you know, and and your whole family benefits from it too, because if you're making those lifestyle choices, they either by default or if they're watching us, which is I think that's hilarious.
29:03
SPEAKER_02: Like sometimes the kids ask for like the strangest things because I've hoarded them and I'm the one eating them, and I won't share it, and then suddenly they're like, Oh, we want that, and it's like vegetables, bland pain chips or no sugar things, you know, and I'm like, Yes, it has worked, diverse psychology.
29:22
SPEAKER_01: Yes, I know that's awesome.
29:25
SPEAKER_01: And that's the other thing, it's like my kids were watching me, and I have three girls, you know, that I'm raising, and I want them to be strong and confident in who God has created them to be and not be so focused on their body image getting lost in the of their body, and um, so I'm thankful to have shifted that, so to speak, in my own life so that now I can raise my daughters in that.
29:56
SPEAKER_01: And um, I love it.
29:57
SPEAKER_01: My children they come and try to join.
30:00
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I love seeing that on Instagram, they're working out with you.
30:03
SPEAKER_01: But you're awesome mom to be like, okay, I'm just gonna embrace it.
30:07
SPEAKER_01: No, but that was a journey too.
30:09
SPEAKER_01: I didn't arrive there when I first started.
30:11
SPEAKER_01: It was like, no, I'm mommy's time.
30:15
SPEAKER_01: I this time, but now it's like, no, I love it.
30:19
SPEAKER_01: I welcome them into it.
30:21
SPEAKER_01: But that's that's ways that I can see heart transformation happen inside of me too, and the ways I have grown through it throughout this journey and continue to want to grow um with my kids.
30:32
SPEAKER_01: And I'm so excited because uh Beachbody has over 500 workouts online that you can choose from, and they're just actually this month a um a family one.
30:44
SPEAKER_01: Oh that's that's a great idea.
30:47
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, you can do it with your husband.
30:48
SPEAKER_01: It's actually meant to do a like partners, but it's also meant to do it with your kids.
30:53
SPEAKER_01: And so my kids have been like, when can we start?
30:56
SPEAKER_01: I'm like, it's coming, it's coming.
30:57
SPEAKER_01: That's awesome.
30:59
SPEAKER_01: I just for me it's all it's about seeing families come closer together, it's about seeing husbands and wives be the team that God created them to be in being physical together and doing exercise and spending time eating healthy and being all that they can be.
31:17
SPEAKER_01: Because when I choose to take care of myself, my mind, body, spirit, then I'm able to give so much more than what I was able to give before.
31:26
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's huge.
31:27
SPEAKER_01: And it's requiring filling my cup up and being at a place of self-care is huge for us as moms.
31:35
SPEAKER_01: I wish that somebody had challenged me after my first child.
31:40
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, same here.
31:42
SPEAKER_01: And said, no, no, no, like tell me about your schedule, tell me how you're taking care of yourself practically.
31:48
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
31:48
SPEAKER_01: Because it's easy to tell a new mom, make sure you're taking time for yourself, but she doesn't know how to do that.
31:56
SPEAKER_01: She doesn't know how to fit that in.
31:58
SPEAKER_01: And I didn't was like, when am I supposed to do that?
32:02
SPEAKER_01: When my baby's napping, I want to nap.
32:04
SPEAKER_01: Like, I should like what does that look like for me?
32:08
SPEAKER_01: And and that only compounded with each child that I added to our family, and felt like, well, there is no time other than sacrificing sleep, and that can take its toll on your body as well.
32:19
SPEAKER_01: And so I think you just you gotta be aware of the seasons that God has you in.
32:25
SPEAKER_01: And I am more than confident that this can happen.
32:30
SPEAKER_01: This program, because of the convenience of being able to do it at home, can happen in any season, and it's not gonna look the same as it does for me in the season that I'm walking in with maybe a new mom and what she's walking in, but she can still do it from home and find the um joy in being healthy and not feeling like she has to wait until her child is a little older where she can take it to the gym or she can do those things.
32:57
SPEAKER_01: And I just learned so much about what I was eating, how I needed to change the things that I was eating, what I thought was healthy, but what things I didn't have in my regular eating plan that I needed to have.
33:13
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and proportions are huge, and so um I think even going into the holidays, that is Yeah, that's a really important piece.
33:23
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, is it's not that and that's what I love about this being a lifestyle.
33:28
SPEAKER_01: We all as coaches talk about it being an 80-20, like 80% on 20% of those things that you love and enjoy.
33:38
SPEAKER_01: It doesn't require you totally neglecting those things, and so I'm so thankful for that because I will fully enjoy Christmas, I will fully enjoy Thanksgiving.
33:49
SPEAKER_01: Yes, yes, but it doesn't, I think for me, it doesn't mean that I have to go overboard anymore and or feel like I've fallen off the bandwagon and therefore I'm just gonna wait.
34:02
SPEAKER_02: Or just totally blow it, right?
34:05
SPEAKER_01: Right.
34:05
SPEAKER_01: It doesn't I've learned that even in my day-to-day, like it's not that I don't struggle with things anymore.
34:11
SPEAKER_01: I still have stresses, I still have all the things that I once had before all of this.
34:16
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but I think it's learning to manage those things in a different way and learning to manage my stresses of wanting to go grab that quick chocolate fix or whatever it may be for uh, you know, a salty fix, whatever, and choosing to say, okay, I'm doing this out of just habit rather than choosing to stop and say, what is causing this and running to the Lord with it and saying, strange right now, I'm stressed, or I feel sad, or um, you know, I know that not everybody is an emotional maybe eater.
34:53
SPEAKER_01: Right, right.
34:54
SPEAKER_01: I definitely was one of those people and still struggle with that at times and feeling like food is my comfort.
35:00
SPEAKER_01: No, sure, it's it's not God is supposed to be, but I still run to those things sometimes.
35:05
SPEAKER_01: But I'm thankful that in my day, when I find that I've fallen off of the wagon, so to speak, that it doesn't have the same effect that it used to compound of like, oh well, I guess I'll start next time.
35:18
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, the spiral, it's not the same anymore.
35:22
SPEAKER_01: It's okay, that happened.
35:24
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, now dinner is coming, and how can I be healthy in my next meal?
35:28
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's next.
35:30
SPEAKER_02: It's kind of like I did my 20.
35:31
SPEAKER_02: I accidentally like already spent my 20, and but now I've got the 80 to make up for it, to balance things out.
35:39
SPEAKER_01: And also learning as a mom to plan of I know that I have a party coming up and I'm gonna save my 20 for that party.
35:46
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
35:47
SPEAKER_01: Because when I have saved those that 20, it becomes more enjoyable.
35:53
SPEAKER_01: It's not a it's a special thing, it's a treat.
35:57
SPEAKER_01: It really is a treat.
35:58
SPEAKER_01: It's not just something that I just do daily and it doesn't have the same special effect that when I wait for it, it it even tastes better.
36:09
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, it's so true.
36:10
SPEAKER_01: I feel for it, and um yeah, so yeah.
36:16
SPEAKER_02: I I think I'm thinking of a couple things as we're heading into the holiday season because we got Thanksgiving, we kind of breathe it down our necks, and then Christmas.
36:26
SPEAKER_02: So, one I think um, and beach body has different levels of membership, and you know, that comes with accountability and a bunch of different things, and I want to make sure that um people can, you know, find you and stuff like that.
36:40
SPEAKER_02: But so I'm thinking Christmas gift, um, giving yourself the gift of that, um, or asking for that, because sometimes the cost is what people hesitate at.
36:52
SPEAKER_02: Um, but then also just thinking, okay, even though this is the holiday season and the new year traditionally that's when you start fresh.
36:59
SPEAKER_02: I feel like instead, you know, to kind of to get ahead of it is to start putting some of these principles in place now as you're facing the holidays, so you can just enjoy it and you know, not feel like you have to dig yourself out.
37:15
SPEAKER_02: Because it's about that, especially now more than ever, like this season, we need to find those soul times, those times when we can when we're taking care of ourselves so we can actually be present and mindful with our family and all the celebrations.
37:29
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
37:30
SPEAKER_01: And I think that is if there's one thing that I would recommend for um us as we go into the holidays, it is that we don't have the all or nothing mentality.
37:43
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's good.
37:44
SPEAKER_01: Well, if I can't do it all, which would be maybe my new year's goal of 30 minutes of workout a day, eating three meals or four, you know, a day that are healthy and eating all the right portions.
37:57
SPEAKER_01: And if I can't do that, then I'm not gonna do any of it.
38:00
SPEAKER_01: Right and I'm gonna wait until January to start it.
38:04
SPEAKER_01: And I think that mindset is what gets us into places of unhealthiness in our hearts and in our bodies and even in our you know, our spirits too.
38:13
SPEAKER_01: Totally.
38:14
SPEAKER_01: Of it's not an all or nothing.
38:16
SPEAKER_01: And I think I've learned a lot about that through this journey too, is that okay, I may not be able to eat.
38:23
SPEAKER_01: I mean, we've moved lots throughout this journey.
38:27
SPEAKER_01: Lots of pizza, right?
38:29
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, exactly.
38:31
SPEAKER_01: But one thing I love is pizza's on the plan.
38:33
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so that's awesome.
38:37
SPEAKER_01: And you know, it looks a little bit different, but I've learned how to do that out and about, and I I'm so so thankful that I have the tools in my kit to know how to navigate when things aren't maybe what I want them to look like on a planned day.
38:55
SPEAKER_01: Right.
38:56
SPEAKER_01: And I think the holidays can cause that.
38:58
SPEAKER_01: We can think, oh my gosh, I've got this, I've got that, I've got to go here, and it can cause the frenzy where then we choose not to take care of ourselves because, well, we think we are because we're having so much more fun and celebrations and all of that.
39:12
SPEAKER_01: But I think in order to give and to really enjoy the holidays, it does require a little bit of our time to just stop.
39:20
SPEAKER_01: And maybe you can't do a 30-minute workout that day, but you can do 10 minutes or when you go to the bathroom, you can do 20 squats before you leave the bathroom.
39:31
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I mean, exactly.
39:33
SPEAKER_01: It's getting looking for the small things and not making it a monumental thing.
39:39
SPEAKER_01: It's choosing to add in, and that would be my other recommendation as we go into the holidays is that you would add in, don't focus on what everything you have to eliminate or take out.
39:50
SPEAKER_01: It's what can you add?
39:53
SPEAKER_01: So maybe that day, your day is gonna be so busy, but your win for that day is that you got all your water in for that day.
40:00
SPEAKER_01: Um something simple that you feel like you can focus on, and or maybe it's 10 minutes of exercise that day, or you have a day that's open and you choose to use it and get your full 30-minute workout in, or or a meal that you can choose to plan for.
40:18
SPEAKER_01: I think it's focusing on the wins each and every day, and what you can add in.
40:24
SPEAKER_01: And you know, even as we go to parties and different celebrations, some of the things that I've learned, some tips are you know, drink a full glass of water before going to that event so that you're not going in there ravenous and just gonna Yeah, or having a healthy snap beforehand.
40:42
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, looking, yeah, exactly.
40:44
SPEAKER_01: Eat an apple before you leave, do something that kind of takes the edge off so that you don't go in and overindulge and then feel the guilt and the shame of like, oh, I blew it.
40:54
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and continue to compound that because there's so much of that through the holidays, and you're you're constantly have it around you that you it's just like I think the enemy can use it as a just a tormenting time too, of like, well, you didn't do good yesterday, and now look, there's all that today, so go ahead and have at it.
41:14
SPEAKER_01: And yeah, I think we just gotta stop.
41:16
SPEAKER_01: We gotta stop, we gotta rest, we gotta add in, and we gotta focus on the things that we can do for that day and let go of the things that we didn't get to do that day.
41:26
SPEAKER_01: And each day is a new gift that we're given, and what are we gonna do with that gift that we've been given for that day?
41:32
SPEAKER_02: Oh, that's beautiful.
41:33
SPEAKER_02: I love that, Heather.
41:34
SPEAKER_01: You talked about um levels that Beach Body offers, and I do honestly believe this is the best gift I've ever been given.
41:43
SPEAKER_01: Um in not ever, I would say the one in the tap received in my life, my salvation from him.
41:52
SPEAKER_01: But for the health of who I am as a mom and as a wife, this is truly such a gift, and I would highly recommend it for anyone who finds themselves in a place that your mind is absorbed or consumed by uh your thoughts of your weight or your identity is found in that, or you have past experiences that you cannot let go of um because of weight or whatever it might be.
42:23
SPEAKER_01: That there are tools that Beach Body has of working out and food and um eating a shake together or drinking a shake and doing it in accountability, I think that is one of the most key aspects of this whole thing uh is being able to check in with people who are on the same journey and have somebody walk beside you and encourage you when you have those days.
42:48
SPEAKER_01: I had one this morning, it was so hard to get out of bed.
42:52
SPEAKER_01: I do not want to do this today.
42:54
SPEAKER_01: But knowing that I have a group of people that are choosing the hard with me, or the days that I don't get it done, I don't feel ashamed, I feel encouraged.
43:06
SPEAKER_01: Whereas if when I'm standing alone, I beat myself up about that.
43:09
SPEAKER_01: Right.
43:10
SPEAKER_01: But I have people to speak into my life and say, it's okay, it's okay, get back up, you're doing great, you can do it, you can do it tomorrow, you can find time, do 10 minutes before you go to bed tonight, encouraging me to be the best version of myself.
43:24
SPEAKER_01: And that is one thing that I have learned through this whole journey is what can I do today that was better than what I did yesterday?
43:32
SPEAKER_01: And I think that that's the gift that we go into each and every new day is finding how we can be the best version of ourselves in the role that God has placed us in, and use the tools that we know that we can use that bring about change.
43:47
SPEAKER_01: And I just am so passionate about it.
43:50
SPEAKER_01: I want to help people walk through that if they find themselves stuck or finding themselves wanting to find a new routine of health and freedom and walk in confidence of who.
44:00
SPEAKER_01: God's created them to be and the wholeness of who God's created them to be and really just the freedom that comes with it and confidence in your own skin.
44:09
SPEAKER_01: That is amazing.
44:11
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
44:11
SPEAKER_02: It's so oh I love it.
44:13
SPEAKER_02: Girl can preach.
44:15
SPEAKER_02: I love it.
44:16
SPEAKER_02: And I think people will be so inspired to follow you, to connect with you.
44:20
SPEAKER_02: Um, I mean, it would be an honor to have you as a coach.
44:23
SPEAKER_02: Um and I hate to wrap up, but I really, I really hope that um as we just point to you, and this just gives an opportunity for people to think differently and see it as a mind-body spirit because that's really what it is.
44:37
SPEAKER_02: But um, since we're going into the holiday season, I want to know um what you're looking forward to this Christmas.
44:44
SPEAKER_02: And it, you know, your surroundings look like it might not be a white Christmas.
44:50
SPEAKER_02: I don't know if you're heading to Nebraska.
44:52
SPEAKER_02: I don't know where your mom actually is living right now, but um I know that's where family used to be, or to Colorado.
44:58
SPEAKER_02: Um, so snow may not be in your future, but um what are you really excited about this holiday season?
45:03
SPEAKER_01: Uh I'm excited.
45:05
SPEAKER_01: We will be staying here in Florida, so I will be experiencing our first Christmas in a warm climate with no snow.
45:12
SPEAKER_01: Flip-flops and shorts.
45:14
SPEAKER_01: Yes, it's crazy.
45:15
SPEAKER_01: They are telling me about new traditions that are here in Florida, and I'm like, okay, this is gonna be crazy, but it's gonna be fun.
45:22
SPEAKER_01: Um I really am just looking forward, my mom is coming out, uh, so we will have family join us.
45:28
SPEAKER_01: Um I'm just looking forward to time with my family and just really enjoying one another and in the season that we're in, opening our home to whoever God might bring into our home from our neighborhood and continuing to reach out to them and just yeah, enjoying one another.
45:48
SPEAKER_01: It's a time to be together, and I love the holiday season, and I love being able to celebrate it with new believers in Christ and um and walk those that don't know him into knowing him.
46:02
SPEAKER_02: So I love it.
46:04
SPEAKER_02: Thank you, Heather.
46:05
SPEAKER_02: Um have a beautiful Thanksgiving.
46:09
SPEAKER_02: I know it'll be warm and beautiful, and the birds will be singing and a lovely Christmas, and I'm just so excited to continue to watch um what the Lord is doing in your all's life and what new journey he has for you after this one.
46:23
SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
46:24
SPEAKER_01: Yes, thank you.
46:25
SPEAKER_01: I so appreciate this.
46:27
SPEAKER_01: And um, real quick, is it okay if I just tell people how to reach me?
46:32
SPEAKER_02: Absolutely, please.
46:33
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
46:34
SPEAKER_01: So um I have a bit.ly website.
46:37
SPEAKER_01: So it's bit.ly backslash Heather Beachbody.
46:42
SPEAKER_01: So awesome.
46:42
SPEAKER_02: And we'll be sure and put that in the show notes as well so people could click on it and find you really easily.
46:48
SPEAKER_02: Thank you, Amy.
46:49
SPEAKER_02: Thank you, Heather, and we'll be in touch soon.
46:52
unknown: Thank you.
46:53
SPEAKER_02: All right, love you, friend.
46:54
SPEAKER_02: All right, love you.
46:56
SPEAKER_02: Bye.
47:00
SPEAKER_02: Well, friends, I am sure you enjoyed that conversation as much as I did.
47:04
SPEAKER_02: I hope you wrote down some of Heather's great tips.
47:08
SPEAKER_02: Um, but if you didn't, I'll be sure and highlight some of them in the show notes so you can just figure out how you can engage better, taking care of your health this holiday season and not wait until the new year.
47:20
SPEAKER_02: And also how you can find Heather and connect with her.
47:23
SPEAKER_02: If you are in need of a health coach or some of these ideas sparked your attention, be sure and check out what she has, and you can gain plenty of inspiration from her for free just by following her on all the social media connecting points.
47:35
SPEAKER_02: So after this, we are going to be launching into some other wonderful holiday conversations.
47:42
SPEAKER_02: So next week, our our episodes typically release on a Thursday, but it'll be Thanksgiving, and I hope you'll be gathering with friends and loved ones and um just enjoying celebrating all that the Lord has done for you in this season this year.
47:56
SPEAKER_02: And um, we'll be releasing our podcast episode on Wednesday the day before, and that's the one with Shelly Miller.
48:02
SPEAKER_02: I've mentioned it several times before, she's written Rhythms of Rest, and we're gonna talk about abiding in um the Lord this season and just being able to enjoy more of Advent and uh just what this celebration is all about this time of year.
48:16
SPEAKER_02: So until next week, we hope you find more ways to live simply, wholehearted, unplugged, purposeful, and intentional.