Ben’s Profile Journey: Week 3, What’s Up With the Coaching

Hi, Ben here, and I’m on a mission to not be fat when I turn 42. To do that I’ve partnered with Profile by Sanford and I want to take you with me on my journey.

I'm getting into my third week of my Profile journey and I wanted to give you an update. So far, I'm down about ten pounds! I don't care if it's mostly just water weight. I'm going in the right direction! Another pound closer to under 300.

Another thing I have noticed is that I'm feeling good. Before I started I was starting to dread walking across a parking lot. It'd tire me out, I'd get embarrassed and want to eat my feelings. What has changed is that I've changed my fuel. Just like if a car uses junk gas for energy, it will have poor performance. Same with my body. I still have a long way to go, but I'm seeing results.

Last week I was telling you about how I was blindsided by a cheddar cheese obsession. It really was so bad that I was close to throwing everything away for taste of that sweet, sweet coagulated milk protein. What helped me through this, in retrospect, silly obsession was my Profile coach.

I've found that the coaching is a central part of the Profile Plan. What I do is, each week I sit down with my coach, the amazing Ericka, and we talk about my week. My coach was the one who started me on Profile, took my measurements, helped me set my goals, and walked me through what I'm eating.

At our weekly meetings we talk about my progress and she helps talk me through the challenges that I have come up against. I've discovered that I'm really good at spotting problems and worrying about them, but not so good at coming up with ways to overcome them. Mostly what I need, it turns out, is to just talk it over with someone. Sometimes my coach has to talk me down from something like my cheddar episode. But, it works.

I'll be the first to say that I thought that I didn't need anyone's help. Especially the help of talking things out. I always thought I could do it on my own. Well, I guess I just had to get desperate enough to try anything, and I'm finding that this works.

Part of it is that I have someone, like a teacher, that I want to impress. I want to be the best student in class. I want to be told how good I am. So, I have someone to impress. On the flip-side of that I have someone to disappoint. Someone who can look me in the eye and say, "Was that bowl of melted cheese and Fritos worth it?" And unlike the voice in my head, I can't try to justify my actions and talk my way into trouble with my coach.

I mean, this has really effected me to the point that I'm starting to think that maybe I need to reassess parts of my life. Maybe I'm missing out in other areas by trying to be a one-man band all the time. Sure, my buddy Google is always there, but maybe human interaction is a key to more success.

I only say that half-joking. When I was trying to get healthy on my own, it was easier to talk myself into eating that pizza when nobody knew what I was up to. I could easily skip going for a walk in the morning or stopping at the gym when I kept those vague plans to myself.

Now  I have a partner in the journey. Yes, I have the most supportive family in the world. My kids police my eating more than anyone now. But, working with a professional that has heard it all, has given me a solid base to grow. Having someone that can hold my hand or slap my face, depending on what I need, is helping me ot feel like I can do this.

Keep up with Ben's goofiness by bookmarking Ben's blog and connecting on Twitter email at ben@hot1047.com.

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