Cindy's story - ''It's good for the soul and body.''

Today we read about Cindy Martin's journey where she shares when she joins, the impact of YWWL on her life, the tools she uses and her top tips for you.

 My journey began in January 2023, when I stepped on the scale and saw those numbers... You guessed it... it was the highest I had ever seen. I was at 228 pounds. As a little girl, I was a chubbier child. Growing up, there wasn't any restrictions on any food at our house so the impacts weren't coming from that source. I was receiving negative comments on my weight or I should say my "size". Fast forward to high school and university... I started to binge, especially in the evenings, it was my coping mechanism to many emotions. In 2020 I had a beautiful healthy little girl but with pregnancy came... you guessed it, weight gain. I was probably then around 210 pounds or so back then.  I tried a couple of diet programs but like any other dieting program I saw results immediately but the results didn't last.

In January 2023, I had been following YWWL on Instagram for quite a while... I woke up one morning and thought to myself: "that's enough". I was tired of not being comfortable in my own clothes. I was tired of nothing fitting me good. I didn't want to go shopping anymore. My confidence was low, my physical body was not allowing me to live the life I wanted. I started being more aware of the calories I was taking in. Starting to listen and be aware of my hunger cues. I realized I ate way pass hunger. I learned I could lose weight without eating vegetables during the day. I learned how to be in calorie deficit. I learned that I actually enjoy moving my body everyday but not every day needs to be the same movement. Also, that you don't need to move your body to be in a calorie deficit. Us woman, we also have our hormones fluctuating during the month. We need to learn how to listen to our body to be able to better take care of it. I did lose a 48 lbs without being a YWWL member but I was following closely on Instagram.

 In September Josee and Alicia came for a conference in town. Josee took the time to have a little chat with me and then I became a YWWL. Two words: Forever grateful.

 I loss another 17lbs (total 65lbs now). Being a YWWL member gave me the extra push to achieve even more for myself. I learned how to change my language around food and how I feel. And as silly as it sounds, I even learned how to be more rational (to react less with emotions). YWWL is so much more than a weight loss program.

 The YWWL tools that I used are :

The monthly habit tracker. Sometimes I only fill it every other day, but it helps me to see on what path or trend I am. It's encouraging to see how you did during the month. 

Scale every day.  Just for Data. Helps me understand what's going on. 

YWWL Content. I feel very connected when I listen to the videos. It gives us a lot of tips and often helps to reflect about certain subjects.

Team. I use it in my darker days. For myself, sometimes it's just a way to share the rough path you're on and know it's going to be okay in the end. 

The advice I can give:

• One day at a time. Set intentions for the day. If it aligns with your goal go for it, if it doesn't align with your goal reflect on why you want it.
• Don't be afraid to take time for yourself and learn about yourself. Prioritizing yourself even on though days should be at the top of the to do list.
• Know your values.
• Do it for you, not for anyone else. Be your own cheerleader! 

Last but not least, this program is what everyone needs. It's good for the soul and body. It gives us the tools to understand the emotions we have vs the reactions. It helps us to find the "why" of a certain behaviour and how to reflect in order to find the actions to heal it. As a woman, as a mother and as a nurse I am using my knowledge I acquired in my day-to-day basis. So grateful to be part of this beautiful community.

Thank you so much Josee and Alicia for creating new material for us in order for us to find/create the better version of ourselves and to TEAM for their continuous support.