Losing weight on national television – the journey

I am not sure how to begin my story, so let’s go to the very beginning. Back in August, I was moving out of a place, because me and my boyfriend got our own apartment. As I was packing, I had the TV on in the background. And that’s when I saw the commercial: “Do you want to change your life, do you feel like you are not realising your full potential?…” I didn’t make much of it, but I snapped a pic of the show and the e-mail for submissions.

The beginning:

Two days later, here I was, taking “before” pictures and writing my motivation letter. An emotional ordeal in itself, as I poured my soul into it. All the setbacks, all the injuries, the depression and the excuses I made for myself over the last 4 years… all in 1 sheet of paper. But I was determined. I had already lost 10 kg over the past year or so, I had 20 more to go to get back to my normal self. I soon found myself invited to the official casting, where the team got to meet me, we shot a couple of scenes and that was my first exposure to the whole business and what was to come. At that point I was just one of the many who applied, no idea that I would eventually get selected.

The journey:

But sure enough, a week later I got the call and the adventure began. Looking back at it, I am so incredibly grateful to the team for all the opportunities they gave me, but I am also proud of myself for having the courage to take them. This is what Zdraveto Otblizo on BNT is all about – giving you the necessary tools to change your life, what you do with them us entirely up to you. That was the push I needed. The incredible support system the team provided me, paired with the healthy fear of disappointing not only the people close to me but an entire nation watching at home, was my recipe for success.

Make no mistake – none of it was easy, none of it was handed to me on a silver platter. I had to shed sweat, blood and tears to get to where I am today. But most importantly, I had to be ready for the journey. I have been preparing myself for over a year. I had stopped smoking almost 6 months ago, I had already changed many of my consumption habits. It was time to level up!

What followed next was weeks of hard workouts with a personal trainer, as well as group workouts emphasising on cardio. I was introduced to cross-fit trainings and using your own body weight to shape and tone yourself. I was always sore, my muscles burning from the tension.  However, during the 3d week I started feeling stronger, faster…better! My knee, which had sustained a very serious injury in the past, was feeling stable. Nothing could stop me! All this was combined with a custom-tailored daily meal plan, meant to help my weight-loss process.

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Perhaps the most helpful part of the program was the access to a psychologist, who helped me work on some of the deep-rooted issues, the hidden reasons for my initial weight gain of 30+ kg. I feel so much more self-aware today, then I was 3 months ago and that is what truly makes me stronger than ever before.

And that is not even all! I was able to get out of my comfort zone, to try out new things, like free-fall flying in an aerodome, like carting races with the team, like alternative mind and body therapies. And the people…I met so many, so different and so amazing individuals along the way. The memories we made together, this is what was truly beautiful about this whole experience.

What’s to come:

I am finally myself again – confident, full of life, full of hope for change. I can’t believe that I let myself get lost for such a long time. Thanks to the show I now know what my purpose for 2015 is: I want to help others feel as good about themselves as I do right now. I want to help teenagers in my country understand that they are beautiful, amazing individuals, just the way they are! I was bullied a lot while growing up, I never quite fit in anywhere, because I was a bit different, the way I perceived my surroundings was different. At the time I didn’t know that was OK. It took me 10 years of self-discovery to realise that each person is beautiful just the way they are!

This is my new mission. I have an incredible team behind my back, we have conceptualised the idea and are on our way towards founding and NGO that will travel the country, going to schools and talking to young minds about body image and promote anti-bullying. We are confident that we can grow this idea into a community with the help of our friends and supporters. BNT gave me the strength to dream again, and this wild dream of mine, I am yet to make into a reality! Wish me luck 🙂

xoxo,

Teddy

Marketing the ‘Magic Pill’ – A consumer’s perspective

As I’ve embarked on the ever-so-challenging journey of weight loss, I’ve become more and more aware of diverse advertising efforts of different types of slim gimmicks (as I’ve fondly named them) on the market. I am talking about all the supplements, shakes & diet pills out there, competing for your attention with promises of fast results with little to no effort. Naturally, as a marketer, my interest was piqued.

I found myself asking these questions:

1. How does one market such ‘miracle helpers’ to the common consumer?

2. What role do they actually play in a person’s path towards a healthier being?

Let’s take diet pills for example. The average consumer of diet pills, according to an official report of the US Federal Trade Commission in 2002, is, or perceives himself to be, overweight, leads a semi-static way of life and has in almost all cases previously attempted (and/or failed at) weight-loss. The report also states that there has been a significant continuous rise in multi-media advertising campaigns for weight-loss solutions in the last 20 years or so. This means that an average consumer is likely to be exposed to such advertising on a daily basis and is more likely to buy it, thus turning ‘magic pills’ into a multi-billion dollar industry.

But what types of messages does that industry use to draw us in?

In most cases, false or unethically reported product results are used to promote extreme weight loss attributed entirely to the pill. However, in the fine print of most pills I’ve found on the market, it also states that product experiments have been conducted in accordance with a balanced nutritional diet and regular exercise. Naturally, a person is left under the impression that the pill does all the work, which might not be the case. Customer testimonials, on the other hand, deploy a different tactic of consumer-to-consumer communication, creating the sense of trust in the product, building around the old idea of peer pressure marketing. In most circumstances however, these come in the form of a copy-paste template blog of the ‘amazing transformation’ of a specific individual, frequently developed by the company producing the pills. After all of this mesh of advertising push, it’s as if we are almost instantly conditioned to associate diet pills with great results and the vision of a slimmer self. Now, I don’t mean to discredit all products on the market, but I do believe the hype around them has in a sense been artificially built.

What do diet pills actually provide consumers with?

With all that in mind, I believe diet pills do the exact job they are designed for – they provide a sense of security and an additional motivational mechanism in a person’s journey for weight loss. I personally am taking a certain brand of slim aids, but I do so to compliment my already established nutritional regime and exercise routine. For me, the pill provides the notion of direction and the desire to carry on with this endeavor. The effect might be purely psychological, and I am ready to acknowledge it as such, because it serves the purpose of continuously motivating me to go forward.

So for anybody out there who is trying their best to better their health and well-being by losing weight please keep in mind that we, the big bad marketers, will always try to lure you in with promises of incredible product features and fast results. Beware of how much you decide to rely on a pill to assist in your situation. If it is used in the right way, a diet pill or supplement may give you (psychologically and physically) that little extra push you need to start your journey. The decision should be yours and yours only.

xo,

Teddy T

It’s not a race, it’s a journey!

Two pictures, one person. It might not be a big difference for now, but I’ll keep pushing!

A quote I have on my wall above my bed, so that every morning when I open my eyes, I remind myself of the journey I am on.

Back from the gym and feeling the burn!

After a 25k cycling marathon it sure feels nice to dip your toes in the sand and enjoy the sun.

Chris Powell is an amazing life coach and personal trainer and a role model to many people, including myself

Tired, but so happy I pushed myself into doing this. And the bonus after the 25k cycling marathon is that I get to see the sea!

Fairly recently, I reached my lowest point in terms of self-image. I weighted a lot of pounds, I kept seeking comfort foods to lighten my daily mood, and worst of all, my laziness was at an all-time high! I don’t’ know if you’ve ever experienced the dread of waking up, looking at yourself in the mirror and not recognizing the person looking back at you. I started searching for diets that promise quick results, pills to help me in my efforts of weight loss, I even read blogs full of advises from exercise gurus… still nothing. It’s a process, an internal struggle that I believe every overweight person (and yes, I am not ashamed to call myself overweight) goes through. I lacked the motivation, and dare I say it, the discipline to stop complaining and do something about it!

Now, there wasn’t an event that miraculously changed my way of thinking overnight, I’ve been building up to this decision for more than two years. I decided that I miss the old me and that only I can bring her back. So my journey began. Almost a month in my new ‘lifestyle’, I feel happier than I’ve been in a long time because I transformed my mind and now my body is slowly starting to catch up. I won’t claim that the following advises will work for you and your weight-loss journey. I’m merely sharing my own rules for a successful transformation, that I believe are helping me achieve a better, healthier me.

1. Diet is a dirty word – In my vocabulary the word ‘diet’ is a big NO NO! This word tricks my brain into thinking that if I can do, for example, 14 days of eating this and that, then I will look and feel amazing, guaranteed! I precondition myself with false expectations that need to be achieved in a limited time frame, which if my body doesn’t manage for some reason, naturally I feel depressed and turn to eating again.  That’s why I threw the word ‘diet’ out the window and I insist on referring to it as a lifestyle choice. It is my choice to transform my life through this process of healthier eating and regular exercise. To stop myself from thinking in time frames, I also keep repeating my mantra: ‘It’s not a race, it’s a journey’!

2. Shed your mind from the weight, your body will follow – Forget about looking in the mirror every day, pinching little pockets of fat and sighing at the look of your body. This will only weigh on your mind, making you feel like you’ve failed even before you’ve started! Shed yourself from all preconceived notions of the human body. I stopped reading glossy magazines. The women in there for me are simply not realistic representations of the female body. Not to mention most of them are being photo-shopped beyond recognition. It isn’t fair to you to keep comparing yourself with such images. Free your mind of societal body expectations and focus on a realistic goal that you know would make you feel happy in your own skin.

3. Find your role-model – I know most good dietitians will tell you that the right reasons for losing weight are if you do it for yourself and nobody else. In a sense, they are very right. You have to acknowledge that you have chosen to do this transformation for your health and yourself only. However, what I’ve noticed keeps me motivated is the fear of letting down not only myself but my loved ones. I have a beautiful and supportive partner in life, whom I always keep in mind while exercising. I want to be the healthiest me I can be not only for myself, but for the both of us. Draw your inspiration from others around you and you will find that you might not be alone in your journey.

4. Bury the scale, clothes are your best friend – This one you’ve probably heard time and time again. Don’t weigh yourself every day! Miracles don’t happen overnight (as much as we wish them to) and your body will not transform with the click of a button. Of course shedding pounds is important for your health and agility, but it shouldn’t be the main way to measure your success. That’s why I like trying on clothes. I have one piece of clothing that I’ve chosen for comparison. I try it once a week and see how it feels on my body. You will be amazed at the confidence boost you will get each week, seeing how different you look in the same outfit!

5. Kick yourself in the butt! – The last advice comes down to purely pushing your mind and body into trying out different things. Always wanted to go to a spinning class? Nothing is stopping you, except YOU! Each day after I wake up I have to kick myself in the butt and give myself the internal motivation to continue with my weight-loss journey. You will soon start to draw incredible joy from trying new things, I know I do!

There’s one more thing I’d like to remind myself of once in a while – I can be my best friend or my worst enemy. The choice is entirely mine and I’ve chosen to continuously work towards a healthier, happier and better me.

What will you choose?

xo,

Teddy T

A Kick in the Butt goes a long way!

I don’t know about you, but I often struggle with motivation in my personal life. In the office, I can be like Shiva, handling many tasks at a time and loving it, but once all the lights go off, I’m hardly an ‘active’ person.

I kept wondering why I didn’t have the desire to do anything, besides lie on the couch and watch TV in my free time. To be honest, I still don’t know what the reason is (besides pure laziness). However, it got to a point when I was fed up with looking at pictures of my friends hiking, going to clubs, to the beach, etc. while I was sitting at home, munching on a bag of chips. The sad truth is, life tends to happen around you, whether you want any part of it or not. So I started forcing myself into things. You know how in acting classes/ life coach sessions/ therapy sessions they teach you that if you start repeatedly faking an emotion eventually you’ll believe it yourself? Well, I started faking my desire to socialize, to try new things and to meet new people. It felt odd at times, but I kept smiling and doing it over and over. And BAM! I soon noticed I increasingly drew much more enjoyment from my social interactions. I wanted to try new things. I wanted to go to new and exciting places. My circle of friends started expanding and I was feeling more accepted, more loved. I was feeling unstoppable.

Now, it would be a lie if I said I still don’t have my off days, when I simply don’t want to see anybody or do anything, however, I now accept them as my days for recharging and gathering strength. I know I’ll soon be out there, exploring again.

Today, when I see my friends posting pictures and videos from their adventures, I can’t help but smile, because I’m genuinely happy that they are also out there, living life and enjoying every minute of it.

And to give you that extra push to get up and go, I’ll leave you with some pictures from my biking trip today. A 3 hour off-road ride into the wilderness of Northern England and an amazing way to spend my Sunday! To be honest, it did take me about half an hour to get out of bed and actually go, but I remembered my rule, kicked myself in the butt and I don’t regret it for a second!

Our lovely bikes

Wynyard Woodland Park

Along the countryside trail cross

Feeling pumped!

The great downhill adventure

Tired but happy 🙂

So next time a friend invites you to a new club, a concert or a walk in the park, don’t be the couch potato that internally you are dying to be, and force yourself into saying yes. You never know what fun you might be missing.

 xo,

Teddy T