Success Story: featuring Pam Barnett
Family health history stacked against me – cancer, heart disease and diabetes…sister died at age 19 of cancer – both grandfathers died of cancer – grandmother died of massive heart attack and father has had double bypass surgery.
- My kids need a mom, husband needs a wife and my parents could not lose another daughter.
- I was tired of wanting to be like or look like someone else instead of being able to be comfortable and like who I was and liked who I saw.
- I was approaching 40 and wanted to make a difference. I wanted to look and feel better. I wanted to be able to walk up the stairs without losing my breath…I wanted to live a long life.
- I did not want my family to be embarrassed by how I looked or have to be limited on what we did or experienced as a family because of my obesity.
It took 5 months to change my mindset and thinking to be able to do something and admit I was obese, and to stop ignoring it. It was not going away on its own, as much as I wanted to believe that it would. I was living in this fantasy world that I really did not look like I weighed 290 pounds, and it will all go away if I just ignored it.
If I knew what I needed to know I would not have been 290 lbs. It did not appear over night nor would it come off that way.
What I knew obviously was not working. What I did finally realize, is that I needed help…
I took information you gave me and ran with it. I try to live by what helps me and not hurt. Literally the list you gave me, I live by. Ok, I have to be honest, I may taste something not on list, but after you learn and realize; I have worked it off once I don’t want to have to work it off again.
And I finally stopped feeling I was missing something and purposely depriving myself of what I thought I needed…
You take what happens and make it work. You have to have chocolate. Ok fine. Make yourself a chocolate muscle milk drink…
It’s all about how you take the information you have, and use it and tweak it to what you need and get the best results from. Taking an obstacle and making it into a stepping stone.
There have been so many changes and I still continue to see and realize change. Some of the big corners when
- I started listening and stopped tuning everything and everyone out. I now wanted to know and research and learn and then I did something with it because you’re accountable for what you know
- I stopped craving those foods that are so bad; rice, breads, pastas, chocolate. They lost their hold and control over me and I was in control I did not live for the next meal. I ate to live
- I was able to see who I was and accept myself
- I left fantasy island and figured out that I was not going to wake up and the weight would be gone miraculously, or that the miracle pill would be created and I would not have to change anything in my life. I finally realized that it was going to take a huge effort on my part to change but I had to DO SOMETHING and stop doing nothing. I finally accepted I had to exercise. I started out just doing cardio and I could see and feel the positive effect it had on me physically and emotionally and one step lead to another
- I realized it’s not about dieting… Dieting has a beginning and an ending; meaning you stop and go back to doing what you were that got you to that place you did not want to be. It is all about change. Changing what I ate and knowing what I was eating. For example, most white colored food is bad for me; rice, bread, pasta, cream sauces, sugar. Need I say more? I wanted to know what that thing I was about to consume was going to do for me and not against me. I have worked so hard physically and mentally and overcome issues and emotions, and why would I want to have to do it all over again. Once was hard enough. I am going forwards not backwards.
- I realized as weight came off the walls were coming down. Issues felt different. I felt different. I was able to feel and not live in a state of numbness. And it felt like nothing before. To this day I am amazed daily at results I can physically see, but also how much more I can feel and give emotionally to those around me.
- I stopped passionately hating working out, and eating right, and providing my body with supplements that worked together. And I all the sudden had results. I started looking forward to being sore because I knew I really gave more than I thought I had or could at 40 years old. You are never too old to change!
- When I find myself sharing my journey with someone. There is always a new revelation or thought that I just realized at that moment…
Just about every day someone asks me what I have done or comments about how I have changed…It makes me feel more complete when I can share my journey and encourage someone
I started doing cardio, but when I added working out at ESN it changed everything
I was focused because I now had no interruptions or distractions as I had at home. With 4 kids, a husband, and 2 dogs there is always something to do, pick up, or clean.
I was accountable to someone other than myself who could see potential and help me get to the next level.
It was never boring and there is always something new to learn or accomplish.
So much encouragement and personal attention and an agenda tailored for me personally. Not a cookie cutter workout routine day in and day out. My trainer is always open and wise to new exercises and listens to me. They also help track my progress and they see areas I need to work on, and constantly tweak my program that has been designed ESPECIALLY for me! How awesome and special is that.
I feel so proud of my accomplishments especially when I know I was pushed and persevered. I want to tell everyone I have so much to share. I can’t keep it in!!!
Benefits of my workouts…
My appearance has totally changed…from 24 to 4 – Can you guess how many times I have had to get rid of my entire closet and go shopping – I never knew how much fun shopping was….I used to avoid shopping in public…nothing ever fit and reality was right there in front of me – I could not handle it….
It has changed the way I feel and how I deal with life issues. I am not numb to my life but a part of it and I now own it.
Working out has given me back my self control – self esteem and respect for myself.
Emotionally the pain I lived in was leaving one issue at a time. I cannot tell you how many times I was on the elliptical that a past memory would flash before me and I would break down and just cry and cry. I stopped holding everything in and let it go. My husband or kids would see me and ask what is wrong, and I couldn’t explain. I did not know for a long time, but I did not give up. I kept pressing on. Eventually, I realized with each step I was one step closer to me, and discovering and unveiling who I am. And I liked me, and then I loved me. It sounds so self-centered, but if I can’t love inwardly – myself – how could I really love others?
ESN was God’s gift to me! It was exactly what I needed at the time I was taking a huge step of faith and putting myself out there like I had never done before.
ESN was welcoming and non-intimidating and you could sense that in the atmosphere when you walked in.
In the beginning, you are working with someone who is where you want to be. They have been where you are and understand what it takes to get you there. They put obtainable expectations on you, and constantly motivate and encourage you and give you room to grow on your own with proper guidance and form.
I loved the ability to stay focused with a trainer in private workout area. You feel more like it’s yours and it was there just for you.
This creates a more personal experience and ability to be yourself and not worry who is watching or judging; therefore you get more out of the workout.
ESN is always looking for ways to improve, making sure all of their clients have the best and latest and greatest.
At first I dreaded and avoided the new stair master and was confused as to why they were so excited about it….today it is my most favorite machine. I am addicted to it!
I see women where I was and I see the pain and hurt and the walls. I want to let them know they don’t have to live in the excuses anymore. They don’t have to ignore themselves and look past themselves because they cannot accept or love who they have become.
You can stop the downward spiral that makes you feel that the only band-aid is chocolate or eating until you can’t move or breathe. And the only emotion that can surface is anger.
There is hope and help. And you can change. They need to see and understand they were created for a purpose, and that purpose will be revealed to them. Just do it for yourself first, and everything else will follow. Take control of your destiny now, and take your life back.
I can say this because I know I was there. I was hurt and couldn’t and wouldn’t face it. It won’t go away by itself.
Make that confession and realize you are the key to change. Open that door to and for yourself. It’s not easy. I cannot sit here and tell you it gets easier and that you just made it through the hardest part. Some days are harder now than before, but the difference is how I see it, conquer it, control it, and own it.
I own what I have because I have changed my life forever. I had to take each step and follow through, so I could own it. Every pound lost, every issue, and obstacle changed into a step forward. And every tear I can proudly say; I own and you can too.
Pam Barnett
Mother of 4 and CFO