Extreme Weight Loss: Hannah

This week was so bittersweet! I can't believe that the Finale episode of Extreme Weight Loss is already here but there was no better way to end the season than with Hannah's story. The theme of her journey is living in a NO EXCUSE zone. My State of Slimmers use the mantra, "No Excuses. No Regrets."

Address your barrier, but instead of spending all of your energy thinking about you can't do, spend energy thinking about what you can do. I hear so many excuses all the time: "If I was chosen for Extreme Weight Loss... If Chris and Heidi were helping me... If I didn't have a  bad back... If my family supported me... Watch my video blog to really help you excuse-proof your journey:

Hannah had a fractured foot-- that was a legitimate roadblock. But she didn't let that stop her; she found ways to work around her injury. Spend your energy thinking about what you can do, not what you can't do. Refuse to let your excuses get in your way. This is the result of living with No Excuses!

This week, I'm challenging to look at the barriers you have in your life. Instead of telling me what you CAN'T do with them, tell me what you CAN do. Share it on the Dr. Holly page!

If you need help living in a no-excuse zone, check out State of Slim and Extreme Weight Loss: Destination Boot Camp. Both of these CU Anschutz Health & Wellness Center weight loss programs teach you how to live with NO excuses and NO regrets!

Extreme Weight Loss: Kim

One thing I love about Extreme Weight Loss is that there are consistent themes that flow throughout the show-- and really, throughout all transformation journeys. Some of those themes that I see in successful weight loss stories are things like feeling your fears and getting out of your comfort zone. The body follows the mind and you have to get that mental side of things down to reach your goals.

With Kim, I love how she began with the end in mind: sewing a dress that she could fit into at her finale. The dress represented so many things, not just focussing on her new size, but visualizing how she would feel. This is the end result of that:

Here's my video blog on Kim's episode. Check it out to get all of my thoughts on how you can use her transformation to help you transform too!

All of my clients create vision boards to represent how they want to FEEL, not just how they want to LOOK. Once you visualize, then you need to take ACTION. See it in your mind, then be it. Here are some vision/action boards my State of Slimmers just created.

Now, I want you to create your vision/action board and share it on the Dr. Holly page! What's going to be your Little Red Dress?  Our State of Slim program can help you. All it is takes is that first step – Visualize yourself here with us now, working on YOUR transformations! Learn more about State of Slim here.

What's the thing you'll use to visualize where you want to be? Ready, go!

Extreme Weight Loss: Jackie

Who else was blown away by Jackie's episode? I think the reason so many of you were touched by her story was because it's so relatable. We can all relate to struggling with difficult emotions, even if they are caused by legitimatly difficult life circumstances, and using food to numb the pain.

The key to Jackie's success was twofold. First, she decided to stop using food to cover her pain and cope with unforgiveness. Second, she replaced food with positive actions.

Are you an emotional eater? Do you find yourself standing in front of the fridge snacking even when you're not hungry? Then I'm challenging you to step into those emotions this week and let yourself begin the healing process. Watch my video for more on Jackie's episode and how you can use it in your own journey:

Go to the Dr. Holly page and share what you're doing with your emotions instead eating them: maybe it's going for walk, calling a friend to grab coffee, or journaling what you're feeling.

Extreme Weight Loss: Mitzi

I know I say this almost every week, but it's true: I think this might be the most powerful episode we've seen. Mitzi's story is one that we'll be talking about for the days, weeks, and months to come. Why? Because it shows the power of vulnerability.

So many times, we think that by keeping secrets, we're protecting ourselves. We build walls to keep pain and shame from hurting us. But those same walls also block out the ability to cultivate friendships, love, joy, peace, and happiness. One of the most powerful statements of the show was when Dr. Tolin asking Mitzi, "Is keeping your secret more important than letting your friends in?" Wow, what concept. Watch my video blog below to hear all of my thoughts on the episode and how you can apply Mitzi's breakthroughs to your own story:

When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we let down our walls to receive the help and love we  need to accomplish our goals and experience life the way it was meant to experienced: surrounded by people who cheer us on to be our best self.

This week, I'm challenging all of you to get vulnerable. This is one of the foundational principles I talk about on the Dr. Holly Facebook page. I call my wall the "Go Public" wall. It's a place where all of my followers go to post vulnerable updates so everyone can see it, rally behind them, and encourage them to keep going. Post there this week so we can do the same for you!

If you want an amazing support group that's ready to get vulnerable and walk alongside you during a year of weight loss, check out Extreme Weight Loss: Destination Boot Camp^{TM  .}at University of Colorado Anschutz Health & Wellness Center.  At boot camp, we focus on healthy eating and great workouts, but we put the most time into teaching you how to get vulnerable and retrain your mind so your body can succeed! Click here for more info.

Extreme Weight Loss: John and Panda

Do you have a past of yo-yo dieting? Chances are, it's not because of food or exercise... Most likely, you didn't have a "WHY." What's a "why"? Your "why" is your internal motivation to lose weight. Without it, you'll never keep your weight off long-term.

Having goals like fitting into a size 6 dress, losing weight for your high school reunion, getting healthy because someone else wants you to, etcetera, aren't long-term "why's". They're not bad reasons to lose weight, but ultimately, once you fit into your size 6 dress, or your high school reunion passes, or your family member is happy with your new transformation, your motivation will be gone. You need lasting motivation that's internal. I call that your PERSONAL WHY. It's deeper. Watch my video to find your "WHY":

If you saw this week's episode, it's pretty clear that Panda found his "why" early on and John didn't have a "why". Despite all of the best weight loss resources in the US, from Chris Powell to the University of Colorado's Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, John still couldn't get motivated. 

It wasn't until all of those things left that John looked within himself, found his why, and ultimately lost the weight. This week, I'm challenging you find your WHY. Peel back the onion. You might have a few external "whys" (like a weight loss goal for your high school reunion) but I really want you to dig deep and find your personal "WHY." And if you're up for it, Go Public and share it on my Facebook page so we can all support you in it!

If you've been searching for your deeper "why" and want the resources and support to help you dig deep both emotionally and physically, then check out Extreme Weight Loss: Destination Boot Camp. It's designed from the principles used on the show Extreme Weight Loss TM to help you experience your own extreme transformation. 

If you applied for a DBC scholarship, we'll be announcing the winners on Anschutz's website and social media this week, so stay tuned!

"Extreme Weight Loss," "Extreme Weight Loss: Destination Boot Camp" and "Destination Boot Camp" are each a trademark of 3 Ball Entertainment LLC and are used under license. All rights reserved.

State of Slim Success Story: Robert

I'm so proud of Robert! He's a true hero, serving in Vietnam, who decided to take his life back and fight his own battle with weight loss. And he has had such amazing victory along the way. He's an amazing example that even if you're not on a TV show, or in a year-long support group, you can still lose the weight and keep it off for good.

Why did you to join the State of Slim group?

I became interested in SOS after joining University of Colorado's Anschutz Health & Wellness Center as a result of a friend, John Schmidt, bringing me over for a tour. I happened to pick up Dr.'s Hill and Wyatt's book and informally began the SOS program on my own, losing weight. I met with Dr. Holly as a patient and followed her suggestion to join a SOS class and consider retaining a trainer on a regular basis.

How did you you feel before State of Slim?

I came in weighing about 310 and graduated Oct 17, 2014, weighing 238. Words can't describe the difference in my new lifestyle. I can do so much more with my body than I ever thought possible. 

What was your biggest transformation moment?

The moment I realized I was transforming was when I started to call myself an athlete! I have become a rowing athlete winning the silver medal in the 500 meter erg row (a rowing machine I learned at Anschutz) at Duke University in June and the same week a gold medal in team volleyball at the University of North Carolina, Military Valor Games.

I was also featured in the July edition of "Rowing", a professional and Olympic rowing magazine due to the feat.

What does your new lifestyle look like now?

I continue working out with a Mr. Phil Davis weekly and continue to compete around the country in many different events such as Shotput, Discus, Javelin, golf and even bowling and archery.

Recently I've been recruited to be in the Longmont Sculling Club where I row in a quad rower weekly.  

What do you look forward to doing in the future that used to not be possible before you lost the weight?

I hope to soon join in competitions when I'm experienced enough; joining competitive regattas in San Diego and England.

I've got another goal and that is to be able to surf at Waikiki, Hawaii.  That's harder due to my wounds received serving my country during the Viet Nam War; it's difficult to get to my feet to a surf board.

I'm so grateful for State of Slim and I will to continue to be an evangelist for Anschutz and Dr.'s Hill/Wyatt programs!

Extreme Weight Loss: Rachel

I loved Rachel's episode because I think her story is one we can all relate to! Her journey has one of the biggest takeaways I can give to anyone trying to lose weight: get your mind right first and the body will follow.

If you're struggling with losing weight, the truth is you have to change your mind first because it's your negative mindsets and thoughts that have produced the body you currently have. Most of the time we think that our mindsets and thinking will change once we've lost the weight. "I'll be confident once I lose 20 pounds." Or, in Rachel's case, "I'll be a dancer again once I lose 50 pounds." Change your mind first when you're going through a transformation instead of waiting until the end. Changing your mind at the end is like re-painting an old car without ever putting in a new engine. It looks good on the outside but it still can't run the way it should. Here's my video explaining what you need to do to change your mindt:

 This week, I want you to be aware. When you catch yourself in a negative mindset or having a negative thought, stop yourself and see how you can change your mindset. This lesson may seem weird but I'm challenging you to give it a chance. See what results it produces in your life.

Decide to change what you think about something. Replace those negative thoughts with positive ones: I am strong. I do deserve this. I am worth it. Because, you ARE worth it!

This is what it looks like when you get your mind right and the body follows.

If you really want a crash-course on getting your mind right,  Extreme Weight Loss: Destination Boot Camp^{TM  .}at University of Colorado Anschutz Health & Wellness Center is the place to do it. At boot camp, we focus on healthy eating and great workouts, but we put the most time into teaching you how to retrain your mind so your body can succeed! Right now, we're Paying it Forward by offering four SPRI Better Every Day Scholarships to Destination Boot Camp. There are ThREE DAYS LEFT to apply. The deadline to apply is July 31st. Apply here! 

"Extreme Weight Loss," "Extreme Weight Loss: Destination Boot Camp" and "Destination Boot Camp" are each a trademark of 3 Ball Entertainment LLC and are used under license. All rights reserved.