Good Morning! I am super stoked to bring you the first ever guest feature for today's Monday Mantra. Since the beginning of this year, I have steadily been focused on the word transformation and, as I begin my own journey through marathon training and other fitness goals, I have been drawn to individuals who inspire me. Thanks to social media, I have been privileged to follow the transformation of a lovely woman I met a couple years ago.
Meet determination, but you can call her Heather.
Meet determination, but you can call her Heather.
I met Heather Hackett at a networking function while living in Sarasota, Florida. She had just launched a fresh business concept called I Train Your Kids. I hadn't seen anything like it and was intrigued by her enthusiasm and the insane car wrap that made her impossible to miss.
Since then, I Train Your Kids has exploded, impacting the local community by teaching young children healthy lifestyle habits including proper nutrition and exercise.
The success of Heather's business rests largely on the very personal and passionate foundation upon which it was built. Heather is very open about her youth as an overweight child, the struggles she endured growing up and the emotional scars that have punctuated her adulthood. Using the passion she gleans from working with her "kids", Heather has literally transformed herself from the inside out.
I got the chance to ask Heather a few questions about her inspiring journey. Read more after the jump. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Since then, I Train Your Kids has exploded, impacting the local community by teaching young children healthy lifestyle habits including proper nutrition and exercise.
The success of Heather's business rests largely on the very personal and passionate foundation upon which it was built. Heather is very open about her youth as an overweight child, the struggles she endured growing up and the emotional scars that have punctuated her adulthood. Using the passion she gleans from working with her "kids", Heather has literally transformed herself from the inside out.
I got the chance to ask Heather a few questions about her inspiring journey. Read more after the jump. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Young Heather
You came up with the concept for I Train Your Kids as a result of personal experience growing up- can you tell me a little bit about that?
Sure! I Train Your Kids is a direct result of me growing up with a weight problem. From the moment I was born, I had a weight problem and it truly affected every aspect of my life. I had no self-esteem, self-respect or confidence and I know first-hand that it's truly a miserable way to live. I created I Train Your Kids to work with children on their health and nutrition when they're younger so that it becomes a lifestyle. Growing up with a healthy lifestyle will not only provide them with a healthy body, but will also provide a foundation with self-esteem and confidence.
I believe happiness is an inside job and you are a perfect example of that statement. When you finally began to face your self-esteem issues, what tools did you use to heal emotionally? How have you been able to shed the emotional weight of that broken little girl?
Wow...that's a pretty tough question. I'll be honest, the broken little girl didn't mend until a few weeks ago. It's taken me 31 solid years to become a confident woman. I would have to say my friends helped a lot, but to be honest with you, I was ready. I was tired of beating myself up, and I finally felt I deserved better. Having a low self-esteem and having issues with weight is very consuming. Not just the amount of time that is spent, but the amount of energy...the mental baggage. I think I was just tired of making excuses for myself. I KNEW I could be better, and I felt I needed to get it, once and for all.
Sure! I Train Your Kids is a direct result of me growing up with a weight problem. From the moment I was born, I had a weight problem and it truly affected every aspect of my life. I had no self-esteem, self-respect or confidence and I know first-hand that it's truly a miserable way to live. I created I Train Your Kids to work with children on their health and nutrition when they're younger so that it becomes a lifestyle. Growing up with a healthy lifestyle will not only provide them with a healthy body, but will also provide a foundation with self-esteem and confidence.
I believe happiness is an inside job and you are a perfect example of that statement. When you finally began to face your self-esteem issues, what tools did you use to heal emotionally? How have you been able to shed the emotional weight of that broken little girl?
Wow...that's a pretty tough question. I'll be honest, the broken little girl didn't mend until a few weeks ago. It's taken me 31 solid years to become a confident woman. I would have to say my friends helped a lot, but to be honest with you, I was ready. I was tired of beating myself up, and I finally felt I deserved better. Having a low self-esteem and having issues with weight is very consuming. Not just the amount of time that is spent, but the amount of energy...the mental baggage. I think I was just tired of making excuses for myself. I KNEW I could be better, and I felt I needed to get it, once and for all.
I relate very much to the internal battle of self. For me, it is a daily challenge. I call the negative thoughts "the committee." How do you combat "the committee" when they come a'knocking?
I like the term, “committee” but I don't feel I have a committee as much as I have one voice inside my head. THE voice. The inner battle. It's truly a daily challenge for me as well, the voice never goes away and once in a while, the voice wins. The greatest feeling in the world is being able to ignore the voice, or simply yell at the voice knowing I won. I try to think of the little victories as often as I can. Knowing I'm strong enough to ingore them is one of the greatest feelings in the world. Better than any slice of pizza or any piece of cake, I assure you.
When you are feeling low, how do you go about creating positive change within yourself?
Whenever I feel like I need to be recharged, I simply take a look at what I've accomplished and at the progress I've made. To say I'm different from the quiet little girl I used to be is an understatement. I was the pushover that would settle for pretty much anything as I didn't feel I deserved any more than that. Now I KNOW I deserve more and I fight for it. I fight for the girl I used to be and I fight for all the children that need my help. They drive me like NO other!
I like the term, “committee” but I don't feel I have a committee as much as I have one voice inside my head. THE voice. The inner battle. It's truly a daily challenge for me as well, the voice never goes away and once in a while, the voice wins. The greatest feeling in the world is being able to ignore the voice, or simply yell at the voice knowing I won. I try to think of the little victories as often as I can. Knowing I'm strong enough to ingore them is one of the greatest feelings in the world. Better than any slice of pizza or any piece of cake, I assure you.
When you are feeling low, how do you go about creating positive change within yourself?
Whenever I feel like I need to be recharged, I simply take a look at what I've accomplished and at the progress I've made. To say I'm different from the quiet little girl I used to be is an understatement. I was the pushover that would settle for pretty much anything as I didn't feel I deserved any more than that. Now I KNOW I deserve more and I fight for it. I fight for the girl I used to be and I fight for all the children that need my help. They drive me like NO other!
Besides healing from the inside out, you have made a magnificent physical transformation- how did you begin? What inspired you to pursue a more active lifestyle?
The beginning of my active lifestyle started at the end of my unhealthy lifestyle. I stood in a dressing room when I was 19 years old, 190 pounds and could no longer fit into a size 14. I didn't want to shop in a plus store when I was still in my teens. I remember thinking I was way too young to head down that path. I decided then and there to start to change my lifestyle. At first I tried every diet known to man, and after years of fluctuating with my weight, I realized I had to stop “dieting” and simply change my entire lifestyle. I believe in not only eating healthy, but working out as well. You have to do both.
What has been your greatest challenge on your journey of transformation?
The greatest challenge was believing in myself! I believe in the children I work with, but up until this last challenge, it was impossible for me to believe I could accomplish MY dreams. I'm still not quite sure what came over me, and why, after all these years, I was ready to shed the last 26 pounds and do the figure competition once and for all. But for whatever reason, I felt I was ready. I was focused and determined beyond recognition. I finally believed I could do it, and I wouldn't let anything stop me.
At what moment did you feel like you had truly overcome your inner battle?
A few weeks ago, after losing about 22 pounds, I stood in the mirror and stared at myself in amazement. For the first time in my life, my thighs didn't touch. I never thought that was possible. I figured that since they were born together...they would die together. But, I stared at myself in the mirror, looking at every inch of my body, and I cried. For the first time in my life, I liked the body before me.
The beginning of my active lifestyle started at the end of my unhealthy lifestyle. I stood in a dressing room when I was 19 years old, 190 pounds and could no longer fit into a size 14. I didn't want to shop in a plus store when I was still in my teens. I remember thinking I was way too young to head down that path. I decided then and there to start to change my lifestyle. At first I tried every diet known to man, and after years of fluctuating with my weight, I realized I had to stop “dieting” and simply change my entire lifestyle. I believe in not only eating healthy, but working out as well. You have to do both.
What has been your greatest challenge on your journey of transformation?
The greatest challenge was believing in myself! I believe in the children I work with, but up until this last challenge, it was impossible for me to believe I could accomplish MY dreams. I'm still not quite sure what came over me, and why, after all these years, I was ready to shed the last 26 pounds and do the figure competition once and for all. But for whatever reason, I felt I was ready. I was focused and determined beyond recognition. I finally believed I could do it, and I wouldn't let anything stop me.
At what moment did you feel like you had truly overcome your inner battle?
A few weeks ago, after losing about 22 pounds, I stood in the mirror and stared at myself in amazement. For the first time in my life, my thighs didn't touch. I never thought that was possible. I figured that since they were born together...they would die together. But, I stared at myself in the mirror, looking at every inch of my body, and I cried. For the first time in my life, I liked the body before me.
Heather, transformed. Wow!
Journeys such as the one you have been on are typically full of lessons- what is the biggest thing you have learned?
Never give up. Ever!
When I was a kid, I remember crying a lot. I would cry and wonder why I was the one with the weight problem, why I couldn't be skinny like my mother or sister, or why I couldn't eat whatever I wanted and not gain weight.
After 31 years of struggling and fighting...I did it! I won!
Not only did I create a body I could love, but I created it my own way and I truly have an appreciation for it and for all the work I've done.
I've also taken my struggle and turned that into my passion and spend every day of my life working with children that have similar issues. I struggled so they don't have to. This is truly what I was meant to do and I'm following the path that was created just for me. I was meant to be overweight so I could relate to the children I work with. I was meant to struggle with food so I could relate to the children I worth with. I was also meant to live without confidence and self esteem so I can teach children to develop it for themselves and understand what it means to respect themselves.
Most recently, you entered a fitness competition. Can you tell me why this was an important goal for you?
The figure competition was on my infamous Bucket List and was also something I needed to do for ME. It was the ultimate test for many reasons.
First of all, I HATED bathing suits with a passion! When I was a kid I would pretend to forget my bathing suit, or wear a shirt over my suit to hide my stomach. The idea of standing in a bathing suit in front of hundreds of people alone was enough to make my stomach turn, let alone pose, flex and smile at the same time!
The other reason for doing the competition was that I always thought 'figure girls' had the ideal body image and admired them for the amount of work and dedication they put into their bodies. Bottom line is this. I always told myself that if I were to compete in a figure competition I would no longer be the 'fat girl'.
What keeps you motivated?
My kids. I have never given birth, nor do I intend to, but I have kids all over the country. I love what I do now and I love having an impact on children. I teach them respect. Respect for their health, respect for their bodies, but most of all, respect for themselves.
What inspires you today?
Determination. I watched a girl in the ice rink yesterday, maybe 8 years old. She was learning how to figure skate. She kept trying to jump and turn. She must have fallen down over 20 times. At one point she fell and was obviously hurt. She sat on the ice for 20 seconds or so, crying before she tried to stand up. Covering both of her knees, she skated over to her coach, who stood and talked to her. Within 30 seconds, I watched the girl go from crying and broken to shaking it off and trying again...more determined than she was before. She fell again but, eventually...she did it!
SHE inspired me. Never give up.
Can you share one of your mantras with The Sunnysideup?
My great-grandmother used to say, “You can always stoop down and pick up nothing.” I follow that every single day.
...and I never give up. Ever!
Never give up. Ever!
When I was a kid, I remember crying a lot. I would cry and wonder why I was the one with the weight problem, why I couldn't be skinny like my mother or sister, or why I couldn't eat whatever I wanted and not gain weight.
After 31 years of struggling and fighting...I did it! I won!
Not only did I create a body I could love, but I created it my own way and I truly have an appreciation for it and for all the work I've done.
I've also taken my struggle and turned that into my passion and spend every day of my life working with children that have similar issues. I struggled so they don't have to. This is truly what I was meant to do and I'm following the path that was created just for me. I was meant to be overweight so I could relate to the children I work with. I was meant to struggle with food so I could relate to the children I worth with. I was also meant to live without confidence and self esteem so I can teach children to develop it for themselves and understand what it means to respect themselves.
Most recently, you entered a fitness competition. Can you tell me why this was an important goal for you?
The figure competition was on my infamous Bucket List and was also something I needed to do for ME. It was the ultimate test for many reasons.
First of all, I HATED bathing suits with a passion! When I was a kid I would pretend to forget my bathing suit, or wear a shirt over my suit to hide my stomach. The idea of standing in a bathing suit in front of hundreds of people alone was enough to make my stomach turn, let alone pose, flex and smile at the same time!
The other reason for doing the competition was that I always thought 'figure girls' had the ideal body image and admired them for the amount of work and dedication they put into their bodies. Bottom line is this. I always told myself that if I were to compete in a figure competition I would no longer be the 'fat girl'.
What keeps you motivated?
My kids. I have never given birth, nor do I intend to, but I have kids all over the country. I love what I do now and I love having an impact on children. I teach them respect. Respect for their health, respect for their bodies, but most of all, respect for themselves.
What inspires you today?
Determination. I watched a girl in the ice rink yesterday, maybe 8 years old. She was learning how to figure skate. She kept trying to jump and turn. She must have fallen down over 20 times. At one point she fell and was obviously hurt. She sat on the ice for 20 seconds or so, crying before she tried to stand up. Covering both of her knees, she skated over to her coach, who stood and talked to her. Within 30 seconds, I watched the girl go from crying and broken to shaking it off and trying again...more determined than she was before. She fell again but, eventually...she did it!
SHE inspired me. Never give up.
Can you share one of your mantras with The Sunnysideup?
My great-grandmother used to say, “You can always stoop down and pick up nothing.” I follow that every single day.
...and I never give up. Ever!
I don't know about you, but I am inspired! As a person who has struggled with low self-esteem and poor body image, Heather's story is, in essence, mine too. I love the pure determination and I love her mantra. I even used it to power me through yesterday's 11-mile run- Never give up. Ever!
Thank you Heather! Keep shining your light. Thank you to everyone who read today- I hope you take some inspiration into your week and into your own endeavors.
What goals are you currently striving toward? Feel free to share your stories with me. I'd love to hear from you.
Thank you Heather! Keep shining your light. Thank you to everyone who read today- I hope you take some inspiration into your week and into your own endeavors.
What goals are you currently striving toward? Feel free to share your stories with me. I'd love to hear from you.
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