Amy Porterfield, a well-known figure in the online marketing world, has openly shared her weight loss journey, offering valuable insights into the physical and emotional aspects of transformation. This article explores the key elements of her journey, drawing from her podcast episodes and personal experiences.
From Embarrassment to Empowerment: The Starting Point
In an October 2017 podcast episode, Amy Porterfield first revealed her struggles with weight, admitting her embarrassment and dislike for video due to body image issues. This candid revelation marked a turning point, igniting a desire for change. As she puts it, "Coming clean to you guys put a fire under my butt and helped me make a shift in my life."
Fast forward to November 2018, Amy shares her progress, highlighting a commitment made on March 25, 2018, with a goal to lose 100 pounds. While acknowledging the common curiosity about diet, she emphasizes the more critical shifts in her life that have significantly impacted her journey.
Key Strategies and Mindset Shifts
Amy's weight loss journey extends beyond mere dieting; it encompasses emotional and mental well-being. Here are some of the strategies and mindset shifts that played a crucial role:
1. Hiring a Weight-Loss Coach and Addressing Emotional Eating
Amy hired Corinne Crabtree, a weight loss coach, her podcast is excellent, Losing 100 Pounds who focuses on the emotional aspects of eating. They rarely talk about food. They talk about the emotions. Specifically, she has taught me to stop eating my emotions. I eat. I eat to numb the emotions I don’t want to feel. It was rough in the beginning, for sure, but I can honestly tell you I am not an emotional eater anymore. I have been since I was a very little girl so that has been life changing for me. This partnership helped her identify and address emotional eating, a pattern since childhood. By learning to manage stress and avoid using food to numb emotions, Amy made significant progress.
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2. Embracing the Self-Coaching Model
Drawing from Brooke Castillo's teachings, Amy adopted the self-coaching model to examine her thoughts and feelings, enabling her to make better choices. This model involves creating intentional models for various situations, such as dealing with stress or negative comments. "Basically, it allows me to look at things differently and examine my thoughts and feelings and it helps me choose better thoughts and feelings," she explains.
3. Prioritizing Health and Leading by Example
Amy recognized the importance of prioritizing her health and setting an example for her team. She committed to working out three times a week with weights and walking with Scout daily. This shift in priorities extended to her team, encouraging them to prioritize their health as well.
4. Ditching the All-or-Nothing Mentality
Amy, who identifies as an "all-or-nothing girl," learned to let go of this mentality. Instead of letting a bad day derail her progress, she embraced a more flexible approach, understanding that setbacks are a part of the journey.
5. Simplifying Food Choices and Planning
Amy follows four basic principles regarding food: planning meals 24 hours in advance, drinking half her weight in ounces of water daily, eating only when hungry, and stopping when satisfied (eating 2-to-2 with every single meal). This approach simplifies her food choices and reduces emotional eating. She also avoids snacking to better understand her hunger cues.
6. Challenging Limiting Beliefs
Amy confronted the belief that she couldn't be successful while overweight. This limiting belief fueled her insecurities about video and public appearances. By addressing this belief, she aimed to show up authentically and confidently in her business and life.
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Talking Body: A Podcast on Body Image and Self-Acceptance
Amy partnered with Rachel Hollis's production company to launch "Talking Body," a podcast exploring body image and self-acceptance. This series features candid conversations with body-image experts, thought leaders, and women from diverse backgrounds. The podcast delves into questions like:
- Can I love my body and still want to change it?
- Do I own my self-image, or is it just another product that I post online?
- How does my experience as a white woman differ from those experienced by women of color?
The podcast aims to foster understanding and clarity around body image issues, encouraging listeners to stop hiding and start playing a bigger game.
Lessons and Reflections
Amy's journey highlights the importance of addressing the emotional and mental aspects of weight loss. It's not just about the food; it's about understanding your relationship with food, managing your emotions, and challenging limiting beliefs. Here are some key takeaways:
- Self-awareness is crucial: Recognizing your emotional eating patterns and triggers is the first step toward change.
- Support is essential: Hiring a coach or joining a supportive community can provide guidance and encouragement.
- Mindset matters: Cultivating a positive and accepting mindset is vital for long-term success.
- Progress, not perfection: Embrace a flexible approach and celebrate small victories along the way.
- Vulnerability is powerful: Sharing your struggles can inspire others and create a sense of connection.
A Week in the Life: Balancing Business and Wellness
Amy's commitment to her health is evident in her weekly routine, which includes:
- Sunday evening: Weekly preview using the Full Focus Planner to plan the upcoming week.
- Monday morning: Morning walk with Scout, audiobook, preparing for FB Live session, phone calls, and recording podcast ads.
- Tuesday: Video day, Instagram story about launch.
- Wednesday: Podcast batching day.
- Thursday evening: Acupuncture.
- Friday: Call with weight-loss coach, recording outcome videos.
This structured approach allows her to balance her demanding business schedule with her health and wellness goals.
Read also: Inspiring Health Transformation
Overcoming Obstacles and Embracing Self-Love
Amy's journey hasn't been without its challenges. She has faced insecurities about her body, struggled with emotional eating, and grappled with the all-or-nothing mentality. However, by confronting these obstacles head-on, she has made significant progress in her weight loss journey and, more importantly, in her journey toward self-love and acceptance.
She also shared five things she would’ve done differently:
- Trying new food: I was afraid to try new food because I was holding on to the foods I thought I couldn’t break away from. I wish I would have kept the food I was eating while slowly adding new foods. I was afraid to try new foods, but the worst that could have happened is that I may not have liked it. Just get the food, try it, and see what you think.
- Dropped judgement at the gym: I would go to the gym full of judgement of myself and others. That made for a miserable experience. I wish I would have enjoyed it sooner.
- I didn’t drink all the water and use lotion in the beginning: I think it might have helped some with the loose skin and elasticity. Most people will have loose skin. As much as I thought about and dealt with my loose skin over the years, I never regretted losing 100 pounds.
- I wish I would have started getting comfortable with my body from the first day: I beat myself up a lot about my body. I would notice things changing and be excited, but that was always followed up with a “but.” I would have started from day one saying something nice to myself “you deserve to work on this body.” Before you get on the scale, remind yourself that “this is an opportunity to love myself.” I started doing that in the mirror when I’m naked as well. I still works on my internal dialog even now. I want to reprogram my brain to like myself all of the time. I had the thought “I really like dresses” and realized I rarely wear them because I do not like my legs. I asked myself “Self, why don’t you like your legs?” I realized that I do not like my legs and that takes away from something I love (dresses).
- Quit thinking I’m alone: I was determined that no one else understood what it was like to be overweight. It was not helpful and made me feel like I had to do it all by myself. I should have told myself “I am supported.” Chris was supportive and demonstrated that I wasn’t alone, but I kept thinking I was. We don’t have to be alone these days. Online communities are changing the game. The members have created amazing friendships with each other. I know it might sound cliché, but I made a promise this year to be more vulnerable.
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