Have you ever been asked, "Who's on your team?" I'm sure you have. Maybe it was in sports or at work, but chances are, you've been part of a "team."
But today I'm talking about a different team in your life.
Whether you know it or not, you have a team around you right now that is either helping you get closer to your goals or pushing you away from your goals. Specifically, your health and weight loss goals. (And if you don't have a team, I'm going to show you exactly how to find a great one today.)
I just recently heard Pastor Rick Warren say,
"Success is never a one man show. It takes a team to fulfill a dream."
Well, ain't that the truth?!
Trying to do something big in life... like make significant changes in your health... is so much easier when you have people around you who are helping you and supporting you along the way.
Pastor Rick went on to say, "If you have a dream you can fulfill by yourself, then it's not from God. God's dream for your life is far bigger. It's so big, you can't fulfill it by yourself."
Wow! Although I can't say for sure whether your big dream is from God or not, I can tell you with 100% certainty that anything big I've accomplished in my life has been with the help and support of other wonderful people... and that includes losing 30 pounds and keeping it off for good.
So, who exactly do you need on your team?
Pastor Rick suggests we need 4 kinds of people on our personal teams:
Models – These are people in your life who inspire by example. They are the people who are where you want to be, and you can "model" the steps they've taken to get there.
Mentors – These are people who can coach you to achieve and show you how to reach your goal. We know that every top athlete has a coach and every top businessperson usually has a mentor. You can do the same for any goal you have in your life, including your health.
Partners – These are people who are in the trenches with you. They share your dream and are willing to do the work alongside you. They may have the same or similar goal as you, and you are in it together.
Friends – These are the people who lift you up and encourage you. Your best friends should bring out the best in you. If you have friends who bring out the worst in you, it may be time to reevaluate whether they belong on your team (harsh, but true).
"As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend." – Proverbs 27:17
So, how exactly do you start putting together your dream team? And do you need a lot of money and time to do it?
Definitely not!
Here is exactly where you can find these 4 types of people in your life.
Models – In the world of Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, there is no shortage of models to choose from. The trick here is following the right models. When my husband and I decided we wanted to get out of debt, we chose Dave Ramsey as our model. He was where we wanted to be... debt free, running a business, and still very present with his family. We began to study what he did to get to that point in his life and "modeled" that behavior.
Who is where you want to be right now with your health? You don't need to have a personal relationship with them, but you do need to have access to their strategies. Is it someone well known? Is it a friend or family member? Is it someone you follow on social media? Finding a model and studying their strategies will, many times, get you on the fast track to health.
Mentors – Sometimes these people can be the same as your models, but not always. Using the example above, my husband and I signed up for Dave Ramsey's class where he literally coached us step by step (through video) on exactly how we were going to get out of debt. I would say that the class facilitator was also our mentor, helping us to stay with the program.
What you may or may not already know is, the day you decided to become a New Life Promise member, you asked me to be one of your mentors. This, to me, is an extreme honor and a privilege, and I do not take this role lightly. That is why we give you every single tool you need to be successful on your weight loss and health journey. If you haven't already made the best use of the shopping lists, meal plans, and recipes inside the New Life Promise program, today is the day to start!
Partners – When I was working hard to get out of debt, my husband was my partner. He and I shared the same goal and vision for our life, so we were in it together. In the same way, who in your life also wants to get healthy? Who can you meal prep with, or go to the gym with?
When my mom first started her health journey, she and I would always meal prep together. It made the process so much easier, faster, and more fun to be chopping, cooking, and cleaning with someone else. And it was great quality time that I was able to spend with her.
Who could be your "partner in crime" on this health journey? Who would you enjoy making meals with or walking with? Someone in your family? Someone at work? Don't be afraid to ask. More people than you may realize are also wanting to take great care of their health and may just need the extra push and encouragement to start.
Friends – This is why the New Life Promise family Facebook group is an incredible place to be! If you don't have friends in your life who encourage you, I promise you will find those friends inside our wonderful community.
"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble." – Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Have you ever felt that way? Like you fell off your healthy eating plan and you were in real trouble? I know I have. I remember when I was first trying to lose weight, there were so many parties and events that completely derailed all my efforts. I so wish I had someone in my life during that time to pick me up when I fell off the wagon.
Luckily, you do! You have all of us inside the community who are there, ready and willing to reach out and pick you up whenever you need it.
"This is such an amazing community. The food and recipes are wonderful. BUT the community is second to none. May God be gracious to Isabel and all her staff this new year." – Becky
So, who is on your personal team?
Can you imagine how successful you would be with a team like this? It's almost like you couldn't fail!