Extreme Weight Loss: Josh and Kelli

If you missed last night's Extreme Weight Loss^TM episode, I really encourage you to go back and watch it because it deals with the biggest thing my clients struggle with too: bumps in the road. I see it all the time. They will be doing great, losing lots of weight and transforming, until a bump in the road happens.

With Josh and Kelli, they were both victims to life's bumps in the road. But the truth is, everyone has bumps in the road that derail us from our passion and purpose. The difference is, what are you going to do when life throws you a curve ball? It can either make you stronger or break you.

I hear from so many of you that you wish you could have been chosen for an experience like Extreme Weight Loss. And while EWL is an amazing show, it's unlikely that most people will be chosen to be cast for it. That's why I created Extreme Weight Loss: Destination Boot Camp at the University of Colorado Anschutz Health and Wellness Center. I wanted a place where everyone could have the same experience as the participants on the show, with the same access to the top weight loss program. It's coached by EWL alum like Bruce Pitcher and Georgeanna Johnson, all of the training equipment and medical evaluations are the same as Phase 1 of EWL boot camp, and it's where the EWL Pay It Forward friends/family come. It always sells out and we have just a few spots left in our June and July sessions so sign up now if you're interested!

Live your own Extreme Weight Loss! What is one bump in your road that you can use to make you stronger instead of breaking you this week? Share it on my Facebook page and join my Live Extreme Challenge this season.

Here are my key takeaways from Josh & Kelli:

"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.

EXTREME WEIGHT LOSS: Robert and Raymond

Season 5 of Extreme Weight Loss^TM is finally here and boy, did the premier start out with bang! When I met Robert and Raymond, they were actually waiting outside of the Anschutz Health & Wellness Center at sunrise, before the center opened because they didn't want to miss a second of this opportunity. There were so many times when they could have made excuses or lived with a victim mentality, but they chose to be the hero in their own life.

At the finale just last week!

If you're ready to experience change like Robert and Raymond, check out Extreme Weight Loss: Destination Boot Camp. It's a program I developed with the same principles used on EWL during boot camp. You'll come to Colorado for a week with me, just like the participants on the show, and then go home where we help you live it out. My blog has lots of success stories with people like you who have transformed with DBC! 

Below is my video blog of Robert and Raymond's journey (plus some behind-the-scenes moments!) as I break down principles key to their success. Each week I'll be pointing out highlights from the episode that you can apply to your own life. Follow along at the Dr. Holly Facebook page and here at my blog to live your own Extreme Weight Loss!

Video Recap

The top two photos are of Raymond and Robert during their time with me at Anschutz Health & Wellness Center during Boot Camp. The below two photos are of our Extreme Weight Loss: Destination Boot Camp participants. Both the Extreme Weight Loss show participants and EWL:DBC participants have the same experiences. We teach them how to shop in our grocery store lab and then take them to our kitchens where we have awesome cooking classes to teach them how to make meals that taste great and help them lose weight. 

These guys are the real deal! They have the biggest bond and the biggest hearts that I've ever seen. So proud of you, Robert and Raymond! Keep it up! I will continue to be inspired by their character, love for one another, determination, and constant joy. 

"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.

New Year's Revolution Challenge: My Final Video and Accountability

I can't tell you how incredibly proud I am of each and every one of you. You did such an amazing job over these past 12 weeks giving it all you've got! I recorded my final New Year's Revolution Challenge video and my final Accountability post.

I didn't do the challenge perfectly. But guess what? No one did. And that's not a bad thing. Perfection isn't reality. If you expect perfection then you should really be expecting to fail. Your success isn't determined by your perfection or whether or not you hit your goal. It's about your effort. Did you give it all you had? If you didn't, what were the things that kept you from giving 100%? Was it your mindset? Your nutrition? This ins't about being hard on yourself. It's about learning so you can be better next time. We're all imperfect people working together to be our best, perfectly imperfect selves. I couldn't be more proud to do this with you!! 

Final New Year's Revolution Video

My Final Accountability Video

FINAL WEEK: Week 12 of the New Year's Revolution Challenge

Can you believe it? It's the final week of the New Year's Revolution Challenge! This week, I want you all to finish strong! Let's sprint to the finish line! And instead of dwelling on the places where you didn't do it perfectly, I want you to think about the places where you did well. Focus on your victories!

FINAL WEEK 12 VIDEO

Get Vulnerable, GO Public: Brayan

One of my favorite things is getting the opportunity to share the stories of the people I work with. It's not just a story about weight loss. What's powerful is that this is their LIFE. I get the privilege to work with bravest, most fearless people. They're not afraid to challenge the status quo, even if it says that they should give up and stop trying. Brayan is one of those people. Since he came to see me at Extreme Weight Loss: Destination Boot Camp in October, he has lost over 111 pounds!! That's incredible.

I wanted him to share a little bit of his journey so you can know that it's never too late to change, too silly to dream, or too hopeless to try!

Before and After

Me: How did you you feel before DBC?

Brayan: Honestly before Destination Boot Camp, I thought I was happy, but the truth was that I wasn't. I was very lazy and it was affecting everything and everyone around me.

Me: What was the moment when you actually realized you were transforming?

Brayan: The moment that I felt I was transforming was when I ran my first 5k. It was exactly one month after Destination Boot Camp. I took the picture after the race and compared it to an older pic that I taken before DBC and immediately saw transformation after just four weeks.

Me: How do you feel now?

Brayan: Now I feel so different. I smile a lot more, I don't get tired as quickly as I did before, I don't have    constant back pain, and I'm doing better in school. I'm more productive in many ways now!

Before and After

Me: What are you most proud of with your transformation journey?

Brayan: What I'm most proud of now is my lifestyle. You can actually see that I live differently now, and I mean that literally because having lost 111 pounds of so far it's just an amazing feeling every day.  I enjoy each day a lot more now. 

What I'm also thankful that I was given an early second chance to reshape my life the way it should be. Before I could only walk while exercised and now I think I'm becoming a runner and I love it! I can now run for long periods of time without stopping whereas before I would be lucky to make it 30 seconds without stopping. I also love that now my body keeps asking me for more exercise. I really like hiking and I find it to be more relaxing than other exercising. When I'm hiking up a mountain I remember how I got to where I am now, thinking about my first week at DBC. It was well worth it and I wouldn't change it for the world.

I hope my journey can encourage those who are now attending DBC or are searching for a reason to change or an extra push. Sometimes you just need one story to give you that motivation and hopefully this inspires others. The one thing that always sticks with me is #RememberYourWhy

In Honor of Dr. Denise McGuire: Week 10 New Year's Revolution

It's now Week 10 of the New Year's Revolution Challenge and that means you either have two or three weeks left to finish strong.

This weekend, Dr. Denise passed away. She had a tremendous impact on me and the way I view life and I know she did the same for many of you. In honor of her legacy and the way she taught us to use our mindsets to overcome, this week is all about walking the talk and putting into action Dr. Denise's teachings.

I know she's looking down on us now so let's continue to let her live on by us living out the things she taught us in her life. And there's nothing that I think of more when Denise comes to mind than Positivity and Gratitude. This week, your homework is to share one small thing in your life that you're grateful for and then posting a picture of you putting that gratitude into action. Watch my videos below to find out more. And continue to follow my GO Public wall, as this week is a tribute to Denise's amazing life and legacy.

WEEK 10 LESSON

WEEK 10 HOMEWORK

What is an indulgence meal and should I be having them?

Y'all sent in great questions last week and I chose to answer a few them all related to: Indulgence Meals. What is an indulgence meal? What isn't an indulgence meal? Why do we have them? Should you eat them if you feel sick after them? How do they work?

I answer all of the questions in my video blog today! What questions do you have for me this week? Comment below and I'll pick one to answer on next week's video:_____________.

Also, in case you missed it, I posted my New Year's Revolution Week 8 videos here too.

Indulgence Meals 101

Indulgence meals are important. Here's a shot of my last indulgence meal: a fried Twinkie from Toby Keith's restaurant! Yes, fried Twinkies actually exist! 

New Year's Revolution Week 8 Lesson

New Year's Revolution Week 8 Homework

Reader Question: How to Stay Motivated

You all sent in so many great questions for me on my Facebook page, and I'll continue to answer them on more videos in the future, but for now I chose to answer Mari's question, which was a theme throughout many of the ones you sent:

"I'm having a hard time getting back to weight loss mentality. I'm trying to find new challenges and motivations that will reignite my weight loss but I'm losing that fire that I had in the beginning. How do you keep motivation going after the initial drive is gone? I'm always super pumped in the first two weeks and then the motivation begins to dwindle."

Watch my video to see how I stay motivated. If you have a question about weight loss, you can ask me by commenting below or clicking the link above and posting it on my Facebook wall!

New Year's Revolution: Week 7

This week is all about motivation. What do you do when you feel your motivation slipping? How do you get it back? What do you do to keep the same excitement and passion that you had when you started? That's going to be our focus for week 7!

Watch my Week 7 lesson-- it's here to set you up for success! And then check out the homework. It's designed to help you feel recharged, re-motivated, and refreshed to keep going and finish strong!

Let's do this together! And don't forget to check in on my Dr. Holly GO Public wall on Facebook to let me know how you're doing.

WEEK 7 LESSON

WEEK 7 HOMEWORK

My New Year's Revolution Week 5 Accountability

Want to know what week 5 of my New Year's Revolution journey looked like? I'm still getting there! Some goals I hit, other's I need to work on. But more than anything, I want us to FINISH STRONG. Let's finish strong together! We haven't come this far to give up now.

My goal is to have a negative split-- I want to finish the second half of my race better than I did the first. Who's in it with me? Let's do this!

WEEK 5 ACCOUNTABILITY 

New Year's Revolution: Week 6

We're officially at the half-way point of the New Year's Revolution Challenge! Can you believe it? Now that we're here, this is the perfect time to REASSESS. Let's look back to see where we've been and where we want to go!

My goal for myself and for you is that during the second half of the Challenge we will have a negative split. What is a negative split? It's a term runners use when you run the second half of a race faster than the first half. Let's finish even stronger together than how we started. We're in this together!

Let's do this! Keep me in the loop on how you're doing. Post on my GO Public wall to stay accountable.

WEEK 6 LESSON

WEEK 6 HOMEWORK

My New Year's Revolution Week 4 Accountability Update

Hi guys! It's that time of the week again: accountability time. This week I've noticed less posts on my GO Public wall. I'm putting myself out there and getting vulnerable. Make sure to do it with me! Nothing makes a hard road easier than support from others, so share your story! You have no idea how much it inspires me. Click here to post your update.

This week was a good week! Right now, my goal is to continue to trust the process. The other key I took away is knowing my triggers. What is your trigger or the point where your will power is lowest? Mine is in the evening when I get home from work. I'm tired and things can tend to slip then. I'm recognizing that and starting to tweak my plan to help myself succeed. Watch my video to see my update:

WEEK 4 ACCOUNTABILITY

New Year's Revolution: Week 5

Who's ready for Week 5 with the New Year's Revolution Challenge?! ***crickets***

I know, this is the time when the fact that there are 7 weeks left and that may feel discouraging. That's ok! That's normal. It's normal for this to not always "feel" fun or easy. Because it's not always fun and easy. This week, I want to give you tools to help overcome that. What I don't want to see is for you to QUIT!

This week I want to focus on the Power of Positivity. Positive people have the same problems as negative people, they just have a different approach. Watch my video on the scientific power of being positive and then tackle the homework! It's designed to help you win!

Check in with me on my Facebook page! I want to see the mood board you made last week. Share how you were able to find something positive in a negative!

WEEK 5 LESSON

WEEK 5 HOMEWORK

My Week 3 New Year's Revolution Accountability Update

This week has been a great week! I've stuck to the plan and even though I haven't seen all of the weight loss results I want, I'm trusting the process. That's what this is all about. If you saw my Week 2 Accountability video, I wasn't losing weight the way I wanted to so I tweaked the plan. There are times when you need to tweak the plan and then there are also times to just trust the process. I'll explain how to know when you should do one or the other.

WEEK 3 ACCOUNTABILITY

I also went to the Butterfly Pavilion and got uncomfortable with my State of Slim group! And while I loved the butterflies I wasn't so in love with Rosie, the tarantula. But I did it! I held Rosie and got out of my comfort zone! This weekend, try to do one thing outside of your comfort zone.

 

Getting uncomfortable! Can't you tell? 

 

Really uncomfortable! 

 

I love butterflies because they represent transformation. 

 If butterflies didn't struggle to break out of their cocoon, their wings wouldn't be strong enough to fly. If you're struggling right now, just know you're building your strength to fly! Keep fighting because there is a new beauty that is about to come from your struggle!

New Year's Revolution: Week 4 Lesson

I hope all of you watched my lesson and did the homework last week because it is a really powerful exercise to get the chance to WRITE and then RE-WRITE your story. If you haven't done it yet, do it! Don't let a week go by and miss the chance to change how your story ends. If you missed it, you can watch the videos here.

This week is a very crucial week. Typically after four weeks people start to quit their New Year's Resolutions. And that's why I wanted to start a New Year's Revolution, so that this year, 2015, the story wouldn't end the same way it always does.

To do that, you need to do the homework because it's designed to help you get there! Last week we RE-WROTE our stories and this week I want to take that concept to the next level. We're going to visualize our goals. Visualize where you will be. How are  you going to look? Feel? Live? Watch my videos for Week 4 and I'll explain it there. And make sure to go to my Facebook page and share your GO Public update!

If you need some great inspiration for a Visualization Board, check out Heidi's, one of my Destination Boot Campers:

WEEK 4 LESSON

WEEK 4  HOMEWORK

New Year's Revolution: My Week 2 Accountability Update

What happens when you don't hit your goals? You have been doing a great job of checking in with me on the GO Public Wall on my Dr. Holly page. I noticed that in a lot of your accountability posts, you said that you've been following the program but maybe haven't hit your goal as much as you would like to. 

Well, guess what? Same with me. This week, I've scheduled my lesson, homework, and even my accountability on what to do when you don't hit your goal, how to be honest about it, own it, and most of all, LEARN FROM IT. Hopefully my Week 3 Accountability update will motivate you too!

I designed all of my homework assignments to be something that helps you. It's not meant to just be another thing on your plate. Week 3's homework is about Writing and Re-Writing your story. The New York Times just published a story about proven scientific power behind this practice:

"Now researchers are studying whether the power of writing — and then rewriting — your personal story can lead to behavioral changes and improve happiness." read the rest of what researchers found here. Also, coaches at the Human Performance Institute are using this technique to help people get to the root of their avoidance of exercising and healthy eating habits, creating transformational breakthroughs with clients. .

Week 3 New Year's Revolution: Get Your Mind Right

Ok guys! We're officially in Week 3! And this week is all about Getting Your Mind Right. Wouldn't it be great if we all had a chance to re-write our story? Now you do. This week, I want you to write your story and then Re-Write Your Story! I don't want to give it all away, so watch the videos below for my Week 3 Lesson and Homework. Then, make sure to check in on the Dr. Holly page's GO Public Wall!

Scientific research has shown that you can actually write your way to happiness. The New York Times just wrote a story on some of the findings: "Now researchers are studying whether the power of writing — and then rewriting — your personal story can lead to behavioral changes and improve happiness." read the rest of the story here. Also, coaches at the Human Performance Institute are using this technique to help people get to the root of their avoidance of exercising and healthy eating habits, creating transformational breakthroughs with clients.

Watch my Week 3 videos to help you tackle your New Year's Revolution Challenge!

Week 3 Lesson

GET YOUR MIND RIGHT

Week 3 Homework

GET YOUR MIND RIGHT

Get Vulnerable, GO Public Story: Tierannye

I met Tierannye when she came to Extreme Weight Loss: Destination Boot Camp (new slots just opened up if you want to be a part of it!). The whole point of the Get Vulnerable, Go Public challenge is to put yourself and your story out there for the world to see. To live differently. And to push against "the normal." And that's exactly what Tierannye has done. I wanted to share her story because other people's journeys motivate me to keep going. I hope this motivates you too!

MY Story…

                  What is beauty? What is to be completely comfortably with your body? These are just a few questions I always wondered and could never fully answer them because I had never experienced it. In my 23 years of life I’ve always struggled with being happy with the way I looked. The issue with that is, people would tell me how gorgeous I was, but I didn’t believe them. I always thought “they’re just saying that to make me feel ok, they really don’t believe it!” These thoughts and feelings all began when I was weighed in 4^th grade for an IdentiKid Card, and I weighed in at 101lbs. I never said anything but I knew I wasn’t like everyone else. I was always “thick” growing up, but so was everyone in my family which seemed right and I became complacent.    

        

                  Over the years, I’ve tried many different things to lose weight. They worked at the time but, I soon gained it all back plus more. Ultimately it made me upset and depressed, I just gave up and told myself “well maybe this is how God wanted me to be.” I kept that with me for many years, knowing it was a lie I told myself in order to be okay with the way I looked. But, the reality of that is I wasn’t okay with it at all. I just knew something had to happen or I wouldn’t be around long. I have so much life to live, and I want to be around to live it but I just want to be happy doing it.

                  Then the Extreme Weight-Loss Destination Boot camp opportunity came, for I was a “Pay it Forward” recipient from my best friend Brandi Mallory who was a contest on the Season 4 Extreme Weight-Loss. Prior to going to camp I was in a deep depression, nothing in my life was going as planned. I just felt like everywhere I turned I was being hit with any and everything and it made me miserable. I ended an amazing relationship, stopped hanging out with friends, started drinking way too much, eating whatever was in front of me even when I wasn’t hungry, I was just unhappy. But, I didn’t know what I was unhappy with exactly. In the midst of all of this was happening, and I had to pack my life up and go to Denver for a week.

                  It was there that the change came, and it shocked me. I wasn’t open to going to camp, but I knew that this could help me. It was the day we went on the hike that changed my life forever. Before we got off the bus we were told that once we reached the fork in the road we had 3 options: turn around and return to the bus, take the medium route, or take the challenge. I knew that I would take the medium route for sure. It was until I reached the fork in the road that I heard, “no more excuses”, next thing I know my feet are leading me towards the challenge route. I got to thinking about everything that was happening in my life; past and present. But I also began to think about the future. I spoke to God the entire hike. I cried the entire time, but it was tears of thanksgiving, gratefulness, and happiness.

                  That moment made me realize that I had to live for me and make myself happy. It showed me that I’ve been making excuses for myself and that is why I had been feeling the way I had for so long. I was thankful for the mindset change I experienced not only on the hike, but in the sessions we attended. I didn’t know how strong I was until I was pushed, I realized at camp that it is completely okay with being vulnerable. I don’t have to be strong or superwoman all the time. Vulnerability is where change occurs, when you are outside of your comfort zone. Being there helped me start my new life, I don’t consider SOS to be a diet, but a lifestyle transformation. Weeks later I have destroyed 30lbs and I am just elated with life. With my freedom to be me, and not worry about what comes my way.  I get compliments all the time, and for once in my life I actually believe what is being said to me. Not only because I see it too, but because I know that there is no need for anyone to justify MY life. It is my life for a reason and I am doing what I want to do, solely for me.

                  I have moments where I begin to doubt myself, but then I look in the mirror and see that I have changed and I still have more work to do. I tell myself every morning “Check you out, you’re so cute!” and I believe it! I believe in myself. I can no longer fit my clothes, which actually makes me happy because I have a real reason to shop for new clothes. I love eating healthy, I love working out especially Zumba. I just love living life!!!

                  I am forever grateful for all that I learned, the connections I’ve made, and the lifelong mindset change that was given to me through EWLDBC.  I know that I am a Masterpiece! I know that I am beautiful. I am good enough. I am perfect. I know how to choose my hard! This is all due to that one week I spent away from my hectic life here in Atlanta. I was able to shut out all the negative thoughts, and focus on getting my happy back. I am proud to announce that SHE IS HERE!!! I can feel it now, I believe it, and I am beautiful!

Love,

T 

How did I do in my first week? Week 1 Accountability

The point of the New Year's Revolution is to create a space where we can all Get Vulnerable and Go Public together. As an expert in weight loss, it's not easy to put it out there that I want to lose 20 pounds. I can easily start to ask questions like, "What will people think?"

But, I would rather be transparent and let you know that I'm in the same boat as you! Weight loss is a life-long journey and evolution that you continually have to choose, and occasionally reboot. I'm rebooting! Here's how last week went for me:

My Week 1 Accountability 

Week 2: New Year's Revolution Lesson and Homework!

Hi guys! This week, I want you to focus on your WHY! Last week, you started your morning ritual by filling in your purpose: I choose to be ___________. Now, I want you to add reading your "Why" to your morning routine and then share your WHY on my Facebook page!

Don't know what your "Why" is? That's ok! Watch my video below and I'll explain it in more depth. If you know your "why", still watch this video. Sometimes your "why" changes as you hit milestones along your journey and I'll help you identify what that looks like.

So, just to recap, this is what your morning should look like every day:

1. State your mantra: "I choose to be ________."
2. Remember your WHY

Make sure to stay accountable and check in with me on my Facebook page! I'm looking at all of your Get Vulnerable, Go Public challenges and want to see you succeed! Take advantage of this support system.

New Year's Revolution: Week 2 Lesson

New Year's Revolution: Week 2 Homework