Making mindful choices can lead to weight loss, a deeper relationship with God, and so much more!
That was certainly the case for Fit Mother Bethany!
Bethany is a mother of two who leads a busy life as a part-time school counselor and an active volunteer at the church where her husband, Brad, is a pastor.
When she got married, Bethany was the smallest that she had ever been.
After marriage, she started putting back on a little bit of weight, then during her first pregnancy, she got really sick and started losing weight — but not in a good way.
At that point, the goal became to get whatever calories she could get into her body and keep them there.
It worked, and her son was born happy and healthy.
But, the habit of eating whatever she wanted to eat, whenever she wanted to eat it, remained.
The years and the pounds added up, and Bethany and Brad found themselves unhealthy and needing a change.
They knew that if they didn't do it together, neither one of them would succeed.
So, they went out and found a plan they could do together.
Little did they know that the Fit Mother Project and the Fit Father Project would lead to so much more than weight loss.
Listen to Bethany's Story on the Fit Mother Project Podcast:
Weight Fluctuations and Health Complications
In high school, Bethany decided to do something about her health.
“I got to the point where I was the heaviest that I had ever been and decided that something needed to change. So I began counting calories and exercising. I lost about 60 pounds over a couple of years.”
Again, when she got married, Bethany was the smallest that she had ever been.
But then she got pregnant for the first time.
Bethany recalls gaining a lot of weight during her pregnancy as she had to consume extra calories.
“I started my pregnancy and was really sick. I lost a good bit of weight and not in the healthiest way. So at that point, the goal became to keep whatever calories I could get in my body. Then that habit formed and stuck around even after I was not sick anymore. It stayed there. I ate whatever I wanted to eat. I used pregnancy as an excuse.”
Then she had her son and became a busy new mom.
In 2020, Bethany and Brad adopted a daughter, and Bethany yet again got busy with the newborn.
Soon after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, their gym was shut down, and Bethany and Brad didn't do much working out.
We were just sitting at home like everybody else.”
In 2021, one of Brad’s school friends, who had lost a good amount of weight, introduced him to the Fit Father Project.
The program immediately drew Brad in, but Bethany was somewhat skeptical.
“I was like, why are we going to pay somebody to tell us stuff that we already knew but just needed to do?”
Nevertheless, the couple had always done health and fitness programs together, and things would not be different this time.
“We know from experience that if we don’t do it together, neither of us is going to have success. So we decided to do it. So we thought, let’s give it a try.”
According to Bethany, the Fit Mother Project's nutrition and workout plans made sense to her from the beginning.
“I’ve been on the health journey for a while now. So I knew a lot of the bits and pieces, but just how this was put together made a lot of sense to me.”
Bethany found the Fit Mother Project to be sustainable, and she loved the fact that she wasn't counting calories anymore.
“I don’t have to count macros. I don’t have to do all of those tedious things.”
Recognizing the importance of nutrition and understanding and knowing her portion sizes were a big part of it for her.
“I knew everything would fall into place just because I was following the Perfect Plate.”
According to Bethany, the value of tracking things and using simple guidelines gave the program more flexibility.
“On most days, I try to make a shake, but I’ll also kind of give myself the flexibility of eating eggs or something similar if I don’t feel like having the shake. The meal plans are more about flexibility and being consistent than variety.”
Follow along as we learn about Bethany’s spiritual weight loss journey!
Making Mindful Choices
Bethany outlines what she felt while writing her mission statement for the Fit Mother Project.
“I realized I was not treating my body the way God created it to be treated. I was not using my body in a way that was glorifying to him. I was not using it in the way he created it, and I was not honoring it the way he would want it to be honored, as his creation. So for me, that was a big thing and recognition.”
For her, the journey with the Fit Mother Project was not only about fixing her health; it was a spiritual journey.
It has led to much more peace, joy, happiness, and fulfillment in her life.
During her first month on the Fit Mother Project, Bethany did not indulge in free meals; instead, she was strict about following her plans.
“The first month, we wanted to jump in and dive deep. But after that, we added free meals once a week, or at that point every 10 or 14 days.”
She suggests planning the free meals and limiting them as much as possible.
According to her, it’s all about making mindful choices and the art of continuing to be healthy.
Bethany also sincerely followed the workout plans designed by the Fit Mother Project.
Even though she found the workouts challenging, she kept going and didn’t look back.
“I’m so much stronger now!”
During the program, she also learned the importance of hydration and intermittent fasting.
For Bethany, losing the last 10 pounds was the hardest, but she always remembered why she had undertaken the weight loss journey and kept going.
“Remember that it’s about more than just those pounds. I always remembered that it was about my health, relationship with God, food, husband, and kids. So always keep your mission statement in mind.”
So what would Bethany say to someone looking to join the Fit Mother Project?
“Whatever starting looks like for you, start. Get in there, get it done and decide. At some point, you have to decide. Things have to change. Also, don’t beat yourself up for not being perfect. The beauty of this program is that you don’t have to be perfect. So there’s flexibility built in. So even with the workouts and things like that, you do the best. Then you do a little bit better the next time. If you can’t do any better the next time, keep doing your best. Keep making the next best choice to do the next right thing.”
3 Key Takeaways From Bethany's Journey
To summarize, here are three key lessons you can learn from Bethany’s successful health and fitness journey:
Lesson 1: Don't Underestimate the Power of Support
If you think you lack the motivation to start a health and fitness journey yourself, get your friends or family to undertake the journey with you.
In Bethany’s case, her husband’s willingness to join the Fit Father Project compelled her to join the Fit Mother Project, and both of them were able to improve their lives.
Lesson 2: Your Health and Fitness Is About Making Mindful Choices
Sometimes, health and fitness are all about making mindful choices for your body.
It’s about how you treat your body.
The more you make mindful choices, the more positive momentum you’ll get.
Lesson 3: The Right Mindset Will Sustain You
Bethany had tried several different fitness and weight loss methods in the past; however, she couldn’t sustain any of them, as she didn’t have the right mindset.
Instead, she often made excuses not to restart her fitness journey again.
Believe in yourself and keep reminding yourself why you're on this journey.
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FM30X is a simple, sustainable, and specific weight loss program that is designed especially for busy women over 40. With short metabolic training workouts, an easy-to-follow meal plan, and an accountability team that is there for you at every step, FM30X can help you lose 30, 40, or even 50+ lbs — even if you’ve never picked up a weight in your life.
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If you’re a busy mom who wants to finally lose weight, get healthy, and actually keep the pounds off for good, this is the simple program you’ll love sticking to…
If you’re a busy mom who wants to finally lose weight, get healthy, and actually keep the pounds off for good, this is the simple program you’ll love sticking to…
Our Fit Mother 30X Program (FM30X) is the answer you’ve been looking for. Inside FM30X, you’ll receive:
*Please know that weight loss results & health changes/improvements vary from individual to individual; you may not achieve similar results. Always consult with your doctor before making health decisions. This is not medical advice – simply very well-researched info on making mindful choices.
