I don’t know about you, but when I first started coaching lifestyle and behaviour change, my perception of what it looked like was far different than what I know now.

We tend to think the trajectory of lifestyle change looks like a straight line from A to B. Often, the only truth to that is that the journey starts at A. How we get there looks more like a cat chasing a laser pointer than a straight line and the more accepting we are of that fact, the more we can learn about ourselves along the way.

Behaviour change is hard. A lot of us have been practicing old behaviours that no longer serve us for decades, so it makes sense that changing these behaviours will take time. One of the things we know about changing behaviour is that we will get it wrong- a lot! This is not failure but rather learning, or failing forward. The only true failure is the refusal to move from the starting line because we no longer believe we can change. Change is possible – our clients have shown us this more times than we can count – but sustainable change is slow. I say sustainable change because when we want behaviour change to last, it must be built upon a new foundation of lifestyle skills that take time to implement. When we try to change everything at once we end up overwhelmed and onto the next plan. That’s a failure of process- not our ability to change.

So what exactly is failing forward when it comes to lifestyle change? It’s realizing your why and holding it tight regardless of how many times you “fall off the wagon.” Falling only requires a course correction not a complete abandonment of the plan. I tell my clients the most important concept in lifestyle change is consistency. Weight loss can look many different ways to different people but the one constant is that we just keep going. When we hold onto the idea of improving our health and the reasons why it is important to us, the “falling off” is just learning. We then continue to tweak (over and over again) until our new lifestyle feels clear and simple. Simple; but never easy. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it!

Tracy Fisher, Health Coach

Brenda has lost 100lbs and has been able to keep it off for three years now with the help of Group23 and the Weight and Lifestyle Program.

Brenda and I started working together in 2011. She was and still is in a stressful job that demands a lot of her time and energy. When we first met each other, she was frustrated with her weight and most importantly, how her weight was keeping her from doing the things she loved. Much like the people we work with, her weight gain story is complex and unique. One of these reasons was a torn meniscus and fully ruptured ACL. Nobody plans to be injured but injury can create a different pathway in our lives. Brenda wanted to see if she could change this trajectory. We knew that weight loss and weight management would be key to the lifespan of her knee. That was our challenge: How do we lose weight and keep it off for a lifetime, particularly with injury and the dynamism of life? Here’s her #RiseAbove interview.

You’ve been able to keep the weight off for 3 years now, what would you attribute to your ability to maintain your weight loss? For me, it was finding new activities that my heart, body, and mind loved, and accepting that I had to adjust my food intake to reflect who I am today (and all along my journey). I fell in love with cycling along my journey and have come to realize that activity is key to maintaining my weight.

Do you think you could shed a little light on how you were able to lose the weight? I have lost more than 50% of my weight over the last 12 years. I have learned what types of food my body accepts along this journey, how I had to adjust my food intake, and for me the importance of daily activity. Once I learned what was best for my body and desires, I focused on what I will eat versus what I shouldn’t eat. This process made me feel free versus restricted.

Part of your weight management story has been your love for cycling. Why do you love to cycle and where along your health journey did that start to become a highlight? I started outdoor cycling in 2014 based on advice from my physio relating to my significant knee damage. Outdoor riding is just so scenic and so calming and there are just so many lovely riders who are motivators. So, it became my biggest source of encouragement along my weight loss journey.

What advice would you give to anyone that is starting their lifestyle change? My advice is to accept that the journey can be long, but along that journey discovering new things that motivate the heart, body, and mind creates a brand new trajectory. As we all age in life, we know that change will always happen. So accepting and adapting to change helps us along our new path forward.

What do you think will always be a struggle in your health journey? I would say my biggest struggle is seeing others struggle. Life is dynamic, and the struggles appear sometimes when we least expect it. I can’t predict all the things that may come my way such as injury as an example, so I think what will always be a struggle is managing new barriers that may want my weight to creep up.

Brenda now has new goals and weight management will always be in the background, but she wants to climb new mountains. She challenges herself in her exercise. Her focus on pounds and body fat percentage has changed to power in watts, time in training, and being the queen of the mountain in some of her rides. She lived her way into right thinking, she didn’t think her way into right living. She never planned to be a cyclist at the beginning of her journey, but through the process of losing weight she learned more about herself and realized new passions!

To learn more about how to start your #RiseAbove weight management journey, click learn more below.

Dr. Daniela Porter joins the Group23 team as our first ever physiatrist. Read more on physiatry below in an exclusive interview.

What is a physiatrist? 

A Physiatrist is a specialist doctor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Physiatrists may hold many different medical roles, either in a hospital environment or in a community clinic setting. Physiatrists treat patients with physical impairments or disabilities affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Physiatrists work to maximize patients’ independence, restore functional ability, and improve quality of life. A Physiatrist has completed a university degree (usually 4 years), medical school (usually 4 years), and medical residency (5 years), plus additional subspecialty fellowship training in some cases. I have a Specialization in Sport and Exercise Medicine from the Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic at Western University in London, Ontario.

What does a physiatrist do at Group23 Sports Medicine ?

My practice includes Musculoskeletal Medicine (sports injuries and beyond) and Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. I work collaboratively with the Sport Medicine physicians to formulate comprehensive, patient-centered treatment plans. 

What are the most common issues you treat? 

The most common issues I treat are concussions, neck and back pain, and osteoarthritis.

What made you decide to pursue Physiatry? 

! started my training in Orthopedic Surgery and unfortunately suffered an injury that prevented me from continuing my surgical training. I ended up being a Physiatry patient, and eventually a Physiatrist. It was the proverbial silver lining!

 What is the most rewarding part of your job? 

The most rewarding part of my job is helping people to reach their best quality of life.