Experience Freedom in a Structured Program, by Bonnie Pfiester from YourHub TCPalm

One of Austria’s premiere female authors, Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach, once said “As far as your self-control goes, as far goes your freedom.”  We live in a world where self-control is probably one of our biggest issues – especially when it comes to food and fitness. We may be free to eat and live however we want, but eventually we are in bondage to our overweight, out of shape bodies.

Ironically, in the land of the free, millions of people are more than willing to give up their freedom at the chance of losing weight and getting in shape. Everyone who has seen Biggest Loser or Fat March knows ahead of time what to expect, yet it doesn’t stop people from trying out for weight loss reality TV.

I saw this kind of willingness at our Boot Camp kick off event. Eighty women showed up for a day of intense boot camp style training.  Clearly, it was training like they’ve never experienced before. From teens to seniors, everyone gave it their all. Several women exercised with tears flowing down their cheeks, a display of determination I had never seen before.  These women wanted a change and they were ready to do whatever it took to get rid of their ball and chain once and for all. 

Why is it people are so willing to go to such extreme measures? I believe everyone wants to lose weight. Everyone wants to be a success. Unfortunately, the same freedom we are given to succeed is also the same freedom that allows many of us to fail. This is why people look for opportunities to almost be “forced” to succeed.

We also need support structure. You may not need a program as extreme as boot camp, but you may need some kind of support system. It is too easy to get discouraged when you are alone. Hopelessness can set in and overshadow even the greatest success. However, when you have support, you have better chances of pulling through in the down times. It doesn’t matter how strong you are – we all have our down times.

I even need support. There are many times I wouldn’t run by myself if my mom didn’t run with me. There are numerous times I would get caught up in work and miss a workout if I didn’t have a workout partner I was accountable to. This is exactly why support groups, personal trainers and group programs are so effective.

Camaraderie is a powerful force. I’ve already seen it begin to grow in the beginning stages of our boot camp. People need each other more than we want to admit. Although you may have to give up a little of your freedom as you share your journey with others or follow someone’s lead, there is no better feeling than experiencing the freedom of healthy living.

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Video clips from Bonnie's recent diet talk:

Get the Book

If you were unable to do Longevity's Boot Camp, you can still get help with our workbook. Longevity's Boot Camp Workbook*, written by fitness columnist Bonnie Pfiester, addresses motivation, commitment, sabotage, bad habits, diet, exercise and so much more. The workbook also offers a 6 week journal section to track your calories and exercise routine.

Since Bonnie believes that getting healthy is a process, Bonnie took a practical approach by creating an interactive book which asks the readers specific questions designed to help them through their weigh loss journey. "My desire is that this book helps people 'get' healthy living once and for all. I don't want to just give people information - there's plenty of that out there, I want them to truly have a better understanding of why they have battled their weight all their life and how they can control it. The more they understand what they have to do, the more apt they are to do it and the more successful they will be. To me, it's about connecting the dots."  Bonnie Pfiester