See if you can relate to this story about Eloise, one of my Code Red Rebels.

Eloise is a mom of three beautiful children, a wife, a gardener, and a Registered Nurse. 

While she’s never been “skinny,” Eloise has struggled more with her weight since having kids. It’s been awhile since she’s felt healthy or content with her body. In 2008 she was a size 8. Now she’s a size 18.

“The story I have told myself for years is that I don’t have time to lose weight,” Eloise shared with me. “First, I was in college (again) to pursue my bachelors. Then, my husband was diagnosed with the serious chronic disease Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Then my son was diagnosed with T1D at age 2 (it’s genetic). Now, I am back in college for my masters. I am pretty sure I could write a book with everything our family has been through.”

But the real story is how emotionally and physically exhausted Eloise is.

From having a medically complex child, to lack of sleep and horrible eating habits, Eloise was “making me feel worse,” as she put it. 

“I rarely got more than 5 hours of sleep, I drank Diet Coke and coffee like water ‘for energy’. I have had severe flares of joint pain for the last 5 years. I had such severe neck and upper back pain that I could not function. I hit a new low when my husband brought me to the ER for abdominal pain and nausea, they determined it was acid reflux causing my symptoms,” she said.

Now get this.

Eloise is an RN.

She told me she KNEW what she was doing was unhealthy.

“Yet, caffeine and running ragged trying to be supermom/nurse/wife is glorified while my health suffered,” she admitted.

Eloise joined a 10 Pound Takedown and started before the challenge even began. “I am down 7 pounds. My joints hurt less and my mind is much clearer. I think this will work well for me. So happy to have given myself this opportunity, even if I am busy- I deserve to feel healthy.”

Eloise’s realization that she deserves to feel healthy, busy or not, is SO powerful.

I can’t even tell you how many moms I see and talk to who put all their needs on the back burner and glorify the fact they care for everyone else.

What’s more, Eloise thought she didn’t have time to lose weight and take care of herself. But because SHE didn’t make the time, her body MADE time for pain, obesity, and problems that put her in the ER.

Yet less than two weeks after she decided to make time for herself and live the Code Red Lifestyle™, she’s down 7 pounds (so far), her joint pain is subsiding, and her mental clarity is MUCH sharper.

Whether you realize it or not, you’re making time for something. If it’s not your health, it’s your obesity and disease.

To start making time to lose the weight and feel better, use the link below to join the next 10 Pound Takedown.