Hello fellow boot campers! My name is Erin Bieker and like you, I have chosen to embark on this journey of a hot bod. I asked to write a blog post because I felt like I had that “oh, now I get it” moment this past weekend. Hopefully my story helps some of you.
I am no stranger to the healthy living world. I’ve run 4 half marathons, numerous 5Ks and lift weights like the best of them. I understand the eating clean mentality – more protein, less C.R.A.P. (carbonated drinks, refined sugar, artificial flavors and coloring, processed foods) and more F.O.O.D. (fruits & veggies, organic protein, omega 3s, drink water)…(p.s. I didn’t come up with these and I’m not sure who did). However, the one aspect of weight loss I hadn’t figured out was the mental aspect. I *know* all of the things I need to do, it’s just implementing them. That was before I had my “ah-ha!” moment this past weekend. Let me explain…
With summer fast approaching, I did what we all do – the dreaded bathing suit shopping. I was in Target on Sunday and moseyed down by the clothes, looking for some lake shorts. Since I was going to be trying clothes on, I figured why not…grab a new suit as well. So, I go into the dressing room, shimmy out of my clothes and put on the first suit. It was like a snake eating a small rabbit. When and how did that back cleavage get there (and can a girl get a little of that to go up front…please and thank you)? I stood there for a moment, thankful for those two mirrors that allowed for the full 360. Note I said “thankful.” This is the “ah-ha!” moment I’ve been waiting for. I *know* I’ve been carrying the extra “baby fat” (not sure if it is mine from 27 years ago and I never outgrew it, or if it was from the two babies I gave birth to 5 and 2-½ years ago). It wasn’t until that day that I realized if I truly want a change in my body, its time to let go of the comfort food I’ve had a death grip on. I knew I had two choices – head directly to my beloved Cheddar Cheez-its and cookies OR head to the fruits and vegetable section. I could continue to feed those feelings of “I already have the back cleavage, might as well make it a B cup,” or, I could DO something.
So, I have decided that I am going to take it one day at a time. One meal, one workout at a time. I not only have to work hard at the workouts, but I also have to work hard at the mental game. I am not going to look at the next 11 weeks, living in fear and doubt that I can do this. I am looking at my next meal – what are my options and how am I going to CHOOSE to make a good one. I have a friend who tells her 5 year old daughter to “make good choices” everyday before she leaves for school. I am adapting that mantra when it comes to my new lifestyle. Make good choices with food. Make good choices with extra time. Stop comparing myself to the awesome women on this site who can do 25 burpees in a minute while I was dying at 18. Instead, look to them for inspiration.
I am turning to my fitmixer community to help me reach this new goal. If you would like to become friends on myfitnesspal.com, I’m ErinBieker721, or if you want to email me, you can reach me at erin.bieker@scientificdrilling.com (no spam please 
). Let’s unite as the beautiful group we are and celebrate our successes together.
-Erin Bieker
Hey Erin…thank you for sharing yourself! I am in the same boat…I am very aware it's a waste of my workout when I eat CRAP (Love that acronym) yet I would do it 2 or 3 days out of the week. Duh. The community that the Fitmixer bootcamp provides was very appealing to me. None of my co-workers or friends do any sort of exercise or working out so I'm kind of on an island. Nobody relates to my lifting schedule or my clean eating. It's so nice to have the connection with all of you!
I use Daily Burn Tracker instead of myfitnesspal otherwise I'd surely be your friend.
Keep up the great work. Your positive attitude is awesome!
Loved that you shared and you have a great outlook on the whole experience
Great post Erin! Thanks for sharing your ah ha moment! I eat well all week then fall off huge on the weekend so that's something I'm trying to work on. I need to learn to reward myself with activites versus food.
[...] We have received our first blog post from participant Erin B.! Be sure to read all about her “Ah-ha!” moment, here! [...]
This is awesome! Those ah-ha moments are what we all need in order to make a difference. Good luck to you on this journey!
Thanks so much for sharing, Erin!! Isn’t it crazy how we know all the right things to do and all the right things to eat, yet we still make choices that don’t help us, at all. What power you have to reccognize that and change it! I can’t wait to see your progress over the boot camp. We’re all here for you! In the same boat!
Erin, I am so glad you posted a blog. I know so many people feel the same way. So often we sabotage ourselves by thinking that if we eat "crap" we have blown it and it's not worth continuing our quest for a healthy lifestyle. Here's the real deal, we all have days that we feel like we kind of blew it, but the key is to get back on top of the next day. ONE day does not mess it all up. It's so important to look at our eating patterns and workouts as a WHOLE for the week. The main goal is to have more awesome meals, snacks, and workouts than not-so-awesome meals, snacks, and no workouts
I find for me the hardest is comparing myself to others. I see the scores others got on the fit test and my first thought was I suck. Ha! Then I reminded myself that we are all different and one day, my hardwork will pay off and ya know, I really don't suck!
I am so glad you(and all of us really) are choosing to DO something about it!
Hey Erin, I'm glad you wrote about comparing to others because I think it's something we all/most can relate to. I know I can. I am constantly comparing myself to others, and I am really trying to step away from that because we really are so different. We all have our own individual struggles and insecurities and I can tell that this bootcamp isn't just about eating better and getting workouts- it's about changing our thought processes which I love! I'm not sure how to friend someone on myfitnesspal (I use the app) but when I figure it out I'll add you as a friend for sure
Yay us for changing physically & mentally on this 12 week journey! 
I think I have found my ah-ha moment too! Lately I have been much better about declining a treat, because I know that in 10 weeks my results will be different if I do.. I have never felt that "just one treat" or "skipping one workout" can actually make a difference, but I know that one turns into two turns into all the time.. so I need to curb it NOW.
Hey, Erin! Wonnnnderful post. First of all, you are a great writer and I was cracking up at your post the whole time–from the snake eating a rabbit to the back cleavage upgrading to a B cup. You’re a riot. And second, I sooo know what you mean. My mom (Sue, who is also doing this boot camp) and I talk about how the ONLY way people will take charge of their weight loss is if they have their OWN ah-ha moment! I have had mine, a few times–unfortunately–and it is exactly what is required to get set on the fast track to better health and fitness. Sooo many times we (my mom and I) will try to get our family members to do a fitness challenge with us, but they just haven’t had that light bulb go off–or their “ah-ha moment” as you put it–and we realize they have to have that for themselves if they want to change. Thanks sooo much for writing this! Can’t wait to see your amazing progress!
[...] My “Ah-ha!” Moment by Erin Bieker, Boot Camp participant [...]