Life With Tess

If you’ve been eating all over the place lately and you can feel that you need to get back into structure, this is for you.

Most people will look at these two pictures and immediately look at the stomach.

As her coach, I don’t. I look at the whole picture.

I look at where she’s losing body fat. I look at changes around the waist and midsection. I look at how her clothes sit. I look at whether she’s retaining muscle as her body becomes smaller. And then I compare what I’m seeing with the things a photograph cannot tell me ;her measurements, weight trend, nutrition, movement, strength, sleep, consistency and how she’s actually feeling.

Because a transformation photo is evidence of progress, not the entire story of progress.

This is also why I tell women not to become obsessed with one body part.

Your body doesn’t receive an instruction that says, “Okay, this week let’s remove fat from the lower belly.” 😅

Fat loss happens across the body, and different areas change at different rates. Sometimes the place you’re watching most closely is actually the last place you notice a dramatic difference.

What you can control is the environment you create for change:

✅Nourish yourself well.
✅Control your portions.
✅Strength train.
✅Walk.
✅Sleep.
✅Recover.

Repeat.

Then give your body enough time and consistency to respond.

The difference between these two photographs wasn’t created by one perfect week. It was created by enough ordinary days done well.

That’s the work. That’s the transformation. 💚

FRIDAY CHECK IN

Give your wellness this week a score out of 10. No explanation needed. Just a score.

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬:

Eating clean and eating for weight loss are not the same thing.

You can eat nutritious, balanced meals every day and still maintain, or even gain weight if your portions don't support a calorie deficit.

Food quality matters. Quantity matters too.

If your goal is to eat healthier, focus on the quality of your meals.If your goal is weight loss, you also have to pay attention to how much you're eating.

You don't necessarily need to obsess over calories, but you do need a portion system that supports your goal.

Healthy eating asks: “What am I eating?”

Weight loss also asks: “How much?”

Same healthy foods. Different portions. Different outcomes. ❤️

Results are exciting. But I’m increasingly more interested in what someone has to do repeatedly to create them.

This wasn’t one perfect week. It was ordinary decisions made often enough to become visible.

Knowing what to do and consistency in doing it will forever be the cheat code 🫶🏽

What’s harder for you: eating well Monday–Friday or surviving the weekend? 🤔