It's This Way.

The Losing Coach likens the experience of a woman's weight struggle to a P.O.W. camp.  And that is exactly what it is like.  You feel like a prisoner, completely imprisoned and trapped inside a body you can't get out of.  When I was 220 lbs, I intuitively knew, no matter, no way, no how, no matter what I did right now at this moment, I couldn't be thin tomorrow.  And it was the overwhelming frustration of that truth that paralyzed me and kept me inside this prison.  But I eventually took one leap of faith and got out, and I'm here to tell you "It's this way."

How did I get out?  I'll be honest with you, I didn't know at the time, that's why it was a real leap of faith.  When you are imprisoned in a camp for so long, you don't know where you are or what route will lead to freedom.  I knew the risks and dangers in leaving the camp; I didn't know what was out there, what wild animals would attack, or what storms would hit.  I would be completely alone to fend for myself, no guarantee of food, water, or shelter.  But I knew if I stayed, I would die.  I asked a friend to come with me.  She refused.  So, I waited till the right timing, it was "Do or Die!" and then all alone, secretly, and silently crawled beneath the fence to face the dark night alone.  Then I bolted out of there like a bat out of hell and ran as fast as I could through the jungle.

I'm honestly telling you, I didn't know the route in such unfamiliar territory.  I heard bullets flying overhead and voices calling me back.  Yet as I continued to keep my eye on the freedom I longed for, I pressed forward; I stayed low, and  the clearing got wider and wider, the voices dimmed, and darkness turned into light.  I weathered a few storms and survived to making it to complete freedom and safety.  I got out.  Unknowingly to me at the time, I found the route to freedom!  Some say I was a pioneer.  Some say I got very lucky.  Some say it was divinely inspired.  But I got out and now I knew the way out, a safe way out, and held the map to this route.  What happened next is the magic of The Losing Coach story.

When Erin came along, I asked her if she would like me to help her get out.  She said "No.  I'm fine." as she had tried so many times before to escape, and had come to accept her imprisonment as her lot in life.  But then I promised her.  "I can help you."  See, I knew the way out, so I could promise her.  She said no again.  But I heard her heart screaming "YES!"  and I said in a very quiet voice, "It's this way."  Simply by hearing my voice "Trust me, it's this way", she too, crawled under the fence by herself onto the same escape route.  The journey was similar and I was there to say, "Erin, stay low, the bullets won't hit you."   "Erin, do not pay attention to the voices calling you back."  "Erin, don't worry, the storm will pass."  "Erin, the clearing gets wider, trust me, the light is coming soon."  Erin followed and Erin found freedom.  After she did, she looked at me and she said "Shelley, what you have done, what you have found, this is the path to freedom!  This is the way!  This path is one every woman can take to get out and get out safely.  You have to go back and help as many women as we can!  This is your calling." 

Here at The Losing Coach, I will go back for ANY woman that wants out.  Just listen to my voice, "It's this way..."

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