's motd April 28, 2010

[Guest guest]

YOU KNOW I UNDERSTAND

Wednesday, 28 April 2010

When I was very young, I wanted to be a priest. I loved all the priests who served our church, St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans' historic French Quarter. I'd see them several times a week at mass and although I don't think they understood me so much...they were always very kind and loving to me.

I remember watching people get in line for confession. They would kneel in the confessional then confess their sins to the priest. (As I got older, I spent a lot of time in those confessionals!)Well, I didn't end up becoming a priest and I don't hear confessions. (Not in the classic sense, anyway.) But I do sit, one-on-one talking to a lot of people about their weight. I've always loved talking and listening to people. I'm sure my parents helped nurture that trait in me.My folks were fascinating people. They were both big readers and great listeners. We talked about lots of subjects as we sat having dinner. I loved listening to them as they discussed all the things they'd done during the day. And they'd always ask my brother, Lenny and I what we'd done in school that day, too.

When I sold those sugary pralines on the streets of the French Quarter when I was a kid, I'd often get into conversations with the tourists who bought them from me. I loved listening to their stories. When I moved to New York City and worked as a waiter at the Auto Pub Restaurant, I met so many people from all over the world. I always took time to listen to the stories they had to tell me. In fact, I learned a lot from listening to them.Years later, when I opened Slimmons, my exercise studio in Los Angeles, it became like my own little confessional for others. (Looks like I almost became a priest, after all!) Besides teaching my exercise classes at Slimmons, I always taught a Project Me Class. During Project Me, before class, I invite my students to tell me about the happenings in their lives and where they relate to their weight-loss efforts. As they share with me, I sit, look right into their eyes and sometimes hold their hands. And as I listen, I soak up the emotions in every word that pour from their hearts. As they speak, I don't say a word...I just listen.

And do you know why I'm such a good listener? It's because...I understand. When people talk to me about their weight, their stories are so very similar to my own. See, I've been through the eating disorders they're facing. I've experienced what it's like to be obese. I've felt the same way many of them are feeling right now. And I'm glad...so glad that so many of them trust me. After I listen to their experiences, I always give them the best advice I can offer. I tell them that there is hope and that that they can do it. They can win this fight with their weight. They often ask how I've kept my own weight off over the years. And I'm always happy to offer them some of my personal tips for success. Not only do I listen to people in person but I also listen to the millions who send me E-mails. And by the way, you can be a good "listener," as you read.What I hope...after all of my listening, is that people will finally listen...to me. Because I will always tell them the truth. My goal is to help them learn to eat right, exercise faithfully and motivate them to stay on track for the rest of their lives.

And who listens to me? Well, I hope that you do!Love,