Rita Ott:

Sure. So my name is Rita Ott. I live in Corcoran, Minnesota, which is a small rural suburb of Minneapolis. Have been here since 2009 and have really enjoyed it. We’re out in the country a little bit and have a couple acres and really enjoy our space of where we’re at and what we have. So I’m married. My husband’s Leo. We have a chocolate lab, Molly. We don’t have any kids, but we’re doing just good. I’ve got a several nieces that take up some of my time when I get to visit them back in Kansas, where I’m originally from.

Carole Freeman:

All right. Excellent. Welcome. A chocolate lab. That’s my mom’s favorite dog.

Rita Ott:

Oh, they’re wonderful.

Carole Freeman:

Yeah. Well let’s go back to before you even knew who I was. What kind of struggles, what were the things, the challenges that you were having as far as your weight and your health that were basically first thing you think about waking up in the morning and take us back a little bit on that journey.

Rita Ott:

So as I think back, I would say probably going all the way back to high school, I think I have always struggled with my weight. So it’s kind of always been a constant, there in my life, and I would say probably 10 years ago, roughly when I moved to Minneapolis, I figured out the exercise piece and I started exercising on a regular basis, which I had never done, but it still didn’t… That really didn’t impact my weight. I mean, I felt better, but I still wasn’t losing weight. And then last year I decided at the beginning of the year, because December of 2020 was my 50th birthday, at the beginning of the year, I’m like, “Okay, this is my year. By the time I turn 50, I’m going to have this figured out.”

Rita Ott:

So I started keto on my own and quickly, on my own, I lost 15 pounds. And then I just stayed there for six, seven months, and just couldn’t figure it out, and it was frustrating. I couldn’t figure out. It didn’t matter what I… What I tried, it didn’t seem to work. So it was getting closer and closer to that birthday and I’m like, “I got to figure something out.” So I’ve had that before with coaches, whether it be on fitness or on financial, and I’m like, “Okay, let me see what I can find.” So one day I just decided and I started searching on the internet and found Carole and decided I’m going to go for it and give it a try. I’m so glad that I did.

Carole Freeman:

Excellent. Excellent. So it sounds like the struggles you were having had you searching out a coach to get you better results then were just like, “Okay, I lost a little weight. I have a glimpse of keto could be this amazing thing, but why is it not working for me like I see it working for everyone else?” Is that kind of…

Rita Ott:

That’s it, yeah. I couldn’t figure out the nuances of it. And then of course then the frustration sets in and then it’s like, “Well why am I even bothering because it’s not working, but yet I know that’s what I want to do.” I was reaching to that point where I’m like, “I’ll just give up,” and I didn’t want to do that.

Carole Freeman:

Excellent. So what was it then, we have our first consultation where we kind of talk about, is it going to be a good fit? What was it that clicked for you that made you decide, “Yeah, I think this is what I need.” Do you remember what that was, or…

Rita Ott:

One, I think it was just your energy and you’re so positive and you’re like, “Absolutely. I know your story. I know I can help you.” And even then it seemed like it was going to be easy, and not easy in that it’s an easy journey, but easy that the process seemed easy. And then I think as I started to learn more, I think what I like about it, there’s a process and there’s rules and guidelines, but yet there’s freedom within those rules and guidelines too, and that you’re not, “Well, here’s your 30 day meal plan. You have to follow it exactly to the T.” Because that was stressful to me, when you would look at that. So being able to have that freedom and to, “Here’s my guidelines, and if I can just stay within those guidelines and make adjustments in there, what works for me,” that felt freeing to me.

Rita Ott:

Just the whole program, there’s just those little tidbits that I was missing that filled in the blanks to make it easier for me to be successful. I think the other thing that’s surprising, I thought I was doing good and I was eating all these vegetables, but I didn’t… I knew, I mean, I’m a food scientist, so I know vegetables have carbs, but I didn’t realize how many carbs I was getting based on the amount of vegetables I was eating. So I thought I was doing the right thing, but it wasn’t working, obviously.

Carole Freeman:

Yeah, that’s a big challenge people have is that in past diets we’re always told vegetables are a free food, so they don’t really register that we’ll have to like eat a smaller portion of vegetables. That seems a little crazy for a lot of people to wrap their head around. And I talked to so many people, they’re like, “I’m not eating any carbs at all.” And then it’s like, “Oh, but they’re having maybe like 80 grams of carbs a day, but they feel like it’s none.”

Rita Ott:

That was surprising to me.

Carole Freeman:

And I’m glad too that you see that freedom within the structure too, because that’s my goal is to help everyone find a way of doing this that fits their unique personality, their likes and tastes, their lifestyle, their goals and things like that too. So I’m glad that you got that, that it’s easy within the structure and also you have freedom.

Rita Ott:

Right. And I think that makes it easier and that allows you to have ownership. And like you said, it’s not somebody telling you have to do ABC, which sometimes that can be hard. Naturally you want to deviate from that some.

Carole Freeman:

Excellent. So you completed our fast track program and then you stayed on in our crew, which is the membership after that. And also you’ve graduated the point where you’re supporting others as a peer support coach now, which I love. So share with us, what have your results been over this journey? We’ve been together maybe four or five-

Rita Ott:

Almost five months. Yeah, almost almost five months. The time’s gone by so fast. It’s been great. The best part, I’ve lost 36 pounds. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve measured, but at that time I’ve lost a little over 35 inches. Which is just huge. So that’s great. But then I think the other surprising thing for me is the other little subtle things of just how I feel I’m sleeping through the night. I don’t wake up with leg cramps like what I used to. I always thought that was because I was going to the gym, and I just said, “Oh well, that’s part of it.” I don’t have that anymore. Which is just amazing and awesome. So it’s all those little things of how you just feel good. I feel I have so much energy. The last month, there’s been probably every week, probably at least two days a week, I’ve gone and done like two workouts in a day. And I don’t struggle with energy of being able to do that. And I’m not hungry. It seems to be working and it makes me feel good, so I enjoy that.

Carole Freeman:

I love that like. So much energy that you’re like, “Oh, let’s just go for a second workout today.”

Rita Ott:

Yeah. Let’s go for it. Earlier this week I was going to do that and I didn’t feel it, so I’m like, “I’m just going to do the one.” So that’s nice where you are able to learn to listen to your body of what you want and what you can do and what might not work today, but can work tomorrow.

Carole Freeman:

Wonderful. So here’s where things take a turn. We’ve been talking about the positives in all this now. So let’s take an imaginary journey that where would you be now had you not found me?

Rita Ott:

Oh, wow. I don’t know. I don’t know if I would have just given up or if I would have to struggle but I think back, every day was like… It was just this inner battle of I know I wanted to be good and I want to try and do the right thing and eat right, but then it doesn’t matter, so who cares, so I’m just going to go have something that I know I shouldn’t. And it was just that constant mental drain of that that internal discussion every day of trying to figure out what are you going to fix for a meal. That’s all gone. I don’t know where I’d be. I don’t know if I would have… I would have continued to exercise, but I feel like I’d probably just be stuck in the same place, and then probably just from emotional and mental I probably would probably be in a worse spot than where I was. That would be my guess.

Carole Freeman:

Well thankfully that’s not where you’re at.

Rita Ott:

And the thing now is I feel like for the first time… I still have quite a ways to go on my journey and more weight I want to lose, but this is the first time I can see that in the future and that I have confidence and belief that I’m going to get there. I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but I have that confidence and belief now that I will… I now know what I need to do to get there and sustain it. I don’t know that I’ve had that before, because I’ve been like everybody else. I’ve tried tons of different diets and have lost weight’ and then you gain it back and gain more than what you lost, which is always frustrating. But this is the first time I think, I’m like, “Wow, I know I’ve got this.” That’s exciting.

Carole Freeman:

I love that. That was going to be my next question is what do you see on the horizon for yourself? So you’re already synced up with what you’re going. What other side benefits, other things that you didn’t expect to get better? Maybe the influence you’ve had on other people in your lives or your family? The ripples of healthiness that have changed around you too.

Rita Ott:

Oh wow, that’s a good question. My husband is starting. He’s been slow to take this on, but he’s trying and we’re going to get there, so I’m excited about that and that possibility of him giving this a try. I know my family has been excited for me, my friends. They’re just super excited, and if anything, they give me more motivation now than ever. And not that I would, but they’re not going to let me fall off. They’re just so supportive and excited. I’m really excited since I’ve been working from home since March of last year, so I haven’t seen very many people. So some people have commented, like when they see you on a Zoom call or a Teams call, but I’m excited at one day to when I can go back into the office and see everybody and see everybody’s comments and thoughts. So that’s probably the biggest thing.

Rita Ott:

And then it’s just… I guess it’s fun going out. The biggest thing I was looking forward to is just to… I just want to be able to live life and not think about weight. So I’m on that path and I think about it less and less than where I was. So that’s enjoyable too. It’s just that you don’t have that mental heaviness day in and day out. That was one of my whys and what I was looking for, and I feel like I’m definitely seeing the benefits of that and I know that’s only going to continue. So I’m sure that makes me a better person to be around too.

Carole Freeman:

I love that. That’s so great. Just overall quality of life, confidence, just the freedom of no longer being this heavy lead blanket of constantly consuming your thoughts, your worries and stuff like that too. Yay. I’m so excited and happy for you and congrats on all your success and excited for the future. We’re going to be hanging out for a while longer in the future too.

Rita Ott:

Yep. And I think that’s… I have to admit, I was excited when I joined, but I was also a little bit concerned or skeptical, I’m like, “Okay, what’s this going to be like? And what’s the support level?” And I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Because sometimes you do that and you’re like, “Here’s the information. Here’s what you need to go do. Okay, now go do it.” So I was a little bit worried. I’m like, “Oh, is that what’s going to happen?” There’s so much support through this whole program as long as you take advantage of it. I think that’s huge as well. One you can learn from others, you can see their successes and see what they’re doing. You can learn tips and tricks to help you out. Things that you didn’t even think of.

Rita Ott:

To me, it just keeps you motivated and going. Like I said, I’ve been so pleasantly surprised to have all the support from everybody and directly from you, Carole, we’re on this journey. That’s one of my tips to people is I probably didn’t take advantage of that early enough. I joined the coaching calls, but I waited to reach out with questions until later because I just didn’t know if that was appropriate or if I could do that. So that’s probably been a great surprise and a great benefit as well.

Carole Freeman:

Oh, I love that. I know sometimes people feel conscientious about asking a question, but everything there, and I’m so glad that you feel so supported because I’ve really crafted this in a way that trying to cradle you in support at every turn so you feel like a safety bubble around you that you’re always there and everybody’s cheering you on, but also there for support and tips and tricks, like you said too. So wonderful. Well Rita, any last comments or anything else you’d like to share? Anything else you were hoping I would ask about?

Rita Ott:

No, I don’t think so. I’ve just had such a great experience. I hope I can help others in the future. Another thing that I’ve really enjoyed is that… I did a diet several years ago where I lost quite a bit of weight, but at that one part of it, they’re like, “You need to stop exercising,” because all of that and hormones and exercising it just really makes it more difficult in some ways was their recommendation. And you know what, it worked, I lost weight, but I’ve been able to continue to exercising and do stuff and I haven’t… I’m having to rebuild up some strength, and with losing weight, I’ve lost some of the strength on lifting weights that I had, but I’m not too far off. So that’s also been something that I’ve enjoyed that I’ve been able to continue to do that throughout. And that I didn’t have to cut back or give that up as well. So I think that’s huge too.

Carole Freeman:

Yeah, wonderful. Because I know you’re a big-

Rita Ott:

CrossFit. Yeah, I love it.

Carole Freeman:

I know, because a lot of times people say like, “Oh, you can’t do keto and do CrossFit,” but you’re doing it twice a day now.

Rita Ott:

On some of them, yeah.

Carole Freeman:

Well excellent, Rita. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I know you’re going to touch at least one person and probably lots of people, they’re going to identify with something about your story, that’s going to hit them where they’re going to say, “Oh my gosh, that’s like me, and if Rita can do it, so can I.” So thank you so much for sharing that and inspiring others to get on this healthy journey and get that freedom from constantly worrying about how to lose that weight and just move into a place of feeling amazing and the best decades of your life are ahead of you, so that’s great. Well, thanks everyone for watching. If you’ve enjoyed this, if you’re inspired by Rita’s story, comment below and share with us, what was it that moved you, that you can identify with there? Give us a thumbs up, subscribe to hear more of these success stories too. So thanks for watching and we’ll see you soon. Bye.

Rita Ott:

Okay, thanks. Bye.