Working with Adrianne was secretly part of my self sabotage pattern...
My life was stuck in neutral. I would load up on "self improvement" projects, get overwhelmed, and never complete any of them.
Unconsciously, signing up for coaching with Adrianne secretly part of this self sabotage pattern. Adrianne caught on quick. Whenever I tried to give myself lots of homework at the end of a session, she would make me break it down into bite sized chunks, and pick only one or two action items so I could succeed.
Adrianne helped me realize that my pattern of overwhelm and failure was really a way I was keeping myself safe. Instead of working directly on the goals I came in with, she helped me drill to the root of the issue-my fears around maintaining boundaries.
With her help, I discovered the risks I'd been avoiding, and why: I was terrible at boundaries! I'd drop everything whenever mom called on me. I was afraid to ask my ex-boyfriend to return my own car, and had even rationalized to myself that I really didn't need a car, even though I lived in the suburbs!
I learned how failing at diets and staying overweight helped minimize the people who "saw" me. Tying up my time with personal projects likewise minimized my time for a social life. All of this meant fewer people in my life to want something from me, which meant fewer people (I wouldn't be able) to say no to. And, as the core of it all, Adrinane helped me discover that i was terrified to say no or even have my own needs were because I believed that would mean I was a bitch, a bad person.
While we worked on updating my core beliefs, something magic happened...
The pounds dropped. I got my car back from my ex. While we've touched on these specific topics in sessions and homework, the real change came from just working with my deeper beliefs.
Working on my beliefs first was like spraying Teflon on the path to reaching my goals....all the friction disappeared.
Ok, maybe not ALL. Mom is still a work in progress, but I'm learning to say "not now" when saying yes to her requests will screw up my day. And not just to her! I'm more social. It's easier to relax and just be myself.
I'd absolutely recommend Adrianne. I'm even buying my mom a coaching package to help with her own weight loss goals!
Can Adrianne help anyone? I don't know. I think in order for this stuff to work, you have to be willing to face your own truths. But, if you're willing to do that, I definitely believe Adrianne is the coach for you.
-Renata Ramírez (ballroom dancer & virtual assistant) Tampa FL
It was like I was talking to a myth-buster catered to who I was.
At first, I was hesitant to do any type of coaching. Setting boundaries was hard for me in past mentorships. I was a "yes" person for years. I didn't want to get sucked back into that.
Years ago I knew Adrianne as a personal friend. During lunches and occasional calls, she really put things into perspective and uplifted me. How? “What if we think about it this way?”
It was like I was talking to a myth-buster catered to who I was. I knew she was really passionate about putting the right things into her body, and later found out she was a health coach too. She had mentioned that she did not only health coaching, but also life coaching. Yet at first, I was hesitant to do any type of coaching. Setting boundaries was hard for me in past mentorships. I was a "yes" person for years. I didn't want to get sucked back into that.
Some years later, I decided to hire Adrianne on after some time as a part of my personal improvement team. I knew she would be great just from a few interactions with her.
We worked together for at least a year and a half. A break, and I’ve recently started working with her again.
I filled out her intake form, which included three goals which guides through the reasons and the obstacles and desired outcome. To me, the three goals seemed separate. Within the first three sessions, she was able to reveal that they all really intermingled. So when we worked on one, we were chipping away at the other two.
I was having trouble with fear of getting my own place, fear of leaving others “behind,” issues with setting boundaries, and food issues.
Adrianne was so patient throughout the many (probably very unique) obstacles we had to dodge. Even I didn't expect them all to pop up.
I was very hesitant to allow her to enter the food realm, as I had had mentorships through my college and young adult years who were so strict that it sent me into very intense fear about eating the wrong food, to the point where I couldn't even swallow food or look at it for periods of time. so, it was a very big deal for me to entrust this part of my life to her.
Adrianne was so patient throughout the many (probably very unique) obstacles we had to dodge. Even I didn't expect them all to pop up. It was pretty embarrassing, but knowing she was there as also my life coach helped me work through the health parts. Food is everywhere and involved in everything, so it is important. But what we had to do was first break through another threshold.
Throughout the process of the education and food centered discussions, (again, very hard for me,) some work was done that reached a deeper issue. Adrianne helped me work through relationships in general, learning how to set boundaries.
Learning how to set boundaries and be comfortable in that is the most important thing I learned with interpersonal relationships. I feel my relationships have blossomed, and I've subtly been able to avoid situations and relationships that might not be good for me without much heartache.
Even the residual effect of health and life coaching throughout my year break from the work brought on some very liberating freedom. I don't squirm quite as much when someone tells me I "shouldn't be eating that!" I don't "clap back" either, but I can kind of let it go. (For instance, mom wouldn't let me buy sweets the other day, and I simply laughed. That was it. That's a BIG DEAL.
I've been able to take very big steps in my lie. And it was nice to have someone there to check in with while going through those steps.
Within a year I was in my own (very nice) place. I lost a lot of weight. I learned how to eat clean and healthy, and even learned to cook, lol!
My life is what I've wanted it to be more and more now as a residual effect from these coaching sessions. It's incredible.
Adrianne has been able to weave in and out of work, for a more well-rounded effect. Sometimes to fix something, beating around the bush just isn't going to work. Working with Adrianne, you can't really say anything "wrong." It's a really safe space.
One thing I really liked about her was that if I had a problem navigating situations with anyone in and out of work and needed to work through it, she was really good at navigating without judgment of me or any person. It was so nice to be able to be open and free without worrying about saying anything “wrong.”
Therapy has it’s place. But these sessions are in-depth – catered to the person without the degrading labels of the DSM-5 - life changer sessions.
I do put work into it, but sometimes it feel like I don't and it still works.
The only other thing I have to say is it’s magic. You look back a year later and somehow those goals are reached. Granted, I do put work into it, but sometimes it feels like I don’t, and it still works. Totally recommend 100%.
With Adrianne, there are a lot of "aha" moments, and no shame. I can't wait to see what's going to happen next!
-Courtney O. (musician) Chicago, IL
- The Real Deal.
*mic drop*
-Alyson P. (burlesque dancer & attorney) Portland OR
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