Transforming Turmoil Into Triumph

Part One of a Three Part Series

by Guest Blogger Dianne Orwig

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I have a little story to tell.

Actually, it’s not that little.

It’s a story about Transformation, not just the website by that name, but real transformation, the life changing kind. It’s a story that’s been cooking for a long time now. 

In the past few years, I’ve had a chance to step back and really contemplate what true transformation is all about.  As a success coach, writer, and fitness expert for the past eleven years, transformation has been my only focus – my specialty actually – so I’ve had plenty of time to think this one through.

Reflection is a good thing, so is timing, and I always felt confident that, eventually, the opportunity would come, in a sort of full-circle, cathartic way, and I would finally “put it all together.”  I knew that one day a pivotal moment would arrive when I could finally take a bird’s eye view of all the things that have happened – good, bad and in between – and see it for what it really is.

Happily, my friend Michelle has provided a venue for that by creating this blog and I applaud her for having the courage to begin an open dialog here, even at the risk that it could turn into a bit of a bumpy road.  But then I think anyone blogging here knows, this is not about who gets the highest approval rating. It’s not about who’s wrong or who’s right. It’s about knowledge and growth and self-discovery.

So, here I am, sailing high above the clouds, happy and ready to take that 30,000-foot view of all the things that have led me to this point.

Before I start, though, I should warn you: this is not going to be my usual 5-minute read. Those of you familiar with my writing and coaching style know that I generally try to keep things succinct and to the point. But just for today I’m going to indulge in a bit more detail than usual because I believe that, like a puzzle, if a few pieces are missing or misplaced, it can be hard to see the big picture.

And, above all, it’s the big picture view that I want you to come away with.

My hope is when all is said and done, you will see it that way, too.  So I’ll say “thank you” to those of you willing to trudge through the details with me, and to those who wish to skip the middle and jump straight to the main point, and I promise I do have one, to you I say, “God speed.” No matter how you get there, I hope that when you reach the end you will have something new to think about.

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“That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.” – Unknown

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Transformation Part 1 – THE BODY – On July 4, 1999, Independence Day, I found the book Body-for-LIFE. At the time I was living what appeared to be a picture perfect existence: great job, big house, good kids, and a solid marriage. The truth is that it was all “make-believe.”  

Inside, I was dying.

I hated my job, my big house and fancy car did nothing to make me happy, my marriage was on the verge of collapse, and my kids were the only thing that kept me from running for the hills. I was overwhelmed, depressed, and emotionally paralyzed. I honestly didn’t know what was wrong. I just could not get happy, no matter how hard I tried.

There was one thing, however, that I did know for certain: I was powerless, or so it seemed, as long as I was trapped in my soft, pudgy, soccer-mom body, a body that was getting weaker and lumpier by the minute. I knew that before I could tackle any other problem, I had to get the physical part of my life back in order, and that’s exactly what Body-for-LIFE did for me.

In 12 short weeks, from July 20 to October 13, my body completely transformed, and so did everything else in my life.  My focus, my thinking, my mood, my health, even my career – everything turned on a dime. 

Less than two months after mailing my Competitor’s Kit to EAS, I became a certified personal trainer, quit my corporate job of seven years, and went on to become one of the top producing trainers and success coaches in Florida. As a finalist in the Body-for-LIFE Challenge 2000, my story landed in the newspaper and eventually in both the Body-for-LIFE Success Journal (Day 67) and Eating-for-LIFE (page 359). [My last name at the time was Moylan.]

This transformation left me with a deep sense of gratitude toward Bill Phillips, and like so many other followers of BFL, I attributed the majority of my success to the Body-for-LIFE program and its author. In less than 90 days, I completely re-invented myself, and I went on to spend the next eleven years helping thousands of others do the same thing, always giving credit where I felt credit was due.

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Excerpt from Part 2 – to be posted Wednesday, September 29th

Transformation #2 – THE MIND – So it’s no surprise that I was pretty excited  when one day I found myself exchanging emails with the man himself, Mr. BP.  At the time, I was coaching BFLers on a popular club message board known as LeanandStrong.com, my screen name being DreamDoerToo.

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10 Responses to Transforming Turmoil Into Triumph

  1. troy says:

    I am looking forward to reading the “rest of the truth”

  2. Rena says:

    I have such respect for each person who has posted a blog thus far. It is done with such truth, authority, integrity and clarity. There is something pristine about the words written here at BeYourOwnOz.com– and it is not only about the content but the intention.

    I look forward to learning more about ourselves and the road to living our best lives from each of you– and with each of you.

  3. Paul B says:

    I too look forward to parts 2 and 3 of your blog Dianne :<)

  4. Paul McMahon says:

    Great to see you blogging here Dianne! … and let me second Rena’s sentiments – I’m really enjoying everyone’s contributions :0)

  5. Dianne says:

    Troy, Rena, Paul B and Paul M… I am so glad you are here. I look forward to sharing the rest of the story and look forward to your comments.

  6. Laura Howe says:

    I am very grateful this blog was shared with me today. I have always lived in truth as it is the only way I could ever keep my life straight and learned later in life God expects truth and rewards truth in ways mankind can not. I believe every person’s reason for being is in part to help others learn God’s truth and the love that comes with life which no man or woman can buy. I have a deep respect for all people and beliefs and understand how hard it is to step away from man made things in order to live your truth. My truths have lead me down many paths for which each one I am grateful for..I would not BE where I am today if not for all these truths and life lessons on mankind. At times they are hard to swallow but when you have swallowed the biggest the rest get easier ,lol..I have a deep admiration for each person here and look forward to part 2 as well..although I believe I emailed you this am asking where to find it !LOL Have a blessed and perfect day ,Laura & Baby Reggie xox

  7. Pingback: Why I Left Transformation.com by Troy “Zooman” Cook « Be Your Own Oz

  8. everett herbert says:

    BULL SHIT FLOWS DOWN HILL (un-edited)
    (My last blog on Transformation.com)  
    This will most certainly be my last blog on this site. It will be interesting to see how many hours before “THEY” take it down. For the friends I have made, and the lessons I have learned while here, I will be forever grateful. For those of you who know me, integrity, decency, sincerity, truthfulness, and realness are attributes I try to incorporate into my life, and what I expect of others. Oh, and throw in a little dash of irreverence for me.

    The bullshit that flows from the TOP DOWN around here is knee deep and stinks to high heaven. I consider it a character flaw, a weakness, some defect in my person, that I have stayed on this site, for as long as I have. I have told myself for a very long time, that it was for my friends on this site, and my association with them, that I was staying here, and that is partially true. That does not diminish the fact that I have known for a long time that there is ”TROUBLE IN RIVER CITY,” (T.com) and it was not bubbling up from within the community, well, some of it was. No, this SHIT STORM of lies and broken promises were flowing down from Bills IVORY TOWER. I should probably exercise a little restraint here, or I’ll be getting one of those infamous “cease and desist orders” from Bill’s attorneys. What the hell, fuck em if they can’t take a joke. What’s he going to do, squash this little old man for speaking my truth? 

    There are a litany of things that I could talk about, like the time Bill looked me right in the eyes, and lied right to my face, in front of my daughter Nicole at the 2009 Denver event. But the hottest topic, the one on everyones lips, is some new gym in Colorado. A gym where the same old myths and stories about health and fitness are going to be repackaged in a bright new wrapper and sold to the unsuspecting consumer. And of course it will come with a premium price tag attached. Hell, people are free to believe whatever they want, to worship whomever they please, and spend their money in any way they see fit. I just hate to see people paying good money for what they think is going to be a new shiny iPhone, and end up getting two tin cans connected by 50 feet of string.

    Call me old-fashioned, but I think that people in leadership positions should be held to a higher standard, and that they should certainly “walk their talk.” I hate to be the one to piss on your parade, but look around, has anyone noticed that Bill has gotten real soggy around the middle the last few years, and this community has all the trappings of a “CULT” written all over it? Another point of interest is, I think, that over the past year and a half, some of the very best people have closed down their site on Transformation and gone away? Each time one of those beautiful people left, I felt a personal sense of loss, and I also felt an admiration for them. At the same time, I felt like I was being out of integrity with myself for staying here. BUT NO MORE. I cannot, I will not knowingly be associated, with an organization that is at its TOP, as ethically and morally bankrupt, and as dishonest and disingenuous as this one appears to me. Sorry Bill, you don’t a “FREE PASS” with me no matter how much good you have done for people, including me. Bill, you are out of integrity with yourself and with this community.

    This is not an indictment against any of my friends here, (if I still have any) or any other members of this community. I have truly grown to love and cherish so many of you. If you un-friend me because of what I have said here, well, I was never really your friend, was I? I just happened to be someone that agreed with you about some dogma, and we happened to cross paths.

    I am taking some wonderful lesson, a lot of beautiful memories and what I hope are lifelong friendships with me. Please visit me on FB

    NO REGRETS

    Everett “C” Herbert

    That’s my “John Hancock” so bill doesn’t have to put on his glasses to read it.
     

    Thursday Dec. 21 2011 1:33 AM

  9. Troy says:

    Everett, it’s very alarming to see that people are still being lied to by Bill.
    All the things he said would happen in the beginning have not really come to fruition. The big meet ups like Denver occuring in other towns, the people he was going to hire like he mentioned on his radio show and the fact that this was a 5 year plan. Several people mention that Bill was going to turn the site over to the people, but he stated it was a 5 year plan and cut loose several people who assumed that they would be there for 5 years. The site is barely in it’s third year. It’s one thing to tell people one thing, then to do something totally opposite of what you state is another.
    Then he has a way of apologizing to those he has wronged but points out that maybe he is not the issue a person is having but something deeper is bothering them instead. Really weird how he can either avoid the whole issue or spin it to look like he’s a victim.
    Thanks Everett for speaking out. I think others are going to follow suit now that they have experienced the real deal Bill.

  10. Tracy says:

    Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has posted here. I was not in the inner circle so I don’t know specifics, but I always knew something didn’t feel right. When Bill had his injury I saw that it happens mostly from steroid use. I watch him belittle people who even ask a question. I saw where Shane’s picture was on some website for diet pills https://www.alldayslim.com/c/lose20lbs/4e91e60142/

    The final straw was what I saw on FB between him and Lynn Lingenfelter. It made me feel so disgusted with Bill and his arrogance and manipulative condescending behavior.

    Thank you Everett for posting here recently and those who posted at the beginning. The truth really does set us free, doesn’t it?

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