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You know the feeling. You sign up for a program, you're motivated, you know exactly what to do... and then your brain starts whispering excuses. During a recent VIP session with Dr. Maritsa Yzaguirre-Kelley, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor specializing in bioenergetics, several participants had breakthrough moments that changed everything. Here's what she revealed about why this happens—and how to finally break the cycle.

The Moment Everything Clicked

Sarah raised her hand during our live session, tears streaming down her face.

"I've been calling myself lazy for years," she said. "But what Dr. Maritsa just explained... it's not laziness at all, is it?"

Dr. Maritsa Yzaguirre-Kelley, who holds a Doctorate in Christian Ministry (DCM) and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with over 20 years of experience, had just dropped a truth bomb that made several people in our VIP family emotional:

"Your body isn't meant to excel. Your body is meant to keep you safe."

And suddenly, everything made sense.

Meet Dr. Maritsa: The Expert Behind the Breakthrough

Dr. Maritsa Yzaguirre-Kelley brings a unique perspective to fitness psychology. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Masters Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP), and Board Certified Professional Counselor (BCPC), she specializes in helping high-capacity individuals over 50 navigate life's challenges and rediscover their inner strength.

Her expertise extends beyond traditional therapy. Dr. Maritsa is certified in bioenergetics—the study of how your mind affects the quality of your life, your energy, and the health of your body. She also specializes in QEEG brain mapping and neurofeedback, giving her unique insights into how the brain responds to change and stress.

But her expertise isn't just academic. After experiencing her own journey through injury and recovery, Dr. Maritsa understands firsthand how the mind can either sabotage or support physical transformation. Her personal experience—combined with her clinical expertise—gives her insights that most fitness professionals simply don't have.

Your Nervous System's Secret Sabotage Mission

"Resistance isn't laziness," Dr. Maritsa explained to our group. "And it isn't weakness. It's not even lack of discipline. A lot of times we have nervous systems that are highly sensitive. And so when we start to do something new, when we start a new pattern, when we start a new behavior, we literally shut down."

Here's what's happening in your brain: when you try to establish new exercise habits, your nervous system interprets this unfamiliar activity as potentially dangerous. Research in exercise psychology supports this, showing that approximately 80% of adults abandon exercise programs within six months, with psychological factors being the primary predictor of dropout rates [1].

Dr. Maritsa puts it simply: "We shut down because we don't feel safe. If you've noticed every time you start something new that you start to feel this pull of resistance, maybe this fear, that's essentially your nervous system telling you, 'I don't know this yet.'"

The "Getting Older" Programming

During our session, Dr. Maritsa asked a powerful question: "By a show of hands, who's been told things by doctors like 'Well, you're just getting older' or 'You're going to have to live with this' or 'Things are just going to be different now'?"

Nearly every hand went up.

"These aren't just casual comments," she explained. "These are hypnotic phrases. You've been told them so many times by people you trust that your subconscious mind believes them. And now you're fighting against your own programming every time you try to change."

A 2023 study in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine confirms this phenomenon: adults over 50 who had received discouraging medical advice about their physical capabilities were 60% more likely to avoid structured exercise programs [2].

Dr. Maritsa shared her own experience: "I had four metal plates put in my neck after a car accident. I was told by people I loved—my parents, my doctors, my friends—'You're never going to be the same again. You're just getting older. Things are just going to be different now.' These hypnotic phrases were coming from people I trusted, and I started believing them."

The Identity Trap That Keeps You Stuck

This is where Dr. Maritsa's session got really interesting—and where several people had emotional breakthroughs.

She asked our VIP family to write down why they joined our program. The answers came flooding in:

•"I don't want to be in pain anymore"

•"I don't want to lose my independence"

•"I want to lose weight"

•"I don't want to feel tired all the time"

"Do you see what all of these have in common?" Dr. Maritsa asked. "They're what I call 'away statements.' You're trying to run away from something you don't want."

Here's the problem with that approach: your subconscious mind is rooted in your identity. If you identify as someone who is overweight, or in pain, or tired—and you're just trying NOT to be those things—you're still anchored to that identity.

Research from the University of Pennsylvania supports this insight, showing that people who view exercise as part of their core identity are significantly more likely to maintain long-term fitness habits [3].

"I purposely don't talk about my injury unless somebody sees my scar," Dr. Maritsa shared. "I don't want it to be my story because that's not where I want to lock in my identity. When we're linking an identity to something that's negative or something that's holding us back, we're claiming the disease or claiming weakness."

The Exercise That Made People Cry

Dr. Maritsa then led our group through a powerful transformation exercise. I'm going to walk you through it because I want you to experience this shift for yourself.

Step 1: Write Your Away Statement

"I want you to write down one away statement that you've said before," Dr. Maritsa instructed. "An example could be 'I don't want to lose my independence' or 'I want to lose weight.'"

The chat filled with responses:

•"I don't want to be tired and sore"

•"I don't want to be overweight"

•"I don't want to feel fragile"

•"I don't want to be in pain all the time"

Step 2: Take a Breath and Feel Safe

"I know this next process might feel a bit uneasy," Dr. Maritsa said gently. "Remember, our nervous system is going to resist—I'm asking you to do something different. Tell yourself: 'I'm safe with Dr. Maritsa. She would never do anything to hurt me.'"

Step 3: Flip Your Statement

"Now I want you to flip your statement. Take a deep breath. Look at your statement that you just wrote down. And I want you to create a towards identity with that statement."

The transformation was immediate:

•"I don't want to be tired" became "I am someone who chooses energy every day"

•"I don't want to feel fragile" became "I am becoming someone who feels capable and strong"

•"I want to lose weight" became "I enjoy feeling physically functional"

Dr. Maritsa guided them further: "Try on 'I am becoming someone who feels capable.' I am somebody who is confident. I move with effortless ease. I enjoy throwing my grandkids up in the air with ease. I enjoy showing up with a big smile on my face and tons of energy. I enjoy being able to move."

Step 4: Embody It Physically

"Now I want you to read it to yourself out loud," Dr. Maritsa continued. "If you're sitting, place your feet on the floor. Feel that earth beneath your toes. Get your hands in a power position. Maybe it's a fist. Maybe it's Wonder Woman or Superman."

"This is part of the bioenergetics," she explained. "The mind-body connection. We are encompassing our body, our breath, the movement, and the words that we're going to say."

"Take a deep breath, shoulders up, chest open, and say that new identity statement at whatever volume feels good to you."

The responses were powerful:

•"I crave the feeling after I've been moving and exercising"

•"I am becoming somebody totally confident and always enjoy being able-bodied"

•"I am someone who shows up for me"

When Dr. Maritsa led this exercise in our session, something beautiful happened. People got emotional. Some cried. Some had breakthroughs they'd been waiting years to experience.

The Neuroscience Behind the Transformation

What happened in that moment wasn't just psychological—it was physiological.

"When you do that neurobiomechanically," I explained to the group, "you're calming your nervous system. Your body runs through neuroendocrine systems—neurological and chemical. You're changing your body chemistry, and your nerves respond to that and start figuring out how to make those things true."

Dr. Maritsa, who specializes in neuroplasticity and does neurofeedback with her clients, confirmed this: "You can build new neural networks, new neuropathways. You can increase plasticity at any age. You are not too young. You are not too old. Wherever you are is perfect to start making changes that last."

Research supports this optimistic view. Studies in neuroplasticity show that adults in their 70s and 80s can develop new automatic behaviors just as effectively as younger adults, given the right approach [4].

Think It, Feel It, Live It

Dr. Maritsa taught us a simple but powerful formula:

"Everything in life happens twice. First in your mind, and second in your physiology and your physical actions."

You think it. Then you feel it. Then you live it.

If you think "I'm too old for this," you'll feel defeated, and you'll live a sedentary life.

If you think "I am someone who moves with ease and confidence," you'll feel empowered, and you'll live actively.

"We think it and then we attach emotion to it. So therefore we feel it. We think it, then we feel it, and then we live it," she explained.

The Feedback, Not Failure, Approach

One of the most liberating concepts Dr. Maritsa shared was her approach to setbacks:

"I don't believe in failure. We believe in feedback. It's just more data. You can work with data. You can work with feedback."

She continued: "What the feedback tells you is, 'Oh my gosh, I thought the whole time I was hiring terrible trainers or I was in the wrong program.' And really, all of a sudden you're like, 'Oh, the problem was right here'—she pointed to her head—'It was underneath my hat the whole time because I was embodying that of a person who was so afraid of becoming the person that I'm trying to become because of the identity that was so rooted in fear.'"

This reframe is supported by cognitive behavioral therapy research, which shows that viewing setbacks as learning opportunities rather than failures significantly improves long-term behavior change success [5].

Your Old House vs. Your New Identity

Dr. Maritsa shared a metaphor that stuck with everyone:

"You wouldn't go to your old house every day and start banging on the door and ask to use the bathroom because you don't live there anymore. That's your old identity. You don't need to go there anymore."

Every time that old voice whispers "you can't do this" or "it's too late" or "you're too old," you can simply say:

"Thank you for trying to protect me, but I don't live there anymore."

And then you return to your new identity. The one you're building. The one you're becoming.

"Where you are is right here and right now. If you're confused at where you are, look at your feet. That's where you are right here and right now. Focus on what you can do right now."

When Resistance Shows Up (And It Will)

"Nothing that you're experiencing is going to be failure," Dr. Maritsa reassured our group. "If you noticed a little bit of resistance going in, a little bit of tears, a little bit of fear—that's okay. That's your nervous system."

She continued: "Every time you feel resistant, every time you say to yourself, 'Oh, this feels scary' or 'I don't want to do this' or 'I don't see the point'—that's just your nervous system doing its job. Say, 'Thank you. You're working. I appreciate it.'"

"Understanding resistance isn't the enemy. Even when you feel resistant, maybe even when you don't want to, keep showing up and notice every time you feel resistant. Remind yourself you're stuck in that old story and you don't live there anymore."

This approach aligns with acceptance and commitment therapy principles, which research shows are particularly effective for health behavior change [6].

The Container for Success

What makes Dr. Maritsa's approach so powerful is that it creates what she calls "the container" for lasting change:

"Your mind is the container. When your nervous system feels safe, when your subconscious mind starts to believe the story, your body will follow."

This is exactly what we're building in our VIP program—not just exercise routines, but a complete mind-body system that supports transformation from the inside out.

Your Action Steps (Start Today)

Based on Dr. Maritsa's session, here's what I want you to do right now:

1.Write your away statement. Be honest. What fear has been driving you?

2.Transform it into a towards identity. Who are you becoming? Write it in present tense.

3.Embody it physically. Stand up. Power pose. Say it out loud with conviction.

4.Practice daily. Say your new identity statement every morning and every night for one week.

5.Notice the feedback. When resistance shows up, thank your nervous system and redirect to your new identity.

The Mind-Body Training System Coming Soon

During our session, I shared some exciting news: we're developing a complete mind-body training system for our VIP family that includes subconscious retraining, guided meditations, and identity transformation work with Dr. Maritsa.

"We call it 'everything begins with your mind,'" Dr. Maritsa explained. "We're going to start helping VIPs on a deeper level in their mind and developing training systems and meditations, subconscious retraining to help improve your physiology and the way you think and feel and function in this life."

This system launches next year and will be available to all VIP members because, as Dr. Maritsa says, "it's the most important first step—to sense and feel and become aware and develop the right mindset."

One Final Truth

After working with tens of thousands of people over 30+ years, I can tell you this with absolute certainty:

The ones who succeed aren't the ones with the best genetics. They're not the ones who were fit their whole lives. They're not even the ones with the best doctors or therapists.

They're the ones who changed how they think about themselves.

As Dr. Maritsa put it so beautifully: "The way you think about yourself, your life, your functionality, the way you relate to health actions—those thoughts will have more to do with your physical health and the quality of your life than anything else."

Your mind is the container. Your body will follow.

So start there. Start with your identity. Start with the person you're becoming.

And watch everything else fall into place.

Ready to experience this transformation with professional support? Our VIP program now includes mind-body training with experts like Dr. Maritsa Yzaguirre-Kelley. We don't just give you exercises—we help you become the person who does them naturally. Schedule a consultation to learn more about our complete approach to lasting change.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to see this identity shift happen? Dr. Maritsa's research and clinical experience show that new neural pathways begin forming immediately, but most people notice significant mindset shifts within 3-4 weeks of consistent practice. The key is connecting small actions to your evolving identity daily.

What if I've tried positive thinking before and it didn't work? This isn't just positive thinking—it's identity-based change combined with bioenergetics. You're not just changing thoughts; you're embodying the new identity physically and creating new neural pathways through consistent action.

Can this really work at any age? Yes. Dr. Maritsa specializes in neuroplasticity and confirms: "You can build new neural networks, new neuropathways at any age. You are not too young. You are not too old. Wherever you are is perfect to start making changes that last."

References

[1] Journal of Health Psychology, "Exercise Adherence Patterns in Adult Populations" (2024)[2] International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, "Medical Messaging and Exercise Avoidance" (2023)

[3] University of Pennsylvania, "Identity and Health Behavior Maintenance" (2024)

[4] Psychological Science, "Neuroplasticity Across the Lifespan" (2024)

[5] Clinical Psychology Review, "CBT Approaches to Exercise Barriers" (2024)

[6] Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, "ACT and Health Behavior Change" (2023)

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Dr. Maritsa Yzaguirre-Kelley is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, not a medical doctor. Always consult with your healthcare provider before beginning any new exercise program, especially if you have chronic health conditions or have been sedentary.

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