the cranky pickle

Losing weight is hard for anyone. This is a bonus episode not related to the usual content of the cranky pickle. In this episode I did into the following topics: How the heck did I gain 80 pounds in 6 months? Dealing with thyroid issues and autoimmune disease. When was enough, enough? Starting weight loss, the slow way. Ramping up. Plateaus. Competing in a fitness competition (yikes) Motivating yourself and holding yourself accountable. Lastly - if you do have a medical issue, make sure you consult with your physician! If you suspect you may have a thyroid problem or hormonal issue, make sure you address this with your doctor.  Email me if you need support or motivation :) _____________________________ WHAT ASPECT CHALLENGED ME THE MOST The hardest part was staying motivated in spite of not seeing progress. I thought I did everything right—eat better, work out more—but there were many times when the scale did not budge. Instead, I started taking progress photos so I could see that, even though I may not technically be losing weight, I was still moving in the right direction. I also would try to write down positive changes in my journal. If I was having a hard time staying motivated, I would write down goals and things that I could focus on the next day and week. This kept me from thinking too many negative things or getting discouraged. I always like having something to work toward. Even when I'm doing well and am happy with how I work, I pick something that I can be doing better and write it down. Diet is still the hardest thing for me to rein in. I've found that I can make traditionally unhealthy (and delicious) recipes that are much healthier and taste just as great. SUGGESTIONS FOR ASPIRING TRANSFORMERS It's hard to stay motivated when you can't see always see the positive changes that are occurring. Keep in mind how much better you're feeling each week, and reflect on the positive things. Even though you may not be losing weight, you could be losing inches or gaining muscle. Don't stake very much on what the scale says. KEEP IN MIND HOW MUCH BETTER YOU'RE FEELING EACH WEEK, AND REFLECT ON THE POSITIVE THINGS. I usually never weigh myself more than once every two weeks. The scale doesn't tell the entire picture. If you know you are eating well and exercising enough, the results should follow! Hold yourself accountable. I use MyFitnessPal to track my food and exercise. It also charts your weight for you so you can see your progress. This is nice because you can connect with other people trying to accomplish the same thing as you. Write down your goals in your exercise journal or on a mirror. When I first decided to lose weight, I was so overwhelmed. I felt like I had so much to do and that it would take ages. If you don't break your goals down into smaller, more manageable ones, it is hard to stay motivated. For me, I probably never would have started if I'd said my goal is to lose 80 pounds. Instead, try something small, like saying you're going to lose one pound this week. I didn't really feel like I had accomplished that much until I pulled out some old photographs. Taking progress pictures is a good way for you to track your accomplishments and keep you motivated. Don't compare yourself to anyone else. We are all guilty of this. I have learned that you cannot look at the person next to you at the gym and get down on yourself for not looking like that. You should want to be the best version of yourself, not someone else.