A few months ago, I wrote a post, My Journey to Becoming the Best Version of Myself. I was so excited to start building my home gym. What started as a lonesome stationary bike in the basement, soon included a rower, adjustable dumbbells and kettlebells, different types of resistance bands, and exercise mats.
I was more than ready to start working towards my own health and fitness goals after dedicating the last ten years to raising our five kids. My goal was to lose 1.5 lbs. a week. At that pace, I would be about 30 lbs lighter by the end of the year. I was determined. I was committed. This was going to be great!
Until it wasn’t.
I underestimated how tough it was going to be to implement a healthy caloric deficit while still eating enough calories to maintain my milk supply for a nursing infant. It didn’t matter how many days a week I was working out, or that I was making healthy food choices. The scale wasn’t budging.
If you are finding yourself in the same predicament, don’t give up! Try these things instead!
Reassess Your Diet
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “great bodies are made in the kitchen, not in the gym.” Or, “you can’t outwork a bad diet.”
I have been on a journey of trying to implement a more plant based diet. Where I was shorting myself daily was with protein. Having a salad for lunch was healthy but using that to refuel my muscles after a workout, wasn’t benefiting me much at all.
I’m pretty good at cooking nutritious meals at home during the week. But on the weekends, I love the convenience of fast food. Now, I’m trying to limit fast food to one meal a week. This means I have to be intentional about planning meals that are quick and easy to prepare or meal prepping my breakfast and lunches for the week.
So which areas of your diet could use some improvement? Is it cutting sweets, limiting fast food, or introducing more vegetables? Try keeping a food journal to track what you’re eating!
Focus on Water Intake
Drinking enough water can help aid in weight loss by increasing your metabolism. Water can also prevent overeating by creating a sense of fullness. I love drinking a big glass of water first thing in the morning and at least a half an hour before my meals.
My personal goal is to drink 100 oz. of water every day. If, like me, you struggle to drink enough water, I highly recommend buying a gallon water bottle that has the time stamped on the side to help keep you on track throughout the day.
It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint
I have to continually remind myself that this is a lifestyle change. I am my only competition. So why am I putting so much pressure on myself to get to the finish line first?
I’ve recently introduced more strength training into my exercise routine for a better full body workout. But if it’s a lack of motivation that you are struggling with, try finding a support group on social media or an accountability partner.
Quit Using the Scale to Measure Success
It’s frustrating to put everything you have into a workout day after day and not see the results you wanted. I finally decided to quit stepping on the scale.
Instead of being disappointed, I started celebrating other small wins. Like my clothes fitting better and being able to complete lunges and squats without feeling like my legs would give out. Hello quad muscle I haven’t seen in years!
My consistency was paying off in other ways that I was ignoring simply because the number in my head didn’t match the one on the scale.
So don’t you dare quit on yourself! A little progress each day adds up to big results. Keep going!
