It is a trend people use on social media. On Tuesday people post “-transformational” photos. Today I decided to support a transformation of my personal fitness achievements.
Prior to starting my weight-loss journey, I had no idea what proper portions were coming from Louisiana. Working with the veterans at the hospital I made a decision to join the military. I never had weight issues growing up because I was extremely thin. Dealing with daily stressors of life caused me to gain more weight over the years. My motivation to start working out was my fear of not passing the Army Physical Fitness Test.
I started walking/running with my friend about two or three times per week and lifting twice a week on top of that. I cut way back on fried food, dairy, and red meat, and added in lots of fruits, veggies, and lean protein. Through portion control and exercise, I slowly lost 30 pounds over the course of about 12 months.
After dealing with a few stressors while in Kansas working out has become my outlet to relieve stress. I am not a fan of weighing myself. I judge my weight loss on how my clothes fit. I still eat the same foods as before, but within moderation.
Remember that you don’t have to be perfect to lose weight. When we expect perfection is when we set ourselves up for failure. When you allow yourself to be imperfect, you will find it easier to make the best choices.
Therapist Corner: Identify stress-producing circumstances. Learn your body’s responses to stressful situations. Use relaxation cues to overcome stress responses. Generalize these relation clues to the conditions that tend to cause stress. It is important to learn how to control your emotions. Learn what situations cause you to lose control or make you angry. Monitor your feelings you are having in stressful situations. Find an outlet to reduce your stress such as yoga, journaling, blogging or going to the gym.
