Why I needed to separate weight loss and fitness to be successful in losing 100 pounds

When I weighed almost 300 pounds, I lived under a belief that it was impossible to lose weight without assistance from a detailed program that I would need to pay into. I had been lead to believe that fitness and weight loss went hand-in-hand; that it would be impossible to get anywhere without expert advice from a coach, personal trainer, nutritionist and more.

There was too much information out there... too many diets... too many programs... too many options.

I know this was a common thought because any time I would talk about weight loss to anyone around me, I would hear nothing but "I've just bought a gym membership so I can lose weight too!" or "I've just started [insert program/diet name here] because I want to lose some weight too!" I would often get advice to look into different weight loss programs and surgeries, fitness plans and diets.

I truly believed that there was no way possible for me to lose weight without the assistance of fitness, a surgery, or a diet program that I would hate every step of the way.

Every time I tried to be successful with one of these programs, it would only lead to one thing... failure.

When I came across the documentary that changed it all, I made the most important decision I've honestly believe I've ever made... and here's why. I decided to focus all my attention on weight loss and completely leave fitness behind until I had a handle on my food.

I remember pretty early on making a comment that I would be focusing on my diet first. I wanted to make sure that I had a handle on what I was eating before I started overwhelming my brain with the pain and determination needed for fitness.

"But how are you going to lose weight without working out?!"

No one truly understood why I was deciding to leave fitness behind, but as time went on people started to question it less and less.

I lost 70 pounds before I stepped foot into a gym.

Let that sink in for a moment... 70 pounds that I lost in a year, just focusing on the food I was putting into my body and doing very little else.

I truly believe that this had a lot to do with my success. I wanted to remove sugar from my diet and change what I was eating to be healthier in a way that was maintainable. I didn't want to fall off track, like I'd done so many times before, because I was trying to do it all at once on a diet I didn't enjoy just so I could see results.

When I chose to put my focus in one place instead of multiple areas, I was able to truly learn all the ins and outs of my new lifestyle choice. I watched as the weight fell off and my clothes shrunk until I eventually got to a point where I hit a plateau and felt like it was time to start feeling strong.

There is one saying that always stuck out to me and truly only made sense once I reached this spot in my journey.

"Weight loss happens in the kitchen and fitness happens in the gym."

Yes fitness helps you burn calories, but now that I've reached this point of health I can truly say that I'm not a firm believer in "the only way you can lose weight is calories in vs. calories out."

My weight loss needed to be obtainable, maintainable, and reasonable. I needed something that I knew I could keep up with, and in order to do that I needed to believe in myself and prioritize my choices. I couldn't believe in myself until I had some success and I failed, without a doubt, every time I tried to do that "perfect weight loss plan."

You see, every time I would start a diet and fitness program full force... I'd accomplish some things and try to convince myself that if I reached that magical 21 day spot, I'd have a new habit and lifestyle that would make all the weight drop fast.

In reality, I would get through a week of feeling sore, hungry, bitchy and unhappy and give in to a craving. I'd find myself eating anything sweet I could get my hands on, (including that old halloween candy no body wanted but that still hangs out in the cupboard.) I'd skip a workout because I felt guilty and fat for failing, and I would go right back to square one.

It would LITERALLY NEVER WORK!

So when I decided I was finally ready to lose weight and give up on the unhealthy lifestyle I had grown so comfortable with, I wanted to do it in a way that didn't overwhelm me.

So I started small, I cut sugar one weakness at a time and found sweet snacks naturally. I allowed myself to give in to a craving here and there but my determination was bigger than ever. I watched as the 21 day goal came and went (and newsflash... it was still extremely hard to stay on track even after I passed that "habit forming number.")

I waited until I got to a point where I felt like I had a handle on everything, which took about a year. When I got to my first major plateau, I looked for something fun that I could do to start getting fit. This is when bouldering entered my life... a fun activity that involved my whole body, even my mind.

It left me wanting more, unlike the gym that most are used to. It taught me how to be fit, how to add weight lifting into my routine, how to find friends who were equally determined, and it gave me the drive and confidence I needed to be better. I started to climb higher, I watched as my muscles found their definition, and I found something I truly loved that made me strong. Up until this point, I truly believed that I would never find enjoyment in fitness; but in reality, I just hadn't found the right workout.

Breaking up weight loss and fitness lead me to be successful. It allowed me to find something I truly enjoyed instead of making the rash decision to go back to a gym I hated and wouldn't end up using. It allowed me to focus on what was most important in that moment and it made me stronger than I ever thought I could be.

Stop trying to do it all at once, you're human and you're fighting one of the hardest battles there is... an addiction to unhealthy eating, comfort, and sugar.

Keep moving forward and find your focus, you've got this... I know it's true, because I've been there.