How I lost 100 Pounds: Workout Edition
When I first committed to my weight loss journey I had absolutely no idea how to establish a workout routine. I knew I was strong and flexible, but was in a lazy slump at my heaviest weight–even walking was hard for me. I had always been athletic growing up; I was in gymnastics and on the swim team in high school. I even did CrossFit when I was literally twelve years old. But in my late teens, my inconsistency and lack of movement was adding up (literally on the scale).
I knew I just needed to commit to a workout routine again and stick with it to see results once and for all. So I did just that. Through finding passion in moving my body, I was able to explore a variety of fun ways to incorporate exercise and finally drop the weight. If you’re feeling lazy and inconsistent, or simply don’t know where to start–I have a few ideas! Today, in this post, I’ll cover each phase/chapter of movement I’ve experienced during my 100 pound weight loss journey which consists of:
CrossFit
Yoga
Cardio and running
Weightlifting
CrossFit
At the time, back in 2019, my parents were into CrossFit and regularly attended CrossFit classes. Their example and passion inspired me and they suggested I should start going with them. So, after a couple months of pondering on the lifestyle changes I’d need to make to incorporate this into my routine (aka minimizing alcohol, fast food, and late nights with friends), I finally gave it a go. I started in the teen class and could barely do a single lunge. The class was very hard at first because I was NOT used to the intensity that CrossFit requires. But, I scaled things down and little by little felt more motivated and strong everyday.
What I loved about CrossFit was the schedule of classes that gave me an outline to follow so I could easily incorporate workouts consistently into my routine. I also loved that the workouts were created for me. Not to mention, I loved the community aspect and being surrounded by people that were there to do the same thing–suffer together lol.
I continued to consistently do CrossFit for the next 3 years and it gave me a good basis and knowledge of movements I could then practice on my own as well. Plus, I had lost 40 pounds!
CrossFit Gyms I attended that I recommend:
Yoga
During my CrossFit era I was constantly sore and learned the importance of stretching my body in between workouts. So, I started attending yoga classes once a week and found a huge passion for it. It was the first time I finally felt present in my body, honestly. I loved the peace, relaxation, and mindfulness but also the chance to learn more about my body–like how flexible I am. I also found that the deep breathing was super beneficial for my gut and stress levels helping me understand my hunger cues better which promoted weight loss. The mind-body connection is real!
I have been practicing yoga consistently 2-3x a week ever since! For those who know me, know I always have my pink yoga mat out lol. Check out, Yoga With Adrienne on Youtube! Her videos are consistently a part of my routine–pretty sure I’ve done every single one of her videos.
For more on how yoga positively impacted my health journey, check out my blog post, “How to Intuitively Eat.”
Running
After I had COVID in 2021, I tried to continue CrossFit but my body couldn’t handle the intensity post-sickness so I had to listen to my body and switch up my routine to slow down. Instead, I entered my cardio and lifting era on my own (but with my college roommate of course). I started building my cardio endurance by doing the 12-3-30 on the treadmill which is: 12 incline - speed 3 - for 30 minutes. I did this 2-3 times a week and each time, it got easier and I noticed my waist was shrinking each week. My endurance built up to the point where I was comfortable jogging another mile on the treadmill after finishing the 12-3-30 each time. Then another mile. And another mile. I also went on daily walks with my roommates after dinner–this was so fun and helped me get more steps in as well.
Then the daily walks turned into running around the block which led to trail running summer of 2022. I felt a passion and motivation I had never felt before. I loved how clear minded I felt when I entered runners high–it began to feel like I actually believed in myself and was making huge progress. Fall 2022 I ran my first 5K and placed 4th in my age group which was a HUGE milestone for me.
I’ve done 4 races and loved each one of them. I literally became obsessed with running and would go on runs during blizzards when I lived in good ol’ Wisconsin.
Running and increasing my cardio overall helped me see the most results from burning off my fat. I already had a good foundation of muscle from CrossFit and just needed to sweat it out. At this point in my journey, by the end of 2022, I had lost another additional 65 pounds!
Want to shrink inches off your waist in 6-weeks? Grab my 6-week cardio plan with the routine and strategy I discovered to build up my endurance fast.
Weightlifting
After I lost the 100 pounds and was only running at the time, I wanted to rebuild my muscle and get back into lifting again. I had stopped lifting for 6 months due to not having a gym, and was feeling weak. I also had shoulder pain from my form due to trying to lift the same amount I was before I had lost the weight. I knew something had to change to feel strong again. When I moved to Arizona the end of 2023, I thought I should get back into CrossFit so I went to Gateway Fitness.
There was a weightlifting class there and I found passion in slowing down to refine my form instead of jumping into fast-paced lifts during CrossFit workouts. From there, coach Jimmy Marquez introduced me to Alee Athletics, an Olympic Weightlifting gym I consistently lifted at for a year. They helped me compete twice and I placed third as an 87kg weightlifter at the AZ State Championships.
What I love about weightlifting is that it teaches me how to actually use my body and stay present with myself to learn about my imbalances that I didn’t know I originally had my whole life. I essentially unlearned everything I thought I knew about my body–still am. It makes you realize, it’s the little things that really make a difference to find more strength and mobility. I’ve had so many crazy non-scale victories from this sport such as–increased metabolism, confidence, and muscle.
After all my body has been through, I love that I’m discovering how to use the parts of my body I’ve been ignoring my whole fitness journey, such as my core and back. It really is all connected.
To learn more about my crazy (and seemingly odd) non-scale victories from weightlifting, the benefits, and how to get started you can read more in my blog post, “Weightlifting: It’s all connected.”
Throughout all my chapters and phases of movement during my journey, my body has changed significantly but there’s one thing that hasn’t–incorporating Ultima Electrolytes into my daily routine. These electrolytes help replenish and recover my muscles in between workouts with 6 key electrolytes your body needs for hydration. I look forward to this daily electrolyte drink everyday!
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I hope this blog post gave you some insight into how to get started on your fitness journey based off my inspiring fitness timeline. Always remember, what’s most important is if you’re doing some form of exercise that a) helps you feel confident, b) fuels your passion, and c) allows you to see results (even if they’re small). I encourage you to try something new to find your next phase of passion in movement!
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