I Didn't Lose Myself... I Just Lost My Way: My weight loss journey.

There was a point where I looked in the mirror and barely recognized the person staring back at me. Not because I had gained weight. Not because my clothes didn't fit the way they used to. But because somewhere along the way, I had stopped doing the things that made me feel like me. My weight loss journey came to a standstill. The gym became a chore. Hiking boots collected dust by the door. Weekend adventures were replaced with excuses, and the healthy habits I had spent years building slowly disappeared. It didn't happen overnight. Life got busy. My mental health became my priority, and for a while that meant simply getting through each day. Exercise wasn't at the top of my list, and honestly, it didn't need to be. Healing looked different then.

But as the months passed, I realized I wasn't just carrying extra weight—I was carrying around a version of myself that I no longer recognized. The hardest part wasn't deciding to lose the weight. The hardest part was believing I deserved to feel good again. So I started small.

Not with an extreme diet or a crazy workout program, but with one walk. One healthier meal. One trip back to the gym. One hike. One promise to myself that I wouldn't quit this time.

Those little decisions slowly became habits again, and those habits became the lifestyle I had been missing.

That's what Fitness Adventures with Liz has always been about.

Not being perfect. Not having six-pack abs. Not pretending every day is easy. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. It's about finding joy in moving your body, whether that's lifting weights, hiking a new trail, camping with family, or taking Rosie on an extra-long walk.

This journey isn't about becoming someone new. It's about finding my way back to the person I was all along.

As I continue this journey, I've also made another decision that's been a positive step for me. Alongside rebuilding healthy habits, getting back into the gym, prioritizing protein, and spending more time outdoors, I've added a GLP-1 medication to my routine.

For me, it hasn't been about finding an easy way out. It's been about finally quieting the constant food noise that seemed to take over my thoughts. If you've ever struggled with always thinking about your next meal, battling cravings, or feeling like food had more control over your day than you'd like to admit, you know exactly what I mean.

For the first time in a long time, I don't feel like I'm constantly negotiating with myself around food. The food noise has quieted, and that has given me the mental space to focus on nourishing my body instead of obsessing over what's next. I still have to make healthy choices, prioritize protein, stay active, and put in the work—but now it feels like those choices come from a place of intention rather than constant struggle.

I'm sharing this because I want Fitness Adventures with Liz to always be a place that's real. There's so much judgment surrounding GLP-1 medications, but the truth is that everyone's journey is different. This is simply one tool in my toolbox, and it's helping me build a healthier relationship with food while supporting the lifestyle I've been working so hard to create.

I'll continue sharing the victories, the setbacks, the hikes, the camping trips, the gym sessions, the recipes, and everything in between. Because this journey has never been about taking shortcuts—it's about finding what works for me, becoming stronger both physically and mentally, and creating a life that feels full of adventure again.

If my story helps even one person feel a little less alone or a little more hopeful, then sharing it is worth it. Here's to embracing the journey, celebrating every small win, and continuing the adventure—one step, one workout, and one trail at a time.

Love,

Liz 💖