My fantasy picture above was inspired originally by Pam Brown, right. Pam Brown has been an inspiration to many people who’ve been trying to lose weight. She really had the stuff to get it done. Went on to win bodybuilding contests. But her post-script to all this is a window into what I struggle with. After winning a state title or two, she put on a little weight and decided to do something about it. Here’s how she puts it…
“I was cutting the carbs out of meals 3 – 6, I was strictly “on plan” and not losing the bodyfat as needed. So I did something drastic. I went 10 weeks on nothing but fish and green veggies for every meal. Yes, that means breakfast too! This method actually worked very well at getting me “contest ready” (although I never did reach the leanness that I desired) but boy did it do a number on my metabolism! After that contest I resumed eating a typical …menu plan with a portion of lean protein and a portion of unprocessed carbohydrate at each meal with a couple of servings of veggies at each meal. To my surprise after just 2 weeks I had gained 20 pounds! And the pounds kept piling on. I went to the doctor to find out that I had thrown my thyroid into hypothyroidism. No WONDER it was getting so difficult to keep the weight off! Then my stupidity overcame any rational thought… the weight piled on even more… my physique has turned from the best in the state to a soft pile of mush.”
Sad story? Not really. She can get treatment. At least she knows why she put on weight.
It also happened to me eight years ago. I started training for the NYC marathon at about 245lbs and four months later after doing my 20 miles a week and lifting for 3 days each week, I weighed in at 250lbs. And I suffered for it. My doctor told me it was Hypothyroidism.
The point? I have a respect for the fact that the best intentions cannot overcome serious metabolic issues. If your glands are not secreting, you are not going to have normal weight loss whatever plan you use. I’ve been on synthroid for years now, and I have slowly gained weight.
The plan now is to focus on what I can control. Sleep, hydration, and sweating. Who knows where I will land? I have no expectations about how long this will take or how to fight plateus or where my ideal weight will be. I just know I’ve got to take it one day at a time and watch every bite.
Filed under: motivation | Tagged: before and after pictures, body fat percentage, body for life, bodybuilding, diet aides, dieting, fat loss, hypothyroidism, keeping the weight off, pam brown, physique transformation, tanning, the biggest loser, weight loss through photoshop, weight-loss
What a story. I’m sorry to hear that you ended up being a warning for the rest of us. I sincerely hope that it’s something that can be corrected.
Keep up posted.
Best wishes to you.
I to have been inspired by Pam Brown ever since I saw her on CNN back in like 04 or 05. I am sad to hear that she is having troubles. So many bodybuilders do. In my opinion, body building has become too much of a science project. People are being told to get intot he gym, isolate muscles groups, take supplements, stress their bodies into adaptation, eat carbs 6 times a day, eat lean meats only. Totally overlooking real nutrition and finding your natural true appearance. Talk about lack of balance!
so dude whats going on – are you dead already? Or did you just start posting like monthly?
ok looks like monthly – you have been doing this a while though – I am ragging on you a biut because there is no secret to losing weight – but you have to listen to people like Mark Sisson when they say “drink only water”. Thats all I drink – soda is nothing but a contrivance of chemicals that please your tongue. Your body doesnt know what to do with it.
stop eating crap fatty – I can say that now becaue I am on my way to being a skinny
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Bread is a processed food – dont eat it . Potatoes have to be boiled to eat, rice has to be boiled, if you want to eat corn eat off the cob. C’mon man – make some changes – instead of all those processed carbs we are supposed to be eating stuff you can pluck from the ground or tree and eat without cooking. Also we are supposed to be eating animals that are fat with spring grass and foliage. THeya re the only food processor we need.