Weight Loss Unmasked with Erica Gurrieri

Secret time: I've discovered that tricking myself is a key factor in maintaining my success in this 100-pound weight loss journey. Oh yeah! I'm playing mind games with myself in a positive way to get away from the intense, compulsive cravings for chocolate, chips and gummy bears as well as the gloomy, paralyzing self-doubt that I have experienced...especially when it comes to losing weight. There'...

I want to take you back to a dark, uncertain time, to the days when impending puberty was lurking around the corner and the pressures of social life mounted. Yes, the time I’m speaking of is middle school. Dunn dun dunnnnnnn! Middle school was such a weird time. I didn’t know who I was and I was afraid of everything: afraid of upsetting or disappointing my parents; afraid of not knowing the answer...

That quick fix is always what I was after. One of the most memorable (and scarring) times was when I had gained weight my senior year in high school, binging on Surge I'm sure, and couldn't fit into my prom dress just a week before the big night. I cut carbs. I chugged water. I begged. My mother was kind enough to run out and grab me a slimmer, something I didn't even know existed at the time. (Th...

*I humbly write this letter to you as a message of understanding and encouragement to go after anything you want in life. Please share this episode with anyone else you know who may be feeling stuck, helpless, discouraged or lost in their pursuit of health and happiness.* I would also love to hear your feedback and what your goals are for the future. Comment on my episode on Instagram and Facebook...

She's a recent graduate, a grandmother...and a powerlifter. DeeDee Cox simply defies social norms. That's quite possibly what I love most about her, aside from her million-watt smile.  Coming from a lifestyle that totally lacked nutrition and exercise, DeeDee found herself on the brink of diabetes and feeling the urgency for change. She gradually found things that worked for her, trying bootcamp-s...

Riding the hills and valleys of a wellness journey aren't for the faint of heart! It requires more determination and focus than I ever expected! For this reason, I'm grateful for the community I found through CrossFit and for the network of supporters I have surrounding me. When I'm feeling low or unsuccessful, I have people sending me motivating messages and asking me when I can join them for a w...

My husband told me tonight that I am "a badass".  Normally, I'd give him the cutesy smile and whisper, "Thanks, babe". Not tonight. The irony of this statement lights up my eyes. "Yes, I am a badass!" I said back. Little did he know I just wrapped up my latest podcast episode, featuring this exact phrase and attitude I've recently embraced. (Read on to see the universe at work.) In the last c...

Young, beautiful...and pre-diabetic, Amanda Nunn was sick and tired of being sick and tired. Predisposed to diabetes and other health concerns, she tapped into her "hard-headedness" and harnessed something else: discipline and determination. Literally teaching and retraining herself how to care for her own body, Amanda found herself on a journey that looked much less like a diet and more like a li...

I was down for the count. Exhausted, achy and…well…kind of depressed. What was my deal? I got "the VID". But it wasn’t the symptoms that really took a toll. It was the sadness that set in. I sent myself straight down a path of depression and disappointment. I let COVID get me. Any bout of sickness–or unexpected speed bump–is hardly an excuse to throw discipline and responsibilities out the window....

Hello, my die-hard supporters! I’m so happy to report that I DID NOT disappear and I most certainly haven’t quit my 100-pound journey. I’ve just recently been sick. I was not only pretty physically and mentally drained, I was experiencing a lot of feelings. Since we last spoke, I felt sad, depressed, alone, stunned, forsaken, snubbed, weak, inadequate, fat, lazy, hopeless and helpless. Let’s just...

I lie to myself. Well, at least I have for many years. I have made tons of promises (and resolutions) to myself and then slipped back into my old ways of eating processed foods, staying up too late, drinking too many calories and loafing on the couch. This year, I'm trying a new method, one that doesn't involve an overwhelming list of new habits and activities I have to remember each day, and appl...

Programs. Nutritionists. Workouts. Diet pills. Trainers. Doctors. They all have an opinion on wellness and weight loss. How can we possibly know what's best for us? Experiencing weight gain after moving to her new home of India, Brittany was determined to get healthy and regain her figure. When she realized her body was behaving differently in showing unusual symptoms, she sought council on what t...

I had it in my head that meal planning and prepping were silly topics, ones that I already had down pat. I've changed my mind. Literally. With a stronger, healthier mindset, now I'm seeing that these methods are critical components to maintaining my focus in my weight loss journey. It seems simple enough, but then again, setting new habits ain't always that easy! Getting off the rollercoaster for...

Looking back over the last few years, I almost can't believe how far I've come, how much I've grown! And I'm not done yet! In this moment, on this day of Thanksgiving, I just want to say "thanks" for your ongoing support and love. You're my inspiration! Happy Thanksgiving! ------------------------- Say hey, and let me know what’s going on with your journey on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter and Tik...

Ignoring texts. Creating arguments out of thin air. Bringing up resolved arguments. Recruiting others against you. Initiating smear campaigns through gossip. Calling you crazy. Sending strings of argumentative messages. Lying about what they said…or did. These may be indications of a verbally abusive situation. Although these seem tame compared to the definition of physical abuse, verbal abuse, es...

You mean bottled water isn't all the same? I'm not talking about taste. I'm talking pH levels and ingredients.  As necessary as water is, I've learned that not every water source is equal and neither are their components. In fact, many bottled water sources are highly acidic, which challenges your body's instinct to stay pH balanced, and doesn't support our weight loss or wellness goals. In t...

It's time to break it down. I have a confession to make. Join me for a "keepin' it real" kind of episode with no fluff and no more nonsense! Self-sabotage is real as I am sitting here typing this. Whether a person is in pursuit of new job, searching for a loving relationship with a partner or setting a new weight loss goal, we all have the ability to make it happen or throw a giant grenade in the...

Cutting foods has been an ongoing trend for the better part of my life. From juicing to intermittent fasting diets, I've lived in various cycles of deprivation. And it stinks. No one really wants to give up pizza, right? Plus, I almost always ended up in the same place, binging on those foods to fill the void and ultimately sabotage my efforts. As part of my weight loss and wellness journey, I've...

Stress can have such damaging effects, especially for someone like me who is pushing past self-sabotage and mental roadblocks in pursuit of better health. It can ultimately lead to burn out and quitting. But not for this girl. You've heard the commercials. You've seen the ads. Now, I've given them a try. Tune in for 9 ways that I successfully overcome all types of stress that come up in everyday l...

Making changes to improve your life can be a challenge. When other people find it their business to monitor and even police what you're eating, achieving your goals can be exponentially more difficult. In this episode, I cover my usual Week in Review, and focus on food shaming, body image bullying, losing relationships and self-shaming. I also touch on why we as humans food shame, and how we can c...

I’m following up (as promised!) with my results of the 10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse, which I kicked off in Episode 3.  (If you have not listened to that episode, please do so now! You’ll want to hear about the framework for the process, which is based off of JJ Smith’s best-selling book.) In this info-packed short, I review all my PRs and misfires as well as one ultra-surprising result that...

I'm like a detective, a journalist, a curious crusader, digging for information to help my weight loss surgery be a success. Even though I am not choosing weight loss surgery, I see so much value in hearing the stories of the people I'm meeting along the way. Trisha's story is no different.  This bonus track for Episode 4 is about Trisha Lessis, who experienced weight loss surgery 10 years ag...

My method of weight loss isn't the only path to take. That's why I'm taking a time-out this week to introduce you to Kymmie Huard, a courageous and strong young woman who paved a path to wellness by choosing weight loss surgery. With so much to gain by losing weight, Kymmie made this personal decision based on her own personal needs in order to prioritize herself and the quality of her future. In...

Hey, everyone! It’s Erica, the Incognito Athlete. Just touching base quickly today to let you know my weekly episode release is going to be a little late this week. Sometimes, life throws us curveballs, and we have to just roll with it. All is well, thank goodness, and I’ll be back in touch with you all tomorrow with an awesome episode, featuring a strong, young woman who’s winning after weight lo...

She sat me down and said, "We're going to do a cleanse." A cleanse?! My dietician told me recently she wanted me to kick-start my weight loss journey with a 10-day smoothie cleanse?! Oh yeah. It's going down. The 10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse by JJ Smith was the premise for the challenge I've been given. Join me on this pivotal episode with some of the most helpful guidance I've received in my yea...