Transformation Challenge - Week Eight

I am happy. My body is happy. After the last eight weeks I feel like I can do anything that I set my mind to. My beautiful friend and Transformation Challenge mate, Melissa, was wearing a shirt on Wednesday that made me think. She wore a Nike shirt that said “Just do it”. On the drive home from the gym I started to think about what a good slogan for me would be, in life. I decided that my slogan is “No excuses”. My whole life I have always come up with reasons why I couldn’t do things. A little over eight weeks ago I was thinking a lot about the reasons I couldn’t do this challenge. “I don’t know anyone.” “I haven’t done any kind of physical activity since high school; I probably won’t be able to keep up.” “Twelve weeks is a long time, and I’m not sure I can commit myself to that.” “I am too fat to work out.” And so on, and so forth. Honestly, I can convince myself not to do anything I don’t want to do. I know I am not alone in this. I think it’s very common especially when your body is telling you that you need to get back in shape, or in shape in general. “I’m too busy.” “Work is too stressful right now.” “I have too many responsibilities with my family.” Do any of these excuses sound like you? I think the most important thing I have learned is I am the only one who can push myself to do this. I am the only one there at 5:30am pushing myself to get out of bed in the morning, or having a delicious wheat burrito while everyone else is having deep fried burritos. I am also that person that “will start on Monday”. Today. Today my friends, is the day to start. Make good food decisions. Get on that treadmill and walk a little. It won’t be easy at first, but after a couple weeks it will become second nature to you. I even find myself trying not to make excuses why I can’t do other things besides eat well, and exercise. After all, I’ve come this far already. I can do anything!

I stepped on the scale on Monday to find that I had lost the four pounds I had gained last week. After being emotionally kicked down by that number last week I was not going to let it happen again. Eight weeks ago my body had NO muscle. None. Zero. Now, I can feel muscles (and I make everyone else feel them too). Be proud Transformation Challenge ladies of how far you’ve come, and share your successes with your family and friends. Inspire people to start today. I even become more inspired by women at the gym. I am always floored by the amount of work people put in to keep themselves fit. Skinny women (the ones I would always secretly hate for having the body I wanted) are in the gym ALL the time, working their little butts off. It’s not easy for anyone. Once a week I see a woman come into the gym that is overweight enough to have trouble walking. She gets on a bike and goes at her own pace for about 20-30 minutes. I am totally inspired by her. If she can do that, I can certainly do this. And so can you!

Eight weeks down ladies, only 4 short weeks to go!

Transformation Challenge - Week Seven

The scale: a woman’s worst enemy. Okay, maybe not every woman, but mine for sure. I had another week of weight gain after working so hard last week that I thought my arms, legs and abs were going to fall off. I even bypassed all those delicious chocolate bunnies at Easter. Yup, that’s right…gained four pounds! Up, down, up, down, this is killing me emotionally. I can handle one week of weight gain, but really?!?! Okay, now that I have come back to my senses. Now that I am beyond “the evil number” I feel really good. I know that I say this every week now, but really, I do! Workouts continue to be more challenging every week. I feel like I start every week saying, “I’m getting the hang of this”, and then there are sprints in the parking lot when it feels like its three degrees outside. I’m glad that it continues to challenge me though, because without that feeling I could probably talk myself into giving up. I also have been taking new classes to find something that I really enjoy doing. Seven weeks ago, I thought that I would never enjoy working out, and I mean NEVER! I took Body Combat, Rock Bottom and Body Jam this week. Body Combat made me feel strong like I could go and beat someone up, and the following day I could lift my arms up, let alone punch and kick. I thought my butt was going to fall off in Rock Bottom. I was convinced that when I got up from my mat, I would find a chunk of it laying there. Body Jam was fun and upbeat, didn’t feel like working out, but more like a dance party. The conclusion of all my class taking this week is that there is something for everyone. If you are having a hard time finding motivation, email me and I will be happy to go with you! Really.

I want to talk about something else very near and dear to my heart. My team, the “6 Pack” girls. My teammates are constantly inspiring me to push a little further, and not solve my stress with food. They are a phenomenal support system. Although we are currently in last place on the Transformation Challenge board, we have lots of heart, and I think that counts for a lot. I can’t even tell you, blog-reader, how many times I have thought that I could just not eat another scoop of brown rice, or lift one more dumbbell, I hear them cheering me on (whether they are with me or not!). If you are looking for something to help you make the decision to get off your couch and lose weight, or just feel better about yourself, I hope that I can be part of your inspiration. Now that I know what I know about nutrition and fitness, my life is changed forever. I know that is a little cheesy, but I am so grateful for this Transformation Challenge.

Keep going strong ladies! 7 weeks down, 5 to go!

Transformation Challenge - Week Six

I feel really good. I mean that. I feel really, really good. I have been noticing a lot of my habits these days have changed. I enjoy working out, and eating healthy. Don’t get me wrong, there are still moments in the wee hours of the morning where I would rather roll over and go back to bed then go to bootcamp, but I know that it’s worth it. I have been working really hard, and making sure that I take full advantage of this challenge. I am a changed woman.

I have been thinking a lot about attitude this week. My attitude toward food and life has changed. I no longer deal with my stress with cookies and ice-cream. To tell you the truth, blog-reader, I feel less stressed, and I sleep better at night too. Last week I stepped on the scale and found that I had gained two pounds after a really hard week of working out. This was devastating to my self esteem. Even when I said out loud that it didn’t bother me that I had gained weight, it really did. Working out in the beginning of the week seemed like extra pressure. Finally, mid-week, I decided that I can’t dwell on this number anymore. I know that I feel great, my clothes fit better (I fit into pants that I haven’t worn in a year!); and I have the energy to do whatever I want. After being able to get past the numbers, I am really able to fully commit myself to being healthy. So with this new positive attitude I stepped on the scale this Monday to find that I had lost 6 pounds (a total of 7 pounds). 7 pounds lost in 6 weeks may not sound like a huge number, but I can only think about how easy it would be to gain 7 more pounds. It is SO much harder to lose weight than gain it, and I am really proud of myself.

When I look the mirror, I don’t think I look that different to me. I guess I am just me and I see myself all the time. I have been getting tons of positive feedback from friends, and family. I have been noticing HUGE changes in all the ladies in the Transformation Challenge. I see the physical changes in appearance, and I also notice a huge attitude change attitude with everyone. You look great ladies, keep up the good work!

We are halfway through this Challenge. 6 weeks down, 6 weeks to go!

Transformation Challenge - Week Five

Today might not be the most inspiring day to write this blog, blog-reader. This has been a hard week for me physically and even more challenging waking up feeling under the weather this morning. I think that is probably one of the hardest things about doing this challenge…waking up, dragging yourself out of bed even when you feel like you should turn the alarm off, roll over and sleep ALL day. Even after feeling that way this morning, I still, unhappily, rolled out of bed and drove myself in the dark to bootcamp.

Part of this morning’s motivation came from our guest speaker on Saturday, Jeff Troesch, a sports psychologist. I think everyone found a little something different to take away from the presentation, but what really stuck with me is taking it one day at a time. I, myself, am an instant gratification type person with a tendency to look into the future too much, so this is a hard task for me, but it helps! I am setting my goal to get one day better every day. You can only get one day better in one day, right? So every day I push myself a little bit harder because I know I can do it. There are going to be days where you get a little side-tracked from your goal. You might not feel like working out, or maybe you have some cake to celebrate a birthday. Don’t keep kicking yourself! Wake up the next day and get back on track. For me in the past this has been a huge part of it. I ruin one day by having something deliciously fried, or delectably chocolate and I can’t get myself back in the mode. Jeff’s talk really made me realize that, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

I do have to say as challenging things have been in the gym and in life these past five weeks; I have not once cheated myself. Every time I go to work out, I go as hard as I can, even if I feel like I’m going to die. As far as eating goes, it gets easier with time. I know you can’t imagine not having that bowl of icecream after dinner, but I stopped even craving it. I stopped letting food control my life.

I am starting to see a change in myself both mentally and physically. I don’t think I have ever felt this good (not today, feeling under the weather) in my whole life. I never thought that I would be a person that enjoys going to the gym. I always told myself that I don’t have enough energy to work out, but I have more now. I can only tell you about my experience, and hope that it inspires you to take control of your life. Stop making excuses; I know you can do it!

Transformation Challenge ladies, you are looking great and I can’t imagine doing this without you. You inspire me most of all. Keep up the good work! 5 weeks down, 7 to go!