Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Final chapter

I thought it would be fun to write the final chapter to this 100 day challenge and give a recap of what this challenge has meant to me.
I feel like a different person, one who is stronger and happier. It really isn't all about the numbers--I am still the tortoise in the race, but my race isn't over yet. I am really happy that I have lost 10 pounds and can wear a size 8-10. It has been fun to see reaction of others--many think I weigh alot less than I do (muscle weighs more than fat). I still have my "jowls of life" and Relief Society arms but they are getting firmer. After all my fat still has some of their squatters rights but they are being rezoned.
I still have multiple personalities and OCD but they all know what a good portion size is now.
I am still taking baby steps and hitting speed bumps but balance and endurance have increased to handle the little set backs.
Because I am Swiss I have always said that I have cheese and chocolate running through my veins (that may be the cause of my high cholesterol). But both cheese and chocolate can be shaped and molded and this challenge has helped me do just that, my body is not the same as it was when I started.
I am now the sponge who is leaking information to others as they ask what I have been doing. Hopefully I can encourage others to do their own 100 day challenge. I know I am looking forward to the sequel----the next 100 days.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Going from I think I can to I know I can

As the 100 days are winding down I thought I would share some the the things that I can do as opposed to some of the things I never thought I could do.
I can now blog (and for someone who is not computer literate, that is a big deal).
I can now work with weights and weight machines (I still don't know the proper names of them, but that's ok, they will always be referred to as torture machines that can mold and sculpt the body into better shape).
I can now breath when on the treadmill (this has been one of my hardest things to do).
I can run/walk a 5K (this is still a goal to be able to run the full 5k without walking or dying).
I now have a different mind set when it comes to numbers in my weight and clothes size. (It's doesn't matter what the scale says when you know you are healthy.)
I am becoming an intuitive eater and find that I like more vegetables than first thought.
I can now wear my daughters hand me down clothes (this has been really fun for me as they have way more style than I will ever have).
I can cook healthy meals that taste good and not feel like I am missing anything. I can even have dessert!
I can go shopping and buy clothes in the regular section of the store and have them fit.
I can and have made some every good friends through these last 95 days. I too would like to keep in touch, as all of you have been an inspiration to me.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Ducks in a Row

When things are out of whack in my life I use a saying that my "ducks are not in a row". Which means that the order in my life is out of sync. When my "ducks are in a row" everything in my life seems to flow smoothly. So to be so close to the end of this challenge and find my "ducks not in a row" is unsettling. Now we all have our ducks, some of mine are: stress, time management, yard work, house work, demands of kids and grandkids, Church callings, husbands, finances, making big decisions, being tired...and the list goes on.
When my "ducks " get out of control and seem to want to take over my orderly routine is when life seems to fall apart or as some say hit the wall. This doesn't happen very often, most of the time only one duck strays and it is very easy to put it back in line, the trouble comes when there is a major rebellion and all ducks scatter.
I am hoping to tame the ducks and put them back in line before the end of this challenge. After all in order to continue this challenge after next week it is going to take some major duck taming techniques, which I have been learning through these last 100 days.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Not always as it seems

I have been watching the Biggest Loser for a couple of years now and always had a favorite that I thought should win. I was so disappointed last night with the weigh ins. I have decided that it is more important to be healthy than be thin. The winners just didn't look good to me, they looked emaciated where others looked healthy. The numbers aren't everything and everyone who applied themselves at the Biggest Loser Ranch was a winner in my book.
I am so glad for this challenge and know that all of us are winners. It's not about how much we have lost but rather how much we have gained. I know I am not where I want to be for the rest of my life, but I am so much closer than I have been in the last 25 years and I now have the knowledge to continue until I reach "my personal happy weight (and it is not my unrealistic High School weight)". So here's to the next 100 days and what they will bring.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Looking at things differently

Today I was able to run the 5K "Race for the Cure" with Cressent. What a wonderful experience! There were so many people there and such a feeling of love and support. My husband also ran the race and since he had his knee scoped in March I could beat him. On the way home from the race I knew this was something we could do together, with me pushing him now and when he recovers I know he will be pushing me to do better (we were both just hoping to finish).
There is so much to be grateful for and being in this challenge is right up there on my list. I have learned more and done more than I ever thought that I could. I am taking each day and enjoying the journey that it brings and if I can help anyone else along the way so much the better. There have been so many good examples in this group of women (as well as trainers and Traci), we are not just enduring to the end of this challenge because this is not the end of the journey.
I am no longer called the "Walking Nazi" by my walking group, I am now the "Running Nazi" (I think they like it when I am not there so they can just walk). I still do the walk/run but the running is improving and I was able to run most of the 5K and still breath.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Endorphins

I have found something even more addicting than food. It's endorphins. I love the feeling of exercising and replacing the stress of the world with the endorphins that come thru exercising. Wednesday I had a hard time getting going, there were things that needed to get done and not enough time to do them in (this is getting to be a normal occurrence for me). But as I started to do the elliptical all the stress seemed to melt away, I call it going to my happy place where time stands still and I can think and organize what needs to be done. So after exercising my day is all lined up in my head and seems to flow better. I also find that my body craves the endorphins and they are so much better for me than sweets. I still enjoy the sweets but do not crave them anymore. This is a big step for me and personally I think endorphins should be added to the four basic food groups.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Living in the Present

I have finally come to the conclusion that "The Glory Days" are gone forever. My "Glory Days" were when I weighed 110 without trying, never thought about what I was eating, never exercised on a regular basis or even thought about it and bought clothes because they were cute never worrying about what size they were because they were all single digits. They are also the days that I would wear a swimsuit out in public without people screaming and running in fear of the big white blubbery monster.
This challenge has taught me that it doesn't matter what my weight is if I am healthy and toned. I do need to worry about what is going in my mouth as the hand to mouth exercise is not on the recommended list (although it is the easiest exercise and can be done with unlimited repetitions). Size does not matter in clothes, however, I still find it challenging to find cute clothes that fit and are age appropriate for me. And wearing a swim suit will not start a panic of some monster attacking the city (after all nobody looks at anyone over 50).
Last week I went shopping with my oldest daughter and it was the first time we were able to wear the same size ever as I have never been below a size 12-14 since she was a teenager (ok, she had a baby in Feb. and is not back to her size 6 yet). The clothes didn't fit us in the same way as she is 4 inches taller than me and 5 pounds lighter, but it was fun to see what looked good on me and to get some constructive criticism about what I should be looking for in clothes. I haven't looked at what was fashionable in years because I never thought I could wear it.
I guess I am almost ready to start phase three of this challenge for me. Phase one was learning how to exercise and use weights (getting rid of the jowls). Phase two was learning how and what to eat. And phase three is learning how to dress this new transformed body that is still transforming hopefully into something permanent. So here's to the new "Glory Days" of being over 50 and fit.