Day 10 of Active Rest

It's been a busy few days. Had our amazing party on Saturday after much trial and tribulation regarding the weather. Everybody made it and we had a great time of fellowship. I was so surprised when Steve made it since I hadn't heard if he was coming or not. When I opened the door and he was standing there, I shrieked and gave him a big hug.

I lost another 2 pounds during active rest so far. I've been taking it a bit easier than right at first. Today I did some yoga stretches and pushups. Yesterday I went for a 3 1/2 to 4 mile run. It was kind of hard as I'm not used to the longer run after doing the 20 minute HIIT.

Catrina's visit came and went so quickly, but it was very pleasant and she fit right into our family! We did a YOUtube video and posted some pictures on photobucket.

I'm feeling a little out of sorts. Busy packing for Vegas and trying to keep up with GB and the Transformation site is a little too much right now. I am looking at Bill Phillips Transformation challenge which is 18 weeks long and has assignments each week. I'm educating myself on the differences between the two.

Active Rest Day 2

Cardio wasn't the nice breezy 'stroll' I thought it would be. It seems my stamina isn't what it used to be. However....I think the results speak for themselves and tons of cardio in not necessary. I also kind of pushed it a little because there was a sweet young thing next to me and I couldn't appear to be the wimp,now could I?

So maybe next cardio time I will take it easier..... Maybe try the elliptical....then again maybe I can talk myself out of that before thursday...hehehe

Tummy is very angry with me today...not sure why! Feels like a balloon is filling up with air...ugh

Right shoulder is still aching a little. It will pass.

Catrina and I talked today about her trip and some planning for the PARTY. It is going to be so fun. I hope the weather doesn't turn nasty....looks like some clouds are moving in for the weekend..boo hoo!

**************MISSION COMPLETE*************

I am sooo happy! Took final pictures today and I am really amazed at the progress they show. If people are skeptical about the program, I hope my photos will give them some hope. I didn't have a ton of weight to lose, but I have been trying to shape things up for a long time with no results! This is my teen daughter's swimsuit!! If you'd like to see where I started, go to older posts link at the bottom of the page.

This Body For Life program has taught me to be patient; to give my body the time it needs to adjust to a healthy and balanced lifestyle!

I look forward to Challenge # 2. I am excited to think of what I will accomplish in the future. Happy Easter!! Thank you Jesus for dying for me! I am forever grateful.

DAY 83 and FINAL WORKOUT OF CHALLENGE 1

Oh my goodness! What a day. So many congratulations from my wonderful friends on the guestbook. I'm tired but soooo very happy!

The most excitement in my day was trying on my 14 year old daughter's bikini. That's right.....my FOURTEEN YEAR OLD (perfect body) daughter's suit! I was SHOCKED...am shocked but it looks great! It will be what I wear in my final pictures we will take tomorrow morning. I honestly could NOT believe it was me. She took a few pictures with her phone and when I saw them I still couldn't believe it was me!

Body for Life has changed mine! It will only get better and better from here. I feel so alive, so accomplished, so amazing, so happy! Who would have thought that near my 45th birthday, I would look better than I did at 17? Well....I can't really remember what I looked like then. hehe But I don't think it was this good!

So tomorrow is Easter...the most sacred day for Christians. This Body for Life has given me a gift, but nothing in comparison to the gift Jesus gave to us all when he took our penalty and died so that we could live with Him forever in eternity! What a GIFT!

3 Compliments in 4 days? :)

Well,

First it was a trainer who asked if I was losing weight, that I looked great. Then it was this beautiful woman from the gym ( I think she's a 'dancer') who commented that I was really"CUTTING IT UP" and that I looked 'REALLY GOOD!' Finally today, a woman told me I was losing inches . I know...this sounds self-indulgent HOWEVER I have worked hard for 11 1/2 weeks. So I think I deserve to hear a few 'well done' and 'WOW' comments. My results started to show around week 7, but just barely. Then week 9 and 10 started to really pick up. I got excited at week 11 and really started pushing harder. The coolest thing about this program is that your first 12 weeks are a training and learning time. Then for challenge 2 I will be a pro! Or at least very knowledgeable and definitely motivated. This program ROCKS!

It takes pure faith in the beginning and some really great friends--I love all my BFL buddies on the Guest book who have encouraged and lifted my spirits.

Gotta love it! ;)

Don't cause another to slip!!!

BFL Mike had more wisdom to pass on today. We were all talking about food! GOOD food. He calls it food porn. In doing that we risk hurting someone else who struggles with food in ways maybe we don't understand. He likened it to an alcoholic standing by while others are taste-testing booze. While we dangle the temptation in front of them, many times they fall and fail.

I , for one, do not want to be the cause of that. So I will be more careful of how I talk about food. No matter how innocent it was, causing someone to mess up isn't worth it.

I had a good HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)--good because now it's OVER!! Only 2 more until Challenge # 1 is el DONE-O!!

WEEK 12 HERE I COME!!!

It's Monday...first day of week 12. For the first time today a trainer said something about my transformation. She asked if I was losing weight. I told her I was and about the program. She said it was definitely noticeable and I looked good! :) It's so nice when people make comments. Made me feel really happy!

I leg pressed more today (45 lb each side) and did lunges while holding 5,10,25 and 35 pound weights in each hand. I also did the AB boot camp for the first time.

I am busy planning for our BFL Gathering and am very excited to be doing this for the Colorado community! All of us are working together to plan some fun and interesting time here for Catrina-who is visiting from Virginia.

Busy Monday so must go for now. Final Week...I will make it the best!

Welcome Saturday: WEEK 11 FINISHED

It is Saturday and I have just completed my 11th week. This feels good. I've been working on my essay and getting some helpful feedback from several of my Bfl friends and mentors. Hi Deb! My right shoulder stills pains me a bit, but the ice seems to help some. I think I've decided to try the ole tanning lotion for my final pictures. Funny what we're willing to do to look good eh?

It's FRIDAY of week 11!

My upper body workout was great today. My right shoulder is barking at me, but I will ice it later. I just wrote my rough draft for my essay. It's fun to reflect back on the weeks behind and see how far I've come.

My biggest change is in how I view myself. That's a miracle in itself and a battle I've fought all my life since my fight with Anorexia Nervosa in high school.

So, good day! Haven't caught up on GB much today. Got some letters on email from my Mom! Always lifts me up to here from her! She's the best!

WHERE DID THE TIME GO???

Slippery roads today and it took me a while at the gym....mysterious time hog.....Not sure why a 20 minute cardio took me over 45 minutes.....and hubby came to pick me up and asked why it took me so long today. I guess I am taking longer than I think to say Hi or go potty.....:( I will have to learn to be more efficient....esp. on snowy/icy days when the hubster is kind enough to drive me...

I increased my incline to 1.5 and ran the spreadsheet for treadmill (7.5) for my base speed. It was as hard as doing no incline and 8.1 base speed. Surprising. Also, this is the day after Lower body so that can also explain the extra difficulty.... I DID IT THOUGH! So Yay me! :)

Last minute Jitters

OK....Week 11 Jitters

The only way I can describe this, is that for weeks now I’ve been standing in this loooooong line. It was so long I couldn’t see the front, but I kept moving up one person day by day. Now there’s one person in front of me and it’s like I’m next to get this HUGE shot in my arm..Good grief. I know it’s not a bad thing to be finishing this first challenge. But now I have to get all my ducks in a row and they’ve been running all over the place. SO...I have a little over a week to do my final push to the end. Lots of thoughts about all the wonderfully positive things that have happened while "standing in this line."

Thank goodness that at the end, I don’t have a HUGE shot in my arm, but a HUGE shot of confidence in the new body I AM creating, and joy in knowing I am just beginning because TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF MY BFL LIFE!

Wednesday of Week 11

Had a really good Lower body workout. Afterward my daughter and I went to do a little dress shopping. I thought I'd go ahead and try on some 2 piece swimsuits. It was kind of a disaster. My stomach still has a gross layer of that cellulite....I know.... on it and to put it mildly, it was NOT flattering.

So, a little down, but I am reminding myself that it isn't perfection I'm striving towards but consistency and excellence for ME. I still would like to decrease the surplus blubber...:) but I am realizing that this may take more time.

Since this is a lifestyle....I will move forward, re-set my attitude and continue to make POSITIVE changes in my life.

This is just a little speed bump along the way!