10 Week Transformation Challenge

It’s so hard to believe it’s over! The 10 Week New Year New You Transformation Challenge has been done for about a week now, perfect time for a recap.

I remember walking into the meeting room on a cold Saturday morning in January to see a few slightly  familiar faces and a whole lot of strangers. Getting an actual ‘meal plan’ (me! follow a meal plan… I could never… except, that was the whole point). I remember getting my initial weigh in and body comp and realizing that I’d gained 5 lbs of fat since the early fall. I remember going over the workouts and feeling intimidated by the free weight area of the gym. I remember writing up my motivational statement to prepare myself. I remember knowing that I’d only succeed at this if I challenged some negative beliefs about myself.

Now I’m a lot leaner, a lot more confident, and have some great new friends. I definitely changed some beliefs about myself that were holding me back. Before this challenge I thought I could never follow a “diet”. Well, I did. Not only did I follow it, I understood the patterns and science behind it so that I can now eat in a way that makes me happy, body and mind. Before this challenge I thought I could never motivate myself to finish workouts as given without a trainer or class there to challenge me. Well, I did it. I can go to the gym, printout in hand, and get it done. All. By. Myself. Before this challenge I had some mixed up thoughts about when in the day I could exercise. These led me to give up if my optimal time had passed. Now I know that I can (and will) get it done whenever I get the chance. Before this challenge I would use a cold as an excuse to take a week or more off from the gym, eating whatever I wanted. Now I know that my body needs a few days rest and a few extra treats but that’s it. Before this challenge I was worried that my days of being able to carry my girlie up the stairs were rapidly ending. Now I can hoist her little body up those stairs no problem. Unless I just did a heavy arm workout… then it has to be a piggyback:-)

So, I’ve talked about beliefs lost and gained. Let’s talk numbers. I’ve gone over and over in my head whether I wanted to post my actual numbers or not. I’ve read some really powerful things about taking the power from the scale. I’ve looked at hundreds of pictures of women with my same numbers at mybodygallery.com. I decided that, as women, we imbue our numbers with way too much power. I decided that, if I’m going to take my Motivational Statement (more on that in a smidge) seriously then it’s my job to lead by example. Please remember that these are my numbers, my body, and that we all have our own “stuff”. This is a power and pride thing for me. Taking the power from the numbers and taking pride in the changes. The only person we should compare ourselves to is ourself.

So here goes:

January 5
Weight: 130.2lbs
Body Fat: 26.5%
Chest: 31.5in
Waist: 33.75in
Hips: 38.25in
R Upper Thigh: 22.25in
R Upper Arm: 9.75in

March 16
Weight: 119.4lbs= down 10.8lbs
Body Fat: 21.3%= down 5.2%
Chest: 30.5in= down 1in
Waist: 32in= down 1.75in
Hips: 36.5in= down 1.75in
R Upper Thigh: 21.5in= down .75in
R Upper Arm: 11in= increase 1.25in

So now what? The past week I’ve been floundering a bit. I went to a couple classes (man was I missing a regular yoga practice!). I’ve been eating mindfully but a little heavier on the treats. The next few weeks will be quite yoga-centric as far as workouts go. I’m planning a return of push-up/pull-up day so I don’t lose what I’ve gained in those areas. I’ll be meal planning and logging in Myfitnesspal. Then, on April 6 (wow, exactly 13 weeks from that first weigh-in) I’ll be meeting with Heather to start my new, 12 week exercise plan.
I can’t wait.

So as for that Motivational Statement I was talking about? I’ve been revising and revising the post I originally wrote for Why I Run. I printed it and pasted it into the front cover of my workout notebook. When I wanted to quit? I read it. When I wanted to sit back with an extra glass of wine and some chocolate or half a loaf of bread with butter? I read it. While I ate breakfast on those Saturday mornings when everyone else was asleep and I was up to work out and weigh in? I read it.

This notebook went EVERYWHERE with me the past 10 weeks.

Motivation

Why Do I Want This?

I want this because I want my girlie to grow up to be a strong, independent, healthy woman. I weight train because I want her to know that women can be strong, and powerful. I weight train because in a few short years it will be vitally important for her to know that muscles are infinitely sexier than bones. I run because I want her to know that sometimes there are hills and humid afternoons and chilly mornings and the feeling of beating them is ever so much better than the feeling of defeat. I work out because I want her to know that the feeling of defeat is a hell of a lot better than the feeling of not trying. I run because I want her to know that getting out there and having a great run after a bad run is better than just having a great run. I practice yoga because my head is in a better space and I’m a better mom walking out of the studio than I was walking in. I practice yoga because I want my girlie to breathe through her strain, to stop and listen and really look at the world. I practice yoga because I want her to learn to be still, really still, amidst the chaos.

I want this because I want my girlie to grow up to be a strong, independent, healthy woman and the only way I can see to make that happen is to be the example.

I want this because when she is that strong, independent, healthy woman I want to be there with her.

What do you want? Why do you want it?