New Month New Goals

Yes I did! I finished it! And here are the results...

Before and after pics, and my attempt at posing. Not a significant difference visually, but a huge difference internally. The scale reflects a two pound loss. And I believe I accomplished exactly what I set out to, which was, "...to be well. To live joyfully. To overcome habits that appear to hold me back. To not be held back by my past and comfort zones." Here are my non-visual, non-scale results:

New eating habits, new caloric baseline, feel better, sleep better, gained confidence in my body's ability to exercise and perform with proper fuel and prepared for the next challenge. Each of the first five directly feed into the sixth.

The new eating habits are huge! I read all the time, "abs are made in the kitchen". This phrase is on memes, well known body building sites, and the like. The statement implies that what is put into the body, ultimately has a greater impact on the body, than one may think. After the past several weeks, I really believe I have the nutrition side of working for a leaner physique, down. Not only that, but the marked improvements in how I feel and the diminishing of symptoms, are indicators I am doing something my body needs. So what did I do right after the challenge? I drank a diet coke, had some chocolate,  and ate sweets.

I ended up feeling VERY tired and run down, quick. Those few items, on just one day, has me convinced I want to stay in line with whole/paleo eating as I move into the next phase. The next phase includes decreasing my calories for fat loss, which I mentioned in the last post. As a result of this challenge, I know I have a healthy caloric baseline to move down from. I understand my BMR (basal metabolic rate) and I have a plan that allows me to fuel my lifting (which is going to be HEAVY - 90% of my max) days with extra calories when I need them, and function at my BMR alone, on days I don't lift. The plan I will be working to for the next eight weeks requires I feel good about what my body can handle, and I do! I feel so good these days, I feel like I can take on anything right now. I am also sleeping so good, the energy I have has me wanting to do more. 

I can't help but look back and recall where I was, not too long ago. As I mentioned in my post a couple weeks ago, my daily thought patterns were completely different than they are now. Now I am able to look forward with confidence my body can take on the challenges it was unable to, just a short while ago. I have had to build up to this, but the challenge the past several weeks, certainly helped build the confidence I needed to begin my new plan. I say new plan, but really it is the plan my trainer gave me a couple years ago, and I just could not execute it. I was weak physically, I did not have the wherewithal to  adhere to the proper

dietary guidelines, I was stressed to the max with matters in my personal life, and had distanced myself from God at the time. I know I am not the same person now, as I was then. I know I have what is needed to take on and complete this next challenge. Yes, it will last eight weeks, then I have spring break, then I am back at it for fourteen weeks. But I get ahead of myself. Right now, tomorrow is what directly lies ahead of me.

One day, one moment at a time is the only way I can approach any challenge. Staying in the Word, sleeping well, eating whole-God-made food, lifting heavy, and doing minimal cardio every day will empower me to go farther, push harder, love others and myself much, inspire and give me the energy to play often, and ultimately enable me, to be ME.

Have a fantastic Sunday and here is to a great February!