Saturday evening, I posted a progress pic. It wasn’t explicitly a progress pic, but it helped show my progress from a few weeks ago, before I began the challenge. I stated, “Feeling great. Feeling solid. Feeling confident”, with the image of me beside my treadmill on day thirty of the 50 5ks in 50 days challenge, I challenged myself to (and gratefully others are doing with me!). It was also day 20 of the Whole30 portion of the LES challenge.

This morning, I decided to weigh myself – since it is the half-way point for the challenge and all. No change........hear those crickets? No. Change. How in the world can this be? For thirty days I have been logging 3.1 miles (that’s 93 miles!) EVERY day. Well it must be the food you’re eating, one could say. Well, for twenty of those days, I have been eating clean, whole foods; foods without chemicals, unprocessed, and super good for me. That CAN’T be it.

This is where I should say something like, “Well, my resting heart rate is down. My sleep is more solid and deep, which is good. My energy levels are up and I rarely feel the afternoon slump. I’m cooking for my family every day, and I love that my husband and daughters appreciate it. And well, I DO feel a lot closer to God without all the junk making me feel weird. I’m hopefully prolonging my life and setting myself up to deter chronic disease. Oh, and I’m not experiencing negative symptoms resembling autoimmune disease, anxiety, depression, etc.” All this is absolutely true. But you know what? I expected to see the number DOWN. I expect to see something different in the mirror. And frankly, it irritates me. Not because I rely on the number on the scale or my body’s alignment with my own ideal body image to make me happy, but I would like to have had an improvement in physique going into spring break. Heck, never mind spring break, WHO WOULDN’T EXPECT A NOTICEABLE PHYSIQUE CHANGE WITH ALL THE SACRIFICES BEING MADE AND EFFORT GIVEN – regardless of if there was a chance to showcase those sacrifices or not?!

So what gives? It could be a number of things…

• I could have chosen a day where I was retaining water, from my diet and sodium intake.
• I could have a sizeable amount of bowel in my intestines (ew gross, I know).
• I could be doing too much cardio and my metabolism has slowed (I suspect this is part of it).
• I might not be eating enough food to meet the demands of my body, and my metabolism has slowed.
• The number of calories I’m consuming equal the number needed to maintain my weight, with the exercise I am doing.
• The cardio has tapped into my muscle gains, decreasing my muscle mass, also decreasing my metabolism.
• I may be consuming too many carbohydrates for MY body, despite the fact they are approved and good for me.
• I may be consuming too much protein, it is being converted to sugar, then fat – if I’m not utilizing it all in my daily activity.
• My macros for burning fat, may not be “right” for me.
• I didn’t check my body composition, I could have gained muscle and the number alone does not reflect this gain (those quads pumping every day, this could be part of it).
• Perhaps I’m not seeing the change, but others can. (I really should have taken legit before photos)

I’m sure there are other variables that could be playing a role, but these come to mind. What am I going to do? Throw in the towel and say, “Forget it, I’m having the chocolate and cookie and peanut M&M’s and glass of wine!” Nope. I’m going to acknowledge irritation is just a feeling and let it go. Because all the benefits I mentioned DO matter to me and they are non-scale victories I appreciate. However, I am going to change a few variables I know I have control of. Mix it up a bit and see if I can come up with a different equation that will provide a different result, because the image I have for myself IS important to me. It just isn’t what drives me.

1. I’m going to start with cardio. I think it has been too much. But, I’m keeping my commitment to the challenge, because that is also important to me. I’m going to do MORE walking throughout the day, rather than get it all in, in one lump.
2. I’m going to lift HEAVY at least three times per week (I began doing this last week).
3. I’m going to eliminate all the potatoes, bananas, and nuts I have been liberally consuming.
4. I’m going to reduce the number of tortillas I consume; again, they are approved, but could be part of my stall.
5. I’m going to shift to a more fat based diet, to allow for ketosis to kick in (I presume this is implied whenever reading “the body is learning to burn fat, rather than sugars” in the Whole30 literature), not to be confused with ketoacidosis.
6. I’m going to incorporate intermittent fasting on some days.
7. I’m going to enjoy more relaxing exercises like yoga and stretching.

We’ll see what this does for me the next few weeks. I presume I’ll see a difference, but if not, I’ll simply troubleshoot again. I'm sure that cookie that has been tempting me all morning wouldn't have been wroth it anyway, and I KNOW it certainly won't help me get closer to my goals...right?! ;)

I ate my first meal with a good amount of protein and healthy fat this morning. I have pretty much been eating things like white rice, yogurt, oatmeal, nuts and soup broths the past week, and it was still not bland enough to help my tummy. So far I am doing alright with breakfast. And I'm hopeful.

Hopeful I can get back into my routine this week and hopeful I will be able to function normally again. I'm pretty sure I either had a very aggressive stomach bug, or came into contact with some food poisoning. At any rate, here's to hoping it is behind me and moving on!

This week should look like this, and I am going to take it a bit easier with MORE restorative sessions:

1. Four strength sessions
2. One HIIT sessions
3. Three LISS sessions
4. Three stretch sessions

hoped to begin working out in the mornings, but I'm not. I am going to leave my prayer and devotion time a lone and continue to workout over lunch. It is so important to start my day right and I have learned working out over lunch really works for me.

I kept track of all the weight I lifted this week, and the plan is to use the same weight this upcoming week or maybe even bump it up five pounds or so. Boom! I'm excited to get back into a good routine. The countdown to spring break has already begun in our home ;)

Tuesday

1. Bench Press
    3 sets of 6-8 reps
2. Rows
    3 sets of 6-8 reps
3. Incline Dumbbell Press
    3 sets of 8-10 reps
4. Lat Pull-Downs
    3 sets of 8-10 reps
5. Lateral Raises
    2 sets of 10-12 reps
6. Triceps Press-Downs
     2 sets of 10-12 reps
7. Dumbbell Curls
     2 sets of 10-12 reps

Wednesday

1. Romanian Deadlifts
    3 sets of 6-8 reps
2. Leg Press
    3 sets of 10-12 reps
3. Seated Leg Curls
    3 sets of 8-10 reps
4. Standing Calf Raises
    4 sets of 6-8 reps
5. Abs
    x sets of 8-15 reps

Thursday – Enjoy a rest day and do some stretching along with walking

Friday

1. Assisted Pull-Ups
    3 sets of 6-8 reps
2. Barbell Shoulder Press
    3 sets of 6-8 reps
3. Seated Cable Row
    3 sets of 8-10 reps
4. Dumbbell Bench Press
    3 sets of 8-10 reps
5. Dumbbell Flyes
    2 sets of 10-12 reps
6. Barbell Curls
    2 sets of 10-12 reps
7. Skull Crushers
    2 sets of 10-12 reps

Saturday

1. Squats
    3 sets of 6-8 reps
2. Split Squats
    3 sets of 6 - 8 reps
3. Laying Leg Curls
    3 sets of 10-12 reps
4. Seated Calf Raises
    4 sets of 10-12 reps
5. Abs
    x sets of 8-15 reps

It’s here, day 43 of the challenge. I haven’t updated the past two weeks, for two reasons. One, I pretty much experienced the same thing for the past two weeks. Two, I have been busy and I didn’t take the time to do it. But here is a brief update:

Days 29 – 35, not much took place. I continued to have a ton of energy. I continued to eat Whole30. I continued feeling really good. From an exercise standpoint, my enthusiasm waned. I didn’t get as many work outs in as I would have liked, but it was ok. From a spiritual standpoint, God continued to become more prominent in every aspect of my life. I sensed a new direction for devotions. I sensed what my next steps were. And I really settled into the lifestyle being lived for the past several weeks.

Days 36 – 42, a lot seemed to take place, from a task perspective. Work, home projects, projects with my daughters – all kept me busy. Busy kept me out of the gym. I still don’t feel guilty about it, but I am ready to get back into a four times a week routine. A couple of the gals and I were able to meet for dinner Friday, and I am blown away by what God has done, is doing and will continue to do! Seriously. I am overwhelmed at how things came together – I’m in awe.

Last Wednesday we collectively decided to begin re-introduction, so we were ready to go into Thanksgiving informed and prepared. I learned quickly gluten is not my friend. I had a pretty serious reaction to it when I re-introduced it last week. Needless to say, I am steering clear of it, from here on out. Rice seems to be ok, as well as peanut butter. I’m not much of a dairy person, so I see myself leaving it out completely, but I will re-introduce tomorrow.

Where am I with weight loss? I am down three pounds and some inches. Again, not a dramatic change compared to others, but that’s ok. I have gained SO MUCH MORE from this challenge. I am more sensitive to the Holy Spirit than I have been in a long time. I feel energetic and wake up ready to go every day. My relationship with my husband has improved 100 fold. My children and I are much closer and more devoted to one another. I have gained some pretty wonderful friendships and I have a clear vision of God’s will for my life.

This is why I don’t see much changing. I thought I would take a break from Thanksgiving until January, simply because I felt I “deserved” it. However, after some conversations, time in God’s Word and presence yesterday, and then two messages that came from two separate Pastors, I need to “Keep going”. It doesn’t make sense to potentially undo all that has been gained, just to have a break. It makes more sense to keep in place the very elements that have brought me here, and see just how further He can take me.

So, I am going to begin the Shepherdess study Monday, December 1st; I have no idea how long this may go, but it could be a while. I am going to transition to Paleo indefinitely. Finally, I am going to work out four days per week, incorporating lifting and HIIT cardio. In the meantime, I am going to finish strong and encourage my husband and girlfriends to do the same. I am going to look forward to date night this weekend, and celebrate our crossing the “finish line” TOGETHER. And then I am going to enthusiastically “keep going”!