Warning -- this will not be a well-written post: Status Report

Just checking in folks.  It's been too long.  Quick catch up:  Finished the Biggest Loser Challenge (BLC) on March 31, 2012. 
Arica, wild woman, awesome mom and wife, all around overachiever, took first place by losing a whoppin' 30.2 pounds!  She took home the $120 grand price, plus some extra money for being best of week, best of month, oh she just can't stop herself!

I took second with 17 lbs lost, and my friend Cheryl took third with 18.7 pounds lost.  I won only based on percentages, so really, we tied for second place in my mind.

This was a great experience for me -- mostly because my friends stuck by me and participated in what always seems like a difficult or at least uncomfortable endeavor -- the attempt to lose weight.  Also, because I had some success, and because I felt a part of other people's success.  That really is a great feeling. 

And another reason doing the BLC was a true success for me is because it got my mind right about moving forward in my health.  The BLC, through the competition (but more through the accountability factor), helped flush out the weary excuses that I used to let the inertia of sitting still stop me from even trying.  It changed that inertia from a stationary body to a body in motion.  It gave me a fantastic start to the new year. 

Now, as we trundle on into April, I'm not regretting the weight I gained over the winter, because I lost some of that weight.  Now, with the weather finally warming, the prospect of getting off my butt and moving is less dismal as it had been in the winter cold and rain (sometimes hail and snow).  I unbelievably, actually, much to my own surprise, did get my butt moving in those dark depressing times, so continuing this process into beautiful temps has only gained momentum.

I cannot express how grateful I am to my friends that joined me and kept me on track.

This all became crystal clear to me how different my attitude is, my yearnings, when I sat in front of my computer at work at 4:00, looking out the windows at the dark clouds and rain wondering if it would be clear enough to walk the bridge and get that extra 1.2 miles of walking in.  Wondering if it might be worth it to walk in the slashing sideways rain anyway.  Even though I'd walked over the bridge in the morning.  Even though I'd walked over a mile at lunch with a friend.  Strangely, I wanted more! Checking the hourly weather report to see if the rain might break by 5:00, and yes, it was supposed to!  And at 4:58, changing my shoes as fast as I could, HAPPY that it wasn't raining, and dashing out to walk the bridge.

Four months ago I wasn't even sure I could waddle over the bridge in good enough time to make the bus.  Four months ago, a walk at lunch was more than enough to make me feel like I'd had enough.  Four months ago I'd be happy it was raining so I had an excuse not to walk, instead of being disappointed in obstacles that prevented me from getting my walks in.  Four months ago I didn't plan ahead to make sure I got that exercise in or had good food to choose from. 

Now, I have changed my work hours adjusting start and stop times to 15 minutes earlier so I can properly dress for hot weather walking (which means giving me time to change into workout clothes and out of my work clothes).  I've bought more walking attire, replaced my worn walking shoes, seeking a good hat to protect my face from the sun.  I have brought supplies to work to "refresh" after my walk in.  Bought a good backpack to bring my work clothes in to change into when I get there, out of when I leave there.  I think in terms of making it as easypeasy and as practical as possible to meet my walking and nutritional needs.  We're into the second quarter of the year -- it only took three months to get from there to here, and I'm still standing, and I really like it.  It didn't kill me.  I haven't given up anything I enjoy to do and have found I enjoy this more.

Next challenge:  The Game On Diet (Vernoff and Ferguson).  With this momentum, a few of my BLC participants have decided to keep on keepin' on with a new challenge.  Still in the planning process, but hope to get started by mid-month, or maybe end of month.  Might also get a few others involved. 

Well, it's time to get started on my day.  Get my food supplies for work bought and sorted.  Finish reading The Game On Diet.