WE WON!!!

So we won!!! Yeah!!! Of course the money is great and I am going to continue this journey. In fact the whole team is. I know we can do this. My teammates have become family. This is a bond that we will have forever. Thanks Lori, KM, Jen and Sarah. Let's get to our next goals.

One Door Closes, Another Opens...

The results are in and I am sooo proud of what I was able to accomplish in 4 weeks - that's right, FOUR weeks as there were 2 weeks where I was not able to exercise at all as a result of an ongoing illness and Doctor's orders.

I cannot believe my results in such a short time.; 4 pounds and change lost, 6 inches lost and down 2 jean sizes (from a 30 to a 28!) And while I know it would've been better with the 2 additional weeks, I'm satisfied that I did all I could with the hand I was dealt.

But even more important then what the scale and the measuring tape show, I am emotionally a different person now than I was 6 weeks ago. I am loving the control I have over my weight - I love how I decide. So with that power, I am choosing to continue this journey - to reach my goal and to then keep myself where I need to be; healthy, happy and confident in the way I look; finally! I joined a gym, have personal training sessions scheduled 3 times a week for the next 12 weeks and with daylight savings time and our step contest still going, I plan to do A LOT of intervals!

I want to thank my team incredible members - Jen, Hilary, Katherine Marie and Sarah - for talking me off the ledge every time I was going to do something crazy like workout when I wasn't supposed to. And even more than that, they helped me not feel so guilty about not giving what I wanted to give during the 2 weeks I had to take off. It made all the difference for me emotionally, as normally, I would have just given up and rendered the situation hopeless. I am so lucky to have been teamed with such amazing ladies and I know that we will continue this journey as a source of support for each other and will go places we never thought possible, together.

I also want to thank my family - mostly for allowing me the time I needed to make all this happen, without making me feel bad for missing time with them. As mothers, we are always conflicted about these kinds of choices and having a great support system at home that actually says "mom, you look so good!" makes me realize that they want the same things I do - a mom who is happy, healthy and feeling good at every stage of her life.

I am so grateful to Nik for doing this contest as it really was the catalyst for positive change in my life. Sure, it was the money at first, but now I know it's much more than that - effin' brilliant Nik!

So the contest is over, but the race is not. The goal has shifted from 6 weeks to forever. And while I'm sad to see the door close on the 6 week contest, I am super excited for the door that's about to open to let this strong, healthy, better version of me walk through.

See you all at the gym :-)

In gratitude...

First Goal Reached

I DID IT! I reached my 12 pound weight loss for the competition. I'm so, so, so, so excited that I was able to reach that target in such a short amount of time.

I'm 1/5 of my way into my overall weight-loss goal but I'm not giving myself a timeline. I realized throughout this that one of the reasons I never succeeded before was that I would set an unrealistic date for "success", not reach my unrealistic target goal, and then give up.

I don't want to give up on myself this time- I'm pushing through and will continue this journey until I'm at my target weight.

Week 6: It's all about Finishing Strong!

So last week I committed to finishing strong, and I am proud to say that I did just that! The past 7 days have been all about working out - hard - and eating really right.

I did 3 days of strength training and 7 days straight of interval training for cardio. I walked everywhere and anywhere I could and the diet was spot on - I didn't even have cake at the monthly birthday celebration, not even a taste of frosting which is a total weakness for me.

But will it be enough to at least make up for some of the 2 weeks of exercising I missed as a result of the staph infection I suffered? Who knows! All I know is I did everything I could possibly do and while I'm nervous about weighing in, I am also optimistic that the scale and the measuring tape will have some good news for me.

Until tomorrow...wish me luck!

When Lori initially came to me with this challenge I was “Yeah! Absolutely!” But in thinking about actually having to do it, my thoughts were anything but positive. “It’s going to be hard. I don’t want to give up burgers, fries, bread, etc. I don’t have time to do this.” And the ultimate excuses, “I can’t because I am nursing” and “It’s going to take time away from the baby.” Fortunately, I had enough wits about me to recognize them for what they were, excuses. So when the challenge started I was ready and sort of willing to make changes in my life.

My motivation was wanting to be healthier and to feel better about myself. I wanted to get back the body, attitude and self confidence I had at my wedding, less than 2 years ago. When I saw the before pictures and my starting weight I wanted to cry. I weighed more than I did right after giving birth!

I struggled in the first weeks, but with more time spent working out with Nik and on my own, logging my food, blogging and seeking and finding support in my teammates, I noticed a change. And it wasn’t really about weight loss. It was my attitude.

I looked forward to the workouts, I made smart food choices without feeling deprived, I felt better about myself overall and I was actually making change happen in my life. Stairs and double veg and quick jogs and deadlifts using the baby as my weight. Don’t get me wrong, I had my moments, but overall, I could feel an optimism stealing over me. When I started seeing physical changes - 3 pounds, 5 pounds, 9 pounds, 2” off my waist then 3.5” and finally throwing away maternity clothes - it was awesome!

Now 6 weeks later, I am stronger, healthier and smarter. I am also 14 pounds lighter and my waist is 6” smaller. But this is only the beginning. The new habits I have started will not end tomorrow with the contest, but are just a starting point.

I would like to thank Nik for giving me this opportunity to make a change, my teammates for always being there for me and my husband and two boys for supporting me and cheering me on in their own way (Mommy, you’re not fat anymore!).

I am looking forward to losing the next 14 in the months to come. Bring it on.

Hilary-I’m Worth It-Final Post before we win!!!

As you know I was the heaviest I’ve ever been in my life. I weighed more than when I was 9 months pregnant and I didn’t want to put my head in the sand anymore. I was at a point in my life were I need to choose a path. My choices were to continue down the path I was heading which was unhealthy and unfit. The future was close on getting diabetes and high blood pressure. Or to chose a different path and to get fit and fabulous in my 40’s. I choose the later.

Obviously this weigh gain wasn’t put on overnight. I’ve basically tried every diet out there. Which in the end I gained more back than I lost and messed up my metabolism along the way. I was trying to do this with no exercise. Well I’ve learned that is not possible for long term weight loss and happiness.

My motivations are:

1. Live a long and healthy life. I’m doing this for my son and husband but ultimately I’m doing it for me because I’m worth it!
2. Look hot in a sexy black dress.
3. Run a 5k this year, a 10k next year and then who knows.
4. Look and feel wonderful in a bathing suit.
5. Family trip to Hawaii in 2012.

I’ve learned life changing habits:

1. Eating right and journaling everything no matter what. It keeps me accountable.
2. Eating protein at every meal and eating every 3 hours.
3. Exercising and not just the same thing day in and day out. Interval training and weight lifting is the key to success.
4. It is ok to mess up. Just get right back on. We are human and life is not perfection.
5. I am an emotional eater and the first step to success is to know what my triggers are and I’m on my way.
6. Love myself. Most importantly love myself for who I am. And not to beat myself up for mistakes that I’ve made along the way.

I started this contest wearing size 16 jeans and now I wear size 10 jeans. I’ve gone down 3 sizes. I’ve lost 16 pounds. And I’m also down 7 inches. All in 6 weeks!!!! And this is just the beginning.

I want to thank my teammates as without them I might have lost my motivation along the way. They have been my anchors. They have inspired and motivated me along the way. They were there when I needed a shoulder to cry on and believe me I cried. We have become such a close group. I’ve learned so much about my teammates over the last 6 weeks. This is a bond that we will share for a lifetime. They are an incredible group of ladies.

I want to thank Nik for this contest. While winning the money would be nice I wanted to start this contest to get my life back. It was the jump start that I needed and thank you so much. I’ve learned so much from you and will continue doing what you have taught me.

Most importantly I want to thank my husband and son. Without their support this wouldn’t have been possible. I love you so much!

This is the start of my journey. One chapter is closing but a new one is just beginning.

I’m Worth It and I WILL be fit and fabulous at 43!!!

Week 5 for Mrs.Newton

"We are creating a life either by design or by default."

Well, this week I'm back on track. I've been working out like a crazy person and eating really well...and it shows! I've lost 3 more pounds, putting me 1.5 pounds away from my goal in this competition. WOO HOO! In following with my mind/body/spirit transformation, I have started to meet with a therapist that is helping me visualize my dreams and create a strategy to achieve them...and I love it! This exercise fell right in line with what Nik was asking us to do this week - create a mission statement that incompases your goals, timeline and strategy. Here is mine for the competition:

By March 31, 2011, I have lost 8 lbs, putting my weight at 165 lbs. I will accomplish this goal by working out 5 times a week, logging my food and sticking closely to a 1,200 calorie a day diet. In return for this time, I will help my team win the fitness challenge and be on target for my total transformation in 2011.

As you all saw, we each created Motivation Boards to help keep us excited! Since I'm a visual person, I also created a Motivation Timeline. This has helped me so much in the past few weeks. Right now I'm just concentrating on the March 2011 goal. But, it helps me see how far I have come and what great things I am working towards!

One more week to go. Let's finish strong!!