THE END .... well JUST THE BEGINNING

So here we have it the end of my 12 week Transformation Challenge on The Elite Physique :) The time fly by and I learned so many new things.

Here are my results:
Since start of challenge: 9 lbs lost, 2.3% of body fat loss; 8 inches lost in lower body (5 sites)
2.5 inches lost navel
2.25 inches lost waist
1.75 " hips/butt
0.75 " Right Thigh
0.75 " Left Thigh

My original goal was to finish and start. For the 4-6 weeks I was consistent enough to see improvements, but my mind was all about starting and finishing. Being accountable for my actions and this was the way I was going to do it. As the weeks progressed and I started eating with “a cause” and trying new food macro combination's I realized what this food was actually doing for me physically and mentally. I was energized and felt powerful. I was not worried about having the extra complex carb in the late afternoon. I went from a 1100-1200 calories diet to progressively eating as much as 1900 calories per day. I was fueling my body and my workout where becoming more intense and more varied. I was starting my day at 5am every morning and I was not dragging by 2pm. I was learning the value of food and applying what I had learned. Trial and error was what I was working with. Being patient and waiting to see the result was the tough part.

Than the last 2 weeks – I started carb depleting and cycling the calories and macro nutrients a bit. The last couple of weeks have been challenging and hard but this was the first time I allowed my mind to be sensible about what I was doing this for. It was for me -- it was not about feeling like I failed or giving up when I felt like I was done. It was about pushing forward every step of the way. Even when I got sick this past weekend - along with how I was going to get myself better, I was planning on what was I going to do to get myself better faster and finish as strong as I could, given the circumstances.


I am now thinking about “What is next for me?” Now you will probably NEVER see me on a stage -- and I feel confident enough that I can say NEVER (even though people say "never say never"). But I am enjoying the challenge. Enjoy manipulating my workouts, my eating, challenge different muscles groups and multiple muscle groups. But most importantly CHALLENGE MY MIND!!

That I can do this - That I can do anything I set my mind too. That is the real challenging - Challenging your mind to believe. This is the goals and mental challenge I want to live by and encourage my daughter to do so too. Be a strong women -- thru and thru

PROGRESSION AT A GLANCE:
109 LBS
15.3% BODY FAT
NAVEL: 27.5
WAIST: 25.75
HIPS 35
RIGHT THIGH 19.25
LEFT THIGH 19

WEEK 4: January 31st
104.4lbs
14.75%
Chest: 32
Navel: 25 1/2
Waist 24 1/4
Hips 34 1/4
Right Thigh 19 1/4
Left Thigh 19

WEEK 8: Feb 27th
Weight 102.2lbs
Body Fat 13.1% (Omron)
Waist 23.75
Navel 25
Hips 33.5
Right Thigh 18.75
Left Thigh 18.75

After taking a few days off I will embarking on another journey. THE BODY FOR LIFE 2009 CHALLENGE. Another 12 week period where I will be really looking on balancing my physique, especially my upper body. My shoulders appear to be unbalanced and unfortunately it shows on the pictures -- but just another thing I can do to balance out my body and in tern my mind and build up my confidence :)

THE POWER OF THE MIND

Over 12 weeks ago I decided that I was going to start 2009 fresh - new start and get to a point in my life that I was consciously going to consistently make progress in both professional career as a Nutritionist Consultant and physical and most importantly mentally. I think with the year almost 1/3 done, I have done just that.

My 12 week Transformation is down to the wire and I will be posting pictures soon. To my Spark page blog and my personal blog. The last couple of week have been challenging and hard but this was the first time I allowed my mind to be sensible about what I was doing this for. It was for me -- it was not about feeling like I failed or giving up when I felt like I was done. It was about pushing forward every step of the way. Even when I got sick this past weekend - along with how I was going to get myself better, I was planning on what was I going to do to get myself better faster and finish as strong as I could, given the circumstances. Well with the support of a few good Spark people and the encouraging words of so many more - I did it. I got through the rough patch. I am so happy I did and I'm already thinking about what is next for me :) Now you will probably NEVER see me on a stage -- and I feel confident enough that I can say NEVER (even though people say "never say never"). But I am enjoying the challenge. Enjoy with the help of my own trainer to manipulate my workouts, eating, challenge different muscles groups and multiple muscle groups. But most importantly CHALLENGE MY MIND!!

That I can do this - That I can do anything I set my mind too. That is the real challenging - Challenging your mind to believe.

WINDING DOWN

My Challenge is winding down and so am I. The diet has pretty much zapped my energy and my legs. The countless number of squats is really taking a toll on them along with the limited carbs. I am so looking forward to adding them back into my diet :) SO HAPPY!! I never thought I would say I am looking to adding more carbs. But I am -- just have to get through a couple of more days and I am GOLDEN!!!!

I have been having to find alternative ways to increase my fiber and keep the bowels moving. Not easy. Not easy at all. After my episode of severe diarrhea on Monday my digestive tract is out of sorts and it is taking a lot of efforts to try and get it back. It's still not here - but I am working on it. This morning I was moving along slowly and felling crappy and even sorry for myself. I had to talk myself of sitting on the couch all day. It is now 10:30am and I am back to a productive frame of mind. No, not going to let this diet and challenge of my body and mind get in the way of doing what needs to get done.

Madison and I spent sometime doing some quite activities like puzzles today. Well for anyone who knows my daughter - quite is not her strong so, so we did puzzles - she did them loudly. Got to love her to pieces :) So she's having a snack, I loaded the dishwasher and have it running while I post. Yes all about multitasking and trying to forget the woes of my belly.

Very behind ... But catching up.

My intentions where good, I promise :) But unfortunately due to a big that linger on longer than I anticipated I was unable to blog daily as I had hoped. So Looks like I will have to recap the last couple of days.

Saturday as I had posted was a disaster - I feel prey to Madison's bug. My darling 3 year old is a great shared, unless it happens to be treat day (which happens every 2nd week or so, where we hit the bulk barn and I scoop out about a dozen smarties for her). Theses she will not share. Her response is generally "maybe later" - later never comes or sometimes it is "No theses are my treats". Who could blame her really? It's only twice a month that she gets something "special". But this "bug" she was more than welcome to share and than it liked me so much - it came back again. Well something like that.

On Sunday I was feeling great - even got in a 55 minute cardio workout - steady and moderate with inclines and a some time on the bike. On Monday at 5am till 10am I was in the bathroom with severe diarrhea. I got out the Gatorade diluted it with water and drank that til 4 in the afternoon. Made sure to get some complex carbs in me like sprout bread and an apple seemed to settle my stomach. Weak was how i would describe yesterday. No Tuesday 3 days remaining from the challenge and I feel far better but my legs feel week. Just standing on them I do not feel strong. Not sure how I got in a workout for 70 minutes this morning at 5. But I did - now I have been eating to plan and adding some extra just to keep my energy up. My plain water jug is not my best friend today and I am trying like hell to hold on and make it through the last 3 days of my transformation challenge.

I have packing to do which I will put on the back burner til Sunday or Monday. I have to get through this week. I HAVE TO, I HAVE TO. Anything extra will just run the course of getting to tired and I do not want to do that. Want to save my energy to eat and train, eat and train, eat and train. Oh yes and get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine, which I did today with my daughter. A little bitter, but the sun on my face was nice :)

I also have been busy with a new client, so that has been on the forefront of my mind as well. Everything is coming together, just have to be patient and enjoy the process.