Body for Life: I did it!
Well, I did it. I completed all twelve weeks of the Body For Life Fitness Challenge. I wish I would have entered the official contest. The Body For Life Challenge
I might have won some cash! But it involved taking before and after photos, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it. So let’s just pretend these are me.
Naaaawwww…not really. You know I have blond hair.
Anyway, for those of you who are wondering if this program yields results, let me share some of my results with you.
My Goals:
1.To finish the the 12-week Body For Life Challenge
2. To increase strength and muscle tone. Even though I’ve been working out for 20 years, I hit a plateau and wanted to break through it.
3. Hopefully lose some inches in my lower body area. I didn’t care how much, my pants were just a little too tight.
My Results:
1. Weight Removed: 5 pounds. I know that’s not much, but I was actually on the lower end of my normal weight range when I started, so I knew the weight loss would not be significant, nor should it have been.
2. Inches lost: Based on measurements I took in 6 areas, I lost a total of 12 inches!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s A LOT on my frame!
3. Dropped TWO pant sizes!!!!!!!! No kidding. I’m in the smallest size I’ve been in since 1998,
4. Gained muscle tone, strength and energy. Most notably, I’ve been able to trade out my afternoon coffee for tea and I’m able to carry my kids around much more easily.
5. And, of course, I completed the challenge!!
You may be surprised to know that during this entire 12 weeks I
1. Drank coffee with cream and sugar every morning
2. Ate peanut butter every day
3. Ate pasta/bread or potatoes every day
4. Ate pizza once (sometimes twice) a week
5. Ate a GREAT dessert at least once a week
Time it took for other people to notice the changes in my body:
About 7 weeks.
The hardest part:
For me, the work outs. Just making myself do it six days a week and pushing myself every day. And also, remembering to eat every 2 to 3 hours.
The obstacles I navigated during the 12 weeks:
1 week of power outage where I had to eat most meals in restaurants.
2 extended family celebrations out of town
1 anniversary weekend out of town (mine!)
And food showing up at my house that I did not put there…like this that my sweet man brought home two days ago.
My Reward:
A big shopping spree to buy some new clothes! I’ve been chucking away money for months in anticipation of this day. I’ve already started the shopping (that’s how I know I’ve dropped two pant sizes). I plan to finish up this weekend. In the words of Ferris Bueller, “It’s so choice. I highly recommend it.”
My plans from here:
Honestly, I’m just going to keep this up. It hasn’t been very hard for me at all, especially after the first few weeks. And I haven’t felt this good about myself in a long time. I guess that’s why it’s called Body FOR LIFE! (get it? For LIFE???)
Remember, Body For Life isn’t the only thing you can do to be healthy or remove fat from your body. Every little change you make is a step in the right direction.
A change you can make today: Get enough sleep. Commit to going to be earlier so you can get a full 8 hours every night. Rest is vital to good health.
And before I go, I want to share with you one of my favorite recipes for this “chili” weather. Every time I make this, people rave over it. Healthy and delicious…enjoy!
White Chicken Chili
(my adaptation of the Bush’s version of this recipe)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 or 2 cloves chopped garlic (to taste)
1 can (4-ounces) chopped green chilies, drained
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 cans (16 ounces) Great Northern Beans
1 can (14.5 ounces) chicken broth
1½ cups shredded chicken breast (see below)
fyi: I use all organic and low fat ingredients
Shredded Low Fat Monterey Jack cheese (optional) Low Fat Sour cream (optional)Salsa (optional) natural tortilla chips (optional)
In large skillet, cook onion and garlic in oil for 4 minutes or until transparent.
Add chilies, flour and cumin; cook and stir for 2 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a separate skillet, boil 2 chicken breasts (you can add more or less if you like) in chicken broth until no longer pink. Remove chicken from broth, shred with two forks, and set aside (do not discard broth).
Add beans and chicken broth to the onion/garlic mixture; bring to a boil.
Reduce heat; simmer for 10 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally.
Add chicken and heat through.
Garnish with cheese, sour cream and salsa, and serve with a few chips, if desired.