ProjectMoment

A dear friend of mine recently completed an eight week fitness challenge. One of the final assignments was to write an essay on how the experience was for her. She honored me by letting me read it today, and I was so blown away I asked her if I could post it. She said yes, so here goes-

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Start weight: 157
Finish Weight: 145
Start Body Fat: 35%
Finish Body Fat: 30%

All words fall short in explaining what I have learned through this fitness challenge. The obvious benefits are the weight and body fat loss. But there are even deeper hidden benefits that have completely changed how I am in the universe.

I started the challenge simply because it was that, a challenge. It also gave me the opportunity to have a forced workout regimen and the input of professionals on my diet and nutrition. I have always found ways to not workout, so having a responsibility not only to myself but a collective kept me from digging up those excuses. Slowly my motivation shifted from a sense of obligation to a sense of reward, the gym became a kind of sanctuary, a gift to myself two times a week.

My diet started to change too, sharing what you eat with a group of people is great motivation to stop scarfing down White Castle burgers and a mountain of fries. I started eating every three hours, cut out refined sugar and limited my carb intake after 8pm. The benefit to my quality of life by doing these simple things is immeasurable. No more headaches (a side effect from low blood sugar), no more mood swings (too much sugar and caffeine), my skin cleared up, I no longer binged at odd hours. And I started to disconnect the tangled string of stress, a habit I confess, I was sure I would never shed. When I got stressed I worked out instead of going home and making cookies. When I felt overwhelmed at work, I took a fast walk home, instead of bundling myself onto a bus and running home to a glass of wine.

I see the changes in my shape, the muscles that sit under the skin, the nip in my waist, the small indent at my hip bones, and I know, I did this. I no longer enter a store and look longingly at sno-balls and feel a sense of resentment that I cannot have them or they will make me fat. I know my decisions make me fat not the big glob of Crisco and coconut.

For the first time in my life I feel like my body is mine, I own it free and clear.

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Some of you don’t have the benefit of knowing the fabulous person who wrote the essay above. Luckily for me, I have had the pleasure. I have watched her through this challenge, and the transformation has been stunning. I really can’t add to her words in any constructive way. They capture the whole point in getting fitter in entirety. One thing I will point out is that, if you do the math, she not only lost 12 pounds of overall body weight, she also gained .5 pounds of muscle, for a fat loss of 12.5 lbs in eight weeks. The maximum safe fat loss recommended for maintenance, or increase, of metabolism is 1% of body weight per week. In other words, as far as getting fit in the best, most permanent, way possible, she did a text-book perfect job. Without a doubt, she rules.