The start of my new life!

The challenge ends on Saturday, but we won’t know the winners until the end of May at the reveal party. Before the winner is even revealed, I just wanted to share how I feel like I’ve won— NO MATTER THE OUTCOME! I’ve had some huge milestones through this process I’d like to share with you!

Fitness Milestones

• Last week I was able to complete a rather hilly 5k in 38:28. Remember my first 5K time? 56:34. I shaved 18 minutes off my original 5K time… and I can run the whole thing WITHOUT stopping. I actually ran 5 miles without needing to stop the whole time either. I’ve figured out that running is a mental game. I’ve not mastered it, but I’m getting better!

• Besides that whole “get a stomach virus sick and go to the hospital” episode a couple weeks back, I’ve worked out 6 days a week with Sunday as my off day for 15 weeks now. Running is always the easy way to go, but I’ve been using the UF Stadium for some solid workouts as well. I like to watch all the young, energetic undergrads get creative and try new things at the stadium….then when they leave I try to copy them! 🙂 Biking with my family has always been fun, but now it’s also become a way for us to get around town. Bike ride to Publix instead of taking the car. We use Xavier’s bike trailer to store all the heavy groceries. Saves gas money and increases the family bonding time.

• Last week Dante encouraged me to lace my old soccer cleats back up and get out on the field for a pick up game. Woah. It’s been a solid 9 years since I’ve played with cleats… I’m rusty, but I know it’ll all come back to me. I did manage to score a goal… watch out Gainesville Adult Soccer League, I may be headed your way this summer!

• I didn’t quit. 15 weeks of crazy, intense workouts courtesy of Dan at SweatLife Fitness and I only had to quit one workout (the second one because of that dumb exertion headache!) I’m so proud of myself! I’m a hard worker… and I’m sure that served as motivation to my fellow BWLC3 contestants. It certainly served as motivation to all the skinny runners of the last 5k I was in! 🙂

Nutrition Milestones

• I’m eating clean…. and I’m enjoying it! Yes, it gets super awkward when you’re at a function or family event and start to question how things are made and what’s in everything, but after a while people get used to you asking.
• Every month, I now prepare about 90% of what I consume ( as opposed to buying at restaurants). That’s HUGE for me. My crazy schedule of working until 11pm each day made it difficult to NOT eat fast food every night for dinner and first thing in the morning for breakfast. I went from eating out about 10 times a week to maybe once or twice a week. CRAZY!!
• I’m a part of Annie’s Organic Buying Club. Thanks to a Mommy friend and my local distributor (who also happens to be a fellow BWLC3 contestant) I now get organic, fresh fruits and veggies bi-weekly. These help me juice for breakfast/snack AND ensure that I have some  fresh options to snack on throughout the day. Every week is different… and the whole family is trying fruits and veggies that we would have NEVER attempted if we had to buy them at the store!

Other Awesome Milestones

• I started the challenge in a size 26… I’m now down to an 18.
• I feel GREAT! I really did find some extra energy somewhere! 🙂
• I’ve lost about 45 lbs. so far… hoping to lose another 45 by the end of 2013.
• My PARENTS have lost HUGE amounts of weight, are attending weekly boot camp sessions down in Orlando. They also continue to shave time off their 5K attempts.
• My COUSINS have signed up for 5Ks and other crazy races where they have to complete 32 obstacles in 13 mile stretches!!
• My ENTIRE FAMILY now keeps super active and brings HEALTHY food options to our family gatherings! We even incorporate a fitness component in our gatherings!!
• My CO-WORKER who has also been my running partner has lost a significant amount of weight and will look FANTASTIC in her Maid of Honor dress for her sister’s wedding in June!
• Our Girls Place girls are eating healthier and TRYING my “crazy” healthy food. You fellow parents out there know how hard it is to introduce kids to new food items! This is a huge WIN for us at Girls Place!

So what I’m really saying is, JUMP ON BOARD… there’s PLENTY of room to share in these triumphs. The best part of it all is how quickly the “get healthy bug” spread to all of our family and friends. The BWLC Challenge didn’t only change my life for the better, it impacted my entire world.  For THOSE reasons, I feel like a real winner. Sure it would be nice to win it all, but hey– if that doesn’t happen I can always come back to this post and see just how far I’ve come in only 4 months!