End of the
Body-for-LIFE program
Hey, guess what?
We made it! We completed the program and have turned in all our
entrance information for the competition. We actually finished the
program two weeks ago. It has just taken a while to get around to
writing the blog. All of our goals have been met. Of course we will
have to wait to see if we won the competition.
LIZ'S ACCOUNT
So
far after completing the challenge I have lost 16 pounds which was 6
more pounds lost than I had hoped for. I did complete the 12 week
program without ever missing a workout or meal. I hope to win the
competition but will have to wait to find out on that. The only
chance I have had to be a good example to my athletes was competing
in a 5k race at the end of the challenge that many of my athletes ran
in. One of the parents of a girl I coach thought I was a new girl on
the team and realized afterward that I was their coach. I also got
some nice comments from my athletes so I hope this will give me more
credibility when I actually get a chance to coach them next season.
Finally, I think the photos show how far I have come on my belly. I
can't believe how slimmed down my stomach has gotten!
As
I worked through the program I noticed that I became more organized,
developed extra energy and motivation, and gained a desire to help
and inspire others. As a mom it is very hard to plan ahead for
everything because the kids can make a mess or have a dirty diaper at
any moment. However, I learned through this program that things were
easier when I did plan ahead not only with the program but with house
cleaning, errands, and time with the kids. In the evenings my husband
and I used to watch TV and snack for two or three hours because we
were worn out from the day. During this program I had more energy to
clean up the dishes at night and take care of any last minute tasks
for the day. I also slept better because I wanted to be rested and
ready for my workouts in the morning. I think the biggest surprise
was developing a strong desire to encourage others with their weight
and exercise issues. I’ve had several comments from others about
the changes they have seen in me and I really enjoyed sharing my
journey with them. I especially love sharing how simple the meal plan
is and all the good foods we have been eating. I know so many people,
including myself, give in to food temptations easily. I developed the
mental strength to easily resist these temptations because I always
knew I had my free day for them. I also began to not really want the
junk food even when I had my free days. I'm so proud of myself for
completing this program and I plan to keep it up.
DAVID'S
ACCOUNT
Well
I completed the program quite well. I did miss a couple of days due
to getting worn out between work and not sleeping well. I kept up
with the eating plan everyday though. I think I had one meal mishap.
So I would say goal one was a success. As far as becoming a Body for
Life Champion, I will have to wait and see. Goal three was to gain 9
pounds of muscle and I gained 10 pounds. At about week three of the
program I started feeling more energized. I was able to do hard
physical tasks like yard work when I normally would be too exhausted
to do them. My last goal was to support my wife through the program
and she completed it successfully. We planned meals and cooked
together. We had to work out separately but we would take turns
watching the kids so we each could get our workouts in. So I think I
did really well with my goals. I am so happy to have achieved all of
them. I certainly hope I did enough for the competition to be a
winner.
As I compare my before and after photos of this challenge I see how scrawny I was 12 weeks ago. I thought I looked healthy before the challenge but now I look and feel solid. What a confidence booster! I feel so proud to have completed this challenge and also to have met almost all of my goals. I learned how to set goals better by defining what I want and having a plan to achieve it. My imagination has run wild with ideas of improving my spiritual life, improving my career as a musician, improving my family and home, and so much more by setting goals and making a plan. I had one really big inner change during this program. As I was working out and trying to hit those high points I tried to think of what I really wanted. Early on I thought of the body I wanted and winning the challenge. This was motivating but after a few weeks I found that what I really wanted was truth. I am a Christian and believe whole heartedly in God and the Holy Bible. It is a daily battle to stay focused on God and I get so tired of myself not trusting and believing what I know is true. So when I was fighting for those high points I imagined that I was battling to stand up for God. By doing these workouts I was training my mind to fight not just in the workout but in my life. I only have one chance to live on this earth so I’d better fight for what I know I should be doing while I’m here.
AND
FINALLY, HERE ARE THE PHOTOS
We were trying to figure out what to do next because we really felt good doing this and it certainly was a benefit to us. So we have ordered the Insanity program (as seen on TV) and will start that as soon as we get it. Thanks to everyone who supported us and has been praying for us. May God bless you.
