Countdown to Monday...

I am in the process of preparing for my next BFL 12 week Challenge.
It will begin Monday.
I'm taking direction from other bloggers in our little BFL family and will blog my progress, nutrition hopes and dreams each day for the 84 days it will take to reach my final goals.
This weekend I will busy busy with housework and early spring cleaning.
I'll also be doing some cleaning of my own.
Sweeping out old thoughts, old habits that are eager to return.
And re-examining my personal goals for the coming months.
Excitment, fear...determination--all valid feelings today.

Taking step three...

Continuing my musings regarding AA and BFL…and what I see as parallels in these powerful life changing programs.

AA Step three—
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the
care of God as we understand him.

This could well be the decision Bill talks about in Body For Life, “Change your mind—change your body.”
Prior to BFL my strong willed nature and my failed attempts at managing my life got me fat and unhappy. And—it was pretty hard work.
Fed up with making the wrong decisions or taking no action at all—I found Body for Life and began making lifestyle changes to gain a healthier body.
There were many days when I thought I didn’t have what it takes to complete a challenge. There were days when I made mistakes…or got lazy and went right back to my old bad habits.
In the back of my mind I began to think that the whole process was too overwhelming for me to accomplish on my own. Yet—my strong willed nature held me back from asking for help.

Regarding step three…perhaps this is the leap of faith we need to take to propel us over the abyss?
Is it as simple as coming to terms with the fact that we cannot do something this large and pure without the help of others? And when we do come to terms is it as easy as taking that leap of faith and asking others for their help?
Those others could be friends, family or God as we understand him?

As always I am eager to hear your comments on the BFL program.

Now on to another matter—my past three lackluster challenges.

During those challenges I thought that I was doing my best. I worked out and ate right and maintained my weight loss from my first amazing challenges. Yet---looking back with a little help from my husband I now realize I “didn’t get it.” I was “talking the talk…but not walking the walk.”

Let me explain. Today we were talking about those past challenges and he commented on my before and after photos… saying how he couldn’t see much physical change.
After re-examining those photos I have to agree with him. Sure I maintained my weight loss and muscle gains….but I failed to make progress.

BFL top gun, Porter Freeman says you got to want it. I thought that I did.
Now I realize I didn’t want it enough to go that extra mile.

Self examination and listening to those who love you can really cut through the clutter and tell you where you have been, where you are and where you need to go next.
That “next” is becoming a clearer vision.
I now know what I have to do better in 2005…to meet my goals.

#1Turn my will and life over to a higher power...
#2) really, really want it…..
#3) really, really hit those tens each and every day….

Starting over...

Old timers at BFL often remember their first 12 week challenge with fondness. (must be a lot like childbirth. Hard as heck--but as the years go by the memories of pain soften and are replaced with the joy surrounding the outcome.)

Ah that first challenge. Daily progress. Controlled free days. A growing sense of wellbeing!

Then comes challenges two,three, four...and more.
The excitement begins to wear off. The pounds are slower to drop. The freedays become a little too free.

It's happened to me. It's happened to some of my best BFL buddies.
It might happen to you!

What's the sollution?
I'm working on it!

Today I have stopped my fifth challenge.
No I haven't given up. I'll do that the day I die.
Today I begin my first BFL challenge. For the next 12 weeks I am going to capture lightening in a bottle and light my way to a brand new me.

So here's to C1D1.
I've reviewed the BFL book
I've watched the BFL video tapes
I've planned and packed my meals
I'm off to the gym to hit my tens as I begin my first ever upper body workout.
I am pumped!

The countdown to the 2004 Champions' list begins!

Rumors are flying…people are on edge. It can mean only one thing—BFL winners are being contacted!

The same flurry of activity and emotions happened last year, right before the 2003 winners were made public.

Hundreds of thousands of us worked our hearts out transforming our bodies, minds and spirits as part of the EAS/BFL Million dollar challenge. Each of us knew
that we would win and that coveted phone call or visit was on its way.
That's part of the excitement of competing in the Million dollar challenge--
Knowing that each of us has a chance to excel and win!

Now... as the judging ends for 2004—we’re again at that point where emotions are running high.

--Rumors have it...the champs have already been notified and Porter Freeman’s schedule is already set to visit their hometowns to award the prizes.

--Rumors have it the judges are still hard at work.

Nothing is certain…everything is certain.
Have they selected the winners? I don’t know.
What do I know?
The winners will be posted on the BFL site in about a week and a half.
I also know some of us will end up being the official 2004 winners.
I know too that those of us who don’t—are winners as well.

We look better, we feel better and our lives have become richer for having taken the step to create our healthier lifestyles.

If you have received that coveted call---I congratulate you. You are one in a million.

If you have not received that call but have transformed your body….I congratulate you. You are one in a million.

Dress for Success!

Ok..I had to share this with you. I think its pretty funny.

Yesterday as we were getting ready to go to the Gym I put on my work out clothes. They were on sale and looked good at the time I bought them.
Pink, bell bottoms that were the perfect length and my EAS Energy Camp T-shirt.
The problem was the pants had shrunk...and the T was getting a bit
faded...but I thought what the heck--its Sunday. Nobody will be at the gym so I'll wear them anyway.
When I met my husband at the door he looked at me. You could see the wheels turning!
Then he said...
"You are a champ. You should dress like one!"

Then he added...to soften his criticism. "Bells are ok, Hon but not when the bottom of the bell hits the top of your ankles."
I immediately turned, walked back up stairs and put on a champion's outfit. Pants that fit, coordinating top.

By the time I got downstairs I started to feel like a champ too.

My workout was great and my husband was proven right, once again.

There is a reason for that old saying..."dress for the job you want."

Fresh starts and ramblings on a snowy Sunday morning

2005 offers each of us a new start.

Its up to us to accept the challenges that lie ahead...or
to ignore the promise of a better existence and continue our old
ways. Now if you are perfectly happy living that old life...read no
further.
But if you are serious about making healthy changes in your
life during the next 12 weeks or the next 365 days my advice is
to seize this opportunity to make positive changes with gusto and don't let
go!

Today in Northern Minnesota the sun is shining--and a new blanket of snow greeted us as we awoke to the smell of fresh brewed coffee .
Sitting here at the computer--I can't help but think you can find balance and beauty in just about every circumstance.
Some might see the mounds of snow that need to be shoveled...and get angry. Or if your like my husband... you see the opportunity for a cardio session before hitting the gym.

I owe so much of my transformation to the man outside pushing around a snow scoop.
He's stuck with me, young and thin--fat and middle age...and now healthy and moving into my golden years. Even at my heaviest he never complained.

He tells me how proud he is that I had the courage to make my BFL transformation. He tells others that BFL has given him his wife back.
Our life together has never been better. He has become my gym partner. He's buff and nearly has a six pack...and will have one before this new year is out.

There's a saying, "Growing Old Is Not for Sissies." Its become our motto and we relish the opportunity to live healthier and add good years to our lives.
I try not to beat myself up about wasted time--I'm just happy I had the time to find Body for Life.