Gettin´ Fine in ´09 Finale

I promised myself I wouldn´t post my weight on my blog. It´s just a personal thing. Nothing against those that do. Especially Sarah´s blog. I just love her fitness blog! She is so open and really encouraging in all areas of fitness. She started this twelve week challenge back in Febuary. I didn´t hop in on it till March, but she still said I could join in! Even though my workouts look like a toddler´s walk in the park compared to her 1,000 calorie burning full-body workouts, she always encouraged me that I was doing great and it pushed me to do better.

As we are wrapping it up and are on the 12th Week Finale, we are to post on our progress. I have to admit that I had hoped to have lost more these last couple of weeks but my body had other plans. The first few weeks the weight came off a lot easier. This is normal though, in the beginning stages.

As I have stated in other posts, I have cut out all white sugar and high refrined junk foods. I have cut out the majority of fried foods and breads. But I added in some fun stuff like sugar free chocolate, raisins and almonds. Also, I have found that I just love light Philadelphia cream cheese on rice cakes with Coffee. I use to think that rice cakes tasted like cardboard, so this is a big step.

I started out only doing a few miles on my stationary bike in the evenings with weights and eventually have ended up doing 10 kilometers/5 miles/30 minute workouts on the bike. Also, what I found was that when I started my workouts with a 20-30 min high impact walk I lost more weight. I would do a walking video and then bike. These were the weeks I lost the most.

I am by far at my goal. In fact I am only half way there. I started my Fitness Journey on January 15. This was the day I remember praying and asking God to help me get back in shape and back to my pre-baby body. Then I found Melissa´s Blog. She had a real simple plan that I could deal with. Then I found other missionary ladies who were dedicated to losing this year too. Nina, has been losing right along with me and we have been keeping each other accountable. Sometimes, we have even had free days together without even knowing it!

Well, it´s time for the big reveal. (I did plan on waiting till the full transformation has occured, but today is a sneak peak.)

January 2009 - Before my Fitness Journey

May 7, 2009 after shedding 18 pounds!

So in actuality, during the Gettin´Fine in ´09 challenge,

I lost 11 pounds. From February 12 - May 8th.

The idea of this is to encourage others and ourselves to keep striving for our best for the One Who deserves our best. God has given us only one body. What matters in this area is our health and that we are doing our best for Him. (of course, the one who has noticed most is my dear hubby. He deserves my best too!)

So who will join in with me as I lose the last half of myself? We can all use the accountability. If you would like, you can write me an e-mail each week to help keep you motivated. It would help me too.

Don´t forget to go over to God´s Speaks Today for her Fitness Friday tips.