90 day challenge update.

Today is my third day of the 90 day challenge and while I haven't weighed myself yet, I'm already feeling lighter. I mean, I feel good...really, really good. Being married to a doomsayer has made me a bit of a skeptic, so when my friend Marcelo asked me to try this program out and write about it, I told him that I would try it, but I would be completely honest about my experience. Meaning -- if I hated it, that's what I would write. That didn't put him off, which was my first hint that this would be a positive experience.

Yes, it sounds like I am drinking the kool-aid, I know. But I feel amazing. In fact, I can't remember the last time I felt this even-keeled and positive. My best example is that this morning, when Cam threw one of her epic tantrums (the entire 15 minute drive to daycare), it didn't even phase me. Typically, I would get super stressed out and feel like my head was going to pop off. On my way home I got a call saying the mould excavators (long story) were coming in an hour instead of tomorrow and I had to get home and empty out our entire kitchen before they arrived. And I was fine. Like, really fine.

Oh yeah - and my hair is shiny and my skin is glowing. On Monday I was feeling like 10 pounds of poop in a 5 pound bag and today I feel wonderful. Okay, I'll stop now...

                                                                                                                                            

Exercise: P90X workout (currently on week 2)

Nutrition: Transformation kit supplement program

cutting the crap: 90 day challenge.

One would think that summer would be time that I would be most motivated to eat healthy and stay in shape, but nope -- I'm not and I didn't. There are lots of reasons (excuses) for this. Losing two friends, a major change in lifestyle with being home all day, and the ups and downs of having a child with autism to name a few. The thing I have realized though, is that there will always be reasons (err...excuses) to not take care of myself. It is very easy to let my health land at the bottom of my priority list (too easy!!). Do I think I'll ever completely nail this healthy living thing and never need to apply checks and balances? No, I don't. But is it time to give my head a shake and my ass a kick and get moving? You betcha.

The universe must have known I needed a little help, because out of the blue, my friend Marcelo sent me an email suggesting I try a 90 day challenge that involved nutritional supplements. I wasn't sure what to think, but figured that the timing was perfect and that this might be just the thing to get me back on track. After doing some research into the program, I decided, what the heck, might as well. I've never done a program like this before, but I have done Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, No Carb/Low Carb, and guess what? None of them worked long term.

This program involves a 90 day challenge. Today was day one and so far so good! I was worried I would be hungry but I'm feeling full and energized. I would like to get back down to my wedding weight of 140 pounds. Today (gulp) I weighed in at 173 (which I am blaming on a crazy summer and some new medication that is not helping me on the scale). Can I get down to 140 by the end of the 90 days? Well, that may be a little out of reach, but who knows? I'll be updating my progress here for one and all. If you feel like joining me, let me know - the more the merrier and I can use all the support I can get!

                                                                                                                                            

Exercise: P90X workout

Nutrition: Transformation kit supplement program

could you (would you) give up booze?

During my morning spin of facebook (and yes, I look at it first thing, before I check my horoscope and the price of gold), I noticed that one of my friend's (actually, the brother of a friend, but a facebook friend nonetheless) status message read "hasn't had a drink in 710 days".  My first thought was "wow, good for you dude, that is TERRIFIC" and I immediately clicked "like".  My second thought was "that is a long ass time to go without a glass of wine".  My third thought was "I don't know if I could do it".  That is a complete cop out though.  I am one of the most hard headed people out there.  If I decided I wasn't going to have a drink for 710 days, I could do it.  So the question is not "could I", the question is "would I". 

Probably not is the answer.  I have cut back significantly over the last few months.  The glass of wine I felt entitled to every evening as as method of helping me "relax" has been replaced with good old fashioned exercise.  I now go weeks at a time without one sip of alcohol.  But I still like knowing that if I wanted a vodka and soda I could have one.  The challenge now is that I have very little tolerance, so one drink is enough and I often don't even finish it.  I also find that I don't feel so hot the next morning if I imbibe.  I'm turning into one of "those people" I used to shake my head at.  Man, getting old sucks.  I remember how in my early twenties I could go out after work, socialize all evening, fall into bed well after midnight and be back at my desk bright eyed and bushy tailed by 8:30am, ready to do it all over again.  Apparently those days are long gone.  Increasingly I find myself acting responsibly and behaving in a manner that takes into consideration how doing something now will make me feel in the future.  It's a lot less fun but has spared me much physical agony and car detailing costs.

So my question is, could you (would you) give up booze for 710 days?  I could, but I don't want to.  How about you?

come on 2011, BRING IT!

(taken with photo booth on my mac, not with my lovely nikon)

2011 got a running start this year.  I found out at 11:30 pm on New Year's Eve that I won 2nd place in the 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards for the Health & Wellness category.  What a terrific way to kick things off!  The universe is also cooking up some other cool stuff on my behalf - I'm trying to remember that if this specific thing doesn't come to fruition that there must be something even bigger and better waiting around the next bend.

It looks like I missed out on the opportunity to title a blog post "1.1.11". I was busy relaxing and hanging out with my crew.  Oh yeah - and finishing up week one of P90X.  It was a gift from Santa.  All it took was one friend telling me it was super hard and that he didn't think I could do it.  Yeah, I'm easy to bait like that.  I was all "um, excuse me? I can do anything I set my mind to! I'll show you!"

Today is the beginning of week 2.  There are sniffles traveling through my house (I am choosing not to acknowledge them lest they derail me).  I am a little bit sore (in a good way, I like to think).  The "before" photo is not a pretty sight (I may or may not share it with you at the end of the 90 days).  In lieu of a closeup of my love handles, I am sharing this picture, where I at least look happy, if nothing else.

Happy New Year! Off I go to find my joy for the day...