I am on day 17 of my 4 Week (Not Weight Loss) Challenge and the benefits of doing this have surprised me!!
Here is a breakdown of how I have been doing:
Discipline/Diet:
This seems to be the hardest part (I KNOW it is a challenge in discipline! This is why I NEED such things). The funny thing is that I have not been over-eating or eating things that are not allowed…I have been UNDER-eating and it truly is a matter of time management. I should be eating 6 small meals per day. In order to get them all in, I need to eat about every 2 hours. Life has been so busy with my daughter’s graduation party that I have had about 3 days that I didn’t eat like I should. This may not seem like a big deal (eating less than I should) but it actually is. If my calories are too low, I will lose muscle as well as fat. If I don’t eat frequently, my metabolism will slow down. And if I don’t stay disciplined, I am losing sight of my goals.
BUT!!! Here is the thing….I will do my best to get back on track but regardless of skipping a few meals, I am soooo damn happy with the way this has been going!
Not cheating has become easier and easier for me. I TOTALLY look forward to my cheat day (when I eat anything and everything I want) but in-between cheat days has been so much easier that I remember it being when I was training for my bodybuilding competition. Sure, I still have the desire to eat the forbidden stuff (frosting off my daughter’s cake, the pasta salad just taunting me in the fridge) but it is more an annoyance than anything.
Exercise: I can’t tell you how happy I am with my workouts!!!! I really dreaded working out 6 days/week and to be honest, I am not crazy about it at all. I still push myself through but when I am done, I feel fantastic!!! I feel so proud that I spent all that time working out rather than eating. The endorphins really do feel awesome. But most importantly…
I AM KICKING LUPUS’S ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was the benefit I didn’t expect. Yes, I wanted to prove that I could do things that Lupus seemed to be preventing me from doing but I never imagined I would feel this much better! My pain is practically non-existent in comparison to how I felt before I started this challenge and my energy has increased so much! Even my son commented on how much energy I seem to have now. I am worried that when I go back to school, I won’t have the time to work out and I will feel worse again but I will cross that bridge when I get to it.
Weights and Measures:
Starting weight: 136 lb.
Today’s weight: 130.8 lb. (down 5.2 lbs)
Right upper thigh: 23.5 inches (down .5 inch)
Hips: 36.5 inches (down 2.5 inches)!!!
Waist: 28 inches (down 2 inches)!!!
Bust: 35 inches (down 1 inch)
Ass/Saddlebags: 40 inches (down 1 inch)
MY PANTS ARE GETTING LOOSE ON ME AND MY BRA NO LONGER DIGS INTO MY STERNUM!!! SUCCESS!!
Related articles
- Weight And Size Update!! (thenlistblog.com)
- Day 5 Of My 4 Week (Not Weight Loss) Challenge (thenlistblog.com)
- My (NOT Weight Loss) Challenge (thenlistblog.com)
- Sorry, No “Before” Pics (thenlistblog.com)
Filed under: Autoimmune Disorders, Bodybuilding, Control, Lupus, Mental Health, My 4 Week Challenge, Sickness, survival, weight loss Tagged: 4 Week Challenge, autoimmune, Conditions and Diseases, diet, Eating, Health, Lupus, Lupus Arthritis, Mental health, natural weight loss, Obesity, Physical exercise, survivor, weight loss