Still Pre-Revelation...

Okay, so I finished Chalean Extreme, was in awe that I could stick to something for 3 months and lose weight and gain muscle tone. That wasn't the revelation though...

In Chalean Extreme, which I will henceforth refer to as "CLX," there was this woman in the DVD's, Jenelle, who is Chalene's sister. Throughout the DVDs, the only thing I could think of was, "Wow, I wish I had  Jenelle's body!" In my opinion, she's the ideal image of a healthy woman who represents fitness, strength, and inner and outer beauty. I started following her on Facebook because she posted so many great tips/advice and always seemed so positive!

One day, I was browsing through Facebook and saw that Jenelle was hosting a 30 day challenge for a small group of people who were committed to getting in shape! Many people already said they were "attending," so I decided two take a risk and click "attending" as well. I really had no idea what "small group" meant. Is that 3 people? 30 people? I also had NO idea what I was getting myself into. Was it a special fitness program? Any fitness program? She promised success if we followed everything she said, and I figured I was already on a roll from finishing CLX, why not take it to the next step? It was a quick moment of bravery and "what have I got to lose?" mentality.

Well, as fate or God would have it, I was accepted into her group! I chose Insanity by Shaun T as my fitness program and restarted drinking Shakeology every day. The group, which was full of AMAZING women, and I went on this path of health, fitness, and nutrition. Throughout the 4 weeks, we provided each other with moral support, admitted our weaknesses, were complimented on our strengths, and were encouraged to do our best and keep striving for improvement. It was (and still IS) an AMAZING group of individuals who continually inspire me and push me, whether or not they know this. I never realized, until the challenge, how important ACCOUNTABILITY is! By nature, I'm very private, and I don't like letting people know personal things about myself, but I quickly learned that having others hold you accountable is NECESSARY for the best results. With this group I felt free and open to admit a less than stellar dinner or a skipped workout, and I was provided with endless motivational quotes and "get your booty back in gear" talks (which were both wanted AND needed!).

Slowly, but surely, wheels started shifting in my brain, and the "Revelation" occurred during this challenge...

Pre-Revelation

Okay, so cruise was over, cold weather was in full swing. I figured there was no point in working out, ever, unless I had to be seen in anything less than a sweater and jeans. New Years 2011 came and went, and as usual, I made a resolution to get in shape and lose weight. I decided to try this other Beachbody program called Chalean Extreme. The trainer is this super spirited woman named Chalene Johnson. They advertised that up to 50% of your body fat could be lost because "muscle burns fat!" Since I HATED anything cardio-related, I figured this would be the perfect program for me. It focuses on lifting slow and heavy to increase muscle mass, therefore increasing metabolism. Needless to say, after a couple weeks, I either got sick or went on vacation or lost motivation and gave up. Months went by...

Next, summer came around (and with it, tank tops and shorts).Warmer weather leaves me antsy and gives me the motivation to be productive, and I found myself restless with any extra time on my hands. I figured this was the perfect time to try Chalean Extreme again, and this time, I would do it right and would see it through the scheduled 12 weeks. I invested in some heavier weights and giggled when the middle aged woman at the local Meijer seemed SHOCKED that I was buying 25lb dumbbells because they looked "so heavy!" There were a couple cardio DVDs weekly, which I didn't really enjoy because me + cardio = no, so I would sometimes trade those out for an hour on the elliptical at the gym (Yes, I joined a new gym. And yes, it was a short lived phase, again).  However, I actually FINISHED the 3 months! I loved listening to Chalene's words of wisdom and motivation.  I ended up losing a few pounds (granted, not the 50% body fat reduction I was hoping for), but it was nice to start seeing some definition in the mirror. I could feel my old gymnast body returning (very very slowly). As per usual, I didn't really focus on my diet as much as I should have, so my results weren't as drastic as they could have been. I have a hard time following meal plans, and it is SUPER hard making meals for one person (especially because I only have 1-2 ingredients per recipe at any given time, and I don't really see the point in buying a whole container/bag/etc of something if I only need a small portion of it).

Needless to say, my confidence was increasing, my body was improving, and I didn't yet know that this experience would lead me to a fantastic new adventure and business opportunity... ;)