Eight weeks of committing to a challenge… for myself.
Eight weeks of making sure I showed up… for myself.
Eight weeks of creating a healthy lifestyle… for myself.
Eight weeks of being disciplined… for myself.
Eight weeks of just doing it even when I didn’t want to… for myself.
Eight weeks of being motivated to be better… for myself.
Eight weeks of achieving things I thought I was incapable of… for myself.
Eight weeks of prioritising… myself, my health, my life.
Stats
I did measure myself and I’m hovering around my Week 4 weight! Even with all my travelling etc. And I am down two more centimetres in my waist… but up one on my hips (though I did measure over my gym pants… wishful thinking? Perhaps!).
The official weigh-in (and photos, I guess) is on the 6th of September so I will keep you posted then!
Training
The last Saturday of week 8 was a struggle. It was the first time in my eight weeks where my body could not handle a double class. And I’m pretty used to doing triples, by this stage. Half way through the first class I knew I could not cope with a second barre class.
I think my current bout of insomnia, incredibly high stress levels (personal and work) and hormones cumulatively played a role in my body slowly shutting down.
Overall I only completed four hours of barre, one hour of pilates and one hour of training with P this week. No hot yoga…
I did however attend a stretch workshop on Saturday by one of our barre instructors Taz! It was awesome – my body has seriously never stretched in some of those ways before and I am pretty close to the splits… something that has been on my “try to do” lists for 2017! WIN!
Diet
Diet… Sigh, the diet. LOL 😀
The diet has been the part of the challenge where I have failed. I did not follow the recommended plan but rather tried to modify my diet into a lifestyle change. While I could have been more strict with my diet, I did manage to stay away from junk food and confectionary (except dark chocolate)!
Emotions and Achievements
Eight weeks ago I started the challenge with a bit of reservation – I had not signed up and completed a challenge before and I was nervous. To be honest, I’m not 100% sure WHY I signed up – but I knew I had to (weird, I know).
Barre is something I have been wanting to try for a while – and what better way than to dive into a challenge. Growing up I was the typical tomboy – dance lessons were not something I was interested in; give me sports and climbing trees instead! Since being introduced and slightly addicted to “Dancing With The Stars” last year (Season 23 was my introduction), it is as if my body craved moving that way, improving my posture, pushing my uncoordinated and ungraceful self to be better. I also knew I needed to be more comfortable in my skin and start figuring out who I am.
Fast forward to today –
I’m truly not the same person who went into the challenge. Mid-way, I dealt with serious family health issues, my own emotions and work schedules. It sucked. Yet, the challenge kept me focussed and the classes took my mind off the rest of my life. For at least one hour (or two or three) I could just focus on moving my body and having a good laugh… it is definitely what got me through “life” during the stuff being thrown my way,
I hope to write a longer post about what I gained from the challenge a little later but here is a summary of what I achieved…
- Meeting INCREDIBLE people!
- At least two barre sessions a week
- At least one pilates session a week
- No sweets!
- No take-aways
- No ready-made meals
- No “hug-in-a-mug”
- Four kilo’s down!
- Centimetres of my waist and hips!
- I’m NEARLY close to the splits!!!
Things I am still working on
- Learning to love myself… just the way I am and not be too self critical.
Will I keep on with barre? Will I do more Core-Barre challenges?
HELL YES!!!
And on that note, let me get ready for class!
All my love,
k x
