Before and after...10 weeks is just the beginning

Okay so I'm assuming most of you are friends with me on Facebook or read the last post but Clay and I just wrapped up our 10 weeks at Farrell's Extreme Bodyshaping. We have already signed on to be FIT Members for the next year and are looking forward to it but yesterday was our final testing.

I knew that over the past weeks our bodies and minds have been changing but I had no idea of the impact on my emotions that yesterday would have on me. Especially last night and lingering in to today.

Starting out 10 weeks ago, I would have told you that if I lost 15 lbs I would have considered it worth the initial investment. At week 5 when I was already down 11 lbs I wanted to see how far I could really take it the last 5 weeks.

So, I pushed harder at class. I challenged myself with heavier bands and stayed after with a friend to do extra ab work or tricep dips or just whatever. I tried my hardest to do extra sit ups and push ups each night even though it was 830pm by the time I got around to them and I was mentally exhausted and ready for bed. I did my best and gave my level 10 as much as I could. I found myself happier. I was laughing, smiling and overall just content. I was fitting into pants I haven't worn in years and falling out of others that I tried to wear.

Then came yesterday's testing. I wanted to push even more. I set my mind up that I wanted to do 43 situps in a minute. I didn't make that goal but I far exceeded my wildest expectations losing a whopping 16.5 inches from my chest, thighs, hips, arms, and waist and 21 lbs. I was in shock and didn't believe it. I also shaved almost another 45 sec off running my mile and completed it in 9:17 and did almost 50 push ups in the minute test.  I walked out feeling like a winner.

Each 10 week session gets a female and male $1,000 winner. It's not based on any one thing but just an overall improvement/transformation and determined by secret ballot voting amongst the instructors, coaches, and staff. They pick the top 4 together and then the voting begins.

Arriving at the party, decked out and feeling fabulous I was excited to relax with my coach and friends from class. I enjoyed the awards ceremony hooting and hollering for others that had accomplished so much. There was a diabetic lady who ran the whole mile without stopping and had her sugar levels at an all time low, a college student who got the best spirit award, and many more.  Clay and I even got free tshirts for our perfect attendance award :) (We were hoping for a tshirt. I guess its the small things in life. Actually we each have 2 tshirts now so can't wait to bust those out.)

Then came that moment. It was time for the big winners. I will admit over the past few weeks I had thought about it often. I had believed I could do it and I could be the one but tried not to get my hopes up. Then Jessica (the office manager) began...."Our female winner lost 21 lbs and 16.5 total inches..." And that was the moment I knew it was me and true to my nature. I cried sitting there before she ever said my name.  Bobbi and Beth (both from my class) were already smiling and super excited. As Jessica continued, Clay turned to look at me and said, "Is it you?" I just nodded and about that time she said my name. I remember crying and giving Clay a big hug before I walked up to get the award. There was some sort of speech but all I can remember blubbering out was "I get a little emotional.. something about loving Farrell's and my 6am class and thanking Clay for being part of it with me."

Then I took a look at the before and after pictures and lost it again. I knew I was "overweight" and that things needed to change. I knew that I hadn't given my body or mind what it needed in years. I made excuses about not having time or being too busy, tired, whatever. I ate whatever I wanted because I thought that I could. I had used being pregnant and nursing over the past 4 years to not really care what I looked like or what I ate and what it was doing to me. Pushing 180 when I started but shocking people with that number because "I hid/carried my weight well" I knew it was time for a change and I can't begin to tell you how happy I am that I took that step and made that commitment. There's no looking back now! We move forward and make ourselves better, stronger, healthier, happier.

I've debated putting the pictures on here but then realized I signed a waiver that puts those pictures everywhere. They will be up at the gym for at least 12 weeks until the next winner. They will be in an ad in the newspaper for the class, so I may as well put them here. The before reminds me how easy it is to just make excuses. The after reminds me that I can do anything and all I have to do is try. 

 I know it may seem silly but I'm still a bag of emotions looking at these and thinking about what I've done this last 10 weeks. The changes I've made that really are just the beginning. The changes that have happened not only on the outside but mentally on the inside as well.

I can't speak to Clay's experience with the class directly but I am so happy that he did it too. The nutrition is the hardest part esp for people like us that just like food and bad food at that. Clay too made great improvements over the 10 weeks losing 10 lbs,  6%body fat, and 5 inches. He also managed to do 60 pushups in the minute test and that was AWESOME! And he smoked that mile run at 8:06. I'm so proud of everything he has done and so THANKFUL for how supportive he has been during my journey. We make a great team and I love him to pieces more and more every day. I asked if I could also share his pictures and he said he didn't care. We did find out last night that he made top 4 so he also had a chance to win too. That would have been fantastic and even though it didn't happen, he is definitely top dog in my book!

I do have one final thing to add. We owe a BIG thank you to my mom. Without her help, we couldn't have done this together. THANK YOU MOM for always being willing to watch the kids so we could do our orientation and testing. We truly appreciate your help and love you!