Exersice IS happiness!

There's nothing like starting my day off with a good, up-tempo workout. Nothing! Even if I have to wake up way before dawn and I had to get up several times in the night to help a kido! I am so much happier with myself and have a better outlook for the day than if I sleep in. (And I have more energy!)

So, I took turbo jam's loose 10 inches in 10 days challenge. I followed their meal plan very closely and did their workouts. As I got better at the technique and pushed myself harder I began to feel results. My arms feel tighter, my abs and my legs, too. I began to really look forward to these workouts.

Here are some measurements for ya:
my before (September 24th)
left arm: 10.5
right arm: 10.5
bust: 34.5
waist: 30.5
hips: 39
left thigh: 23
right thigh: 23

my after (October 6th)
left arm: 10 (lost 1/2 inch)
right arm: 10 (lost 1/2 inch)
bust: 33.5 (lost 1 inch)
waist: 30 (lost 1/2 inch)
hips: 37.25 (lost 1.75)
left thigh: 21.75 (lost 1.25)
right thigh: 21.75 (lost 1.25)

I believe that's a total of 6.75 inches! Wahoo! Now I've learned some tricks about measuring. You have to make little notes about where you measured. On your thighs did you stand with all your weight on the thigh you were measuring? Did you measure the widest part? On your hips did the measuring tape lay flat or did you pull it tight so your flub curved in? Little notes like this will help you really see your progress. It's really frustrating to measure and then to workout and measure later and the numbers are totally off. Make those notes!

The meal plan was really good for me. It taught me to say no. I can be really slender and fit if I live in a bubble. When Paul pulls out a snack I think that's yummy I'll have some, too. Day 5 or 6 was my hardest day. I wasn't really feeling the results or seeing any yet. It was kind of a hard day of itself. My friend, Janelle, happened to call and I mentioned what I was doing and how I was having a hard day and really wanted to eat an emotional treat. She cheered me on and totally got me through my moment of weakness. With her encouragement echoing in my head I worked out harder and was tougher in my resolve. I'm going to stay with it! Deserts are a celebration! I've gotten in the habit of eating something sweet after lunch and usually dinner, every day! I like the idea that Sunday can be a day to enjoy a small something sweet. The one time I did break the meal plan was last night. It was my baby's sixth birthday. She knew I was on my diet, but she gave me a big grin when I look a tiny portion of cake and a small scoop of ice cream. She asked me why and I said, "to celebrate your birthday!" It was just enough to taste, but it wasn't enough to get me into trouble and I compensated by changing my dinner. Here's the hard part though. It was very hard to stop at that little serving. I have such a sweet tooth that I really had to take control and stop. Let's just say I'm glad she wanted strawberry because chocolate is my favorite and I really would've had a challenge there! I'm getting stronger though and I can do it!

So can you! Life is more fun when I have more energy and I'm happier with myself. I like something Chalene says in the turbo jam booklet, "Nothing tastes as good as fit feels." SO TRUE!
She also quotes a proverb, "to lengthen your life, shorten your meals."