The Big One-Oh

There's a sign in my gym that says:

Lose 10 pounds
in 5 weeks
for $55

Marketer that I am, I could make a sign of my own:

Lose 10 pounds
in 4 weeks
Absolutely FREE!*

*Well, I have exchanged a few things for my double digit weight loss...

• Commitment to the 90 Day Challenge (eating 1500 or fewer calories a day & doing at least 4 hours of sweaty exercise a week)
• Dedication to my NAFP (no sugar, no wheat, no aspartame, plus I avoid caffeine)
• Holding my vision in mind when the going gets challenging.

This feels good! I like this! I want more of this, please! : )

And, most of all, I am so, so grateful!

Day Three & Feeling Better

I have to say, at the end of day one, I didn't post because I would have basically said, "I hate this so much." I was tired, hungry and grumpy. Step class wasn't its usual joy because my energy was low and in the evening, when I usually try to squeeze in a few more work hours, I was sitting comatose in front of the TV (watching "Top Chef," a bad choice for a hungry person) and finally went to bed.

I attribute the toughness of the day to several things beyond limiting my calories to 1,500, including tiredness from the weekend with friends in Portland at the Miracle Mastery conference, along with a little bit of caffeine (which I've been off of for weeks) and some questionable sauce (read: sugar) on lunchtime food.

Luckily, Tuesday dawned much brighter and today, well, today I am my chipper and energetic self, in awe of how I can make 1,500 calories last all day and not feel deprived. I've decided to postpone the weight training for a week or so until I really get into the groove of things, though.

My life has been made easy by eating the same thing all three days, that's for sure, and preparing those things ahead of time.

Plus, I got a mental and spiritual boost this morning when I was making breakfast. I just had the sensation--the lightness and brightness--of feeling slimmer. It was the nicest feeling. I like that! I want more of that! :)

Day One Towards a Slimmer Me

When I opened my eyes this morning, the first thought I had was: Day 1 of the 90 Challenge -- and it was a happy thought!

I am ready, willing and able to reveal more of a slimmer me. Marji, Kathy and I were at a Miracle Mastery conference over the weekend (gems to be shared in the coming months), and it was a super way to rev up my mental and spiritual energy for the challenge, the weight release and all the other "miracles realized" in the coming year.

Sooner Than We Thought...and Some Resistance

Originally set for more than a month out from now, the date of the 90 Day Challenge has been moved up significantly--to Jan. 22. I talked to my SBS (Super Best Sister) Teresa about it, and we agreed it was for the best. "Otherwise it could be a month of 'last suppers,'" she said. So true.

Yesterday Marji and I did some thinking about why we want to do the Challenge. Frankly, I couldn't come up with many ideas of my own, so I stole some of Marji's. ;) Since those reasons will help determine my level of commitment, I think this is an important step, though! I'm going to give that and menu planning more attention in the next few days.

The resistance that showed up this morning...I still debating (read: fearful) over the 1,500 calorie limit. I chatted a good while with Marji about it, though, and it was revealed that my "little girl" (hey, don't blame me, blame my therapist) was frightened of being hungry. Food has been a comfort for me for years and years--and the reason I got here today.

But three realizations came out of the chat. First, completing this challenge could mean a whole new life for my "little girl," where she'll be able to do fun things (like run faster) that she hasn't been able to do before. Second, there really is no reason she has to be concerned about "adult" matters of metabolism and food tracking--leave that to me, I can handle it. Lastly, and this was a brilliant stroke on my SBF's part, "Little Donna" has been invited to come play in this challenge by "Little Marji." So she doesn't have to be alone! Just knowing that my "little girl" has a SBP (Super Best Playmate) lightened my heart immediately. The resistance is gone and Donna (all of her) is back on board and ready to rock and roll!

Bring it on!

Bring on the weight loss, bring on the energy, bring on the momentum!

Because I am ready.

A follower of Kathy Bowes (www.kathybowesonline.com) and her program "The Road Less Traveled with Food," I've been a recovering food addict for three years come Feb. 9. In that time I've lost approximately 40 pounds, but I'm ready to lose more.

Kathy put forth a 90-day challenge where my Super Best Friend Marji (also a follower of Kathy's) and I commit to 4 hours of sweat inducing exercise a week, a simple menu plan of 1500 calories (I'm still pondering that number--can I do it?) and tracking changes in my life along the way.

I see my biggest "challenge with the challenge" as the simple menu plan. I work at home and tend to grocery shop "big and infrequently," resulting in meals on the fly and with whatever I have around on the days where the fridge is getting bare. That's going to change before the challenge gets underway and while it's underway. If I commit to planning out my menu ahead of time, grocery shopping should be a snap--I just have to get to the store to do it!

Stay tuned for more info!