Beautiful Imperfection

If you look closely at a tree you'll notice it's knots and dead branches, just like our bodies. What we learn is that beauty and imperfection go together wonderfully. ~ Matthew Fox  

I am coming to terms with the fact that I may never look like Laila Ali and it makes me sad and frustrates me a little. There are side effects to living a lifetime of obesity. I used to wonder why the contestants on The Biggest Loser took their shirts off when they were fat, but had shirts on when they lost the weight. Now I understand: the loose skin. I personally think it's very dishonest of them to hide that from viewers because it makes it seem like once  you lose weight your body will be perfect, like "normal" people. Maybe it's different for people who were skinny, then gained weight, then lost it. Maybe it's different for people who were obese until they were 20 then lost it. I don't know.  I hide my arms because I feel like people see the skin, not the muscles I've worked so hard to develop.  I just know that sometimes I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle.

Which one is perfect?

According to my Tanita numbers 74 lbs of me is fat, which puts my body fat percentage at 35.5 with a BMI of 32.6. Considering when I first started this journey I was at 55% body fat and had about 150 lbs of fat, I should be ecstatic. Most of the time I am. . .but I look around at others my same size and I can't help but feel cheated. Why is my body made this way? Why can't I look like this person or that person? Haven't I worked hard enough? When will I be "there"? I've been at this for almost three years and feel like I should be at my goal look, my gauge of perfection.

I wonder if one rose looks at another rose and compares it's petals? Do trees, blossoming and swaying in the wind, wonder why they don't have as many blossoms as the one two houses down? Do leopards compare their spots? Fish their scales? Of all God's creatures are we the only ones to question His handiwork? Are we the only ones who want to "improve" what He created? If by God's hands I am beautifully and wonderfully made, why do I look at myself with so little admiration? Why can't we see the beauty of our imperfection?



Feb 2011, Beautifully and wholly ME!

As I continue this seemingly never-ending journey, I am continually confronting issues and discovering things about myself. Clarity comes, oddly enough, as I'm struggling to breathe while trotting up a hill. It's then that I'm reminded that I don't have to know the answer to everything, I don't have to be like or look like anyone else. All I have to do is be the beautifully crafted creature that God designed me to be, that is all.





Operation: Shrinking Divas

For the majority of my weight loss journey I've been going it alone. While I'm thankful that God provided me with the internal motivation to push myself, there are times when it's good to have co-laborers. Several of my friends, co-workers, and family members have asked me to help them get focused and stay motivated. So my bright idea was to start a 30 day challenge to get everybody in shrink mode. I call it Operation: Shrinking Divas.

While I am a Beachbody coach, the challenge does not require you purchase anything from me. It does, however, require that you use the Team Beachbody site--which is free. That's probably not good business sense, but as I was drafting this plan I came to terms with the fact that first and foremost my life and journey are a testament to the power of God. My heart's desire is to be used by God to help others and the giftings that He's given me are fitness and motivation. This challenge is about helping the women in my life--and the women in their lives--live healthiher, untethered lives.

So, I invite you to join us for the next 30 days and see what is possible with a plan and persistence.

Operation: Shrinking Divas
Dates: March 1st - March 30th, no new entries after March 3rd
Goal: Establish healthy behaviors and get the shrinkage started!!

Rules:
1) Create TBB memership (free) www.teambeachbody.com/fitgirlposse and click "JOIN"
2) Set a 30 day goal--keep it simple and realistic
3) Pick a plan/program (does not have to be Beachbody) and track your workouts via TBB site
4) Follow the nutrition plan (will be emailed to all participants after you email me and posted to the group page on Facebook)
5) Take a photo and track weight and inches weekly and update TBB profile
6) Encourage one person a week to join you in living a healthy lifestyle--they must join my TBB site and send me an email that you referred them.
7) Send me a weekly email from your TBB account with progress notes on weight, inches, workouts and how well you followed the nutrition plan.
 *March1: from your new TBB account email me your begining weight, inches   (chest, wasit, hips, arms, legs), photos, and your 30 day goal
 *March7: Email for week 1 due
 *March14: Email for week 2 due
 *March 21: Email for week 3 due
 *March 28: Email for week 4 due
 *March 30: Final email with final results (weight, inches, and photos), and a   short paragraph on how you're different from day 1 and how you plan to  continue going forward.
At the end of 30 days we will all be healthier, more energetic, and SMALLER (combo of inches & pounds). The person who earns the most points will receive a "Diva Fit Kit" that includes necessary tools for staying healthy and looking fabulous!!

How do you earn points?

• 10 points for setting up your TBB membership (freebie if you already have an account)
• 20 points if you're using a TBB program for the challenge
• 5 points for each email (must include all requirements, see rule #7)
• 10 points for each person you encourage (see rule #6)
• 3 points for every pound and/or inch lost each week

This challenge DOES NOT require you to purchase anything. Using the TBB site for communication means that I can track and communicate with everyone from one source. Plus, the site has great support tools--chat groups, WOWY gym, articles, tips, etc that will be helpful to you over the 30 days.

Why all the updates and tracking? Because you have to track your progress and keep your healthy habits at the forefront of  your priorities; otherwise it's easy to forget and miss out on your successes.

6 Secrets to Firing Up Your Metabolism Fitness: self.com

6 Secrets to Firing Up Your Metabolism Fitness: self.com