2012, what a year! But I must say I didn't start it on the right foot. It was mid January when I began experiencing fever, tiredness and body aches, especially during the night. I was on vacation on the coast (it was summer in my little corner of the world) and I was training hard at the Gym every other day. Harder than ever, to be more accurate. So I didn't pay any attention to the symptoms, I guess I just expected them to vanish from night to day. What did I think it was? A night chill that, combined with burning muscle pain after overtraining a little, could be causing some "temporary discomfort"... How could I guess it was a serious infection: streptococcus?
After I got my diagnosis, I had to take penicillin four times a day for ten days. I was never told that the effects of penicillin would be so devastating! It was like a bomb, I had shakings, the fever was coming and going, my body seemed disconnected from my mind, my muscles didn't respond to my commands, and the word "willpower" sounded delusional - something belonging to more favorable times. In that physical state, I couldn't do any exercise. And not only for ten days: my body needed even more time to recover from the infection. So I had to forget about "burning the fat, feeding the muscle". For a while. One month and a half, as a matter of fact. Okay, I did have a good reason to stop training. But, did I have a good one to overeat? To give in to cravings? Yes, I was ill, but - couldn't I have done better?
One day, I woke up and found out that the infection was gone, and that I had put on a lot of weight while my body was fighting against the strepto so hard that my mind shut down. I weighed myself and - it was a true disaster. I started blaming and beating myself up badly for being weak. I became so impatient! I couldn't even think about forgiving myself for making the wrong choices... while I was really ill!
I was there, wallowing in my own mire, when Tom's e-mail arrived. The Summer Challenge was being announced! The BFFM world seemed to come to back to life once again! And I was lucky enough to be reached by Sheri, one of my teammates for the Holiday Challenge. Sheri wanted to team up with me again! Great! And I also found D. He and I had never been teammates, but D. asked me if I wanted to be on a team with him for this challenge. I was still in a bad mood, but I had hope. Things could get better - why not? I could make an effort to try to get back on track. I might recover my lost energy. Perhaps I could start training again soon!
I started this part of my fitness journey (the 2012 BFFM Summer Challenge) with four awesome teammates: D., Sheri, Milanka and Joe. We are "The Thermonuclear Transequatorial Transmeridian Titans" (T5). D. helped me get off the pity pot. He said, "We don't try. If we try, we have more chances to fail." Don't make an effort. There's no "might", no "maybe", no "perhaps". Don't try - just do it!
Back to T5. None of the Titans is a newbie at the Inner Circle. What is more, BFFM has been our creed for some time. BFFM has helped all of us achieve great results so far. With BFFM, I've been able to reach a total of nearly 100 lbs lost. However, there were certain BFFM principles I hadn't been applying effectively before this challenge. This time I had the chance to "polish" and "fine-tune" two fat loss strategies Tom has taught us in his books:
- THE ZIG-ZAG METHOD: I increased calories and loaded carbs 1-2 per week, after no less than 3 low-carb / low-calorie days;
- A.M. CARDIO: I did fasted cardio 2-3 times per week by the end of the challenge.
But the two "crucial" components, the ones that were KEY to my success, had to do with something different:
- THE POWER OF THE FIFTH ELEMENT: Teaming up with strong, likeminded people, guys who always had a word of support and encouragement, who were always willing to help and always ready to give a pat on the back and a kick in the pants, was uplifting and reassuring.
- A STRONGER MINDSET: It's curious, some people know that I've lost nearly 100 lbs so far; they look at me and say, "Wow, nothing can stop you, huh?". But I've had my roadblocks during the challenge. I've slipped and struggled, and even fallen off the wagon, like everybody else. However, this time I've worked more on the motivation department; I've spent hours reading and watching inspirational material; I've written many positive affirmations and kept them where visible; I've also worked on being more assertive and on believing in my capabilities. "Believe and achieve!"
The support of my team was pivotal to my progress. D., Sheri, Joe and Mila helped me go through at least three critical moments of my 98-day challenge.
One: In July, I suffered a hormonal imbalance. Being a woman isn't all roses! I had a menstrual disorder, and it lasted five endless weeks. My body was incredibly bloated and I suffered from severe mood swings. To crown it all, the scale refused to reflect my efforts. That was when D. and Sheri came to the rescue. D. helped me deal with my "demons" (that inner voice saying, "You're busting your butt for nothing. Give in!"). As regards Sheri, she asked me to trust her and made me promise her that I'd "go blind", that I'd continue doing what I was doing out of faith, even if there were no measurable results for the time being. I did so. Sheri was right: once my health was restored, my body reacted favorably and I could see how my hard work paid off.
Two: In August, I reached the awesome weight I was in my late teens. It was shocking! I'd never been so thin in my adulthood! And I've never been so fit before! Far from being happy, I freaked out. Call it "self-image issues". All my teammates supported me then. Mila and Joe sent me amazing e-mails. Joe encouraged me to visualize myself as the me I want to be. He said, "Use all your senses to develop her... Be realistic, but don't be afraid to make her fine!!! Get relaxed and revisit her as often as you can to imbed her image into your subconscious!!! See her living out the life you want in the future... What does she like then? Her thoughts, friends, possessions, family, happiness... If you get it real enough, your subconscious will take you there!!!" I'm working on "her". Like D. and I often say, I (we) will claim the body of my dreams -even if I've never had it- because it's mine and I want it!
Three: By the end of the challenge, I put on a lot of muscle and my weight went up. So I didn't hit the mark, something I was really craving for: I didn't reach the awesome figure of 100 lbs lost. I got somewhat discouraged. D., Sheri and Mila were there again. D. has been teaching me to unlearn to beat myself up, while Mila has been insisting that I should be kinder to myself. Well, I'm not officially a member of "The 100 Pound Club" yet, but I've opened a thread in that forum and I won't stop until I can say, "Yay me! Yay BFFM! I'VE LOST 100 LBS!"
My best friend at the IC has also taught me three valuable lessons during this challenge:
(1) To focus more on my habits than on figures (and by this I mean, "I'm worth more than the number shown by my scale"); if I can change those habits that are keeping the extra weight in my body, even though the scale isn't showing me the numbers I'm craving for, I'm definitely on the right path.
(2) To have empowering alternatives: "I didn't feel like doing my morning run today" or, "Something cropped up and I had to alter my meal plan." Did I blow it? Shall I beat myself up? NO! Instead, I'll ask myself: "What can I do now? What are my options?", and then I'll make the best of such situation.
(3) TO HAVE FUN! Yes - losing fat can be fun! Why not? Training doesn't have to be boring! Not at all! What do you like doing? Dancing? Riding a bike? Playing handball? Why not doing it, if it helps you burn the unwanted pounds? I'm currently taking Pilates Reformer sessions and swimming lessons. You may point out that Pilates Reformer is not the same as "lifting weights" (BTW, I'm lifting weights, too). Believe me, that bed has shaped my core like nothing else has done. I'm also taking swimming lessons, whether it's a good type of cardio or not, just because I'm enjoying it! And I used to be afraid of water!
... So 98 days have passed. I went to the swimming club today. I was in a hurry, so I took a taxi. The cab driver knew me. He looked at me with a smile and said, "Sorry, madam. A woman used to live in this house... I remember her... She was a little fat, you know?" YES, I KNOW! I was that woman!
Thanks, Tom! Thanks, Kyle! Thanks, Titans! Thanks, BFFMers! Everyone who completes a challenge is a winner, and here I am, for the second time this year, crossing the finish line and shouting,
"YES! YES! I DID IT!"
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