Shrinkvivor Challenge Check-In #7

Really? Check in #7 already? When this started, we had eons ahead of us to accomplish every kind of wonderful thing. And now it's flown by and almost over.

The bad news is that it's almost over.

The good news is that I feel like I've accomplished almost every kind of wonderful thing. I've learned so much and come so far that just writing this makes me feel exhilarated and happy!

Oh those mini challenges (or should I say many challenges!). So much to learn. And so very helpful. I didn't know that water was that important. It wasn't until Bacardi Mama and I shared the same disappointing weight change, that I started to realize that water really does make a difference and that maybe, just like our body holds onto weight when we screw up our metabolism by starving ourselves, our body also holds onto water when it thinks there's not enough coming in.

I learned that, not only is it healthy to eat fruits and vegetables five times a day, doing so leaves less room for other, not so healthy foods.

I've learned that exercise isn't just for when I'm in the mood. Exercise is a lifestyle. You do it regularly and I learned it because I'd rather die than let down a whole team of people. So, I found out I could get out there and move even when I thought I was too tired or didn't have time.

This Sisterhood is a beautiful place. I've been so happy here and I've been so successful. Finally I got my mind right and my body followed. Don't get me wrong. I've got a ways to go but for the first time in eleven years, I believe I'll get there.

I only lost .4 of a pound this week. But it's okay. It's in the right direction and it doesn't signal the end of my weight loss journey. It just says I didn't do as well this week but I know I'll do better next week or maybe the week after. It's a marathon - not a sprint. And thanks to the Sisterhood and all the support of its members, I'm in it for the long haul.

And I walked over 30 miles - just barely but WOO-HOO!

By the way, I didn't earn the shopping trip that Mr. Right promised me if I lost twenty pounds by the end of the challenge (I still have a week to do it right?) but I was right. My prize is the new, smaller, more fit me.