When the Shrinkvivor challenge began back in September, I looked at that awesome list of prizes and thought, wouldn't it be great...... But I knew I didn't really have a prayer. I knew there would be young, motivated, hard-working women (and men) who wanted those prizes just as much as me. And I knew that my age would be deterrent. Or at least I thought it would.
What I should have realized was that my age (and being retired with no children at home) would allow me the time to rock the mini challenges which would help keep me and my tribe from being eliminated. So many things came into play in the last seven weeks that I feel like it took a 'perfect storm' type situation to make me come out on top.
My first stroke of luck was my tribe. Tribe Blue or Blue Babes Burning Booty hung together and supported each other from the beginning to the end. We had tribe mates so awesome that even when they were exiled, they checked in and encouraged those of us still surviving.
And the better we did with the mini challenges, the better we did with the weight loss. Those girls at the 'hood have learned the hard way all the tricks and motivations that helped us become thinner and healthier. And all those challenges provided motivation that still keeps me stoked and determined to reach my Ultimate Me.
I think the biggest hurdle may have been becoming one of the seven finalists. After that, the winner was determined by votes. When I read, in the beginning of the challenge, that votes would determine the Ultimate Shrinkvivor, I felt my odds were slim. But what was I thinking? I have six internet savvy children. I have nineteen grandchildren and at least four of them went on Facebook and encouraged their friends to vote for me. (What kind of wonderful grandchildren post about their grandma on Facebook!) In addition to my own large family I come from a really large extended family. I have cousins all over the place and after this year's reunion, I got a lot of their email addresses and started pestering them to help me. I found email addresses of old friends and I wasn't shy about pleading for their votes too and one of the most awesome things about this last week has been hearing from people that I haven't heard from in a long time. And then there were blogging friends like Bacardi Mama who have supported and encouraged me from the get-go. I also have a daughter who's a popular blogger and she did an awesome and generous post about me. With all this support and love, I realize now, I had a great chance!
At this point I can't say enough about the Sisterhood Of Shrinking Jeans. At 64 years of age, they changed my life. I feel so much better about myself and about my future. I kind of feel like that at this age, if you're not going uphill, you're going to be going downhill and the girls at the 'hood kept me on that uphill trail. They still do!
Of course, I have to thank all our sponsors. I truly have never seen a more beautiful bike than that Beach Cruiser. I gasped the first time I saw its picture.
I've already talked about how useful the Lands End gift certificate will be but it's not just a gift certificate for clothes or products that moves me. It Lands End! What a great place to shop for sportswear and outerwear that will help keep me active this winter and all year round.
I just went to the Fitness Coffee website and I cannot wait to try these coffee products. Coffee and I have a lifelong love affair and with fitness factored in, it's going to be amazing! In the same vein is Click Expresso Protein Drinks. If there's one thing I have a hard time getting enough of, it's protein. In this weight loss journey, I've discovered many wonderful low fat, low calorie options that I love but very few of the ones I've discovered have much protein. And I need protein for my exercise routines!! Now I know where I'll get it.
I'm also excited about the EA Sports Active workout system. Although, I love/hate Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, I know that I need to change it up a little bit and with winter coming, a new indoor routine is even more vital. I can't wait to try it out!
Finally I can hardly wait to get my Bornfit Tee and my Miraclebody jeans.
So thank you to each and every sponsor and I hope everyone will frequent their sites and try their products. Without them, this challenge wouldn't have been as awesome as it's been!
And thank you again to the Sisterhood of Shrinkingjeans. You've all been amazing! Without your encouragement and advice and awesomeness, none of this would have happened.
But my biggest thanks go to everyone that supported me, voted for me, and networked for me. Without you, I would be a grateful-for-my-progress finalist but not the winner that's feeling exhilarated and motivated to continue! This has truly been a life changing journey and I feel like I've only just begun.
Showing posts with label Shrinkvivor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shrinkvivor. Show all posts
Friday, November 5, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Shrinkvivor Final Check-In
What a ride it's been. I can't remember ever being involved in anything so challenging and exciting!
I've learned a lot during this challenge and while I was learning, I was losing weight and feeling happier and better about myself than I've felt in a long time.
I've lost almost fifteen pounds but more significantly, I shopped for clothes last Wednesday and actually enjoyed myself and had lots of choices. That's got to be the mark of a successful challenge! Also, I've learned to drink water even when I don't think I'm thirsty and I've learned to love the Shred. It takes a really successful challenge to make me achieve goals of that caliber!
I'm grateful to Click, Miraclebody, EA Sports, Fitness Coffee, Bornfit, and Lands End for their support but most of all I'm grateful to the 'hood!
The girls that write for and run the Sisterhood are some of the most beautiful people in the world. They don't know me but they support me like I'm their mom (or their sister). And a support system doesn't get any better than that. And I want to send a special gratitude shoutout to Christy M. whose patience and love is unending. And to Bacardi Mama who has been sending me emails and encouragement since the start of the Shrinkvivor challenge. My final thank you goes to all the other members of the 'hood who shared their ups and downs and made my journey more doable because they've traveled the same road. I've learned from their successes and their mistakes and I've been able to share my woes and joys which kept the bad in perspective and doubled the joy of the good.
Congratulations to the other six finalists. I know very well how hard you've worked and I know how how you're feeling right now. Ultimately though, we rocked this challenge and I'm proud of all of us!
We're in the final stretch. There are two days left to vote. If you haven't yet and you'd like to lend your support, go to http://shrinkingjeans.net/2010/10/the-top-7-links-to-vlogsblogs-and-voting/ You can vote today and again tomorrow as long as there are 24 hours in between.
A final thank you to all who have supported and voted for me even though you're not part of the Sisterhood. Without you, the journey would have been longer, harder, and a lot less fun. Blogs just aren't as therapeutic and motivating without readers ... so thank you.
Now, I'm waiting with bated breath for the drum roll heralding the final announcement which will be on Friday. Wait with me please....... but whatever you do, don't forget to vote!
I've learned a lot during this challenge and while I was learning, I was losing weight and feeling happier and better about myself than I've felt in a long time.
I've lost almost fifteen pounds but more significantly, I shopped for clothes last Wednesday and actually enjoyed myself and had lots of choices. That's got to be the mark of a successful challenge! Also, I've learned to drink water even when I don't think I'm thirsty and I've learned to love the Shred. It takes a really successful challenge to make me achieve goals of that caliber!
I'm grateful to Click, Miraclebody, EA Sports, Fitness Coffee, Bornfit, and Lands End for their support but most of all I'm grateful to the 'hood!
The girls that write for and run the Sisterhood are some of the most beautiful people in the world. They don't know me but they support me like I'm their mom (or their sister). And a support system doesn't get any better than that. And I want to send a special gratitude shoutout to Christy M. whose patience and love is unending. And to Bacardi Mama who has been sending me emails and encouragement since the start of the Shrinkvivor challenge. My final thank you goes to all the other members of the 'hood who shared their ups and downs and made my journey more doable because they've traveled the same road. I've learned from their successes and their mistakes and I've been able to share my woes and joys which kept the bad in perspective and doubled the joy of the good.
Congratulations to the other six finalists. I know very well how hard you've worked and I know how how you're feeling right now. Ultimately though, we rocked this challenge and I'm proud of all of us!
We're in the final stretch. There are two days left to vote. If you haven't yet and you'd like to lend your support, go to http://shrinkingjeans.net/2010/10/the-top-7-links-to-vlogsblogs-and-voting/ You can vote today and again tomorrow as long as there are 24 hours in between.
A final thank you to all who have supported and voted for me even though you're not part of the Sisterhood. Without you, the journey would have been longer, harder, and a lot less fun. Blogs just aren't as therapeutic and motivating without readers ... so thank you.
Now, I'm waiting with bated breath for the drum roll heralding the final announcement which will be on Friday. Wait with me please....... but whatever you do, don't forget to vote!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Monday Musings - Or Please Vote Vote Vote!
What a weekend it's been. Thursday evening I was overjoyed to find out that I was one of the seven finalists in the Shrinkvivor challenge. That was beyond exciting! The competition was tough throughout the challenge but I was lucky enough to have my mind right for a change and I was ready to give it everything I had!
I never really thought I had a chance to even be a finalist. There were too many dedicated, hard working people out there with the same goals I had. But I knew that my real prize would be in emerging from the six weeks of intense dedication, with a smaller fitter body. And I wanted that more than anything.
Once I found out that I was in the company of six other finalists, I started working on my vlog or video blog. Although I was very nervous, it was fun to do. I loved sharing some of the thoughts and motivations that helped keep me strong during the challenge.
The vlog had to be posted and submitted to the 'hood by noon on Saturday and I just barely made it. I had no idea uploading a video to a blog post could take so long. Fortunately I had done a backup post with just the link to the video in it and was able to get that in on time.
And next came the voting and the networking, so to speak. Since it's down to the winner being determined by nothing but votes, I'm begging, bribing, and threatening everyone I know to vote for me. I want that Beach Cruiser and those Miraclebody jeans. The fitness coffee and Click energy drinks would be awesome and that $150 gift certificate from Lands End would be so fun!
So, I'm asking again. I need your votes. Several people I talked to yesterday had problems voting which worries me but they were finally able to get help by emailing support@shrinkingjeans.net. The problem was resolved. If you run into difficulties, please contact them. They're nice and easygoing and were quick to fix whatever was going wrong.
To view all the vlogs including mine and, most importantly, to cast your vote, go here.
You can see I was nervous but I think you'll also see that I was excited and happy to be a finalist!
What a great concept the Shrinkingjeans website it! They've helped so many people like me and the girls that run the site are selfless and loving and supportive. They're involved in the same goals as us - to be the best that they can be, only they go a giant step further by helping us all to be the best that we can be too.
I never really thought I had a chance to even be a finalist. There were too many dedicated, hard working people out there with the same goals I had. But I knew that my real prize would be in emerging from the six weeks of intense dedication, with a smaller fitter body. And I wanted that more than anything.
Once I found out that I was in the company of six other finalists, I started working on my vlog or video blog. Although I was very nervous, it was fun to do. I loved sharing some of the thoughts and motivations that helped keep me strong during the challenge.
The vlog had to be posted and submitted to the 'hood by noon on Saturday and I just barely made it. I had no idea uploading a video to a blog post could take so long. Fortunately I had done a backup post with just the link to the video in it and was able to get that in on time.
And next came the voting and the networking, so to speak. Since it's down to the winner being determined by nothing but votes, I'm begging, bribing, and threatening everyone I know to vote for me. I want that Beach Cruiser and those Miraclebody jeans. The fitness coffee and Click energy drinks would be awesome and that $150 gift certificate from Lands End would be so fun!
So, I'm asking again. I need your votes. Several people I talked to yesterday had problems voting which worries me but they were finally able to get help by emailing support@shrinkingjeans.net. The problem was resolved. If you run into difficulties, please contact them. They're nice and easygoing and were quick to fix whatever was going wrong.
To view all the vlogs including mine and, most importantly, to cast your vote, go here.
You can see I was nervous but I think you'll also see that I was excited and happy to be a finalist!
What a great concept the Shrinkingjeans website it! They've helped so many people like me and the girls that run the site are selfless and loving and supportive. They're involved in the same goals as us - to be the best that they can be, only they go a giant step further by helping us all to be the best that we can be too.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Ultimate Shrinkvivor? It's Up To You!
So I find myself in the company of six other Shrinkvivor Outlast Tribe members and we're all vying for the same set of awesome prizes. This has been an amazing journey with lots of eye opening moments and accomplishments.
Before you check out the vlog, please remember it's my first and, yes, I was really nervous. But it was fun and I had Beth's kids doing the "Take two" and "Cut!" coaching so that helped. And, as you'll hear, Eli even did some coaching of his own.
Please remember to vote everyday at http://shrinkingjeans.net. And one more thing, in my vlog I stated that the voting continues through Tuesday but that was incorrect. The voting actually ends at 9 p.m. Wednesday. I can't believe I almost gypped myself out of a whole day's voting.
Okay, here it is.
I want to say thank you to our awesome sponsors, Beach Cruiser Bicycles, Click, EA Sports, Fitness Coffee, Lands End, Bornfit, and Miraclebody Jeans.
And thank you so much for watching and please, go now and cast a vote for me. And then again tomorrow and the next day, etc. etc. etc.
You'll have my undying gratitude!
Before you check out the vlog, please remember it's my first and, yes, I was really nervous. But it was fun and I had Beth's kids doing the "Take two" and "Cut!" coaching so that helped. And, as you'll hear, Eli even did some coaching of his own.
Please remember to vote everyday at http://shrinkingjeans.net. And one more thing, in my vlog I stated that the voting continues through Tuesday but that was incorrect. The voting actually ends at 9 p.m. Wednesday. I can't believe I almost gypped myself out of a whole day's voting.
Okay, here it is.
I want to say thank you to our awesome sponsors, Beach Cruiser Bicycles, Click, EA Sports, Fitness Coffee, Lands End, Bornfit, and Miraclebody Jeans.
And thank you so much for watching and please, go now and cast a vote for me. And then again tomorrow and the next day, etc. etc. etc.
You'll have my undying gratitude!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Shrinkvivor Challenge Check-In #6
I can't believe we're nearing the end of this giant challenge. When we started, I was confident that I had plenty of time to accomplish everything I wanted to accomplish in this time period. Now I'm not so sure.
I've continued with my good habits. I haven't missed a day of shredding in 45 days. And now, after I finish Level 1, I continue right into Level 2 where I'm up to Circuit 2. Wow! Even I'm impressed. There are so many exercises that I was sure were beyond my capabilities at first glance but now, with patience and determination, I've been able to work into all of them. A peek ahead makes me wonder if that will continue, but, deep down, I know it will. Slowly but surely.
And I haven't let go of the walking either. One of the things I love about these challenges is that they prod and nudge and force you to do the things that might slip away if we didn't have some mini-goals. So, on my worst day, I walked an hour and twenty minutes. I'm impressed again!
The only thing I changed this week was my eating habits. First of all, I started using most of my Weight Watcher points. This was hard to do but I had too many experts advising me in this direction to ignore them. In fact, last week I used all my weekly flex points and had only ten activity points left over when the week ended.
I also really tried to keep my water intake up. I'm convinced that this is a key part of getting fit AND losing weight.
And the final thing that was a change for me was a new product that I tried. I saw it advertised on TV so when I came across it in the store, I gave it a second look. The front of the box bragged about 9 grams of protein, 8 grams of fiber, and 7 whole grains. I hadn't really addressed protein before but I wondered if I needed better fuel for all the exercising I was doing and if so, it looked like this product would help provide it. Furthermore the back of the box called out to me too. It said Eat Right, Exercise, Relax. Hmmm. I had been tense lately. Maybe there was something there too. Long story short, I've had a bowl of Kashi GOlean Crunch every day for lunch. (I can't let go of my thin, everything bagel for breakfast) and I think it's helped.
So when I stepped on the scale this morning, I saw that my weight had dropped 2.6 pounds and that's something I can celebrate. Woo HOO! I am so pumped!
That 20 pound loss in 7 weeks goal, that I set, still looks kind of elusive but now I believe that I'll at least come close and that makes me so happy!
Thanks Sisterhood for keeping me 'on point'!
I've continued with my good habits. I haven't missed a day of shredding in 45 days. And now, after I finish Level 1, I continue right into Level 2 where I'm up to Circuit 2. Wow! Even I'm impressed. There are so many exercises that I was sure were beyond my capabilities at first glance but now, with patience and determination, I've been able to work into all of them. A peek ahead makes me wonder if that will continue, but, deep down, I know it will. Slowly but surely.
And I haven't let go of the walking either. One of the things I love about these challenges is that they prod and nudge and force you to do the things that might slip away if we didn't have some mini-goals. So, on my worst day, I walked an hour and twenty minutes. I'm impressed again!
The only thing I changed this week was my eating habits. First of all, I started using most of my Weight Watcher points. This was hard to do but I had too many experts advising me in this direction to ignore them. In fact, last week I used all my weekly flex points and had only ten activity points left over when the week ended.
I also really tried to keep my water intake up. I'm convinced that this is a key part of getting fit AND losing weight.
And the final thing that was a change for me was a new product that I tried. I saw it advertised on TV so when I came across it in the store, I gave it a second look. The front of the box bragged about 9 grams of protein, 8 grams of fiber, and 7 whole grains. I hadn't really addressed protein before but I wondered if I needed better fuel for all the exercising I was doing and if so, it looked like this product would help provide it. Furthermore the back of the box called out to me too. It said Eat Right, Exercise, Relax. Hmmm. I had been tense lately. Maybe there was something there too. Long story short, I've had a bowl of Kashi GOlean Crunch every day for lunch. (I can't let go of my thin, everything bagel for breakfast) and I think it's helped.
So when I stepped on the scale this morning, I saw that my weight had dropped 2.6 pounds and that's something I can celebrate. Woo HOO! I am so pumped!
That 20 pound loss in 7 weeks goal, that I set, still looks kind of elusive but now I believe that I'll at least come close and that makes me so happy!
Thanks Sisterhood for keeping me 'on point'!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Shrinkvivor Challenge Check-In #5
What a week it's been!
I took the Shrinkvivor Fitness Challenge very seriously this week. VERY seriously. And I walked until I didn't have time to walk anymore. A lot of my walking was done pushing a stroller. That way I was able to kill two birds with one stone so to speak. And a lot of my walking was done at Striebel Pond. This week I walked over 30 miles. And I'm really proud of that.
I'm also proud of the fact that I've continued with the daily Shred and I've moved a tiny bit farther into Level 2. And that's after I've finished Level 1 every single day.
So, I would have thought that I'd lost maybe 5 pounds, possibly 10? I knew it would be good - but - again I was disappointed. I lost 1.2 pounds. Of course, I'm glad but I'm not. I don't know what else I can do. I stay within my points, and I exercise like a crazy woman. I've tried to keep my water intake up (but am I hedging a little bit here?) and I've tried to get my five servings of fruits and vegetables every day (but am I hedging a little bit here?).
I won't deny that I'm impatient to lose this weight. I can't wait. And I watch Biggest Loser and think that there's no reason for me not to do what they're doing. I'm a little less judgmental now though. It used to be if someone lost one or two pounds, I was a bit scornful. I always thought, "Well, she's not really trying". Now I think. Oh no. What went wrong?
Multiple people have told me that if this were easy, we'd all be skinny; and I guess it's true. This is one hard road. I feel like my shopping trip is slipping away because it is and it's going to take me longer than I thought to get where I want to be.
But the good news is that my resolve is still strong. I believe in my heart of hearts that if I keep doing what I'm doing (except with more water and fruits and veggies), one of these weeks I'll have a more dramatic loss.
In the meantime I'll just keep on keepin' on.
I took the Shrinkvivor Fitness Challenge very seriously this week. VERY seriously. And I walked until I didn't have time to walk anymore. A lot of my walking was done pushing a stroller. That way I was able to kill two birds with one stone so to speak. And a lot of my walking was done at Striebel Pond. This week I walked over 30 miles. And I'm really proud of that.
I'm also proud of the fact that I've continued with the daily Shred and I've moved a tiny bit farther into Level 2. And that's after I've finished Level 1 every single day.
So, I would have thought that I'd lost maybe 5 pounds, possibly 10? I knew it would be good - but - again I was disappointed. I lost 1.2 pounds. Of course, I'm glad but I'm not. I don't know what else I can do. I stay within my points, and I exercise like a crazy woman. I've tried to keep my water intake up (but am I hedging a little bit here?) and I've tried to get my five servings of fruits and vegetables every day (but am I hedging a little bit here?).
I won't deny that I'm impatient to lose this weight. I can't wait. And I watch Biggest Loser and think that there's no reason for me not to do what they're doing. I'm a little less judgmental now though. It used to be if someone lost one or two pounds, I was a bit scornful. I always thought, "Well, she's not really trying". Now I think. Oh no. What went wrong?
Multiple people have told me that if this were easy, we'd all be skinny; and I guess it's true. This is one hard road. I feel like my shopping trip is slipping away because it is and it's going to take me longer than I thought to get where I want to be.
But the good news is that my resolve is still strong. I believe in my heart of hearts that if I keep doing what I'm doing (except with more water and fruits and veggies), one of these weeks I'll have a more dramatic loss.
In the meantime I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Shrinkvivor Challenge Weigh-In #1
I am super excited today. It's the first day of a brand new challenge over at the Sisterhood. It's the Shrinkvivor part that I'm excited about - not the first weigh in.
The first weigh shows that I've gained back a good portion of the weight that I worked hard to lose in the Down and Dirty in Thirty challenge. I'm not happy about that. I think it was caused by a combination of things - one of which was knowing that this challenge was coming. But mostly it was my lack of self discipline and that's the part I'm going to try to change.
I did get on the scale with a new attitude though. I thought: this is the last time I will EVER see this weight. And then I went to the Sisterhood post for the day and saw that Christy had written "pucker up those lips and kiss that number good-bye! Take a picture of yourself kissing that number good-bye. Take a picture of yourself, too. For posterity. Because you’re never going to see that weight again. It’s all down-hill from here!" which is exactly where my resolve is this morning.
I intend to really work this challenge. I've got lots of new resolve and a whole list of disciplines that I intend to abide by faithfully for seven weeks.
This challenge is based on the Survivor reality series and has tons of amazing prizes for two people but I'm not expecting to win either one. My prize will be being part of a great team and the mini shopping spree that Mr. Right has promised me if I can reach my goal of losing 20 pounds. It's a huge undertaking and will require the greatest discipline but maybe lots of discipline is what I need. I've just got to quit thinking of weight loss and getting fit as something I can do halfway.
So I'm ready to start again only this time I'm better prepared and my mind is exactly where it needs to be!
The first weigh shows that I've gained back a good portion of the weight that I worked hard to lose in the Down and Dirty in Thirty challenge. I'm not happy about that. I think it was caused by a combination of things - one of which was knowing that this challenge was coming. But mostly it was my lack of self discipline and that's the part I'm going to try to change.
I did get on the scale with a new attitude though. I thought: this is the last time I will EVER see this weight. And then I went to the Sisterhood post for the day and saw that Christy had written "pucker up those lips and kiss that number good-bye! Take a picture of yourself kissing that number good-bye. Take a picture of yourself, too. For posterity. Because you’re never going to see that weight again. It’s all down-hill from here!" which is exactly where my resolve is this morning.
I intend to really work this challenge. I've got lots of new resolve and a whole list of disciplines that I intend to abide by faithfully for seven weeks.
This challenge is based on the Survivor reality series and has tons of amazing prizes for two people but I'm not expecting to win either one. My prize will be being part of a great team and the mini shopping spree that Mr. Right has promised me if I can reach my goal of losing 20 pounds. It's a huge undertaking and will require the greatest discipline but maybe lots of discipline is what I need. I've just got to quit thinking of weight loss and getting fit as something I can do halfway.
So I'm ready to start again only this time I'm better prepared and my mind is exactly where it needs to be!
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