Transformation Challenge - Where do I go from here?

This is going to sound like such a cliche, but I can't believe it's been almost 12 weeks since this whole crazy ride started. Some days it feels like forever ago, some days it feels like just a few short weeks. I've had good weeks, bad weeks, terrible weeks and amazing weeks and everything in between. But I think the good/great/amazing weeks far outweighed the bad/terrible weeks. And I don't mean good weeks like I saw a good number on the scale. I mean, I had those too. But mostly my "good" weeks consisted of making it to boot camp all three days, making it in for a minimum of my five cardio workouts, and not just that, but weeks where I felt good, I felt strong, I felt motivated.

I think a lot of that has to do with my teammates. I think we are a group of the most amazing women. Every woman I have gotten to know within the challenge is amazing, actually. But my team has been phenomenal for me. They motivate me when I'm feeling discouraged, they push me when I need to be pushed just that little bit harder, they make me smile when I need it most, they support me through all the ups and downs of life and the challenges I face in trying to find the time and energy to focus on me for a change. They are awesome. They rock! To quote one of them, they rock "hard-core." :)

And a lot of it has to do with the staff at EQ, who are amazing. If I haven't mentioned that on here before, let me repeat it for emphasis...A-MAZ-ING! There aren't enough good words to describe the EQ team. If anyone is out there reading this blog and does not belong to a gym and oh yeah, is female? Run, don't walk, RUN to EQ and sign up. I can guarantee you will not regret it. And no, they aren't paying me to plug them here. I don't have nearly enough folks who read this to make that remotely worth their while. Nope, what I say about EQ on here is my honest-to-God opinion.

As the challenge wraps up, of course my mind wanders to thoughts of where do I go from here? Well, one of my teammates and I just joined Weight Watchers today. I've done that program before and it just works. It makes sense and you eat normal food not some pre-packaged stuff. And now I can use my knowledge of macronutrients and nutrition I've gained at EQ and apply that to WW and have the best of both worlds. WW is just easier for my life than tracking protein, fat, carbs, etc. I'll still pay attention to that on the food labels and such, and like I said, apply what I've learned to help me make good choices, but WW is something I can live with and still have the accountability that turning in my journal to EQ gave me. So that's the food side of things.

What about exercise? I was a member of EQ before the challenge and I will continue to be. I plan to continue to take classes and use the machines for a combination of resistance and cardio much like we maintained during the challenge. I'm going to take Body Pump and/or Rock Bottom 3-4 times a week for resistance. Then I'll take other classes and/or use the elliptical/treadmill/bike and/or run outside and/or swim for my cardio. The nice weather is making me want to hit the pool again. :)

Short term, I've signed up for the MM4K 10K on May 30th and will continue to train for that. I probably won't be able to run the whole thing, but my goal is to run/walk about 50/50 or maybe a little bit more on the run side. We'll see.

Long term, I'm attending a Team in Training kickoff meeting this Sunday to start training for the San Francisco Nike Women's Half-Marathon in October.

I started this post with a cliche and I'll end with one. This isn't an ending, but rather a beginning. Cheesy, but true. It's the beginning of a new life for me, a life filled with new habits, new friends, new goals, a new me inside and out. And I am so looking forward to living that life!