Here are a few final thoughts I wanted to share with all of you who have followed my journey over the last few months.
This challenge offered many rewards, both emotional and physical.
My most emotionally rewarding experience throughout this process was watching how my determination and perserverence effected and inspired others. My 4 year old daughter now asks to exercise with me daily. My husband and parents beam with pride as they brag to their friends about my progress. Other friends and family members tell me how I’ve inspired them to get healthy. Everyone around m has increased their activity level and/or their diet in one way or another.
Physically, my most rewarding experience has been accomplishing more than I ever believed I could. I’ve reduced my body fat by 20%. I’ve become a cyclist. I’ve become a swimmer. I’ve started attending a local boot camp. I’ve become a fitness addict!
At the start of this contest, if someone told me that I would accomplish or become any one of those things I would have laughed and reminded them of my disability and my hectic schedule with 2 small children. How on earth can a stay at home mom find time and energy to do all of that…much less a mom who happens to be a hemiplegic? Well, I not only did it, but I KILLED IT!!!
This challenge has also redefined how I define success.
“I don’t believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be.” –Ken Venturi
My goal is always to be better than I was yesterday…That is success!
I still have a long way to go to before I can touch the stars, but here is my amazing progress for just 12 short weeks...
DRUMROLLLLLLLLL...........
To anyone embarking on their own Transformation, my advice is this: Set small goals and grow into them. As your ability increases, so will your desire to do more. Before you know it, you will grow from “finding time” to eat right and exercise to “MAKING time”. Then the fun really begins!
As always, the challenge is still open for YOU. Are you ready to join me?
My new challenge begins TODAY and I look forward to pushing my limits even further to see just how far I can grow before the final weigh-in in sunny Arizona mid September!