2 weeks post-project, Nathaly: Maintaining

Hey all!

I did a weigh-in this morning, about 2 weeks after the end of the program and am proud to report that I haven't gained back any weight despite definitely getting off the bandwagon in every way! (not proud about the latter half of that sentence.. lol)

Anyways, I've definitely been afraid that going back to my former ways would result in definite weight-gain, but frankly -- you do something for 3 months and shit starts to get internalized!  I'm having tea for snack and opting away from cheese (about half of the time, that is..) and consistently doing half portions of dessert-y type things.

I know it's just a little report, but I figured I'd share for folks considering joining the Jan 1 crew.

Best of luck to all who continue to be on this journey! :)

Hugs,

Nathaly

Day 95, Ramiro: We can rebuild him,We have the technology...

 Honestly, It feels like I'm just getting started. Thats a daunting statement after completing ,what was for me, three months worth of total lifestyle overhaul. Its a much improved starting point though and worth the money ten fold. Seriously, I have know clue how to sum this all up. Regular posts were really hard for me to pump out and this last one feels almost impossible to type down. I'm going to need more time to process, but in the mean time here are my before/ after pics                                           

              day 1                                                    

day 90

day 78

Looks like I'm simply preprogrammed to hover around 54kg. During the 90 days I think I was at my fittest around my day 78 picture. My body definitely put on the breaks during the last couple weeks. I feel my bones needing a break. I'm determined to continue the regimen though and am confident that with the basic level of fitness gained from the program I'll be able to surpass my previous limits. Blogging is painful for me, but I intend to continue posting the progress. I'll will be more detailed and sharing in the next post,Promise.One things for sure I haven't been this fit since maybe end of high school.

 I cant express how much it meant for my wife Naty to join me on this lil test. Thanks babe, your the best.

Its been a hell of a ride and I'd like to thank Kim and Stu for being such exemplary teammates. Obvious shout out to Guru Patrick, you have my gratitude sir. 

Day 95, Nathaly: Then & Now

So, it's been 5 days and I still don't exactly know what to say... I've kind of be avoiding this post because -- what can I share that is of any use of any of you out there??  This whole journey has been so personal and in-my-head that I struggle with crafting a "final" post.  I'm honestly still processing and feel I've probably learned just as much in this last week post-PCP or so as I did the first 5 days of the program. Sooooooo.....

Before and after pictures is what you're after, right? lol That's a simple measure of progress. This first set you'll likely be familiar with from our PCP Flickr stream:

Day 1 ...................................................................................................... & Day 90

In the 90 days of the Peak Condition Project, I:

• Lost 10 kilos (22 lbs)!!
• Lost 9 cms off my waistline, 8 cms off my thigh, and 2.5 cms off my bicep (I started measuring on Day 22, actually -- so these numbers only reflect 68 days of fat loss)
• Returned to a bra-line width of 34 inches
• Went down 2 full pant sizes (from a 12 to an 8 -- and maybe 3 if you consider that I really should've been rocking 14s but refused to accept it)

But these numbers are meaningless, really..  So much of the benefits I've derived from these last 90 days has been in terms of increased self-confidence, self-appreciation, and a slowly increasing sense of the value of self-care (still working on that last one!). In the 90 days of the Peak Condition project, I:

• Began to feel sexy again (enough to recently return a small collection of thongs Ramiro has probably completely forgotten about back to my undies dresser from a box at the bottom of the closet)
• Realized how little of me I dedicated to me in the past
• Learned I actually enjoy jumping rope -- I think I've been getting lots of those happy-chemicals to the brain b/c of it!
• Collected a small toolkit of easy-to-make, delicious, balanced and good-for-you meals (if you've got more, send them my way!)

And this next set of pictures, offers a slightly longer historical timeline. "Then" was October of 2009, when I decided I'd had enough of my chubbiness and decided to once again attempt to take control of my weight & body image issues..  I did this by eating smaller portions (of whatever I wanted), taking the dog on longer walks, and going to university fitness classes 1 or 2 times a week.  A couple months later, I realized this approach wasn't terribly productive and I decided to up the ante -- I started counting calories and publishing my weight on Facebook once a week as a status update. I learned that the community accountability piece was something I really benefited from and started to lose about .5 lbs per week on average, but did some definite yo-yo'ing and lots of stress eating (2nd year of grad school...) and was still feeling frustrated. 

By the time Ramiro mentioned this cool thing one of his co-worker's was doing (have you all met Mr. Will Awesome?), I was again ready to take another small step forward, but the hubster seemed to think I was better off taking a leap instead and urged me to consider doing the PCP. And, frankly, he was RIGHT.  (So nice to have that sort of vote of confidence from my better half). Doing it as a couple was by far my the biggest source of strength for getting through this all, and well -- here're the pics to prove it was a good move!

Then............................................... & Now
(I tried to re-create the shot as best I could, but I can't find that sweater anywhere.. )

There's so much more to say (about setting good priorities and truly living healthily), but I think I'll try to capture that in another post.. Maybe the words to express my heartfelt appreciation for Patrick and Team Fantastic-Carrots-who-eat-LAGs-for-breakfast will come to me sometime soon.  Keep posted, if you wish.  And thank you, thank you, thank you for believing in us!

Heart hugs,

Nathaly

Well, and just for fun -- a Halloween family shot!

A bumble bee, Marge Simpson & Bat-dog