Every year, every month, every day, every breath is a gift.

For a long time I hesitated to share parts of my life out of what I thought was respect for other's personal stories but what I was missing was that I have a role in those stories. That role makes part of the story mine. Stories are powerful. They are at the center of how we build relationships with people. By limiting what I shared I was limiting the opportunity to build relationships with people. There were many days when that idea of respect was stopping me from opening my computer to put words to something going on in my life. It is possible to respect someone's personal story details while not locking down your own story.

I'm challenging myself to be more open about my personal story. It's scary. When you hand over part of your story to someone else it's a risk but it invites them in to have a role whatever that role may be for that page or chapter. I want to invite more people into the story. You will see more small glimpses in to my story beyond fitness, beyond health and into life. If they speak to you, lovely. If they don't that's okay. If you can relate please join in.

A few years ago not long after my mom's birthday I was distracting myself from worry by picking wild violets in the warm spring sun while my mom had surgery. We found out later she had kidney cancer.  There was a reason I was afraid. This year I'm excited that she gets to make her way down the coast to celebrate her big brother's birthday. I never much cared for birthdays before that. I did not like making a big deal of them for me or anyone else but when I realized just how much a birthday symbolized I could understand. A birthday is not simply a celebration of the arrival of that person on earth. It is a celebration of the gift of having them as part of your story. You get to thank them for the role they play in your life. You have an excuse to love all over them being who they are. It's an exercise in gratitude and a chance to mark the chapter in our story.

Every year, every month, every day, every breath is a gift.

21 Day Fix Results

I'm done. My 21 Day Fix is over and I really couldn't be happier. I'm nervous and excited to share with you the results of these last few weeks. I'm not going to offer much commentary after these initial few paragraphs. Instead I'm going to let the photos and numbers speak for themselves.

Just like with all my other progress updates the only thing I do is correct the lighting due to the atrocious lighting in my bedroom and crop as needed. I weighed myself in the morning on Day 1 and on Day 21. Both times was before I had breakfast and I wore the same thing each time. These pics are me as I am in front of a camera.

There is a bonus set of before and after pics that I went back and forth on for three weeks on whether or not I would share this picture. I only have it as a complete accident resulting in poor timing from me and the auto setting on my camera. I've decided to go with it. Be truthful but please always be kind.

Day 21.

Weight - 158 pounds

BMI - 22.7

Lastly, my vulnerable accidental core photo. I know these are different angle. I didn't check to see what the angle of the original gut shot was. I thought it was more straight on so that's how I took the follow up pic. I can guarantee you that even if  I took it at that somewhat sideways angle you would see a drastic difference. How can I guarantee it? More than 14 inches lost that's how.

My 21 Day Fix Results in Numbers.

Total weight lost = 12 pounds in 21 days

Total inches* lost = 14.7 inches in 21 days

*inches include more detail measurements than included in this entry

Before

weight - 170 pounds

BMI - 24.4
waist - 36 inches
hips - 41 inches
chest - 38 inches

After
weight - 158 pounds
BMI - 22.7
waist - 31 inches
hips - 39 inches
chest - 36 inches

21 Day Fix - Days 20 & 21 Spring is here

Spring is here . . . and it's snowing. I had high hopes but this is Pennsylvania and snow on the first day of Spring isn't unheard of but is sure is disappointing.  In spite of the arrival of snow my 21 Day Fix is almost finished. I have one more workout to do and I'm done. I will have completed the 21 Day Fix.

But before I wrap I have a confession. On day 20 I completely caved at dinner. I was tired after an emotionally tasking day and I was tired of cooking for three weeks straight and tired of doing all the things as a parent by myself. I was tired. That tired meant we got Dominos pizza for dinner and cinnastix. Yep. There's that all out in the open now. I did great the rest of the day and that was the only time I caved and threw the eating plan out the window. Day 20 was also supposed to be Plyo Fix for the workout. I didn't do it.  Supportive Husband Guy and I went to play an hour of pick up indoor soccer with some people from church instead.  It's still quite a work out so I have no shame in that decision at all. I love soccer and don't have the chance to play nearly as much as I would like.

I am excited to complete this program. I am pleased with the results. Seriously, I had no idea the difference 21 days was going to make. I did not expect these results. You'll get to see what the final results are tomorrow. I don't think they are going to be super drastic in comparison to the first week or two but we'll see won't we.

Would I recommend this to others? You bet I would. It is easy.  It does not villainize any particular food groups like other programs do. I was not hungry and I feel like I have found my way back to a healthier relationship with food and fitness after months of recovery from getting hit in the head. I'm really looking forward to continuing with the momentum I've established. I will be selecting one of the Insanity programs to start tomorrow.  I've run and done Insanity before so I know what kind of results I can get from doing both at the same time.

I will continue to share my journey as I move into another program and would welcome anyone to come along and join me in the path toward health. True Spring is coming. That's what I hear anyway. Right now I'm still looking at a whitewashed world out my windows.