The journey

I’m in the midst of a Farrell’s challenge, and it is making me reflect A TON on the journey that is lifelong weight loss and life long fitness. I think if you would have told me that it’s a journey of up and down, and finding the next thing to challenge yourself I probably either would have a) not believed it, or b) completely given up. I mean, who, in the grand scheme of things, wants to gain any amount of weight back just to find another thing that helps them get that back off? Probably no one. 

I started my journey where I had started it MANY times: weight watchers in 2011, after stopping and starting 13 (no joke) times there. I started running, and got to a point where Weight Watchers wasn’t the nutrition plan that I needed. So I branched off and did my own healthy eating, nourishing myself and holding myself accountable. And I did fine on that for several years. I got divorced, ran a marathon, gained a few pounds in the process. Started a new relationship, gained some more. Lost quite a bit. Gained it back. Lost a fair amount. Gained a little back. Most of us can relate to this, no? I’m blessed to say my threshold is a lot lower, meaning I would never again get to 218 pounds before realizing I need to make some changes. 

The challenge I am a part of now is amongst us Farrell’s  FIT members. We all are working against one another to lower our body fat percentages, while also gaining muscle mass. So the person with the highest gain of muscle with most loss of body fat will win. It’s been an interesting game of finding how to go about that. And trying new things nutritionally while also busting my own ass in my workouts. Muscle failure is a real thing. So is not using your arms for a day. It’s been incredible to see how my body has responded. And it’s helped to reach out to fellow challenge members and learn and go along the way.

I’m so so very thankful for what Farrell’s has taught me, that pushing yourself and your limits in this way is possible. It’s introduced me to a pretty incredible group that genuinely feels like a family, and it’s given the opportunity to coach others to do the very same thing I did in January of this year. A 10 week challenge started what quite possibly might be the best thing that’s happened to my fitness journey in a long time.

So, here’s to the downs (and the occasional ups), and to this thing called life long fitness. It’s been an incredible ride, and I don’t think it’s going to stop being so, ever really. I think it’s naturally my body’s way of being to naturally accumulate weight unless I’m really actively working to prevent it from doing so. And while that’s frustrating, it just is my journey. 

Find your why, find your how, and make it happen! Even if that means changing gears, taking a few steps backwards and finding the next big thing for you.

I’m so stinking proud of how my body has changed with my hard work in the last 10 months!! It’s so incredible! And so incredibly worth it, and I am so excited to see where it can go also! 

Have a great Monday!

Kara