RFSC: Challenge wrap-up

CANNOT believe this 10-week challenge is over!  During this challenge, I:

- met a TON of great new people
- accomplished things I don't think I could have without the accountability of my fellow challenge-mates
- got healthier
- got fitter
- got stronger both physicality, mentally, and emotionally
- can't wait for the next challenge!

Listed below are my original goals on day-1 of the challenge, with my updates written in red.  I chose not to focus on a weight-loss goal because 1.) I'm so close to goal weight the weight-loss has really slowed down and 2.) I wanted to focus on the things that REALLY matter on this journey.  Exercise and nutrition... with NSV's thrown in for good measure.  =)

NSV Goal

• Success story.  The other week I was talking to Anthony and told him that one of my NSV goals is to be featured on the "Wall of Success" at our gym.  The catch is I don't wanna ask to be a feature, I wanna be asked... big difference.  WIN!!! Hit this goal the other week and you can read more about it here.  I haven't had a chance to get a picture next to my story on the wall because taking pictures at my gym is a big no-no (corporate rules suck), so I gotta be sneaky about it.  Once I get one, I'll be sure to post it.
• Donation time!  This weekend, I'm spending the time to try on ALL my clothes and sort them into piles of too big, too small, and just right.  By the end of the RFSC, I want to fit into the "too small" pile and have to donate the other piles of clothes.  WIN!!!  Hit this goal too... kind of.  I can't fit into all the clothes in my "too small" pile, but I'm getting rid of a lot of "too big" and "just right" clothes from 10 weeks ago!  

 
Exercise Goal

• Keep on going.  Continue my current 12-week exercise program, which will take me into the middle of May.  WIN!!!  On the last couple of days for the LiveFit program and gotta say I really liked it!  Won't get into details in this post, but maybe in a future post I'll do the pro's/con's and what my results were.
• Something new.  Based on where I am at the end of my current program, research and choose my next routine. WIN!!! I leave for a two week trip next weekend (!!!) and have put my newly-certified personal trainer skills to good use by developing a 3x/week workout program that I can do in my hotel room.  Once I get back from my trip, I already know what I want to do next!  Why this program?  It incorporates something I'm a huge fan of: powerlifting moves to build strength and muscle.

Nutrition Goal

• Clean, clean, clean!  My #1 priority for the next 10 weeks is to really focus on and dial in my nutrition.  Clean, whole foods to support my body and intense workouts.  WIN and FAIL!?!?! I definitely a lot more focused on clean eating during this challenge so I consider that a win.  I also consider this goal a fail because I could have done A LOT better on the actual eating part.  Nutrition is and always will be the hardest part of this journey for me.
• Increase healthy fats.  Definitely need to add more "smart fats" to my diet: salmon, avocado, nuts, olive oil, flaxseeds, coconut oil, etc.  WIN!!! I can't believe how much better I feel after eating so much healthy fat... and you know what?  I still lost weight.  Don't be afraid of fat in your diet.  Our bodies need the good kind to stay healthy so pile it on!  My new faves after doing this challenge:  avocado, coconut, egg yolks, and nut butters!
• New eats = happy tummy.  Making it a goal to try one new recipe a week.  Nutrition can get pretty boring if you eat the same things over and over, so finding 10 new (hopefully yummy) recipes to add to my rotation will do me good.  FAIL!!! Couldn't even do one recipe a week.  I did find a couple of winners that will stay in my rotation, but didn't even come close to making  this goal.  Does new juicing recipes count?