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Challenge
3
After a summer
off, I had only gained 5 lbs but had let myself seriously dehydrate
while on vacation, causing some serious muscle loss and that
5 lbs translated into a 9% bodyfat gain. It was time to
get serious again, and Challenge 3 was just what I needed.
The goals I had
set for myself back in March were re-evaluated and most still
fit the bill. I still wanted 14% bf but it wasn't a hard and
fast goal, returning to 17% was more in line with what I was
thinking.
I started on
Aug 28. 2000. Then slowly but surely, life got in the way. My
younger daughter had been diagnosed as having ringworm on her
scalp, and had undergone treatment for over a year, with no results.
It was time for a new dermatologist, her pediatrician recommended
one in a nearby town. Her initial reaction, was this growth was
a resistant strain requiring hospitalization and a very nasty
IV administered drug, that could cause liver and kidney damage.
The thought of my little girl in a hospital room hooked up to
an IV that would destroy her organs threw me into a tailspin.
I couldn't eat and working out was the only stress relief I had.
Test results were slow in returning, and daily there was something
new to contend with. Her hair was falling out, a head lice problem
at school, the tests had never been sent in, another sample had
to be taken. I home schooled her for a couple weeks. Then just
as it seemed things would return to normal. Paige's hair was
starting to grow back and the growth was diminishing, my brother-in-law
sufferred a stroke while visiting in California. My best friend,
pregnant with twins, was hospitalized with too early contractions.
It seemed as though the world around me was caving in. A little
adversity? I wanted to scream enough is enough! My little black
cloud was reaching out to those I cared for. The days I didn't
make it into the gym, my muscles were knotted up from the stress.
The stress was giving me headaches, the headaches were making
me cry.
If I could just take care of me, my goals would take care of
themselves and I could take care of my family. From then on,
Every workout became a success, every meal became my fuel. The
numbers on the scale lost their importance. I took control of
the one thing I could, MY ATTITUDE.
For all the stress,
missed workouts and meals, I never gained weight (when I'm stressed
just let me breathe and I gain weight) At the end of my 12 weeks
the scale hadn't budged. BUT I had lost 8% bodyfat! I had lost
a full 12 inches off my body! My measurements are now the same
as when I was in college. Smaller in some cases! I may never
again be 125 lbs, but hey I look just like I did, when I did
weigh 125!
  
AUG 28, 2000 26% bf NOV
22, 2000 18% bf
Lovin those arms! And look.... you can see the ribs in my back!!
I found a photo from when
I was 20. Thank you honey, for saying I look better now :)
I want to take this moment
to give my gratitude to the folks on the Yahoo BFL Message Boards,
You were my stability, my rock to cling to in rough waters, my
life line. You gave me something else to focus on for a time
each day, by letting me be a part of something bigger than myself,
you helped me!
THANK YOU!!
(((HUGS)))
Dana
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