So many things....

First...end of Skinny Jeans contest...Don't actually know who won...but I know I won in my own "race" just doing what I'm doing...

Week 1

Waist 40.5
Hips 44.5
Thigh 22 2/3
Body Fat 34.24%

Week 7

Waist 37.3
Hips 42
Thigh 23.5 (?)
Body Fat 31.56%

More to come in the weeks ahead..I'm not done...I'm a work in progress!!

THEN...(actually last week) I was in a pretty nasty car accident.  I credit kettle bell/core work and my seat belt/airbag for saving my life and minimizing my injuries.  I also thank Kristine and Kevin Maggs for seeing me the day after my accident and beginning chiropractic/ART on the injured parts.  I do not think I would have healed as quickly without all of the above.

One week after the accident, I can move my head up and down and side to side without pain most of the time.  My biggest injury was the blow I took to my sternum/chest from the airbag.  Even last night I had to get up and take pain medication.  It doesn't hurt most of the time, but boy does it hurt after my KB class.

 So much for waiting another 2 years to get a new car!  But, all in all, It could have been much worse.

"Good enough?"

I have been reading a lot of posts on FB lately and some blogs about accepting our bodies for what they are.  Accept the fact that "we" will never be thin. Accept the fact that "we" may never be fast.  Accept the fact that "we" are who we are...

BUT...I just don't buy that...not totally anyway.  I do accept that I need to be nice to myself..that I do need to accept WHO I am and WHAT I look like right now..in the moment - or else life becomes very painful - BUT I do not accept that I cannot change.  I CAN be better....I can be a better person. I can love more. I can be less selfish. I can accept others at face value. I can give second and third and fourth chances to people who hurt me or just plain annoy me.  I can live daily like its my last day.  I can BELIVE that "Today is going to be a good day."

In that same line, my body can be better.  This doesn't mean that I don't love myself...because there are times when I don't really love my body...this isn't because I'm not thin enough or pretty enough or have great boobs or thin thighs - its because I want better for myself....OF myself and I know that I am capable.  I am strong..I am beautiful, I am lovable...BUT I CAN BE BETTER!  and THIS is my goal.  I want to be thinner..but not for thinness sake.  I want to be stronger. And I want to be faster. I think the two go hand in hand.  I want to be able to climb hills on my feet or on my bike without cursing and crying and wanting to walk.  I want to be able to swim 2.4 miles in my sleep!  I want to be able to run 26.2 miles and not be miserable.  AND the truth is..I believe it can happen. ( I may still be miserable at 26.2 miles..but I'll know its because thats a dang hard distance!)

I used to think that "finishing" was the goal, but now that I know I can finish..I want to do it WELL.

And for THIS reason, I am in love with what my body can do.  I am in love with the fact that I am already stronger; that I am already innately faster or can go longer and feel GOOD.  There's so much ground yet to cover...I have GREAT friends...I have supportive friends..and I have friends who love me even when I cannot love myself (and I"m sure they don't love me all the time because I am not always lovable! LOL!)

Even though there is much ground to cover...to be BETTER...to BE a better person...I am happy to be on this journey.  I'm happy to be able to set and attain goals and then refocus on other goals.

I don't begrudge those Athena's who are learning to love themselves and accept their "athenaness!" (is that a word? I just expect differently of myself.

Week 7

I still haven't weighed in this week..tomorrow...because I worked on Sunday night, it wasn't a good day to weigh in...

But..things are going well.  I am feeling stronger....loving how my body is shaping up and TRYING not to focus on the scale.  I'm getting closer and closer to the ever elusive unassisted pull-up, though I'm still getting assist with about 1/2 my body weight....so stronger is as stronger does!!  As I drop weight and get stronger, i'm hoping I will be able to lift more and more of my own body weight.

I got my BUDDY this week.  His name is Jace and he's a cutie.  He has a mitochondrial disease and Friday is a big day for him. He will be having a skin biopsy to see just what kind of mitochondrial disease he has.  His mom loves him so much and has 2 other special needs children and one that she basically "adopted" so that he would have a better life.  I'm dedicating all my workouts to him and his family.

And the ride last weekend was really good.  I know it was "only" 30 miles..but I did them better than ever before.  The weather helped, for sure..... in the 60's...cool..a bit windy...Climbing is starting to be a "fun" challenge....

Feeling good - 7 weeks in.
One more week of the skinny jeans contest

Stronger every day

Week 5

Down 15lbs and 0.5% body fat....not bad...

STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS