Round 1 Wrap Up...

I have officially completed Round 1 2012 for the Michelle Bridges 12 week body transformation. 

Twelve weeks ago I was a bit tentative, but definitely committed and up for the challenge.  I wanted to see what would happen to me over the 12 weeks. 

I got smaller, stronger and fitter.  I ate better, I slept better, I thought better of and about myself.  I made friends with people I've never met, lovely encouraging and supportive people.  I wrote a blog post at least twice a week and had over 3000 page views.  I did spin class for the first time.  I pushed myself and my kids up Tower Hill three times in a row just for the heck of it.  I did a Les Mills mini marathon of 5 fitness classes in a row. 

Just noticed how many I's are in that last paragraph.  Sound quite up myself don't I? 

But wait!  There's more...  I worked around a knee injury.  I learned that I am not to be trusted with a loaf of fresh sourdough and a slab of salted butter.  I learned to question what I was really afraid of missing out on if I said no to certain food.  I learned that weight can indeed be lost during and/or leading up to 'ttom'. 

I learned that - for me - losing weight is about so much more than weight.  I made a commitment to myself, my Matie and to Michelle and I am so glad I did and that I strove to be a woman of my word.

Here are some of the indicators of what happened to me in the past 12 weeks:

Indicator	February 13 (Week 1)	May 7 (Finish)
Body fat %	56.8%	49.7%
BMI	38	34
Weight	107.2 kg	97.4 kg
Waist	109cm	94cm
Wall sit	18 seconds	1min 45 seconds
Push ups in one minute	28 on knees	20 on toes + 18 on knees
Abdominal strength	Level 2	Level  4

And here is a before and an after photo of sorts.... 

Please bear in mind that I have spent the past decade behind the camera or behind other people in photos in an effort to avoid photographic evidence of how enormous I was.  (That would have meant facing the fact and doing something about it). 

Last year, we took Thing 1 and Thing 2 out of school for Term 3, hooked up our camper trailer and went on a big drive around Australia.  I have just looked back through the photos of that trip thinking I'd find something there that could serve as my 'before' photo.  But no, plenty of photos of lovely scenery, interesting animals, and of my family.  A couple of me trying to hide behind my Matie or the kids - but this one of me with a snake is the only one of me only and even then I'm sharing it with a snake. 

I do have before and after photos of me in my undies - something we do for the 12wbt.  But luckily for you, I'm not game enough to pop them up here. 

Anyway, I can see some differences in my face and around my waist.  Hmmmmm.. Hopefully after Round 2 of the 12wbt the before and after photos will be much more markedly different....

The 12wbt has been a fantastic experience for me.  I am so glad I did it.  I am so glad I'm lining up for a second round too.  I will take all the things I have learned about myself and continue on in Round 2 striving to become an all round better version of myself.

So just to put it out there - my next big goal is to get out of the obese BMI range and into {merely} overweight!  That will take a loss of around 14 kgs.  That's the aim. 

{Watch this space.}