Hi Everyone!
I want to say thank you to the sisters at ShrinkingJeans for hosting such a great, fun and challenging shrinkvivor! I know it takes a lot of work to put on a challenge of this magnitude.
I am a new to the blog/vlog world, and am not the best with computers. I have no idea how to post a vlog, so first I am going to post this to a blog, then work on learning about vlogging.
Shrinkvivor Questions:
1. Have you developed any new healthy habits that you will carry forward after the challenge?
Absolutely!
Eating 5 fruits and veggies per day has become a habit now, and I don’t even have to think about it. Most days I am over, and I don’t even realize it.
I used to think that I could only exercise for 30-45 minutes and three times a week. With the physical challenges during shrinkvivor, I have realized that not only can I exercise for 2 hours at a time, but I can exercise more than once a day. I have joined a bootcamp before work that is an hour, three times a week. I am continuing with Zumba, which is an hour once a week. Already I have an automatic 4 hours per week, without using any DVD’s or equipment at home yet! I am looking forward to becoming more healthy using these new habits!
2. Who or what has been your biggest inspiration in your health and weight-loss journey?
I think that my health has been my biggest inspiration in my health and weight-loss journey. I was scheduled to have knee surgery during the summer. I am not a fan of having surgery unless it is completely necessary. I thought long and hard, and decided that I will lose weight to see if the pain in my knees would subside. Then I heard about the shrinkvivor challenge, and thought that it was meant to be! Every time I thought about sitting on the couch instead of doing my miles or minutes, I thought to myself “my knees need this”. I kept moving.
In addition, my biggest inspiration during the shrinkvivor challenge was my fantastic tribe mates. They were positive, encouraging, challenging, motivating, etc. I missed them when I couldn’t talk to them, I laughed with them, cheered with them, and cried with them. I hope we can continue our friendships after this challenge is over because they are fantastic women.
3. What was your favourite part of this challenge?
My favourite part of the challenge was competing against other tribes for immunity. It pushed me further than I thought I could ever go. But I knew that if I didn’t keep going we would not win immunity and someone from my tribe would go home. I had to try and keep that from happening.
I also liked hearing other tribe mate’s stories of their exercise challenges, it helped me relate and not feel like I was alone in the challenge.
4. What have you learned about yourself in the last 6 weeks?
What I have learned during this challenge, actually didn’t have anything to do with weight loss. What I have learned is that I do not need to keep people in my life who have negative attitudes, either towards me, or life in general. I have figured out that if I spend time with negative people I don’t feel good about myself. I lose my self confidence, I lose my self worth, and then I start to eat. I do not have time to spend with people who try and make me feel bad about myself.
As soon I spend time with friends who have a positive attitude, my confidence returns, and I care about myself more. That makes me want to be healthy. Magically I start to lose weight. I have just learned this during the challenge.
5. Why do you deserve to be the Ultimate Shrinkvivor?
Thanks again for a great challenge! Enjoyed every minute of it!
Jilly
