Turbulence Training Transformation Contest - Final Results

Or, I cannot believe I am posting pictures of myself in a bikini on the WEBZ!!!

Today marks the end of twelve weeks of commitment to living the Turbulence Training lifestyle. This journey has been extremely rewarding for me - I've had ups and downs, but mostly it's been FUN! I'm really proud of myself for sticking to this through the end and really pleased to see my body changing. I finally feel like myself again - my clothes fit and I've developed some great habits that I let fall by the wayside.

The most important thing I've learned through this process, though, is balance. You can't out-exercise poor dietary habits! But you can run yourself into the ground trying. After recovering from thyroid cancer treatments and gaining about 20 lbs last year in the span of only a few months, I felt like I'd been through the ringer. I went from being a thin, active, fit person to a physically weakened SURVIVOR, who struggled with hormones being all out of whack and feeling totally out of control of my own body! When I saw the TT contest advertised, I knew it was exactly what I needed.

I sat myself down and said, Self, you need to get real! You need to start taking some steps to reclaim your life and your energies! I knew I could do it, but I knew I would need support. The motivation of the TT forum and the other contestants, and all the information provided in the TT interviews and downloads was critical to my success. It's not just about working out. It's about working IN - doing the inner work on myself as I make my way on this journey to 'live the life I imagine' and to take charge of my actions, my mind and my body. Everything in life flows from that - if we don't master our own minds and bodies, what do we have?!

I've followed TT for twelve weeks, doing the workouts pretty much as written. I didn't do extra cardio, I didn't do strange dietary manipulations - these are the results of a normal girl with a stressful job just trying to shed some extra body weight! I love the TT workouts, I love getting a new one every 4 weeks, I love the new and challenging exercises and combinations, I love the sometimes wacky cardio routines, I love coming to this forum and hanging out with my TT buddies, and I LOVE the results! So here they are...

May 1, 2008 vs. July 23, 2008

Height: 5'6"
Age: 28
Weight: 152 / 140 ( -12)
Neck: 12.5 / 12.5
Shoulder: 42 / 41 (-1)
Bicep: 11.5 / 11.5
Chest: 35 / 34.5 (-.5)
Under bust: 30.75 / 29.5 (-1.25)
Waist: 28.5 / 27.75 (-.75)
Bellybutton: 32 / 30 (-2)
Abdomen: 34 / 33.25 (-.75)
Hips: 36 / 35.25 (-.75)
Butt: 39 / 38 (-1)
Thigh: 22.75 / 22 (-.75)
Calf: 14 / 13.75 (-.25)

So I've lost 9 inches and 12 lbs! Woo!! From looking at my pictures, I still have some work to do, but now I know I have the tools to succeed! Thanks Craig!!

I feel FANTASTIC today!

First! Oh my word, you guys, Craig Ballantyne of Turbulence Training fame left a comment on my blog! Haha, you have no idea how tickled this makes me! I've attained momentary celebrity status on my blog :P And he said I have nice arms - LOL! Well, had is more like it... Well, I still have them, they are just hiding out at the moment. Actually, I have never really had truly visible arm dents unless I'm flexing or just left the gym with a pump, so that's something I'm hoping to achieve in this 12 weeks (maybe? Arm-dent Gods, are you out there? Ab-Gods, too?)

I was talking to Adam last night who was very nice and sat on the phone with me from Durka-durka-stan or wherever he is while I took my Startling Pics (hehe). You know, for moral support. He's going to do his own 12 week Challenge -- we're calling it the Linebacker Challenge! His motto is Leaner, Faster, Stronger! Awesome. My Beefcake is going to get hunkier, what more could a girl ask for?! Oh, right, maybe that he be located IN THE SAME ZIP CODE. Or at least be IN a zip code (is there a zip code wherever you are, honey?)

Also... I?

Slept for TEN HOURS last night. Ten! It was wonderfully, gloriously delicious. I will take your comment to heart, C and lay off the calcium and see what happens. Sadly, I should probably get off dairy as well due to the GI issues, but I do love my yogurt.

And, an old friend I found on Facebook found me on Gmail chat yesterday morning and we got to chat for a bit - we haven't been in touch in TEN YEARS!! Ten! Can it really have been THAT LONG holy jeez! But it has... we met in 1998 (right?) in Mannheim, Germany where we went to college. Man, we had some cRAZY times together LOL, I was quite a wild child back then. Stories for another time, kids.

Anyway, now he's in Iraq! He's been there for FOUR YEARS! First he was in Baghdad, then in Mosul while it was hot, now in Balad. He's a civilian working on force security. Wow. We are lucky to have people like him out there.

TGIF, right? I'm ready for the weekend!

Turbulence Training Transformation Contest

Today is the first day of the Turbulence Training Transformation Contest - WooHoo!!! I joined up with a group for the Breakthrough Challenge, you can see the snappy logo over there on the right. I'll put up blog links for my fellow Breakthrough Challengers too! I'll be keeping a log over in the TT Members Forum (The Bikini Project) but I'll post some periodic updates here too. I want to get in great shape for bikini season and what better way to do it?? I'm really excited and scared cause now it's out on the internet I have to follow through! Ok, off to take my startling pictures... ahem... I mean my STARTING pictures! Haha.... ha... In all seriousness, I do have a bit of work to do, including on my healthy habits. This being the Year of Optimum Health and all!