My Final Questionaire, though my Challenge and Journey will go on for the rest of my life.

Hello Everyone,

Hope everyone is doing ok, healing, resting and catching up post our Challenge, I am happy to report I did 5 classes the first week post Challenge, I'm hoping to keep up 4 plus going forward. I dragged my feet on the final questionaire my head was rushed with tons of information and thoughts, which I had no idea on how to summarize. My final thoughts, is I wish I could tell myself this a year ago..it's amazing how much a person's life can change in a year. Actually 10 months. Actually 60 days!!! Health and Friendships!!


Describe how your life and health changed during your 60 Day Challenge. (Sorry got carried away/bit verbose-warning warning)

This was a hard question for me b/c it was a continuation of the journey I had started since June of last year, it is so hard for me to summarize how much I had changed during this challenge I don’t know where to start. But I think I have definitely acknowledged and see my changes. I am at the weight I met my husband when I was 24; I have not been this weight since 30. That’s eleven years and three kids later.

Every time I try to answer these questions I am overwhelmed with emotion. I truly feel like a “NEW ME” I stand up taller, I am calmer, I AM SO MUCH THINNER and this has been my main source of exercise. I feel like a walking sandwich board for Bikram, when people ask me what I did… Pre Bikram I was a size 16 plus, pre challenge went down to size 12, post challenge now a pant size 8. I didn’t diet, deprive or starve myself; I just got to know myself and body through this type of practice.

Every week of the challenge I noticed my body shape transforming, I noticed my legs toning up, I always hated my legs and now they are more toned than ever (first time ever I got to wear high boots)..At first I thought it was in my head then Erin noticed my legs while I was in the lobby. Every week I feel like I’m shrinking a bit during the challenge that even from behind my kids and my PARENTs didn’t know it was me. Funny part was even Valerie and Nafisa didn’t know it was me and said I looked like a new me and they see me often too. My clients during the challenge wouldn’t see me for a few weeks and couldn’t recognize me when they did see me; they said they thought I was this young girl. I am told I accomplished my blogs wish “making my 40’s the new 20’s”.

I used to hate looking in the mirror for half moon pose b/c of my jumbo fat arms squishing me head, now I noticed it definitely got toned as well as my shoulders. I would say even though I’m not an expert or good practioner yet, I must be doing something right or pushing harder to get the transformations that I have been getting in only 60 days.

Bikram Yoga has changed my family my parents as well as my husband are “Auto Debitors” By doing this challenge it really inspired my friends and especially my husband. We have a yoga house..Towels and mats drying side by side. We eat so extremely healthy and feel young again. I am buying clothes that I would never buy ever; I have a new confidence… how it changed my life??? IT CHANGED EVERYTHING!!!!! Every family dinner with my parents we (hubby too) are talking about classes, the teachers and we even go over poses in the PARKING LOT of the restaurant (FREAKS)

 I look back Erin was my first teacher on June 20th, I must of loved her at first sight b/c according to the website I was back at her class the next day!!! I feel like I won already, I got me back (but STRONGER), doing the challenge it also fell on my 41st b’day so it was a opportunity to get to or below the weight I would always plateau at and then gain it all back. I have tried all diets, Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, Lindora.. This time I lost my weight without a diet, I just got to know my body what worked for it what didn’t. During the challenge I omitted dairy and meat, ate lots of vegetables and started juicing. I have crashed dieted, extreme low carbing too, I would drop weight fast but didn’t look right, Now I would now get compliments that I’m glowing, that even though I lost lots of weight I don’t look funny I look healthy and strong. I now have the energy and calmness to handle my stressful home and work life.. It’s amazing!!

2. What changes have you noticed during your challenge?

I noticed my mid section was getting toned and smaller, I thought after three kids it was hopeless. I noticed my arms, legs and shoulders shaping up too.. I lost two chins also!! Everything happened so quickly in the challenge my reward skinnier jeans are now too big and my pants sag around the butt now. I unfortunately learned I do not have natural larger breasts or rear end, both have disappeared ha.

Even though I lost only 17 pounds during the challenge the inches were crazy and phenomenal. I actually had to take pictures of myself to see if I really did get smaller or its wishful thinking in my head. Now I love to go shopping for clothes, I am gutsy now to walk into a boutique and the sales person brings me “mediums” not “XLs” which were too small once.

On poses, I feel like my backward bends are stronger and deeper. On the forward bend I am almost a Japanese ham sandwich; on eagle pose I can wrap my left leg almost around my right leg. I can finally do standing knee pose, my ankles and locked knee is stronger I fall out so much less now, but pre challenge I couldn’t even hold my foot. I can do a toe stand with hand support on my right leg. I can do a camel pose now and hold my ankles and love how it feels vs. dreading it. I can do rabbit pose now; I can finally reach my knee on spine twist and have my arm wrapped around my back.

3. Have you discontinued or reduced any medications?

Well I’m no longer type 2 diabetic, my blood pressure pre Bikram was 210/105, then got to 150/85 now it’s 110/60. I am working with my physician in weaning off my BP meds. I don’t need to monitor my blood glucose levels.

4. What are your goals going forward?

I want to be a size 4 or 6, I want to be healthy and toned, and I want to remain at 5 plus classes a week. I want to have stronger locked knee, though pre challenge I had zero locked knee ability. I want to do a beautiful standing bow pose. One other goal which I have not shared yet in public. Is once I can get my poses down properly I want to train to be an instructor hopefully someday and help others who were once like me. Even if it’s only on weekends or part time between work.

5. Any other thoughts and feelings about your experience during the Challenge?

Doing this challenge is such a commitment to make it happen, I learned that if you really want to make time for yourself you really can. I have three kids, one 5th grader struggling with homework, one kid dealing with Asbergers and a toddler. Plus a full time job that can go on all hours of the night entertaining clients and possibly traveling too.

I don’t have a consistent workout time, sometimes its 6am, sometimes during my lunch hour most of the time in the last 8:15p class. I learn your results depends on how much you are willing to dig deeper, I initially wore my heart monitor to regulate my heart rate due to my blood pressure issues, now I wear it to see if I am pushing hard enough.

I get upset if I don’t see a stream of sweat leave my forehead after a forward bend. I get upset at myself if I don’t hear the pit pattering of my sweat during balancing series. I know by pushing I will see my body shape improve more and man is it addictive. I also love the fact when you get in shape with Yoga it’s a good healthy shape not a bulky body builder look.

 6. What inspired you during your challenge?

My parents, they are so committed and I can see their changes, they come rain or shine and have not missed one day during the challenge. My Mom is super inspiring; she never was so committed to one form of exercise for this long amount of time. She is extremely shy and here she is a room filled with people. I watched my parents change and start wearing colors other than black. I see my mom dig deeper in her poses and leave her comfort zone. I see my dad reading books on Bikram and trying to learn more on proper form.

Don really inspires me too b/c against all odds he’s there consistently and getting better each time. I am so inspired by my fellow challengers, Jen, Renata, LaTierra, Ching (who stays through all her poses now) Miranda, Bernadette, Jami, Regina, Muni, Gabriella, Karen, Sara, Megan, Winnie, Vernon, Tamiko, All my girls in the corner what an amazing energy and camaraderie.. It’s so moving to be in their presence.

My teachers I love you all,

Erin my first teacher you always call me out when you know I can push a bit harder in a pose. You know me so well. You are a beautiful mommy to be yogini!

Val S. Thank you for believing in me and understanding my obsession with this yoga even after my accident, you opening your heart about my accident really cemented my love and loyalty to your studio. I love your classes and love when you give us stories during savasana.

Valerie, you are another amazing teacher I always remembered in the beginning of my practice when I was an over X00 pound student, so fat and barely can move. You believed in me and were always so uplifting and cheered me on even after my accident when I couldn’t do all my poses. I just wanted to tell you, your optimism kept me going.

Jeff, even though I say you are a toughie I feel so awesome after your class, every time you correct my pose, boy do I remember them. Thanks for also inspiring my hubby to really work on his form and keep coming back for more.

Nafisa, man words can’t express how special you are to me and my family. You got my mom to stay and get into this practice so strongly now. You call my mom out, everyone knows them as “Mom and Dad” and that makes you my wise sweet sister.

Miranda, you are so awesome I think you know how much I dig you as a teacher and as a friend. You always make me feel warm and welcomed in class and I always get so bummed out when I can’t make it to your 5pm class. I look forward to more years of getting to know you and practicing with you.

Bernadette, you are such a ray of sunshine..I can’t help but smile when you are around. I love how brutally honest you are about your struggles and victories in Bikram Yoga and love being in your class.

Marta, thanks for always being in such a great mood, even though all of us around you are crabby you are consistently in a good mood and I can tell you care so much about everyone around you.

Tom, you are such a well and kind spoken teacher, love your humor, insight and tips during our practice. I look forward to more classes with you in the future.

And of course thank you to the adorable and so sweet Cheryl, you are such an important part of the studio and I’m so happy when I see you.

Can't believe I'm sharing the below pics, but maybe it will help someone else out there in the universe :)

Day one of the Challenge feeling pretty good already vrs how I was pre Bikram.

Taken the last day of the challenge, can't believe I'm posting this...but slowly but surely getting there.

Gee I look miserable must of been fighting a cold too, day before challenge. This was taken after my haircut about a week before the challenge was done.

 

 

Trying on new reward girly clothes, and the size medium is too big..had to take a picture to make sure I wasnt losing it.