My first measurements in October showed that my body fat mass was 44%. I really wasn’t surprised, but my heart dropped and I was momentarily sad that I had allowed my body to get to this point. Besides having a dream about getting into the best freaking shape ever, my biggest motivation for this journey was so that I do not end up an obesity statistic like my mother had. My mother’s sudden death at the age of 61 from an enlarged heart was preventable, but she made an obvious choice to give up. Her body couldn’t handle the rapid weight gain, the chain smoking and the sedentary lifestyle. I refuse to be that!
At the beginning of this journey, Dana told me that my body was going to change in major ways. I didn’t really comprehend what she was saying. I thought, oh I’m just going to lose some weight like I had in the past. I had absolutely no idea that my body was going to be completely transformed and toned. Each week, I have noticed small changes in my body. I felt muscles in areas that I had previously only felt flab. I began really noticing the muscles that were developing in my arms and I would sit with my hands on my arms during meetings, just to realize that this was actually happening. Unconsciously, I was feeling my arms up. Dana has referred to this toning process as the “great reveal” as the athletic Lucie emerges from under the protective flab coating. Previously, I had never thought much about myself except that I was fat and funny. In the past, whenever dating sites would ask what’s the best body part I would always say my dark brown eyes because I was ashamed of my body and it was fat and flabby. Now I have choices – do I say my strong as hell legs that can endure a 10 minute climb in Spin or any of the exercises Dana can throw at me. Or do I say my arms that can swing kettle bells. I amaze myself with what I can do and also what I’m willing to do. Take this past weekend for instance, I took Christy’s metal/rock spin class, did the 5k Color Run, went on a massive hike with my fur niece Esme and my fur nephew Mijo and took another spin class to round out the weekend. I’m getting the reputation of being the fit chick, and people are coming to me to report their athletic accomplishment or what they’re doing to be healthy.
On dating sites, they ask you to categorize your body. I always checked off the box- a few pounds to lose or solid. When I recently signed up for another site, I hesitantly checked off the athletic box. I’m still not completely 100 % sold on the idea that I can do athletic things. Slowly but surely I’m coming into my own about believing that I am athletic. My body has already believed it and I’m happy to report now that my 44% body fat mass has now dropped down to 31.9% – that’s a grand total of a 12% percent difference in about six months! I’ve replaced fat with muscle, and in fact, my calf muscles have grown by ½ an inch. What’s also growing is my shoe collection- my cross training shoes, new sneakers, and running shoes. I’m looking at a few pairs right now and there are more in my car and in my closet. I used to reward myself with food, and now I reward accomplishments with athletic gear. As my body gets more and more toned, my clothes are also quickly becoming loose and there’s a size 12 in sight.
Be well. Be Healthy. Get Active!
So proud! Lucie you are inspiring and ROCKING IT!! Keep rocking girl!