Mini-Blog: IN THE MIDDLE

So, four weeks down, four to go. Here at mid-challenge, I finally get why it's an 8-week journey. When Rick did the Whole Life Challenge last fall, I kept thinking "oh my hell this is ENDLESS why isn't it just 30 days like all other diet-related challenges I miss potatoes and pasta and if I have to eat one more compliant meal or even hear the word "compliant" again I'm going to scream because it's not me who signed up for this it's my lucky-to-still-be-alive husband who is the madman around here when will this just be OVER." Yes, that run-on punctuation-free sentence was on a loop in my head for two months. It seemed like overkill, eight weeks.

But here I am, four weeks in, and I'm definitely not ready for the challenge to be over. I'm still learning. I'm still figuring out meal and snack choices that can become a lasting part of my family's diet. I'm still getting into the groove of daily stretching and just beginning to notice the benefits. 30 days would not have been enough for the potential positive impact of the WLC to be realized in the long-term. 

A recently-noticed positive change: the WLC requires at least 10 minutes of exercise daily. Prior to beginning the challenge, I did take a day off here and there, if I pushed it too far with a run the day before, if I got a little carried away with back bends in yoga, or if I just had no time (a late work meeting or another commitment that would mean a 10 pm workout - I have a hard enough time making myself sleep without having to come down from a late-night workout). So to stay within the rules I've been repeating the 12-minute prelim workout - burpees, sit-ups and squats - on those days that time has run short or I just don't have a run in me. It's easily done in my bedroom, I can always find 12 minutes, and it's actually a great workout. My burpee form and efficiency has improved, and although I still hold that sit-ups really really suck beyond belief, I have noticed in my yoga practice that I can more easily hold Navasana (boat pose) for longer periods. Once again, the WLC has advanced my yoga practice!

So, as I've documented - there have been ups and downs and many lessons that will stay with me. I'm looking forward to the lessons yet to come. I'm in the middle of learning another one now, as the challenge in the "Lifestyle" category has changed from 7 hours of sleep to "Practicing Mindfulness" for 10 minutes a day. A tough one for me... blog post to come soon.

This is beauty.

I will close with a photo of my mid-challenge non-compliant St. Patrick's Day ice cream binge at Mitchell's. A scoop of Guinness Stout and Dark Chocolate on top of a scoop of Jameson's Irish Whiskey with Buttermilk Toffee. It. Was. Awesome. I felt horrible the next day, and should have followed the lesson learned during wedding weekend (see last blog post) - have a few bites instead of two scoops that were large enough to add up to a pint of ice cream. But it was AWESOME. And so it goes - fall and get back up, fall and get back up...