I did it! I completed the 21-Day Challenge and accomplished all my goals. I’m so very proud of myself as I usually have an off day then totally go downhill from there. But this time, my off day(s) just motivated me to continue with my plan. Here’s a recap of my goals and my end thoughts/feelings on each:
*21-Day Vegan Kickstart (done because of my allergy to dairy & eggs and because I was eating WAY too much cheese!): while I didn’t follow the meal plan exactly, I used it as a guide to help me focus on changing up my meals and not relying on dairy. I will never be 100% completely vegan but I will be incorporating many of the tips/techniques into my eating in the future. And that weird body odor is gone.
*Intermittent Fasting (10a – 6p): while I’ve done intermittent fasting for years, it’s always been hit and miss. This time I stuck with it every day. The first couple of days was rough because I’d become used to eating as soon as I finished working out (or waking up). But my body adjusted. I also planned my tutoring schedule around the times I wanted to eat so that I would simply be too busy to focus on eating at other times. This goal is the one I’m most happy about completing!
*Exercise 5 days a week: I’ve always enjoyed exercise and hated that I’d gotten out of practice with it so this challenge helped me focus on it again. I did cardio and strength training at least 5 days every week and some very basic yoga. I plan to start doing Yoga with Adrienne today as I finally feel like I’m ready to add that back in to my routine.
*Bonus goal(s) – French lessons & grammar course: both done most every day (I hate grammar rules and the course makes me want to bang my head against a wall, but I need it for teaching/tutoring)
My sleep patterns have adjusted back to a more normal pattern for me, finally. I am not all achy and tired all the time. And while I didn’t lose as much weight as I’d hoped, I did lose a total of 5.8 lbs and I can see small changes in how my clothes fit. So I’m happy with that. I’m taking a couple of days off (but not going completely off the rails!) and plan to start over again on Sunday. Here’s to a healthier life!
Here is the overview of the final 7 days:
Day 15
Weight: lost .2 lbs
Sleep: 7 hrs 45 mins
Exercise: 40 min aerobics; Day 13 30-Day Workout; simple yoga
Total Steps: 12,839
Food: on track
Water: 72 oz
Feelings: doing good
French: done
Grammar course: done
Day 16
Weight: ugh – gained .6 lbs…pretty sure it’s all the cookie dough I ate last weekend
Sleep: 5 hrs 52 mins
Exercise: 42 min aerobics; Day 14 30-Day Workout; simple yoga
Total Steps: 11,436
Food: on track
Water: 72 oz
Feelings: frustrated with myself for gaining weight so buckling down
French: done
Grammar course: done
Day 17
Weight: no change
Sleep: 6 hrs 29 mins
Exercise: Rest Day
Total Steps: 11,676
Food: had a frustrating day and caved and got a cheese calzone
Water: 64 oz
Feelings: really frustrated and just want a good gooey pizza!
French: done
Grammar course: started Unit 4
Day 18
Weight: lost .6 lbs
Sleep: 7 hrs 56 mins
Exercise: Rest Day
Total Steps: 8,238
Food: on track
Water: 64 oz
Feelings: less emotional
French: done
Grammar course: done
Day 19
Weight: gained .2 – maintaining the 5 lb weight loss at the moment
Sleep: 8 hrs 17 mins
Exercise: 1-mile walk; Day 15 30-Day Workout; simple yoga
Total Steps: 13,187
Food: all good
Water: 72
Feelings: feeling good
French: done
Grammar course: done
Day 20
Weight: lost .8 lbs
Sleep: 5 hrs 24 mins
Exercise: 39 mins aerobics; simple yoga
Total Steps: 12,988
Food: on track
Water: 72 oz
Feelings: all good
French: done
Grammar course: finished Unit 4
Day 21
Weight: gained .6 lbs
Sleep: 8 hrs 19 mins
Exercise: 37 min aerobics; Day 17 30-Day Workout; simple yoga
Total Steps: 13,187
Food: on track
Water: 64 oz
Feelings: proud of myself for sticking with it!
French: done
Grammar course: started Unit 5
alicrain 