I am really grateful for the WildFit 90 Day Challenge. When I look at my pictures I see that I am now more compact and have less cellulite. I lost 7 inches - I did not weigh myself because that is triggering for me and I don't look at scales.
I reason I did the program was because I was slowly creeping up in size year after year. Clothes that used to be loose were getting tighter and my knees had begun to hurt. I heard stories from older people who are overweight about knee replacements and such, and I want none of that!
I had come to accept that I was overweight but I was scared I would continue to get bigger and bigger and spin way out of control health wise.
The first thing that changed during WildFit was my knee pain disappeared. Like in the second week - just hydrating and eating more veggies. My digestion became regular shortly after that, whereas in the past I was pretty backed up and had been getting colonics pretty regularly just to move things out. That is not a reality any longer. Hoorray!
I really noticed, the way we hydrated and added veggies first, that those things filled me up, and the other food I was eating was superfluous but I ate it for fun - or for boredom, or out of habit. Food was a really big part of my emotional life. I had a monumental moment when I discovered that it does not have to be. I have a choice.
I was pretty jazzed about letting go of sugar. My last cookie gave me heartburn - like super painful - and I resolved to have those in my "never" category at the end of the program. Dairy has never been a favorite of mine. In fact, when in high school I have a vivid memory of being forced to drink a glass of milk at dinner when at a friend's house. They were from Wisconsin. I nearly puked. Prior to the program I had said to people "Do you not think it is weird people drink another species' milk? I do. It's gross." So I was pleased to hear more evidence about that and dairy is gone for me. I really only had it in baked good and in coffee.
The grains video had the biggest impact on me. I LOVE the insight about evolution and those plants wanting to be spread rather than digested - it makes perfect sense to me and clicked. I am off the grains - they just back me up and now I know why! Thank you thank you thank you. I love the "you won't starve but you won't have nutrients either"... rings so true for me. So yeah - wheat, bread - all that stuff. Gone. Even sprouted breads give me heartburn. Who knew?
I was already on to the marketing game. I was great to hear those videos and how others are aware of it too. I remember in 2008 being in a grocery store and recognized that 90% of the food was inedible/not real to me. I held onto a few things like popcorn and chips just because they taste good AND as a traveling actor, I was constantly amazed at the "health food" sections being so small all over the country - like do we not all need to eat good food for our health? It baffled me.
Coffee was the hard one - I totally admit I went back on the coffee train in the middle of deep spring. Likewise I quit cigarettes for a couple weeks and then picked them back up. I otherwise adhered strongly - eating wise I did it exactly - but I see how those stimulants affect my chemistry, and recognize that when I decide to let go of more weight, I will need to pause the coffee.
I needed the group support several times just to vocalize what I was going through, and I really enjoyed seeing others struggles and successes.
I was happy to see my skin tone changing, and my pants fitting more loosely about two weeks into deep spring. It was hard energy wise. I had a lot of angry moments, and felt weak often. But then I would have bursts of energy. My sleep was amazingly better - I needed less of it.
As I said above, at a certain point, I think about 4 weeks into deep spring, I started on coffee and noticed the weight loss stopped. I did not reach out to the group, I admit. However, I kept up with the videos and what is true for me is I reached this point of feeling confident that I CAN control my weight and that it is about health rather than vanity.
That is huge for me. I no longer feel powerless.
I have experienced what works, and I know what to do. My diet and energy are permanently shifted. Processed foods and refined sugar, wheat and dairy are gone. I eat lot less fruit, and mostly veggies and good meats. The alkagizer prime is a part of my lifestyle now.
I am listening to my body, which wants to walk a lot more than it ever did. I am finding that if I do not take at least a 30 minute walk daily and stretch, I feel restless. I was already into meditation and it is helpful to have it confirmed that stress and lifestyle choices make weight either stay on or come off. I really appreciate the knowledge about seasons and old weight - I know I have a lot of old weight on me stiff, and I know also that it can come off when I am ready. I am still a bit attached to being chubby, which surprised me. I thought I would be like "get it all off now!" but change is scary for me. I feel stable, and that is enough for now.
Also about 3 weeks ago cigarettes stopped being attractive to me, and I have quit them and feel confident this time it is for good. That is huge as well.
So while there is not a huge change in the pictures, there are several big ones internally. I feel happier, more informed, and healthier than I ever have.
The sugar monster has talked me into eating ice cream and pizza since the challenge ended, and I watched the process, and am like "yeah - that is not worth it". I am looking forward to the cookbook so I will have more variety. I am not too creative in the kitchen - I need help! :)
I really like the quote "nothing tastes as good as health feels". I am finding that to be true, and am super grateful to have regained the power of choice.Thanks so much!!