holiday hold 'em

if you've been keeping up with my weight loss and fitness journey, you'll be so proud of my most recent progress.  if you haven't been following, i'll get you up to speed.

in september i joined kdr fitness and ever since have spent no less than 3 days per week at the gym.  i've diligently (and sometimes not so diligently) followed their nutrition guidelines and in the first few months lost several pounds and many inches. 

there, you're up to speed.  =)

in november, ben and jamie (the owners and coaches at kdr fitness) came up with the "holiday hold 'em" contest.  because the average american gains something like 11 pounds between thanksgiving and new years' they thought, 'why not have a contest to add extra incentive to the members to at least maintain, if not lose, during the holiday season?'

and that's exactly what they did.

all the people who did not gain weight would be eligible to win one of two hour long massages by a local massage therapist.

and you know what?  i'm eligible!

i went into the gym tonight to weigh in.  i couldn't work out because i'm still fighting this sickness and don't want to push myself too far.  i felt confident that i not only didn't gain any weight, but that i actually had potentially lost some.  i knew my clothes were fitting better, but i avoided the scale until this weigh in.

well, here is my result:

i lost 7 pounds!!!!!!!!!

during the busiest, craziest, hungriest, and most irresponsible time of year, i managed to lose more weight than in the same number of weeks during the fall. 

see?  commitment does pay off.

hopefully literally....with a free massage.  =)

thanks for all the support -- dear readers, friends, family, co-workers, and my kdr fitness family -- it makes me feel so proud for accomplishing something i've never been able to manage on my own.

it feels so good.

so for all of you out there who are just starting your journey, you can do it!  it takes time.  it takes hard work.  but the harder you work the more worth it it is. 

trust me.  i just lost 7 pounds over christmas!  and i won't even tell you how many cookies i had.  let's just say, there were many days i wasn't very diligent with my nutrition plan, but i worked my ass off at the gym and it clearly paid off.

there's another contest coming up where kdr fitness is giving away $1,500  -- $500 to three individuals.  you don't have to be a member to enter the contest, and i'm trying to figure out a team!  check out the contest here, and email me here if you're interested in joining my team of three for the contest!

every step forward is a step in the right direction!

=) andrea