Biggest Winners

Yesterday was Adam and I's last day finishing a competition we started. Unfortunately, we had to pull from our wonderful team to extricate a child from a contentious and rancid environment. Not the fault of MVBL, but the fervor of some of its competitors.

However, Adam and I continued and finished our goals together. He left on a well deserved trip today to Utah to see his cousin's homecoming. Yesterday was our official 'last day'. So I ran 7 miles today, because,well.......THERE IS NO FINISH LINE.........and just because we met our goals does not mean its 'over ' or that I am done. I still have a L.O.N.G way to go......

Looking at these photos helps me realize how far I have come as well. I have a few more major goals to accomplish and I am looking forward to it actually. I am excited and eager for the future. I want to be healthy. I want to feel strong. I want the energy that exercise gives me. I accept that I will continue to deal with pain and fight my disease, but I have the momentum I need to add focus to my physical health and effort at wellness for the first time in years.

This photo is of my calf muscle. That puddin is now 'proof'. You don't get calf muscles like this from anything but killer hard work. I have earned every inch. This one is for you Laura Andrew, and Tom....you teased me that I only show one leg......right????? Here ya go!





A couple things happened in the competition that made me mad. Simple as that. So, I went bananas and Adam and I blew the grid with crazy numbers. We only did it out of spite, and vindictiveness. Those 'motivators' ended up being too empty to last. I learned a major lesson about focus. Positive motivates, Negative destroys.
BUT


WE


DID EVERYTHING SINGLE THING


WE


SAID


WE


DID


There were times Adam and I's numbers were in question and I sort of want to stick my tongue out and say...."Plllllllllllllluuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!" Check out my calves baby, you don't get those unless you earn them! I love being stronger.


There were some seriously tough days in the last 5 months. (See ornery photo below) I got ridiculously obsessed with minutia. I allowed my fiery Irish temper to rule. I became the sort of 'pettiness plucker' I absolutely H.A.T.E. My weaknesses were revealed and put on display by my own lack of temper control. I was a foolish wreck. My husband's even tempered perspective helped me see clearly what was happening. The competition and its contention was completely ruling over the climate of our home.

One night, Lily was giving the prayer for the family. She said, "And please bless Mommy and Adam to finish Biggest Loser, so we can all be happy".

She also said, you should be the

"Biggest Winners".

I loved that! She was right!

Reality check. So, Adam and I pulled out.

But, did not quit.

Emotional ROLLERCOASTERS always makes me change my hair :) Seriously :)




This is Adam, last year, running his first Half Marathon with his bud Justin.



This is Adam a few weeks ago flexing 'the guns'

This is Adam's crazy solid thigh muscle.

This is Adam's triceps cut. Boss.

This is one determined and tenacious kid. He amazed me. He worked extremely hard. We had a really neat experience together. What a blessing to have progressed this far with this healthy memory in his formative years. I appreciate Adam's support and every single rep that he did so we could leave and finish this competition as

BIGGEST WINNERS

Who wants to be a loser anyway :)