Strength of Stones FINALE

6 weeks ago 7 families began competing for the pride and privilege of becoming the  

Strength of Stones champion!!! (Insert crowd cheering here.)

Six weeks ago we each made family and personal goals to improve our health. Some smart person somewhere once said, "If you can do something for 30 days, then it has become a habit." This means that we have all created a new healthy habit in our lives, so keep it up. This experience has also helped us be more aware of our bodies and our health. 

**Each family was supposed to turn in their points for the competition (but I think the excitement wore out around week 4) so there are no points BUT there were results. 

Ben and I made the no sugar/junk food/fast food during the week- goal. We could splurge and be glutinous on the weekends. This was REALLY hard for us at first but as we started going it got easier. Ben started taking lunches to work or choosing healthier options at the cafeteria (salad).  I worked really hard on NOT snacking during the day and even stopped snacking at work (people always bring in goodies and I didn't eat them).  We moved all of our 'junk/snack' food to the bottom shelf in our pantry so it was harder to get to it and so we didn't see it every time we got in there. 

The first weekend off the 'diet' we went CRAZY and both got sick from it.  From then on we wouldn't go overboard on the weekends but would enjoy ourselves.  It got to the point that the week days were not so terrible and the weekends even became healthier.  I have a quote on the mirror in our bathroom that says, "30% Gym, 70% Kitchen. Abs are made in the kitchen not the gym."  After this challenge I believe this, yes exercise is important, but a healthy diet really gets you started. (I must admit that exercise is still hard for me and is still going to be a challenge for me to complete but I am proud of my diet goals and the progress I have made.)

Now for the RESULTS (can you tell I am proud):

Throughout the competition I weighed myself every morning and every evening (to adjust for water weight/ect) and at the end averaged it all together.  I started the competition weighing 153 lbs and have finished the competition at 141lbs.  I lost 12 lbs in 6 weeks!! I dropped two pant sizes and am now wearing, comfortably, my 'skinny' jeans.  What is so great is now, months later, I am still at 141 lbs (I didn't get it all back after the competition) and I feel healthier. 

I am so proud of myself, I have never done something like this before, and I am so grateful for my family for doing this competition with me and helping to motivate me to change my lifestyle and improve my health!!