Happy Monday, Badasses! It's been awhile since we checked the mail, and there is much good news to report.
The first good news: The Badass Army keeps growing, yet it's shrinking (one pound and one pants size at a time)! More and more are reading Badass Fitness, and our Facebook group is 400-plus members strong. Awesome. And whattaya know? We're feeling more motivated, more confident and more determined to get to our goals of a leaner, stronger, healthier Badass.
Take Andy in Tampa Bay. Late last year, he was more than 300 pounds, about 100 pounds heavier than where he was several years ago at his fittest. He started reading Badass Fitness and eating right and exercising. He never tried extreme diets. He knows the best route is steady and measured, one to two pounds a week. He is eating rice and beans, oatmeal, Shredded Wheat, protein powder, vegetables, etc.
He wrote: Also I'm doing better about leaving work relatively on time ...going to bed much earlier, going to the gym before work and doing cardio right after work. I am steadily pushing more weight, and the loss makes it easier to walk, even run a bit. I take coffee black and don't miss the cream.
The result: He has gotten himself down to "the 270s," as he calls it. And he's not done. His ultimate goal is to get down to about 205. He said his toughest challenge is managing his cravings. So Andy, check back in later this week for tips on that dilemma!
Badasses, the thing I love about Andy's journey is that it is sensible and REAL. It involves hard work and self control. It doesn't involve a magic pill or some bizarre diet that has him eating nothing but cabbage or grapefruit. And as hard as it is sometimes, imagine how much sweeter his victory is going to be when he reaches his goal weight.
And yes, I said WHEN he reaches his goal weight. Not IF. He is a Badass, and he WILL get there.
I vented a bit this week about some of those bizarre and extreme diets that people seek as a quick fix to their weight loss. Judging by the spike in blog hits and some of the comments, that post hit a nerve.
Kris wrote: I discovered your blog a few weeks ago and am so impressed. You wrote this: The Badass Journey is about balance. Strength. Moderation. Fun. Determination. Endurance. And patience. It is about falling and getting right back up. It is about losing 1 to 2 pounds a week through regular exercise and a sensible, clean, healthy diet. Is about being real. Nearly knocked my socks off because THAT IS EXACTLY IT. I couldn't have said it better!! I'm totally printing that out, highlighting that paragraph and taping it to my bathroom mirror. Thanks for putting together such a great, inspirational place for me to visit every day or two. I joined the Y on Feb. 1 and have lost 8 lbs so far. Doesn't sound like much but I feel so much stronger and am not denying myself the little treats now and then that make life fun. I'm totally enjoying working out, adding more weights on the machines each week. Strength and moderation--my new mantra!!
And Susan C wrote: I have a friend whose going down the diet shake route. The crazy thing is that she and her hubby regularly go and pig out at "all you can eat buffets" on the weekend. She regularly comments on the fact that I lost just over 40kg (88lbs)and gee she wishes she could do the same. Hello... I did it by the sensible diet and regular intense exercise routine. It's not so hard.
Well, it takes some people longer to figure out "sensible," but I hope this blog can help get readers on the right path -- and staying on the right path.
This week I am taking on a couple of new challenges myself: Training to teach classes on RealRyder bikes (more on that soon) and to run the Springtime Tallahassee 10K on Saturday. I haven't run a 10K in some time, and this one's hilly, so I need all you Badasses to send me good strength and endurance vibes! Or maybe I should just bust out the 5K?......
Have a great week - go show the world what you're made of.
Coming tomorrow: The Badass Foodiw whips bananas into (fat-free!) ice cream!
