This past Saturday I wrapped up my first 10 week long Ultimate Bodyshaping Course with wonderful results... I lost 23.4 pounds, 4 inches in my belly, and 3% body fat. I also pretty much tripled the amount of push ups and sit ups I can do in one minute. Holla! It's been a really great experience and I have enjoyed seeing my body change for the better. I mean, I've got some muscles now. Some defined muscles. Well... They still need work, but they're there! I've also enjoyed seeing my confidence in myself grow. I haven't felt this good about myself inside and out in a long, long while.
The cherry on top is that I was able to--with the help of some very generous people--meet my $500 fundraising goal. Every penny of that will benefit Mariska Hargitay's Joyful Heart Foundation and its efforts to heal, educate, and empower survivors of violence and abuse. I hope to raise another $500 by the end of my second UBC course, so if you could help spread the word that would be oh so lovely.
Last Friday a reporter from my local newspaper photographed me working out for a feature story they will hopefully be running this week regarding Strong Body/Joyful Heart. I'm pretty sure the picture(s) are going to be something...special... It was weird being the subject of photos because I've become accustomed to taking them! And then to be "paparazzied" while I'm sweating and punching and kicking... Let me reference my Norwegian heritage here and say: uff da! I tried holding a round kick for a pic, but I don't know how solid my form was. Cripes, we shall see...
The important thing is just spreading the word about SB/JH and hopefully inspiring people to make a needed change in their own lives. Maybe that change will be getting healthy physically. Or maybe that change will be getting healthy emotionally. Maybe both. I really hope that overweight people will shed their shame in order to shed some weight. And if someone stumbles upon my Strong Body/Joyful Heart project and has been carrying a burden caused by sexual or domestic violence, I hope that he or she will come to realize that they are not alone and that there are people who want to help. I hope that these survivors will shed their shame--a shame that truly doesn't belong to them--as well and reach out for the help they deserve.
I'm so grateful for what UBC has done for me and that I have been able to use it as an opportunity to help others. So here's to round 2 of UBC and the difference we can continue to make by supporting Joyful Heart Foundation! Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me!
P.S. I'll post a link to the newspaper article as soon as I can...
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