I've never been one to make a bucket list. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE lists. Grocery lists, shopping lists, chore lists, to-do lists, packing lists, etc. I love the satisfaction that I get when I can cross something off on my list. I feel accomplished in so many ways even if all I did was clean the toilet.
I was talking with a colleague one day in the office and she mentioned that she had recently took a class to get certified to teach a work out class and I asked her what made her want to do that and she said she had created a 40 Before 40 bucket list and that was one of the things on her list. I instantly thought that this was a fabulous idea! She inspired me to start on my own 40 Before 40 journey. At that point I was a little over a year away from hitting 40 so I thought if I was going to do this then I needed to start it ASAP.
Now, let me be clear, not all of the items on my list are wild and crazy. Some are simple things that may not cost money or things that I can do with my son such as visit the St. Louis Zoo (since I've never been there obviously), get a tattoo in honor of my son, visit a friend that I haven't seen for a year and a half, things like that.
A couple items on my list are a bit more difficult and take dedication and time. I needed this. I needed to see the GOAL on my list and have that staring me in the face all the time, forcing me to be dedicated to working hard and completing those tasks. Those items are: lose 40 pounds, stop drinking soda, exercise a minimum of 3 times per week, and FEEL healthier. On May 8, 2017, I started on a journey to a new me. I enrolled in a Carb Cycling 101 program instructed by Katie Harlan. During this 3 week program you rotate between low carb and high carb days. This was such a great learning experience for me as I learned that a lot of carbs just drag me down and I don't feel as good as when I do low carb days. She also teaches about intermittent fasting which I have come to love! During that program I lost 7 pounds and 2.5 inches. I felt great!
After completing the carb cycling program I immediately went into a 4-Week Slim Down program that Katie was offering. I loved this program! She provided meal suggestions, recipes, and work outs to do to challenge your body. When the 4 weeks was up and I took my measurements, I was completely surprised at the results! I had lost another 6.4 pounds and 7.7 inches.
I'm well on my way to being a fit and healthier version of me but the biggest item that I have crossed off my bucket list so far is giving up soda. Yep, I did it. It was painful and hurt like heck (literally) but I feel SO much better now that I'm fueling my body with water, coffee, and protein shakes and as an added bonus, my skin is loving all the water that I am drinking. It's really crazy how much my skin and body have changed in those 7 weeks and I'm looking forward to continuing on this path!
If you're interested in learning more about the Carb Cycling 101 and 4-Week Slim Down coached by Katie Harlan, please visit her website for more information.
