I started the Ragamuffin Top Challenge at the beginning of June. My goals were to drop from 225 lbs. to 210 lbs. and to ride my bike "faster". Here we are four months later. So, I wanted to give you all an update on how things have been going.

Starting with my second goal, I trained for and participated in the Triangle Triathlon in July. My times steadily improved as I trained and I cut an additional couple minutes off my time in the actual race. Well, like I said, the race was in July and since then, I have ridden my bike only a handful of times.

I can blame it on a couple things, but the real reason is that I haven't ridden much recently is that I have not made it a priority. I look forward to getting back on the horse, or bike, as it were. I enjoy riding my bike very much. I think that I am going to try to work it into my schedule.

Goal number one is a lot easier to measure. I get on the scale twice a day, nearly everyday. That may come across as a bit excessive, but as of a month, or so, ago, I made it down to 210 lbs.. Now that I have hit my goal, I have moved into "Maintain Mode". Maintain Mode means that I am not really trying to lose any more weight. Now, my focus is on not back-sliding.

To get the weight off I stopped drinking sugar drinks, e.g. sodas, sweet tea, kool-aid, etc., and I stopped snacking on unhealthy things like brownies, ice cream, cookies, etc.. Well, now that I have met my goal, I have sort of let those restrictions go. I drink less sugary drinks than I did before starting the challenge, but I am having about one a day. Also, I am not eating zero unhealthy snacks. So, I get on the scale everyday and that lets me know how I can eat or how much I need to work out in the coming day, or days.

Aside from changing my eating habits, I have also increased my exercise regime. In the beginning, I rode my bike quite a bit and I played basketball a few times a week. Recently, I have stopped doing both of those things. Now, I play flag football on Mondays, I am participating in a Sprint and Agility class on Tuesdays, and I am doing the hundred pushups challenge.

I got on the scale yesterday and I weighed 208 lbs.. That's the lowest, non-dehydrated weight I've been at in a long time. So, my maintaining is going well. I am looking forward to getting my body fat checked again. Last time it was 8.7%, but since then I have lost another seven pounds and I can definitely see more muscle definition after doing the hundred pushups challenge for over three weeks.

Thanks to everyone who has encouraged me in this. This will probably be the last Ragamuffin Top Challenge post. It's been a good ride. I hope everyone else that participated was able to meet their goals.

Shalom,
Shannon

Labels: exercise, health, weight loss