BelovedHeather
Cathlete
Glory! I love the hope and joyful expectation the dawn of a new year delivers. I can testify that 2007 was a life-changing year of mental and emotional transformation. I started the year with a blast of inspiration after receiving my first Cathe calendar, ventured out of my comfort zone to Jersey for my first Cathe Road Trip in August (when I was feeling insecure about my weight and size), embraced heavy weight training and faithfully completed my first official Cathe rotation with Cathe’s 4-Day Split in November, and wrapped up 2007 by breaking free from a cycle of defeat that I had been caught in for years.
Cathe’s 4-Day Split was my breakthrough series. Cathe created fun and effective workouts that inspired me to embrace heavy weight training after years of cardio and circuit training. I was delighted with the dancy step choreography, and my results inspired me to start 2008 with a 12-week challenge centered around the 4-Day Split.
I wrapped up 2007 with a major breakthrough on Christmas Eve. I had been stuck in a cycle for years of gaining a chunk of weight during the holidays, writing off the last week of the year as a lost cause, eating everything in sight for a week, and starting over on New Year's Day. I confess that I indulged in too much feast food and gained weight during the holidays. But I started over at 4:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve. It dawned on me that I do not need to wait for a new year, a new week, or even a new day to make a fresh start! The 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve candlelight worship service was so inspiring. I left my last Hershey's Hug on the altar during communion. I fasted and drank nothing but water and a few sips of orange juice on Christmas Day. I blessed my body with plenty of nutrient-dense food for the rest of the week.
I am delighted to share the good news that for the first time in years, I am joyfully starting a new year from a place of victory. Taking a recovery week to detox with a fast, refuel with nutrient-dense food, and recharge with restful sleep was a good plan. I am bursting with energy and ready to rise to the challenge and contend faithfully for a healthy body weight in 2008! I am believing God for deliverance from 100 pounds in 2008 and another live Cathe class to celebrate! My pictures are stored in my photo album, and my weight and measurements are recorded on my 2008 Cathe calendar!
I started my 12-week New Year’s Eve to Easter challenge yesterday morning with Higher Intensity Step. Cathe was right. I did not lose any strength in December. I did great with the same weights I was using in November (but the last few reps were super challenging). My chest is sore today too. I am planning to enjoy some of Cathe’s other lower body workouts during this challenge, but I am hoping to stick with the upper body workouts for the whole 12 weeks.
My workouts for this challenge focus on Cathe’s 4-Day Split with extra cardio and more endurance-based lower body workouts. My game plan for nutrition is about abundance, not deprivation. I am returning to a plant-based way of eating and blessing my body with 80 percent fruits, veggies, beans, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and hemp protein and keeping dairy, organic eggs, condiments, and fun foods to 20 percent of my intake. I believe eating 80 percent clean consistently will be better for me in the long run than eating 100 percent clean for a few weeks followed by a fit of rebellion! I am also eating when I am hungry (every 4 hours) until I am satisfied. Eating 4 times a day feels more natural to me than eating smaller amounts more often.
I shared in my last update that I am starting an 18-week team challenge in January. My church family is having a Biggest Loser challenge led by a guy who *almost* made the cast for the most recent season. He made it all the way to the final casting call and spent a week in California preparing for the show and learning about the fitness and nutrition plan. He was the last one cut before filming started. He returned to Texas and has been making the journey on his own. NBC’s loss is our gain! He is very inspiring and motivating, and I am looking forward to the support and encouragement a team will provide. Speaking of the Biggest Loser, a new season featuring couples starts tonight!
I faithfully recorded all my workouts on my Cathe calendar in 2007. I know what works for me. Cathe, Cathe, and more Cathe with a good balance of cardio and heavy weights! I kept a daily journal and posted monthly updates here. I discovered the way of eating that blesses my body. With a determined focus and the support of my friends and church family, I believe 2008 will be a transforming year for me! By the grace of God, 2008 will be a year of mastering moderation and bringing balance to every area of my life.
I am not planning to post monthly updates this year, but look for my 12-week challenge results on Easter and my Biggest Loser finale results around Mother’s Day! You may not read as many words from me this year, but you can expect to see results and pictures! Here’s to a happy and healthy 2008!
Thanks to all my Cathe friends for your support. I treasure the love and encouragement I receive here.
Blessings,
Heather B.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).
Cathe’s 4-Day Split was my breakthrough series. Cathe created fun and effective workouts that inspired me to embrace heavy weight training after years of cardio and circuit training. I was delighted with the dancy step choreography, and my results inspired me to start 2008 with a 12-week challenge centered around the 4-Day Split.
I wrapped up 2007 with a major breakthrough on Christmas Eve. I had been stuck in a cycle for years of gaining a chunk of weight during the holidays, writing off the last week of the year as a lost cause, eating everything in sight for a week, and starting over on New Year's Day. I confess that I indulged in too much feast food and gained weight during the holidays. But I started over at 4:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve. It dawned on me that I do not need to wait for a new year, a new week, or even a new day to make a fresh start! The 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve candlelight worship service was so inspiring. I left my last Hershey's Hug on the altar during communion. I fasted and drank nothing but water and a few sips of orange juice on Christmas Day. I blessed my body with plenty of nutrient-dense food for the rest of the week.
I am delighted to share the good news that for the first time in years, I am joyfully starting a new year from a place of victory. Taking a recovery week to detox with a fast, refuel with nutrient-dense food, and recharge with restful sleep was a good plan. I am bursting with energy and ready to rise to the challenge and contend faithfully for a healthy body weight in 2008! I am believing God for deliverance from 100 pounds in 2008 and another live Cathe class to celebrate! My pictures are stored in my photo album, and my weight and measurements are recorded on my 2008 Cathe calendar!
I started my 12-week New Year’s Eve to Easter challenge yesterday morning with Higher Intensity Step. Cathe was right. I did not lose any strength in December. I did great with the same weights I was using in November (but the last few reps were super challenging). My chest is sore today too. I am planning to enjoy some of Cathe’s other lower body workouts during this challenge, but I am hoping to stick with the upper body workouts for the whole 12 weeks.
My workouts for this challenge focus on Cathe’s 4-Day Split with extra cardio and more endurance-based lower body workouts. My game plan for nutrition is about abundance, not deprivation. I am returning to a plant-based way of eating and blessing my body with 80 percent fruits, veggies, beans, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and hemp protein and keeping dairy, organic eggs, condiments, and fun foods to 20 percent of my intake. I believe eating 80 percent clean consistently will be better for me in the long run than eating 100 percent clean for a few weeks followed by a fit of rebellion! I am also eating when I am hungry (every 4 hours) until I am satisfied. Eating 4 times a day feels more natural to me than eating smaller amounts more often.
I shared in my last update that I am starting an 18-week team challenge in January. My church family is having a Biggest Loser challenge led by a guy who *almost* made the cast for the most recent season. He made it all the way to the final casting call and spent a week in California preparing for the show and learning about the fitness and nutrition plan. He was the last one cut before filming started. He returned to Texas and has been making the journey on his own. NBC’s loss is our gain! He is very inspiring and motivating, and I am looking forward to the support and encouragement a team will provide. Speaking of the Biggest Loser, a new season featuring couples starts tonight!
I faithfully recorded all my workouts on my Cathe calendar in 2007. I know what works for me. Cathe, Cathe, and more Cathe with a good balance of cardio and heavy weights! I kept a daily journal and posted monthly updates here. I discovered the way of eating that blesses my body. With a determined focus and the support of my friends and church family, I believe 2008 will be a transforming year for me! By the grace of God, 2008 will be a year of mastering moderation and bringing balance to every area of my life.
I am not planning to post monthly updates this year, but look for my 12-week challenge results on Easter and my Biggest Loser finale results around Mother’s Day! You may not read as many words from me this year, but you can expect to see results and pictures! Here’s to a happy and healthy 2008!
Thanks to all my Cathe friends for your support. I treasure the love and encouragement I receive here.
Blessings,
Heather B.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).
