Another Journey Nears Completion...

Me again. Another day, another blog post.

Today, tomorrow and Friday morning are parent teacher conferences at my school. I had the opportunity to meet with a parent tonight and give her news about her child's progress. I love to do that. It is so easy to get caught up in the drudgery of the day-to-day and the paperwork and forget to celebrate the progress.

Tonight also gave me a chance to work more on my action research paper. In another week I will be getting ready for my last VMI weekend. One more trip to Burlington, two more nights at La Quinta, one more day of classes, one last symposium and another journey will be almost completed. The completion of my VMI experience will be graduation on Saturday, May 18, but let's face it, after next weekend VMI will be over. That is incredibly bittersweet.

I have met so many different people in my cohort. Every one of them has taught me something. Some of the things I learned were lessons I could have lived without, but I can carry these lessons forward with me. I have met people I hope never to lose touch with and people I know will always be part of my life going forward. So many memories and experiences packed into 3 years it is truly hard to explain.

Another journey that is nowhere near complete is my fitness journey. This morning I had my measurements done. I will share those numbers, you know I will. I have worked darn hard for every pound, percent and inch that are no longer with me.

If you're reading this thinking you can't do what I've done of course you can. I started this journey hating exercise and convinced I would never be able to control my emotional eating. It's sixteen months later and I cannot imagine a day without exercise. Controlling the emotional eating is harder, but it is doable and when I slip up I get up, brush myself off and plunge forward. Anyone can do what I have done: anyone.

All right, on to the numbers:

Weight: 244 pounds
Body Fat Percentage: 29.8 %
Hips: 48 inches
Waist: 38 inches
Thigh: 26.75 inches
Arm: 13.25 inches

Now the running total:
Weight: -49 pounds
Body Fat Percentage: -8.1%
Hips: -6.75 inches
Waist: -6 inches
Thigh: -1 inch
Arm: -1.25 inches
Total inches lost: 15 inches

Now a little more research report writing, 15 pages and counting. Did I mention that I LOVE to write? After that I think I might just dust off my resume, write a cover letter, a handwritten note and take a step toward making another dream reality. Not sure I'm ready for that step or should be ready for that step, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Thanks for reading!