[kfisherx]

I did both and found great value in doing them.

It was important learning for me to see that other folks could not really see their changes either and that the changes are so small month to month. We are all so brainwashed by these "Get Ript" ads or even Biggest Loser where people lose ridiculous amounts of fat in short times. This challenge really helped to put reality in perspective and helped to emphasize health over results. I honestly do not know of any other place that this happens.

I also got enourmous benefit from reading the mental process women (Wendy esp comes to mind) go through to accept their own bodies. I remember the day that I stood in a Hotel room in CA and came to love my own body. I never looked back! That is such a powerful moment and my wish is that everyone has this moment in their lives.

As a beginner to body recomp there was a lot of value to have the support of women doing similar things. We never accomplish anything great on our own so having all of you on "Team Karla" through this challenge was very inspirational. That said I always felt a bit out of place as I was (am) doing body recomp (cut and bulk) instead of general fitness or fat loss. I think that created a gap sometimes in my commuinications with people.

I will not be joining the next challenge. Now I feel pretty rock solidly on a path to my goal and I have an amazing team available to me to help me excel on that path. The bulk that I am currently doing is going so smoothly and I am exceeding all expectations for it. Being in the challenge takes a lot of time. That time is spent posting about the journey and taking pics and editing them and posting them, etc. It is a lot of time being absorbed in "me". This is appropriate as a challenge participant but it prevented me from being about to read so many other journeys. I feel as though my time now is better spent in supporting the girls who have a need for someone on their team. I have always respected Tina and others who do this so selfishly and hope to follow in their footsteps as I manage my own path.

I am greatly looking forward to the next challenge and this time I will get to follow along with many others!