Ten weeks later and no longer pregnant (looking)

Ten weeks ago I was able to pull off an almost perfect party trick that I liked to refer to as the "non-pregnant pregnant lady."

With a quick exhale and a slight arch in my back I looked legitimately six months along in carrying what appeared to be a "very healthy" child (probably a boy, I decided). What a difference two and a half months make because right now it's looking like I have to score a new gimmick.

Not only does it take quite a bit of bending backwards and an obscene amount of huffing to get my tummy to look like what it once did, it's almost impossible to achieve! My friends, I may just have…ABS!!! And don't even get me started on the two inches (!!!) I lost on my thighs!

In two and a half months I have accomplished more than I thought would have been possible before embarking on this "quest." While maintaining full-time status in school, participating in a service learning project, working as a tutor twice a week and generally just trying to keep it together while looking for employment (which, by the way, anyone? Anything?), I completed the program and couldn't be any more shocked and elated.

When we first started I thought that perhaps I may be the one to not finish. A negative thought, yes, but I truly imagined I would continuously sleep through the 6:00am (okay, who are we kidding, 6:30am) alarm clock and eventually would run out of excuses.

Once the first few weeks went by and I started seeing results, however, it all changed. I became more motivated than I had been in regards to something aside from school in a long time. When the first signs of my taut tummy started to peak through, right around when Portland looked like it was actually having nice weather, I knew that I had to keep going.

I did not want to become a victim of "one step forward, two steps back" and tried as best as I could to make it to the suggested classes outside of our normal Monday's and Friday's.

I owe a lot of this support to our trainer, Catherine and awesome Head Honcho of the landing, Deanna. Without the two of them I would not have had the opportunity I did or the structure I needed.

I realize I can be a difficult person at times, especially at 7:00am after I had only gone to bed at 2:00am. Not stubborn, necessarily, but often set in my ways, it can take a bit before I am comfortable to admit I see it from a different perspective. Both Catherine and Deanna were amazing when dealing with not only myself but with my teammates.

And without my teammates there wouldn't have been a group of "Questers!" They are one of the biggest reasons I dragged myself out from under the covers on Monday and Friday mornings. I knew that if they could take the time from their busy lives to show up then there was no reason I couldn't, either.

I want t hem all to know how proud I am of each of us and that I've never had more fun feeling like I was going to vomit while doing Cardio Pilates with Jeff and Jon and Shannon. If any of you ever need a Kettlebell partner, or even just someone to vent to (or at!) I'm not more than an email away.

I also want to acknowledge the gift that Miss Kate from Head Games was able to bestow on me. On Monday I was able to participate in the makeover portion of my Quest. I will tell you now # if you have super thick, curly, troll-dollish hair you need to not walk, not skip, not rollerblade (well, don't do that anyway), but RUN RUN RUN to Head Games and book your appointment with Kate ASAP.

Never before have I left a salon in tears of joy. When I told her I wanted something "short" but not an "unintentional afro" like most of the styles I usually leave with, she knew exactly what to do. It's been three days and I still can't get over how awesome my hair looks. So, thanks to Kate and also Alanna for this amazing experience.

Overall there's so much I could say about these past ten weeks. I actually had written this blog earlier but the email monsters ate it so this is my second attempt and I really want to make it right. I just feel very lucky and grateful to have been able to participate in all of the classes that were offered (I took cardio pilates, svaroopa yoga, gyrokinesis, mat pilates, LifeBreath, and I currently still take kettlebell, my new obsession) and to receive all the services that I did (massage, reiki, pedicure, manicure, hair cut and color, micro-current facial). I am one lucky lucky girl.

Aside from the physical changes that have taken place, I've completely changed my mental outlook on life as well. While I still tend to be a pessimist and can have a self-defeatist attitude, I am trying hard every day to see things from other, more positive perspectives. The most important thing I've learned is to not let myself think so far ahead that I've forgotten to live in the moment.

I try to focus on the present as much as possible and be grateful that I am in the here and now. A quote I found recently that I absolutely adore and think applies pretty well to this whole Quest goes like this: "Child, break your heart no longer. Every time you judge yourself, you break your own heart" - Swami Kripalu

I hope that those who have read this blog have enjoyed it, whether you laughed with, or at me, or even felt a slight twinge of motivation; it was as much for you as it was for me. Also, if you have any new party-tricks I may be able to latch on to, let me know. I'm thinking maybe Abs of Steel?