Cheekbones and Clavicles – Medifast Week 7: Working at the end of my comfort zone

I have been writing this post for three days. I have put the pictures in, taken the pictures out, put them in, taken them out. Before I decide to take them out again I am hitting publish.

So this is it. Me at 7 weeks on Medifast and minus 12 lbs sitting squarely at 145. I am who I am.

Rather than focus on the panic attack I might have and the 50,000 flaws I could point out in those photos, I am going to celebrate the fact that I don’t have a muffin top anymore. There is no belly hanging over those tight ELASTIC pants. There is a space between my arms an my belly. My clavicles are starting to appear. I don’t look seven months pregnant. I have the beginnings of muscle definition in my shoulders and biceps and traps and shoulder blades.

Weight loss is about working out of your comfort zone. Pushing past the pain.

Rather than focusing on staying in my comfort zone I’ve been focusing on pushing myself outside of it and focusing on the goal. Kickboxing. Zumba. Yoga. Posting my weight last week. Posting photos this month.

Here’s another thing I’ve done that I’m sort of ashamed of, but I think probably most, if not all, of you can relate to this. I’m hiding behind my own bad self body image. It’s comfortable there. So… I just started Zumba and I chose a 24Hour Fitness location that I know for a fact doesn’t have windows across the whole workout room so that I’m 1. only looking a fool to the people IN the room and 2. I really couldn’t stand for anyone to have to watch me from behind. Honest.

But on Monday night the gym I have been going to had a late class time and the other location had an early time. I made the decision to go. Not only was this going to be a new teacher, new routine, new other people working out, this gym has windows across the entire room! Holy crap, I was waaaaaaay out of my comfort zone, but I pushed myself through it and I did the class.

And I fumbled terribly because the teacher took a poll to see who was new. I was the only new person so she said since it was only one person she wasn’t going to do any step by step moves, she was just going to do the routine. WTF!?

But, I did it and look! I’m still here. I did the class, I burned my calories THAT was the goal.

I have had to pull back on the kickboxing class temporarily because I did something to my shoulder/neck which have me in four weeks of physical therapy. It also put me on a 5-day dose of steroids which can cause weight gain. Really, such a short dose shouldn’t have too much of an effect, but I had to consider it.

I talked it over with Jennifer, my Medifast Nutritionist, and she also assured me that such a short dose shouldn’t have much of an effect. Sometimes just hearing someone else say what you are already thinking is all you need. I just needed to hear it from someone else because apparently, I don’t trust myself.

At the end of her e-mail she said, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” Trust yourself enough to live on the edge of it.

That stuck with me and I am now working at the end of my comfort zone. Every single day I push myself harder and farther, just passed the end of my comfort zone. And it isn’t even necessarily physical because it is mostly dealing with negative self talk and learning to trust my own voice again.

How are you pushing your comfort zone?

Follow my progress here:

Getting started
Week 1: -2 lbs
Week 2: 0 lbs
Week 3: -3 lbs
Week 4: -2 lbs
Month 1: -7 lbs
Week 5: -2 lbs
Week 6: – 3 lbs
Week 7: 0 lbs
7 week total: -12 lbs

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For your first order of $250+, use my code, and enroll in Medifast Advantage to receive 28 free meals. Do the same on your next order and you’ll receive ANOTHER 28 free meals! This offer is only valid if you enroll in Medifast Advantage, and it’s limited to one per customer. It’s not valid with prior purchases, any other promotions or discounts, or for Medifast Ready-to-Drink Shakes. Check out Medifast’s website for complete details on program and discounts.

Disclosure: I receive free product in order to evaluate and comment on my experiences on the Medifast Program. Medifast products and the Medifast Program are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness. Any medical improvements noted while on the program are related to weight loss in general, and not to Medifast products or programs.

Check out how some of the other Medifast bloggers have done!

The Turnip Farmer
Couponing to Disney
A Grande Life
O My Family
The Domestic Buzz
A Very Busy Mama
Gaithersburg-Rockville Macaroni Kid
Real Mom Media
Two Frugal Mommas
Unemployed Mom (maintaining since April ’12)
Jenni from the Blog (maintaining since summer ’11)
The Adventures of Goober Grape and Monkey Man (maintaining since April ’11)