One Foot, Two Foot, Red Foot, Blue Foot

One of the first things I noticed in New Zealand was that children were walking home in their school uniforms with bare feet. I thought, "Oh how sad, their uniform must have cost so much that their parents can't afford shoes." I swear to God, that's what I thought.

Then I noticed that adults were walking around bare footed too. They pumped gas without shoes then hopped in their car and drove off in their bare feet. They walked around in the grocery store bare foot. They walked down the street - yep you got it - with bare feet! I scowled and thought, "That is so hazardous! What if they step on glass?" or, "How unhygienic! I hope they wash their feet when they get home!" They probably don't and they probably don't care. It's a Kiwi thing.

Naturally, I went through the five stages of barefoot etiquette:

1. Disbelief
2. Disgust
3. Curiosity
4. Envy
5. Acceptance

Shoes are a hot topic around here. Kiwis don't think much of shoes in general. To a Kiwi, shoes are simply worn only if absolutely necessary, but gumboots are probably a better investment. Children love being bare footed and they don't seem to feel the cold. I still cringe when I see a child walking barefoot down the street in the middle of winter, but I admire their brawn. I know what most of you are thinking... because I thought it too... but the longer you live in New Zealand, the more likely you are to appreciate this superfluous attitude toward shoes.

Jandals are really the shoe of choice, and they are worn year round. New Zealand even has a National Jandal Day! Don't know what Jandals are? They are also known as flip flops or thongs in other countries... but in New Zealand they are unmistakably Jandals and they come in varying degrees of fanciness. You have the basic Havaianas type which are good for day wear and then there are "fancy" jandals which you can wear out in the evening. I love this concept but I really do enjoy wearing heels and I've missed them.


This was evident after purchasing 5 pairs of stilettos on my recent trip to the UK. It took my feet a while to adapt to being crammed practically upright like they were in ballerina point shoes all over again (my poor feet thought those days were long gone) but I persisted and endured the blisters and foot cramps that are just part of the vanity of wearing sexy shoes. There was a time I could run comfortably to catch a train in high heels and I'm determined to feel comfortable enough to wear them for more than 5 hours without needing to extract my feet from these torture vessels like they have been binded by Chinese people. I'm getting there but I need more practice, which means wearing the stilettos more often than just a few times a year. I need to make sure I wear them weekly at the very least.

So as much as I occasionally "envy" the comfort of fancy jandals, I refuse to succumb to them when I want a night out on the town - unless of course it's physically impossible to wear stilettos - ie. huge blister or God forbid a BUNION! (hmmmm, I wonder what would cause that?).

I've wanted a pair of red stilettos for a long long time. That was my mission - to find a pair of fabulous red stilettos in London. I believe that shoes are like soulmates; you have an idea of what you're looking for then you let them find you, and that's what happened! I found my beautiful soulmates in Camden Market and they were on sale! Double bonus.

I have no idea where I'll get a chance to wear them in New Zealand but I don't think these babies need a reason or an affair because they alone are the event. I'm going to go against the norm and be a total shoe rebel! I'm not convinced Kiwis will truly appreciate the exquisiteness of these shoes and they'll probably balk at the practicality or the "flashiness" of them, but I'm confident they will turn heads and I might even get some elucidation from women and possibly even shoe aficionado males (who have likely lived overseas or are gay) expressing an appreciation for my choice of footwear. Either that or some arsehole will think I'm a working girl and proposition me. Lucky for me, stilettos can be used as a weapon.

But the next day I'll be sure to go bare feet in true Kiwi fashion. I do love being bare foot, especially when I can get away with it in the middle of winter... and it's not because I can't afford shoes! But I'm not a bare footed fan to appease, rather, because I fancy foot freedom and expression.

Whole-some-ness turns Wicked for a while...

I've just returned home after 6 weeks of traveling around the UK with a side trip to Greece for a week. The objective of this trip was to catch up with friends and give my hands a bit of some much needed R&R as I've been working hard this year. Being a massage therapist is tough on the body and if I don't take time off I'll end up burning out or getting an RSI. So rather than think about how much money I lose if I stop working, I think about the experience I'll gain by getting out of my comfort zone and seeing the world!!

I still don't understand how people say, "How do you do it? I could NEVER afford to travel like you!" Anyone can do it. It comes down to priorities and of course how much you're willing to risk the life you have to experience a life you don't know exists. For most of us, the idea of walking away from our routine (or our jobs) is terrifying. Believe me, I know! I feel the fear and do it anyway. That's the rush!! I've done it so many times now that I've developed trust in the universe... trust in God... I trust that everything is going to be fine and the sky won't fall if I change my direction every once in a while. In fact, the sky expands and so does my mind. I've said it many times before - but traveling settles the restlessness in my soul and changes my perspective on life. I have to do it. It's as important as yoga.

Saying that, I didn't do any yoga on this trip - AT ALL. In fact I discovered a completely new side to myself! Being in the UK made me realize a few things...

#1. Once a shopping addict, always a shopping addict.

I really thought I had nipped this one in the bud... clearly not. In the 8 years I've lived in New Zealand, I have avoided massive shopping sprees. Once upon a time, shopping was my hobby. I was good at it. I knew where and when to find the best bargains and because I was shopping "smartly" I didn't ever see it as a problem. In an average week I could spend $500-600 on clothes, shoes, electronics and household items. I convinced myself that I needed these things. I was VERY generous, giving birthday gifts and baby gifts like it was my duty as a friend! I was earning good money at the time but I never had anything in the bank. Tut tut Tracy Pepper. Moving to New Zealand was the best thing I could've done. I got a LIFE and stopped shopping (and I had no money which helped). I no longer needed to fill the void of a meaningless existence on acquiring "stuff". I'm sorry friends, no more unnecessary prezzies for you! I'd rather give away massages or take you out for lunch. I hope that doesn't appear thoughtless.

But saying all that... I bought 9 pairs of shoes on this trip. Five of them are stilettos. But they were on sale. Cut a girl some slack.


2. I am not a disciplined Yogi... and I have a long way to go to get there!

I may do yoga every single day when I am in my comfortable routine here in Mount Maunganui and I eat healthily and drink modestly (probably less than modestly actually, perhaps one or two drinks a week on average). I live in yoga gear and wear sensible shoes. I sleep well and I really take care of my body. I really am the poster child for healthy living.... BUT... for 6 weeks I drank every day, ate unhealthy take-away food daily, wore stilettos and didn't do yoga once! Oh dear.

But you know, I had a GREAT time! It was fun letting loose and being a bit indulgent. I saw how the "other people" lived (and a glimpse of what my life might still be - if I lived in the "real world"). It made me realize just how boring constant discipline can be. Of course finding balance is key, which is why it's good to break free from routines every now and again.

While I was walking around London, wearing stilettos, looking for the perfect belt and necklace to go with my new shoes whilst eating a krispy creme donut, I caught a glimpse of my life in New Zealand from a fresh perspective. I really do live in this idyllic bubble - and I could see how unbelievable and almost "too perfect and too wholesome" it might look from the outside. It also made me really proud for creating this life for myself and have the ability to recognize how lucky I am to live this way. I choose to live healthily, with a dose of "wicked" every now and again for good measure.

#3. I have a lot of friends... like A LOT of them! And I'm making more and more of them as I get older.

I am not complaining here. In fact, I am damn proud to be able to say this with such conviction. There is no question that for whatever reason, I have this gift of being able to meet people and instantly connect to them. The older I get, the more I realize that this isn't the norm. I absolutely love people and I don't judge people based on their socioeconomic status, their skin colour, what they wear or where they live. For that reason, I'm completely open and I think people sense that about me (there are times when this isn't great - I've had to learn how to filter out the wackos, a skill I'm getting better at with age but occasionally one will slip through the filter). I can ride the train and smile at the person across from me and by the end of the journey we're exchanging info and promising to keep in touch - and I always do! I meet such interesting people this way and it has given me opportunities I wouldn't otherwise have had. Having so many friends allows me to travel to places I'd never see.

An example of this is Nina and James - a couple I met whilst on holiday in Greece. We played drinking games twice that week. By the end of the second night, they had invited me to stay with them in Nottingham and promised to be my tour guides. I took them up on their offer and a week later I was walking through Sherwood Forest with Nina while James cooked us the most delicious dinners. Honestly, seriously, how amazing is that? I am blessed beyond belief with the friendships I find. The only disadvantage is that I have a lot of people to keep in touch with and sometimes it's overwhelming.... especially when they all start having babies!!! I have to draw the line somewhere. There are times I feel like I'm a terrible friend because I can't keep track of everyone... but the true ones seem to like me anyway. Thanks guys. You all give me so much love and strength. I cherish you all!

In fact the main reason for this particular holiday was to spend some time with a very special friend. I met Naomi two years ago when she and her boyfriend Lee were looking for a place to settle for the last few months of their New Zealand tour. I was about to go away traveling for 4 months and was looking for someone to rent the house. They turned up three weeks before I was due to go (I had just about given up on finding anyone) and from the moment I met them, I knew they were meant to be. It was one of those instant connections I was talking about earlier - but this was stronger than most. You know how people talk about "love at first sight"? Well this was like that. And that feeling proved right. I know it might seem absolutely crazy and you might all think I'm insane for being so trusting - but what do you have if you can't trust your instincts? I left them in charge of everything and even put them on my car insurance and gave them the keys! I sit here now shaking my head in disbelief because I'm not crazy and I wouldn't just do that for anyone. There is something special about this "connection" and it goes deeper than just liking a person. I can't explain it completely but there is a soul connection here. If you believe in this sort of thing (or even if you don't) the whole purpose of life is to find this type of connection and when you find it, it's impossible to lose. It is one of the most comforting feelings because it's like coming home.

Even though 2 years have passed, time is endless. Our friendship is an odd one - there is a 13 year age gap - but that doesn't matter in the slightest. What we have is special and light and easy and free. All we do is laugh and laugh and laugh. I have to admit, hanging out with a 23 year old really made me put more of an effort into myself (she's gorgeous), which again wasn't a bad thing. I still look pretty damn good for a woman pushing 40 (okay in a few years... but I'm closer to 40 than I am to 30 - yikes!) but it's easy to get complacent and stop putting the effort in. I embraced the challenge! There was no way I was going to be an old lady! No way Jose! Nai recognizes me for who I am and she loves me. We have a lot in common which could explain why our bond is so strong. Regardless of why, it just is what it is and I hope it lasts an eternity. She is my family.

I had a great holiday. It was all about connection - to myself, to old friends and making new ones. Once again I was given a chance to appreciate my life and look forward to getting back into my "boring old routine" which I love and which makes me feel whole-some. But I've come back with a settled-ness in my soul, content in knowing that all I'm really missing out on is donuts, shopping and traffic jams.

Of course I also miss out on spending quality time with my overseas friends but as I said, true friendships don't need constant attention because of that "connection". Besides, in a world with facebook and skype, there's no need to be disconnected. When I'm lonesome, I can turn on my computer and there you all are. You're scattered around the globe anyway so no matter where I live, I'll always feel like I'm missing out on someone's life! So it's best that I live somewhere that makes me happy... and I can provide the ultimate holiday destination for any of you wanting a taste of paradise.

Fast and Dirty the CanTeen Way

Today 12 members of CanTeen from Tauranga and Rotorua spent the day riding motocross dirt bikes with Pure Dirt Tours out of Rotorua.

We arrived just before lunch and split into two groups - the girls and the boys (no experience vs. some experience). Lucky me, I got to ride with the boys! I've ridden a dirt bike only just a few times on the farm but never for any real length of time so I was excited to get more experience.

The guys at Pure Dirt Tours were absolutely fantastic! They were so chilled out and relaxed, they made it easy to feel at ease and confident on a bike. After a quick explanation of how to use the clutch and change gears and where the brakes were, they sent us off to just give it a try. There's a track to practice on until you get the hang of it while they watch to monitor your skill. When they think you're ready, they take us off into the hills for a ride and on up to some rougher terrain tracks. We had an absolute cracker of a day - perfect weather - and the tracks had just the right amount of mud to make it really fun! Getting filthy was the best part!

There were a few minor crashes and spills - one of the guys in my group lost control and drove straight into the barbed wire electric fence on his first lap! He didn't get hurt at all but the bike was pretty tangled up. Later, another one of the guys plowed into everyone knocking them over like bowling pins. Very amusing. Lucky for me, I was behind him.... and stayed out of his way after that!

The girls hadn't had much if any experience on bikes at all but they all picked it up very quickly. If they were scared you'd never know it (CanTeeners are a pretty fearless bunch anyway). It was really entertaining watching them go around the track learning how to change gears (they only really just got to second gear) - there were a few more spills and minor crashes but they were all having a grand time! The squeals of laughter could be heard echoing across the paddocks. Rachel, CanTeen's Member Support Co-ordinator fell off her bike numerous times. You need to work those biceps girl! It's really amazing we got away completely unscathed and didn't need to use the first aid kit even once. I'd say that's an accomplishment for a group of novice riders!

I discovered a new sport that I really enjoyed and would love to do again. I love anything to do with racing (I've said it before, I'm convinced it's in my blood) and I think that if I had tried this when I was younger, I might have gotten into motocross. This was cool fun! Totally envying farm kids right now. Lucky buggers, they get to ride dirt bikes all the time!

Check out this link to the video for Pure Dirt Tours.


After we warmed up with our practice laps on the track, they took us up into the hills for a ride through the paddocks and then onto some rougher terrain tracks. We didn't have a camera with us but the video will give you an idea of what that was like. Fantastic! I'd highly recommend this if you come to New Zealand. Another fantastic CanTeen event. What a day! I'm still buzzing.

I'd better get some sleep though. Tomorrow I have to get up early. I'm joining my friend in her helicopter to do a tour of White Island (the world's only active marine volcano) and Mount Tarawera. I love my life.

A Brand New Version Of The Old Me

It's been 14 weeks since I first signed on to do my first boot camp with Life Personal Fitness in Mount Maunganui. The camp is run by Luis Moresco and Dawn Kiddie. Have a look at what we did by clicking on VIEW VIDEO.

I was apprehensive at first because although I've been doing yoga almost daily for over a year, my fitness level was pretty low, particularly my cardio. I couldn't run non stop from my house to the gym across the road (about a hundred yards) without dying.

But the good thing was that just about everyone was in the same boat. There's something really good about training with people who are at the same level as you are - and I discovered my hidden competitive side. I didn't EVER want to be the last person in any challenge. So I pushed myself harder than I would if I was doing it on my own.

The first 5 weeks were definitely the hardest. We did a lot of burpees and press ups - which I really hated at first but now I have come to appreciate just how effective they are. I enjoyed the weight lifting portion of the boot camp but I really dreaded the running, particularly the long distance runs around the rugby field. I was always surprised when I would finish them without stopping (my competitive nature forced me to keep going so no one would pass me). I discovered that I was actually quite a good sprinter. I didn't mind the fast bursts but struggled with the endurance. It's great when you discover things about yourself you didn't know. I was changing the way I looked at fitness. I am a natural sprinter!

Halfway through boot camp I noticed a significant improvement in my cardio. I still dreaded the long distance runs but discovered that it was all in my head! I could do them but I talked myself out of it. So I started focusing on the person's feet in front of me creating a rhythm for me to follow - so long as I didn't fall behind, I would be okay (I also didn't want anyone catching up to me). It was a game I played to keep going. But once I lost focus or concentration, the negative thoughts would creep into my head and I'd start thinking about how much I hated running and I'd stop! It was so frustrating! But I was determined to keep trying and eventually I figured out that music was the answer, upbeat happy music.

But it wasn't all horrible. Luis and Dawn made the camps fun - they organized extra fitness opportunities to do on the weekends - whether it was an extra training session on the beach or a weekend away. We did one of the world's best top 10 day treks - the Tongariro Crossing - a 19km hike to the top of an active volcano. They say it takes about 8 hours - but we did it in 5 1/2. Challenging but what an experience! I would not have had the fitness to do it without boot camp.

At the end of 11 weeks we ran 9km along the beach - I did it in 46 minutes without stopping (thanks to my running tunes and my running partner Jo). I still can't believe it. I transformed my body from fat to fit. I lost 8% body fat, 4kg fat mass and gained 2kg of muscle mass. I finally got my waist back - losing a total of 11cm off my mid rift! I feel like I got rid of that horrible fat suit I was trapped in. When I started boot camp I didn't look fat, I was just soft and flabby. I didn't have much weight to lose, my goal was to tone and increase my cardio.

Now I just need to maintain what I achieved which is so much easier than starting back at the beginning. The other day I did a pump class at the gym with my work out buddy and running partner Jo. After the class neither of us were puffed or sweating profusely so we thought we hadn't pushed ourselves hard enough... but realized it's because we are actually really fit! We do a hard hill run every week and have increased the cardio classes at the gym. In a few weeks we're going to run another 10K and now I'm not really intimidated by it. I just might be tempted to do a triathlon next!

So if any of you out there are thinking about getting fit but don't know where to start, I can highly recommend trying a boot camp. You need to be disciplined, determined and focused on how great you will feel when it's all over but you'll never ever regret it. In three short months you can transform yourself - in the grand scheme of things, that's no time at all. An hour of exercise every day - that's it!

I haven't felt this good in a very long time. I'm fitter now than I was 10 years ago. Thank you Luis Moresco and Dawn Kiddie and Life Personal Fitness. Don't limit your challenge, challenge your limit!

My Mom - Brenda Temple

Last week on May 16th my mom celebrated her 65th birthday. Yes, I have two Taurus parents! I'm sure that explains a lot! Since I wrote a little story about my dad, I wanted to write one about my mom too. Happy Belated Birthday Mom!

Mother-daughter relationships are complicated. I didn't really appreciate my mom until I moved to the other side of the world and until I raised children. Then I truly realized how much sacrifice she made for us and what an amazing selfless heart she has.

My mom lost her own mother when she was 8 years old. It's a tragic story. My maternal grandmother - Ann Catherine Temple was only 38 when she died from a pulmonary embolism. She left behind a loving husband and three girls - my Auntie Maureen, my mother and my Auntie Debbie (my mom is on the right in that photo). My grandmother was giving the girls a bath when she suddenly felt ill and needed to lie down. She died before my grandfather got home from work - he was a doctor. Back in those days, adults thought it was best to shelter the children from death so they were told that their mother had gone to Florida and she wasn't coming home.

You can just imagine what that would do to someone. My mother was never allowed to ask about it and she never got closure. Only recently after our step-grandmother died did the truth start trickling out... 50 years of secrets and silence. But that's a whole other story!

She always had a twinkle in her eye, she was very smart and I know for a fact that she was always into trouble... she just flashed that smile and got away with it! My mom had brains and beauty, a dangerous combination. She clashed with her step mother who was quite tough on her step children and ruled the household with an iron fist. Her father disappeared into his work as a very busy doctor. He changed after Ann Catherine died. He rarely smiled and photos we found 50 years later prove that he was very much in love and a very different man. My rebellious mother didn't like rules and often danced to the beat of her own drum. Her upbringing would be considered upper class - the best education at a good Catholic boarding school but my mom was certainly no snob and didn't care for any of it. She just craved attention and love... it's no surprise she went running into the arms of a "bad boy" looking for a nice girl. I think she caused her parents as much grief as I caused her. (Karma eh mom?)

At the tender age of 16 she had fallen in love with a boy who was from the other side of the tracks and by 17 they were married (shotgun) and had my brother. By the time she was 22 she had 4 kids! They had a volatile relationship and split up after about 7 or 8 years together. Being "separated" in a predominantly Catholic neighbourhood was not common in those days, much less at the age of 24 with 4 kids. My mom was ostracized by most of the women in the community. She had a handful of friends but she mostly just kept to herself and raised her kids as a good Catholic mother would. She never asked her father for help, she was too proud. She taught herself how to fix cars - mainly out of necessity. She got an old Austin Mini and joined a racing club. That's when she met my dad.

My mom always told me that I was just meant to be. Like my dad, she also said that I was conceived out of pure love. That's why my middle name is Joy. Obviously I wasn't planned but I know that the relationship she had with my dad forever changed the way she looked at love. They really loved each other - but it just wasn't meant to be. They were just too different and it never would have worked. It's one of those love stories movies are made of. My mom dated here and there but she never loved anyone else like that again. I hope she doesn't mind me saying that because it's the truth. She never remarried.

When I got sick at the age of 10 with cancer, it was tough on my mom and it was very hard on our relationship. I was a pre-teen and she was trying to deal with it her own way. Things got complicated after that. Maybe she pushed people away, maybe she was just left to deal with things alone. I'm not sure. All I know is that it changed her and she went inside herself then. I felt like I lost her and I resented her for a long long time. That was also an opportunity for the women in the community to blame her for my illness. She was told I got sick because of her sin and this was God's punishment. She stopped going to church and has never gone back. Those must've been the loneliest years of her life. I'm so sorry you went through that mom.

My mom had a difficult time showing her love in physical ways. Now I know that this has a lot to do with the fact that she didn't get much affection as a child and from her failed relationships. I could never understand her love language. I'm more like my dad, who wears his heart on his sleeve. My mom was more reserved, cautious (she was broken inside). I don't think she ever believed she was loveable. But not that she wasn't loving - she sacrificed everything for us. It just took me a long time to realize it. My mom gave us the gift of independence and freedom. She allowed us to make our own choices - and let us suffer the consequences. She wasn't a doting, over protective parent. We had very few rules but we were just expected to be responsible. As a child I don't recall having to ask to do something because the answer was always yes, but it was up to me to figure out how to get there and how I'd get home. There were no rules for homework, we were just expected to do it independently and get good grades. My mom taught me the value of writing a really good letter when I wanted to voice my opinion. She encouraged us to be independent thinkers, and to fight for justice. She wasn't raising children to be part of main stream society. The Pepper family was always different, we were a little on the wild side. We earned our own pocket money by delivering newspapers, running a local lemonade stand, selling stuff that we made at craft fairs, I even used to choreograph dance shows and perform for people in the neighbourhood for coin donations. We were resourceful. I remember my oldest brother used to run a lending library from the hundreds of books and National Geographic Magazines we had - he would charge overdue fees! He taught me the value of a dollar.

Our mom was a great role model. She finished university and got her Honours Bachelor Degree in Psychology when I was 7 years old. She worked, never went on welfare and never ever let us know that she struggled financially. She was a very proud woman. She never had any financial support from our fathers but she did the best she could on her meager wage. We got hand-me-downs from the church and at Christmas I thought everyone got a basket of food! She loved Christmas - and in our household we never got anything (and I mean anything) until Christmas. She would wrap EVERYTHING individually so that it always seemed like we got so much. It was always "from Santa" - she didn't take any credit for any of it. She was always dressed nicely and there was always plenty of food to eat - even if it meant that she went without. She definitely knew how to stretch a meal. I can recall being a little girl and mom had made the most delicious pork chops - she could only afford to buy a certain amount. The boys always got the biggest ones and usually mom would split one with me. But I was still hungry and so mom let me eat whatever was on her plate. I polished it off and she didn't say a word. She went without supper that night. It certainly wasn't the only time that happened. No wonder she was so slim!

I never realized that was love. I thought it was her job, her duty as my mother. I'm ashamed I thought that way. I wish I had appreciated her more. I wish I had told her what a great job she had done. We've all turned out so well - because of the way she raised us. She managed to raise successful, independent, good people. We know how to manage our finances and we're all very responsible and we appreciate what we have. We all like each other too - rare. I know so many people who don't speak to their siblings or who are feuding over silly things. We are all very different personalities but when we get together we have lots of laughs. I have a great family. We have our flaws, nothing is perfect, but my siblings are cool people. The older we get, the more we value each other. Family is so important.

Our mom is one of a kind. She's eccentric and even a little nuts now that she's older. She cackles like a witch and she still has that mischievous twinkle in her eye. She drives me crazy but I love her to bits. As I said, the mother-daughter relationship is complicated. Thanks mom for loving me the way you have. You can't argue that I have grown up to be a pretty special person - because of you. I want you to know that I appreciate everything you've done and I understand you a lot better now that I'm grown up. You are so special and unique and there's no one else who has a mom like you. Lucky us. What would we ever do without you?

Boot Camp

I signed up for 10 week boot camp. I used to think people who did boot camp were absolutely crazy, but obviously my attitude has changed and here I am allowing myself to be yelled at and threatened with hundreds of burpees if I don't bend my knees during weight lifting or if I'm late (which will never happen).

So why have I signed up?

For most of my life I have been very slim, I could eat whatever I wanted and I never gained a pound. I was also very active, taking my fitness for granted. I rode my bike everywhere or walked or was paddling on a dragonboat regularly. I am naturally a small person with a small frame, a size 6. So when I started putting weight on after I hit menopause, I just haven't felt 100% comfortable in my skin. I'm not overweight and at first glance I look healthy and "normal" sized (sz 10) but I know that I'm carrying more fat than I should be. My body fat index is 34%. Too high. I should somewhere between 16-20%. Menopause slows down metabolism and because I no longer have ovaries, my body holds onto estrogen in fat cells. I am also prone to high blood pressure and the more weight I carry causes that to go up. My heart wins. The fat is going.

After just three weeks there are some very noticeable changes and I'm very pleased with the results. I'm also getting to know myself better through this challenge. I never thought I was competitive but I am a perfectionist (I knew that) so this experience proves to me that I need to do my best. I hate running or any cardio exercise but I hate being last even more so I'm determined to be in the top of the class. There's still 8 weeks to go (total of 11 weeks) and I'm excited to see the final results!

I am not going to post my before pictures. Nobody needs to see those... but I have posted photos of what I will look like at the end of this. The old me, the real me but better!