Ending Dulce Essay

And at the end of the challenge, we were required to submit another essay on our experience during the challenge, what we learned, how we felt, etc...

"I am a Weight Watchers drop-out. Wanna know why? Because they wanted me to weigh 110 lbs. and didn't really care how I did it. They pushed their pre-packaged garbage and low fat this and high carb that, all of it loaded with sugar and things I couldn't pronounce with any semblance of know-how. And at some point I decided that it was all a load of crap. I didn't know where to go or what to do, but this was not healthy. And I knew that there was more to fitness than sitting in a meeting and listening to someone rattle on about how many clicks they got on their pedometer last week.

At the beginning of this challenge I broke up with my scale. I was tired of it being a source of anxiety and I was tired of giving it permission to rule my thoughts and dictate my self-image. Do you know how freeing that has been? To tell this flat, inanimate object without a personality that it has no power over me anymore?

I came into this challenge knowing that I don't lose weight. My weight shifts or I gain muscle but pounds do not just drop off of me. And throwing out the scale has helped me not to dwell on this aspect. It was during this challenge that I realized something incredible. I no longer think of weight in terms of my body...I now think of it in terms of how much I can lift.

I'm getting to the point where I am accepting of the size of my clothes. You might even say I'm happy. I'm smaller than when I first started the Ducle Vida Challenge. And I actually see muscles now where I couldn't before. I might even have an ab or two. I can lift heavier and endure longer. And I can see the potential I have in making it onto the leader board at some point in the near future.

Since making the jump into Paleo and then CrossFit, and then upping the ante and going strict Paleo, I feel better than I have in years. I no longer have the constant back pain, headaches and joint pain that someone in their early 30's should not have. This challenge has reminded me of what clean eating can do. Clean up the inside and the outside follows suit.

I have never been motivated by money. "Winning" this challenge would be nice. But I already won something even better than cold, hard cash. And I would be lying if I said that I could hold back the tears in realizing that what I really wanted actually happened. I found that girl. The "Now I want to be her, only better" girl.... And I am.

110 lbs... I will NEVER weigh 110 lbs. But I'm pretty damn close to lifting it over my head. And you know what else? I may have lost those 5 long years. But I'm not willing to give up one more day."


I did not win the challenge. Well, I did not win the money is what I should say. Because in a way, I did win. I won something more valuable. I discovered the joy of living my own life again. I found that I actually enjoy competition. And in sharing my thoughts and feelings and struggles here, I found that it's okay to let people in and to let them get close to me.

Welcome to my crazy. Hope you'll visit often. :)

Huge congratulations to Lance!!! I am truly happy for you. Thank you for your example, but thank you most of all for your service. Proud to know you, sir!