Cheers!

This was my husband’s idea of support during the Plan:

But to be fair, this was also:

He didn’t do the Plan with me, and that’s for the best. I don’t like being nagged, and if he’d cheated, I would have too. But he did listen when I whined about how hungry I was, how much I hated my last post, how I didn’t have time to meditate. I’m pretty sure he’s glad it’s almost over, despite the Plan’s extra credit cardio options. We’ll see how he feels after he starts getting 600-word emails from me next week, detailing my latest misadventures in yoga and where I am on my spiritual journey.

I, on the other hand, reach the end of the month feeling amazed by how much I have learned, proud of what I’ve accomplished, and deeply, deeply grateful for this opportunity. I absolutely never would have gone as far with the Plan were it not for this blog, and I would not have shared so much of my life in these posts were it not for this community. You encouraged me, you turned posts into conversations, and most of all, you shared your stories, suggestions, and hopes. I apologize for not having the “netiquette” to tell you all the times your comments cheered me on and made me wish we could go grab a coffee green tea together.

So thank you, all of you. And thank you, Terri and Amanda, for including me in this wonderful experiment. You wouldn’t need a spa blogger, by chance? To Leah, Caroline, and Sarah Rose, I cannot express how much you inspired me and how much I have enjoyed watching this adventure unfold from each of our perspectives. You are such talented writers, and I followed your lead more times than you know.

What will I take away from this month? Somewhere along the way, I regained a more intimate connection with food. I’d stopped cooking years ago when my schedule became more and more oppressive, and on the road it was one hotel meal after another. Then I got married and learned that my husband’s tastes and mine didn’t much overlap, and then the subset of things my kids would eat was even smaller. Really, it’s starch covered with cheese. That’s it. Grocery shopping became a question of “what did we run out of,” and meals became, “what can I make with what we have,” and suddenly we’re buying the same 10 items at Costco and eating them over and over again. I’d really lost all sense of food as an adventure, as the musical accompaniment to life.

Now, four weeks later, I can feel and taste the interplay and effects of each ingredient, and meals are once more a true delight that engages all the senses — plates that are visually sumptuous, aromas tantalizing the tongue, the voluptuousness of texture and temperature. I enjoy cooking again; it’s empowering.

Best of all, my body wants to make healthy choices. It’s telling me now that pizza or hamburgers are really not worth feeling like a mile of bad road the next day. The primitive part of my brain isn’t completely there yet — it still stalks chocolate and french fries like they’re small woodland animals — but as long as I stay well-rested, centered, and prepared, I’m not giving in without a fight.

Physically I feel stronger, thinner, and I crave long walks, even in the snow. I broke through an exercise plateau (4 miles) that I could not have on my own. Plus I never would have watched Martha pole-dance. Her commitment is awesome. It really put all my complaining about strength training in perspective.

And different from any other diet, as I look ahead, I am more energized and confident, because this time I have so many more tools to stay on course or get back on track. The Plan has actually expanded my food choices, made me explore more kinds of movement. And it helps knowing I can come back here for encouragement (and more quinoa recipes!)

My heartfelt best wishes and congratulations to everyone.