“Why not?” was the immediate thought in my head when Christa M. announced that Life Time was kicking off a new 60day Challenge. I knew I needed to do something different because I wasn’t seeing the results I wanted, despite consistently working out 4-6 days per week. Those inspirational 60day posters I’d seen around Life Time had also certainly piqued my curiosity.

I’m a 55-year-old woman with a pacemaker who has been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. And as if those obstacles weren’t enough to have to overcome, I also have had a hysterectomy, and because of my high risk for cancer, am unable to take any hormone replacement therapy. Yikes! It’s a well-documented fact that balanced hormones are critical to achieving a healthy body composition, right? Yet my body doesn’t have the hormones it needs to cooperate with my mind to reach my goals. I was frustrated and very close to giving up when I heard those words from Christa and decided to give it a shot.

When Christa and I sat down for my initial consultation, she asked me if I already had an idea of my goals. I quickly said, “Decrease body fat and increase muscle mass.” Then I told her about my health issues. After warmly chuckling with me about how I was not making her job any easier, she looked at me and said, “Angela, if you’re willing to put in the work, you will see results.” Those were the words I needed to hear, and I was 100% committed at that point. She then walked me through the customized workout schedule she wanted me to follow (a blend of weightlifting and cardio, six days per week), explained that heavy lifting was a necessary part of my fitness routine to achieve my goals, and helped me set my macro targets.

I devoured every piece of information Life Time shared about how the 60day program would work and couldn’t wait to get started! I downloaded the Life Time Training App and Meal Plan, reviewed the grocery list, and shopped for the items. I love to cook when I have time, but after a long day of work, the last thing I feel like doing is cooking a complicated meal. However, I was determined that I was going to stick with this plan no matter how much time it took.

During week one I was astonished to learn that the recipes in the meal plan are extremely easy, yet absolutely delicious! I was concerned that I was going to end up having to prepare two meals: one for me and one for my very-picky-eater husband. I was ecstatic that he loved the meals in the program just as much as I did. Another benefit of the meal plan was that it completely removed the burden of trying to come up with a menu every week. The work was done for me! Each week was filled with easy and tasty meals that we both enjoyed.

The Life Time Training App was tremendously easy to use and quickly became my built-in accountability. I love that it gave me my daily To-Do list, provided access to Christa when I had questions, scheduled my workouts and tracked my progress for each of them, and allowed me to cheer on others who were on this journey with me. When it comes to lifting weights, I had previously struggled with designing a workout of my own. For that reason, I had been doing cardio exclusively. Having my workouts prescribed was another worry off my shoulders.

At the close of this 60day Challenge, I am happy to report that I have lost 12 pounds, decreased my body fat by 5.9%, gained nearly 2 pounds of muscle, and my visceral fat level has gone from 14 to 11!  Progress!! That’s something I haven’t seen in quite a while!

I can honestly say I am at a place mentally where I have never been before and that I have the momentum to carry on. Counting macros is no longer an inconvenience; it’s just a focused way of life that requires very little effort. I’ve learned that healthy meals don’t have to take hours in the kitchen to prepare. I’ve learned that working out alone is insufficient and that hydration and sleep are also key elements to changing my body composition. I’m stronger – both physically and mentally, and I feel fantastic! I realize that my body needs a balance of strength conditioning and cardio to achieve my goals, and I now look forward to those weightlifting days. Thank you, Christa, and the rest of the 60day Challenge team for teaching me and providing these powerful tools.

Next week there won’t be the 60day accountability I’ve become accustomed to, but I will be alright. I’m ready to start all over at week 1 again on the Meal Plan and continue to build on the physical training I’ve been doing. Can I do this on my own? Absolutely, but you can bet I’ll be watching and listening for announcements about the next 60day Challenge. 😉  I may have a few “extra” hurdles that most people don’t have, but the reality is that each of us has our own unique challenges. If I can make this amount of progress in just 8 weeks, I’m convinced anyone can. Onward!