EXL 8 week body fat loss competition

Last year my older sister and I did a 6 week body-fat loss competition at an amazing gym in Orem called EXL Fitness. With two other women on our team, we took 1st place. Click here to read my post from last year's competition: http://ciaomomilla.blogspot.com/2013/01/6-week-body-transformation-challenge.html

Since I loved participatin so much last year, I couldn't help but sign up for round two with enthusiasm! I felt so great, and I will say that after those 6 weeks of hell, I looked fantastic. I shed a few pounds of fat, and leaned up like crazy.

My sister is an amazing example of one who has an incredible will-power.

This was our team last year, who did amazing. We won the competition, and I loved the way I felt at the end of the 6 weeks, and I developed a few lasting good habits of nutrition and exercise.

 This time, the competition is two weeks longer, and we are only a team of two :) People call us the "tough twins"--and yes, someone asked who was older the other day. I was in complete shock!!! Could I possibly be mistaken for 35?

The picture below is the night we had our first weigh in--and yes, we are in matching Lulu sweatshirts. This competition also entails a judging on "before & after" pictures. We took those last week, and I'm doing everything I can to have some smokin' after shots ;) We are in it to win it. $1000/each will be ours.

I love the "Three Principles of Power" too:

1. FOCUS

2. CORRECT RESOURCES

3. MASSIVE ACTION

Aren't these awesome? I really do love stuff that pushes me both physically AND mentally. We wake up at 5 AM 3X/week, and get pushed to our body's limits by excellent trainers. Matt and Kyle are both supportive and motivating. I love that sometimes I absolutely hate them by the end of certain workouts ;) No pain no gain, right?

Here are the basic principles of the competition (which I love)

 1. Correct Mentality

2. Correct Nutrition

3. Correct Nutrition

 4. Correct Body Function

5. Correct Accountability

Let me just expound on my favorites for a bit...

Correct Mentality

Isn't so much of anything MENTAL? I am convinced that the reason I was able to finish a marathon, was because I was mentally tough, and prepared. I believe that the key to excelling at any given task requires a fierce mental commitment to it.

Correct Nutrition

As they say, "Abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym." 'Nuff said. It is one of the hardest things ever at this stage in life, to be disciplined when it comes to what we eat. Eating is far more a "social activity/event", then something we do out of sheer "need" or "survival"--I want to focus on only eating when I am actually hungry--listening more to my body. On that same note, only eating until I feel "satisfied," rather than "full." And yes, there is a difference!!

Correct Body Function

Correct Accountability

You have to sign up for each session you attend, thus; you are accountable for every time you work out. I love that we have to be accountable, it increases your motivation that much more.

Everyone needs to take control of their health in one way or another. For me, it's a great opportunity to push myself, and not allow myself to ever plateau. It's hard for me to keep in tip-top shape, if I don't have something I'm working towards. I love that I have a sister who I can do things like this with. It's so much fun (well, "fun" is a relative term...but it's worth the pain, to look and feel great).