As a young girl, I read The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and loved it so much I re-read it many times as an adult. There is a timeless truth about discovering and rescuing a neglected garden. If you aren’t familiar with the story, let me recommend it. But in the meantime, let me say that I’m taking liberty to apply that timeless truth to myself and my e84 Challenge.

Arriving at this point of hope and inspiration resulted from a somewhat disheartening start to my evening. First, I’d not yet registered online for the e84 challenge, denying myself the ability to win $10,000 in prizes (which as I’ve already said isn’t the point of my challenge.) In addition to posting a “before” photo, the registration requires measurements and targeted goals of losing inches. Really? I’d been feeling pretty good, as you know, about my accomplishments this first week. I had a feeling this would end badly.

You guessed it. I’m the neglected garden. As I wrote down my measurements (chest, waist, hips) I realized the magnitude of my challenge. I had so much to overcome. These last few years, the most positive step I’d taken was working on dressing to flatter my figure, or at least hide it somewhat. Since the birth of my son, I’d gone up two sizes. Even though I’d hovered around the same weight for a few years now, my target suddenly seemed to be a tiny dot in the distance. So far away. Practically unattainable. How had I let myself go this far?

Who did I think I was kidding?

I know. That doesn’t even sound like me.

Taking my own advice, I thought of my small waist and feel-able hip bones. The black bikini. How good I’ll feel. And slowly I rose back to the path I want to take.

Back to the book – I hope there’s enough foreshadowing in the story that it’s not too much of a plot spoiler to say that in the end, the garden is reclaimed and nurtured back to its former glory. Maybe even better. Also a gardener, I tend to see processes and issues as garden-related. One thing a gardener knows about is patience. So I remind myself that even though I wish things had been different over these last fifteen years, and how sorry I am that I let myself gain this much weight, increase two sizes, not to mention increasing my measurements, I’m sticking with my plan because I’m going to reclaim and nurture myself back to my former glory. Maybe even better.

Today is another day under my belt making progress toward my goal. I’m adding an overall reduction of seventeen (count them) inches to my goal. Yes, that’s even in the chest! Just because. And you’ve got to start somewhere. More to the point, you’ve got to start.

P.S. If you are interested in joining me, contact Joe Manzanares: www.drinkevolvtoday.com or 303-923-8061. You can do your own e84 challenge, have the chance to win $10,000 in prizes or at least get your products free.

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