Monica Malone-Craig
PROGRAM
2024 NEW YEAR PERFORMANCE CHALLENGE: 2ND PLACE WINNER
“When I signed up for this challenge, I was so exited to dive right in. Then I got the dreaded email from work that I would be heading to Orlando for about 4 days in the very first week of January, i.e. the first week of this challenge. I was so bummed, thinking I would lose the initial traction of the challenge because this trip would allow me minimal time to workout and very little control of the food options as it is all buffet style eating. Coach Amanda helped set me up for success on the nutrition side with some really great ideas for navigating the options I would have, as well as, things to bring to be prepared with last ditch options. I was able to squeeze in a couple workouts. All in all, I was proud of myself for making good food choices and getting some movement. I would say I felt minimal setback.
Historically, whenever I sensed a setback I would have allowed it to derail me for weeks at a time then REALLY find myself back at square one. As this challenge went on it got easier to minimize this feeling, and I got past the small setbacks without major stress or defeat. Life will always be life-ing….and I gotta control what I can.
What I realized during this 12 weeks is that there are always going to be some kind of circumstances that will leave room for minor setbacks, but it is how you manage it and move on. And I definitely had my fair share of minor setbacks during these 12 weeks from dealing with a nagging foot injury that forced me to modify a lot of workouts so I did not make things worse (my issues are actually improving and I am back to running which is great!). I also had a climbing trip in the White mountains and a Spring Break trip with a couple families to Turks and Caicos. Again, I was able to minimize and overcome potential setbacks. Even though the families I was with may have shamed me for my healthy choices…including using a rock for weight training…LOL. (See included video). Fuck ‘em, I had a blast doing sprints on the beach, burpees in the sand and lifting rocks for weights.
Coach Amanda has been great at helping me find small changes in my eating habits that have netted big returns for me. These are also changes that will be easy to continue. I also learned so much from the BIN podcast and the info in the BIN app. I know I lost inches and pounds, but I feel so much better. The scale may not have moved that much, but I am excited about the muscle I added and muscle definition that is starting.
I have accomplished A LOT of things in my life (big races, events, climbs, adventures, etc). However, the past several years have thrown many things at with with work and home life that my exercise routine has been mostly hap hazard. I work out, it just has no real rhyme or reason. This is the longest streak with a solid workout and diet routine I have done in 5 years. I loved having the workout laid out for me so I could stay on task each week although I may have had to move them around. I was forced to workout on different days and at different times, but most of them happened. Was I perfect?? Far from it, I just knew I had to keep moving forward and not let the setbacks completely stop my progress.
I am just a middle aged working mom trying to be the best example she can for her 14 year old daughter. I want her to know you can do it all…be successful, accomplish big send’s (objectives) and look and feel good while doing it! She told everyone in her school gym I deadlifted 285# today. LOL
TLDR: I am seeing baby abs and muscle tone I haven’t seen in years and it feels soooo good! I have built lifestyle and nutrition habits that are sustainable and I am excited to continue with Coach Amanda and Coach Krissy to see where I go from here! I have some big send’s coming in the next couple years and I am not looking back now!
Thank you Coach Amanda, Coach Krissy, and the BIN community…ya’ll the real heroes!!!”