Lessons learned.

Let me tell you, today I am sore.  There is not a part of my body that does not hurt in someway.  I worked hard last night.  I am not sorry I did it.  Did I love every minute of it? No! Did I feel better after I did it? ABSOLUTELY!!!

Since I have started on my journey to bring the sexy back, I have learned a couple of thing.  These are just my observations and truths.

1.   You have to start somewhere.  When I first started, I did not want to exercise at all.  I told myself that I could do it without doing anything harder than walking.  Wow, was I wrong!  Did I think that I would be doing Camp Gladiator?  Are you kidding me?  I never thought that I would be able to do it.  I was pushed into doing it.  I hated every minute of it, but you know what, I kept coming back for more.

2.  Patience is a virtue.  One thing that I have learned on this journey and from my "Food Nazi/ Wellness Coach" is that it takes time and patience to do it the right way.  I fully admit that I lack patience on many levels.  I am also very easily discouraged because I am very hard on myself.  I wanted instant results and to have lost 100 pounds by now.  I set unrealistic goals for myself.  I am not always perfect, but I am working on it and getting better.  I have come to realize that if it is worth doing, it is worth doing correctly and to the fullest.  If that means I have to wait a bit longer for my Adam Levine ready body, I will.

3.  You are only competing with yourself.  This was a BIGGIE for me.  When I started working out, I was with, and still am with, people who had been doing it longer, in much better shape and faster.  This can be disheartening.  Nobody likes to be the last one across the finish line.  It could feel like picking teams all over again and you are always the last one finished.  I hate the feeling of possibly letting someone in my group down because I am not as fast or strong as they are.  We do a great deal of running.  I am always the last one done.  Do people put me down because of it? Nope.  I have a cheering section that encourages me.  Some with even run with me and push me to make sure I don't give up.  I know we all have to start somewhere, so don't compare yourself to what they can do.  Compare yourself to what you did and have done better.

4.  Stay away from the negative.  I was put down a great deal growing up.  I was never good enough and would never be good enough.  It makes you not want to try, because you will certainly fail anyway.  It has taken me years to realize that the people who did that were hurting inside too, and the way that made them feel better was to make me feel bad.  I am sorry for them.  I am a pretty strong person to have come out the other side.  I put myself through college.  I went to school full time and worked full time.  I have friends who love and care for me.  I don't need the small people to make me feel bad about myself anymore.  I am a Child of God and therefore great no matter what you say.

5.   You have to have friends to support you.  Without my friends I would not have gone to CG, I would not have stayed with CG, and I would not have made the great group of friends I have now.  We can actually joke and laugh while exercising.  We cheer each other on, work as a team, and even come up with ways our trainer is trying to kill us.  When I am not with them, I miss them.  I want to give a big High Five and a CG Wut Wut to my girls, my food nazi, and yes my trainer.  Thanks for letting me lean on you and knowing that you are there.



Peace out peeps!  I have to go and take some motrin.  I am sore and loving every minute of it.

Happy, happy, happy

It has been a great week peeps.  I had to go to the doctor on Tuesday to have lab work done. Oh the joys of diabetes and high blood pressure.  Anyway when I got on the scale, not my favorite part, I got one of the greatest gifts I have ever gotten.  My weight hit 299 pounds.  This is the first time in 10 years I have been below 300 pounds.  I know to some people it may be like, big deal.  I also know to some people it is like well you are still heavy.  SO WHAT!  I own it and I am proud of it.

As I looked back this week on my accomplishment, I realized a major deal.  I am HAPPY!  I am not just talking about being happy with the weight loss, but in general I am happy.  I am not really sure that in my life I have been happy.  Oh I have had moments of happiness.  I have had great times with friends, family and at work.  I am talking about feeling happy in my soul for the first time in 40 years.  I saw a picture of me taken when I was no more than 6 and you can see the sadness in my eyes even at that age.

  Don't get me wrong I am still cute, but do I look happy?  I don't thing so.  Sad that at that young I was still not happy.

 

Since I have started on my journey to bring the sexy back, I have had to really sit back and think about my life and the choices that I have made that led me to where I am today.  Since I was so unhappy, I ate. I felt it was the only thing that I could control and it ended up controlling me. I woke up thinking about food.  I went to bed thinking about food.  I also used to carry food with me, just in case.

 

Now don't get me wrong, I still think about food.  It is different now though.  I am not controlled by it anymore.  Well not all the time at least.  I have learned to make healthier choices.  I love to exercise, although I am certain sometimes my trainer is trying to kill me.   I have tons more energy now and I can feel my insides changing. I am willing to go out and do things now instead of just holing myself up in the house.  I am also not willing to settle anymore in my relationships.  I am worth more than just settling.

 

Here is a song I have currently become obsessed with.  I guess it is my theme song.  I am happy and not going back. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM

 

 

 

 

Peace out peeps.  I got some happiness to deal with and I am getting ready for a mud run.                                                                                                                                                                                



"I can't put my arms down!"

Okay, I know it is not Christmas time any more, but it is still cold outside and I love this movie, so deal with it.

Sometimes as a fluffy person, I feel just like this.  I feel bloated, thick, hard to move and I can't put my arms down.  I noticed that since I have started my "bringing sexy back" journey, that my body is changing.  Take my arms for example:  They flap.  I noticed this in my classroom a couple of weeks ago.  I was in front of the class explaining something and I moved my arm.  I heard a strange flapping sound.  I moved my arm again and I heard the noise a second time.  What was the noise?  My arm fat flapping together.  OMG!  I was embarrassed and hoped my students did not hear it.

The strange thing about my arms is that the top part of the arms are getting some definition, dare I say it even muscles.  I guess they are all going to the top, because the bottom just flaps away like a sail.  I know that will not always be the case, but it is sadly true.

Now another body part that is giving my grief is my tummy.  My waist is getting smaller. My pants are feeling looser and I have had to go down in size.  But my tummy still sticks out too much for me.  Now I can do sit ups, straight legged sit ups I might add, without someone having to help me.  I feel a little bit like this.  My trainer, Carrie, is on the left and I am on the right.

We have tried to get her to walk around with treats for us, but alas it was a no go.  Now I know I am not a giant walrus.  Maybe more of an elephant seal, but I also know I am going to get there some day and I will be sleek like a seal.


Don't let the little things get you down is one thing that I have learned this past week.  I did not get to keep my 6 week resolution, but I now know how to fix it.  I am going to be back at being the best Gladiator and seal I can be this week.  Just look out for the flapping arms, they can be dangerous.

Peace out Peeps, I have some flying lessons to attend.