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.