Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Learning to Fight

Phew! Can I just say I don’t think I’ve squealed or jumped up and down as much as I did Sunday? Saturday after my test I called all friends who knew I was taking my certification test. However, because I kept the test on the down low there was about an additional 12 or so people from church that I had to tell that not only had I taken it but had passed. The common response was a scream followed by a huge hug and followed by jumping. I was wearing ballet flats that were a bit too big which made not looking awkward while jumping challenging.

I am so BLESSED by my church family. My mother had paid for my certification program. However, after failing with that particular program several times several church members paid to send me to the Cooper Institute in Dallas where I could have a week of in class teaching. They believed in me even when I did…when I was wondering if I had discerned God’s will for my life correctly. They told me it was all about God’s timing. I had come to a point where the mere thought of studying and taking that test again made me want to cry. Turns out they were right…more than they probably realize.

I’m not a stick with type of person. I don’t get stubburn and dig in my heals. My extra curricular activities consist of a verity of abandoned activities; softball, running, choir, theatre, volleyball. Even my school work…I’d settle with Cs because it was expected of me because I wasn’t school smart. Even when I didn’t want to study or take the stupid test again, deep down I wanted to be a personal trainer so bad. I had a rare drive for me. Along with my lack of stick-to-it-ness I’m an impatient person. I want something…I want it NOW.

I thing those were the lessons I was to learn. Growing up in the church you learn about God’s time, not your own…and you believe it. I guess when push come to shove I was wanting to be a personal trainer NOW. If I didn’t get it the first time…or first few times around then I wasn’t going to be persistent. For whatever reason the Lord wanted me to learn to fight for this…and to be patient. He had me learn to trust that I will discern correctly…and discern to continue the fight for His will. If that is what I had to go through to learn that then praise God. Maybe next time I will remember these lessons learned and trust sooner and full heartily.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Tales from the Weight Loss Road: Week 5

Happy Saturday! Are you having a relaxing day? IDK if relaxing is the word I'd use for my day I was up at 6am...eventful is a bit more accurate. I'll get to that in a bit.

I wasn't really on planning on posting today but I felt like this week has been the perfect example of a lesson learned on the WL road.

This pic is from my graduation pics. There isn't really anything special to tell you about it...other than its 10 months into my WLJ. With 10 months of being on WW you experience many challenges and struggles. For me I had to learn how to eat while working in youth ministry...yea I took a cooler and a bunch of food to deal with the fried camp food. You learn when it's best for you to get your workouts in...post school/work...forget trying to be me in the gym early in the morning. Or in the case of this week a lack of time to exercise and eat properly.

Week 5: Be prepared for "off" weeks!

The last couple of weeks have been stressful. I was suppose to take my PT test last Friday. However I got sick Thursday and moved it to this morning. So last week and this week have been test mode...i.e. every spare moment has been spent studying. Which has left little to no time for workouts or time to cook. My meals of consisted of what I could scrounge up, meals out (like last weekend where I worked a DNow and we ate out all weekend), and sodium packed frozen meals. Oh and the occasional "I'm out with friends...I'm stressed so I'm going to eat that big burger and side of fries." I think two lessons can really be learned in the last couple of weeks.

1. When you have off weeks be mentally prepared for the consequence. Know that you may not lose...or as in my case this more than likely...gain back a lb or two. It's ok. Life happens. You won't always be able to get workouts in because a huge project at work is coming up. The holidays hit and you find yourself at too many company parties. Does that mean every time a busy season of life comes you forget everything you've learned on your WLJ? No! I've had busy season on my journey where I have maintained or lost...but sometimes you do gain back. The key is to understand that, if you do gain, when things calm down it's time to hit the gym again. It's time to start skipping that bowl of pasta and Alfredo (yea I did that one last night). It's time to move on!

2. When things get rough food should not be the answer. I think we have all heard that one. Whether we do it ourselves or heard of people turning to food when they are stressed or depressed. I'm still struggling with that one. I'd still much rather turn to food than the one thing in life that can really give peace during the stress and joy during the gloom and that's Christ. When you've accepted Christ's free gift of salvation we can depend on Him for everything instead of trying to do it ourselves. I love Psalm 59:16 "But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble." I defiantly could have done a better of depending on God being my fortress and refuge this week.

Oh and by the way I PASSED my test this morning! I'm a certified personal trainer! Praise God!

The road is bumpy and sometimes you loop around but you will get there!

Belle

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Tales from the Weight Loss Road: Week 4

Hi ya! How's it going? Can I just say I'm a little bummed. It's absolutely disgusting outside. It's cold...it's rainy...and I run today. The two things separately I can handle...together Rachel doesn't do cold rain. I guess it will have to be the treadmill for me. Ok let's do this...

So this pic is my daddy and me, from my first ride I ever did. My dad had picked up riding a few years back and rode on his work team so he got me to join. Ok funny story time. I had signed up for the 23 mile ride, which there were two other people on the team riding that length. There was also 43, 88, 100 mile rides. Well we roll out and clearly I had trained a bit more. I pulled away within the first mile and decided just to do the ride by myself. I roll into our first pit stop, am looking at the map and realized I was deep into the 43 mile course! There was no point in turning around so I just kept on.

While on the ride I realized how much I enjoyed riding. I loved my spin classes. I loved the me, my bike, some tunes, and the open rode. I loved rolling into break points and being surrounded by the culture that is the biking world. After the race I got online and found my next ride. I was hooked.

Week 4: Find an activity you love!

I love my cycling but I have a really good friend who is a swimmer. She has the suit, the cap, and even a waterproof iPod contraption. Mr. DJ isn't a fan of the gym or working out the traditional way. He does love his intramural sports though. He is always playing whatever sport is in season.

Hopefully by this point you are down a few lbs. You've started to learn what to eat; you've braved the gym (or your hood). Now it's time to explore!

If you are a GYM dweller go to every class you can! Venture off the elliptical and find the most scary class on the schedule. I'm not kidding! That intimidating kickboxing class or spin class isn't as scary as you think. There will be at least another newbie in the class...someone else who doesn't know the moves. Find a GOOD strength training program and stick to it! Be BRAVE!

If you are HOMEBODY find a workout DVD. There is a whole world great DVDs no matter what your workout flavor is. There are strength, cardio, yoga, pilates, and kickbboxing DVDs...that are cheap, around $10. You can be just as BRAVE as the gym dwellers. Freeweights, bands, and mats are relatively inexpensive...search online or there are stores where you can buy used equipment...think Half Price Books of the fitness world.

I'd also encourage you to run a 5K or even a 23 mile ride. Who knew I'd fall in love with cycling if my dad hadn't encouraged me. Who knew that I'd look forward to my runs if I didn't have the goal to run a 5K at least once in my life. Find those sort of fitness goals and see what you are made of! BE BRAVE!

Belle

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Fat Girl Mentality

When you grow up overweight you start to believe things...that either you were told, were inferred, or past events have you believing. I've always believed that I am slow...at everything. When I played softball unless I wailed the ball to at least shortstop the chances of me getting to first were slim. I was never a fast runner...I was what is known in the running world...a plotter.

Last week I had a lightbulb moment. So my C25K app trackers your pace. After a typical run I looked at the my pace, this will be embarrassing, my pace was 11:51. I saw that and thought to myself I might as well be walking! My theory was always, you aren't a real runner save your energy to finish your run. But 11:51!?! Come on! So the following run I kicked it up and got my pace down to 10:11! In the running world that's a large chunk of time. Clearly something was wrong. The following time I ran...I just ran. Knowing to push myself but to be able to finish the run...9:25! That's a 2:25 difference!

It's hard to get over the thoughts that come with a life time of being fat. The March Issue of Runner's World has an article that sums it up.

"Mirrors are not to be believed. You stand in front of them, knowing that you can't trust yourself as an arbiter of truth, so you turn from side to side, thinking that maybe, if you snap your head around quickly enough, you can actually see yourself as others see you. It never works of course. You star and you turn, and wonder: Am I fat? 'If you've ever been fat, you will either be fat for the rest of you life or you will worry about being fat the rest of your life'" Peter Sagal A Thin Line