Fitness Friday: Encouragement

Its that time again! I'm linking up to Jen at A Daily Dose of Davis for Fitness Friday! 

If you would have told me 6 months ago that I would be participating in something called "Fitness Friday" I would have laughed at you.  Fitness has never been real important on my priority list.  I just figured, I've always been fat and probably always will be so I just need to accept it and embrace it.  Well, I'm here to tell you that's crap!  That is one of the worst excuses anyone can make and it was one that I used almost daily!  Yes I have always been overweight.  Yes I have tried to accept it and be comfortable in my own skin, but there comes a time when enough is enough.  I have been fortunate that even though I am obese I have managed to stay pretty healthy. All of my tests always come back great and I even had a Dr. tell me that my cholesterol level was shockingly good!  But, I can't keep telling myself that my body is ok.  I can't keep making excuses.  

So, I started changing my life.  I started slowly walking around the high school track in the evenings.  Then one day I pushed myself to run as fast as I could as far as I could.  I probably lasted about 10 seconds and went like 5 feet.....I don't know the exacts but I know it was sad.  I could barely breath, I thought I was going to die right there on that track.  But I was damn proud of myself for at least trying!  So from there I kept going.  I pushed myself more everyday. And soon I could feel myself getting stronger.  I knew that sooner or later I would get stronger and start to loose some weight and begin my journey to a healthier me BUT what I never really thought about was all of the encouragement that comes along with sharing the journey.  I have never felt so special and included and encouraged and that is what keeps me going!  My Operation LGN group is amazing!  They accepted me with open arms, they are there to let me know that I can do it when I feel ready to throw in the towel and they are just awesome!  I can honestly say that I love these ladies and they inspire me everyday! 

Speaking of inspiring people, I have never really thought of myself as being someones inspiration.  I have always just been me, never anything spectacular, never anything bad, just me.  Last night, I did my nightly check in with our group.  It went something like this: Tried Zumba Wii tonight...Ive got NO rhythm!  Here is one of the comments I recieved: Steph, I have fallen so far off the exercise wagon I can't even see it on the horizon anymore. YOU have been the only reason I haven't left the group all together (not that the rest of you aren't equally as wonderful!) I started walking again this week hoping to catch that wagon & hop back on. Your humble attitude and your amazing perseverance are truly an inspiration. Good for you!! and thanks for putting yourself out there!! 

I sat there speechless not knowing how to respond....  WOW!  To think that my story, that I almost didn't share by the way, can inspire someone is amazing!  

2 months ago I was the fat girl who made excuses and just dealt with the fact that I probably would always be the same.  Today I am overweight girl who is taking control of her life, changing herself inside and out and I guess inspiring others to do the same!  

When I took my "Before" picture I fully intended it to just be seen by myself and the ladies in Operation LGN.  I wasn't quite ready to put myself out there for the world to see just quite yet.  Well, because I'm a dork, instead of uploading it onto the fitness group wall I uploaded it onto my personal Facebook page wall!  My first instinct was "CRAP CRAP CRAP!!" Delete! Delete! Delete! Then my worst nightmare (at that time) came through....Notification....Someone commented on my picture... You got this, buddy!!, And then the next: You can do it!!!!  

Instead of people calling me fat, laughing at me, judging me, they were encouraging me!  They were all routing for me!  So I left it.  I figured, what the hell, people have already seen it so the damage is done.  That was on August 4th.  Since then I hadn't really thought about showing my progress on my wall.  I showed it on my blog and in our group so it didn't really occur to me that my friends on Facebook would want to see it.  So, yesterday I decided to post my recent progress picture.  39 "LIKES" and 24 "Comments"!!  WHAT!?! 

So I guess what I have been trying to say in this 30 page research paper is that Encouragement is key to keeping yourself on track!  To know that people are routing for me and waiting for my updates is what keeps me from eating that raw cookie dough and sitting on my butt all day and all night.  

 Thank You from the bottom of my heart to anyone who has ever shared an encouraging word with me.  I Love you all and I appreciate it more than you know! 

Until Next Time.....