I came out of RPM this afternoon, and went to the locker room to get my stuff so I could come home. My lock wouldn't unlock. I tried everything, but nothing worked, so I go out to desk:
Me: Y'all have a bolt cutter somewhere, my lock won't open.
Phil: Yeah, I think there is one behind my door. (he goes to get it)
Blake (looks at Chance, then at me): You're gonna need a dude to cut that off for you.
Me: Naw...I've got this.
Chance: You sure? I mean, I know you're tough....(Phil is back with bolt cutters, and hands them to me)
Chance: Try it, if you can't get it come back out and we'll get it for you.
(walk to locker room carrying bolt cutters...getting strange looks)
(walk back out of locker room carrying bolt cutters...slap cut lock on desk)
Me: I don't need no stinkin' dude!
(challenge accepted!)
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
CXWorks
The gym is offering a new class called CXWorks. It is 30 minutes of intense core training: crunches and planks. They launched the class a couple of weeks ago, but I wanted to wait to try it until the "newness" wore off some. I bit the bullet last night. Lisa (the woman that trains with me when I'm with Kevin) was wanting to try it, and asked me to do it with her. By now you probably know me well enough to know that I can't say no to working out with a friend. WOW was it intense! I never knew 30 minutes could seem like a lifetime.
I woke up this morning as was surprise that I wasn't sore. Shelley and I were running a little late for our AM workout, so I ended up doing the interval treadmill instead of my planned BodyCombat. While on the treadmill, I got a little tinge in my inner thighs. Ok, so maybe I was a little sore. As the day progressed, the soreness got worse. By lunch, my thighs and butt were screaming at me. I make it through the day, and head to the gym to meet Lisa for RPM. She was telling me that her abs were sore. I told her about the problems I was having with my thighs and butt, but I wasn't really sore in my abs. Told her that maybe my abs were sore, but I hadn't noticed because my thighs hurt too much. Well, I was right. Over dinner tonight I started feeling my lower abs. Tomorrow could be interesting.
I woke up this morning as was surprise that I wasn't sore. Shelley and I were running a little late for our AM workout, so I ended up doing the interval treadmill instead of my planned BodyCombat. While on the treadmill, I got a little tinge in my inner thighs. Ok, so maybe I was a little sore. As the day progressed, the soreness got worse. By lunch, my thighs and butt were screaming at me. I make it through the day, and head to the gym to meet Lisa for RPM. She was telling me that her abs were sore. I told her about the problems I was having with my thighs and butt, but I wasn't really sore in my abs. Told her that maybe my abs were sore, but I hadn't noticed because my thighs hurt too much. Well, I was right. Over dinner tonight I started feeling my lower abs. Tomorrow could be interesting.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Hispanic Life
I finally got a post-able copy of the article they did about me in Hispanic Life. I was honored that they asked me to do it, and had a lot of fun with it.
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Thursday, January 24, 2013
Bite Me
When I first started this journey, I decided I couldn't do things half way. I had to be willing to try anything, even if it scared me. The first class I jumped into was RPM (biking class). I wasn't excited about it. Exercise bikes and me typically don't get along very well because I like to coast too much when I'm on a bike. Coasting is kinda pointless when you are trying to workout. I had also heard it was one of the more intense classes (speed peddling, STANDING and peddling), one of the higher calorie burners. When I filled out my profile for the gym, it was the only class I put down as "not interested in AT ALL". Guess which class Bria recommended? Guess which class Shelley wanted to try? Sigh....I was stuck!
Arrived to the class early because the first time you take RPM, they want to have time to show you how to set up your bike to fit your body. There were two instructors on the stage that day. Brian (very bouncy) comes over to help Shelley and I. He was sweet, thorough, and over hyper/over happy. The last thing he does is tighten the straps on my feet, looks at us as says "And above all else, HAVE FUN!" And then, bounces away. I look at my feet. I look at Shelley and say "He tied me to my bike!" Shelley says, "You can't get away now!" Looking at my feet again, "I may have to chew my own foot off. The only problem is now I can't reach it!"
Fifteen minutes into the workout, I'm dying! Don't laugh. If you have never taken an RPM class, you don't understand. The other instructor calls out from the stage, "How are my new ladies in the back doing?" I swear, the only thought that crossed my mind was, "Lady, you better be glad I can't breathe right now, because if I could I would yell: Bite Me!!!!!!" Later Shelley and I decided I needed a sign for those moments. Think Wile E. Coyote holding little sign on a stick. A few days later I saw that Joe's Crab Shack sells a shirt with the phrase. I decided that I needed that shirt to workout in. My friend Lisa bought it for me for my birthday this year. Now I don't have to yell...the shirt says it all.
Arrived to the class early because the first time you take RPM, they want to have time to show you how to set up your bike to fit your body. There were two instructors on the stage that day. Brian (very bouncy) comes over to help Shelley and I. He was sweet, thorough, and over hyper/over happy. The last thing he does is tighten the straps on my feet, looks at us as says "And above all else, HAVE FUN!" And then, bounces away. I look at my feet. I look at Shelley and say "He tied me to my bike!" Shelley says, "You can't get away now!" Looking at my feet again, "I may have to chew my own foot off. The only problem is now I can't reach it!"
Fifteen minutes into the workout, I'm dying! Don't laugh. If you have never taken an RPM class, you don't understand. The other instructor calls out from the stage, "How are my new ladies in the back doing?" I swear, the only thought that crossed my mind was, "Lady, you better be glad I can't breathe right now, because if I could I would yell: Bite Me!!!!!!" Later Shelley and I decided I needed a sign for those moments. Think Wile E. Coyote holding little sign on a stick. A few days later I saw that Joe's Crab Shack sells a shirt with the phrase. I decided that I needed that shirt to workout in. My friend Lisa bought it for me for my birthday this year. Now I don't have to yell...the shirt says it all.
Check up
I had my regular appointment with my doctor last Wednesday. He came into the room almost speechless. Looked at me with his mouth moving, but nothing coming out. I started laughing. Finally he says, "What CAN I say? Good job? Keep it up? You are doing amazing!" It set the tone for the whole visit.
I had told him at my last appointment that I had set my sights on becoming insulin free (I was already having to reduce my dosages). He agreed that if I kept up the good work that it was possible. If I got my dosage low enough, he would switch me over to an oral medication instead. For a short time, I would take both while the oral built up in my system. I then told him that I eventually wanted to be taken off the oral also. His reply? "THAT is an awfully big goal."
Three months later, I'm in his office. My blood work has improved...not perfect yet, but much better. I've reduced my insulin dosage considerably. I have lost 24 pounds by his scale. He is beside himself. Not only does he put me on oral medication for my diabetes, he takes me totally off the insulin without the adjustment overlap. Then HE brings up the idea that I may one day be totally off the oral medication also.
They say diabetes is an epidemic. They say it is incurable. I say there is hope. If I can turn this thing around, so can you!
I had told him at my last appointment that I had set my sights on becoming insulin free (I was already having to reduce my dosages). He agreed that if I kept up the good work that it was possible. If I got my dosage low enough, he would switch me over to an oral medication instead. For a short time, I would take both while the oral built up in my system. I then told him that I eventually wanted to be taken off the oral also. His reply? "THAT is an awfully big goal."
Three months later, I'm in his office. My blood work has improved...not perfect yet, but much better. I've reduced my insulin dosage considerably. I have lost 24 pounds by his scale. He is beside himself. Not only does he put me on oral medication for my diabetes, he takes me totally off the insulin without the adjustment overlap. Then HE brings up the idea that I may one day be totally off the oral medication also.
They say diabetes is an epidemic. They say it is incurable. I say there is hope. If I can turn this thing around, so can you!
I passed the test!!!
Today was the test. After one of the most stressful weeks, it was time for weigh measure. I know from past experience that I tend to gain weight when I'm stressed. I once lost about 40 pounds just by quitting a job that I hated. I was a little worried about this week. I went in thinking "Please, just let me have maintained...I don't want to GAIN!" I lost 1.8 lbs, not my target of 4 lbs (2 per week), but all things considered, I'll take it. I lost 0.2 of an inch to my waist. Again, not what I would have liked, but Kevin says the body loses in different places at different times. This just wasn't a "waist" week. To almost prove that point, I lost 2.65% body fat. How can I be anything but ecstatic about that? If I can do this during such a hard week, I know there is no stopping me!
Sunday, January 20, 2013
I THINK I'M HAVING STRESS!!!!
WOW!!! What a week. My husband came down with a rare auto immune disease and ended up in the hospital for 5 days. I was stressed to my limits, almost to the point of breaking. I talk about getting healthier being a life style change, and this is where the rubber meets the road. When you are thrown a curve ball, what do you do?
Between work and staying with my husband in the hospital, I didn't get to the gym as often as I usually do. My early morning workouts were abandoned to get some much needed sleep. When I missed the first one, I told Chance that I was being a bum. He gave me permission to be a bit of a bum though. I still went every after noon. It was good stress relief. I threw myself into classes to take my mind off of things, or I spent time on the treadmill praying about them.
While the workouts helped with the stress, once again my support team went above and beyond to encourage me. From offers to bring me food, to taking the time to ask about him, to the many hugs I received (Bridget did NOT climb over the counter to give me a hug - I didn't see anything, you have no proof), they really helped hold me together when I felt like I was shaking apart. I already owe them a life time debt, yet they just keep pouring into me. Words are not enough to express my gratitude.
This Thursday is my next weigh/measure day. I almost feel like it is a test. Will I still lose when my game is thrown off, when life has kept me from giving it my all? I will find out soon enough. No matter what the results are, I will keep fighting, and I know I have people that will be with me every step of the way.
Between work and staying with my husband in the hospital, I didn't get to the gym as often as I usually do. My early morning workouts were abandoned to get some much needed sleep. When I missed the first one, I told Chance that I was being a bum. He gave me permission to be a bit of a bum though. I still went every after noon. It was good stress relief. I threw myself into classes to take my mind off of things, or I spent time on the treadmill praying about them.
While the workouts helped with the stress, once again my support team went above and beyond to encourage me. From offers to bring me food, to taking the time to ask about him, to the many hugs I received (Bridget did NOT climb over the counter to give me a hug - I didn't see anything, you have no proof), they really helped hold me together when I felt like I was shaking apart. I already owe them a life time debt, yet they just keep pouring into me. Words are not enough to express my gratitude.
This Thursday is my next weigh/measure day. I almost feel like it is a test. Will I still lose when my game is thrown off, when life has kept me from giving it my all? I will find out soon enough. No matter what the results are, I will keep fighting, and I know I have people that will be with me every step of the way.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Good Week
I had a really good week this week. Coming off being out sick, I was worried about losing momentum. I took it easy the first couple of days back, but then I got an invitation to work out with Kevin and Andrew. How could I pass that up? When I arrived at the workout, I discovered that Andrew was training a small group of us that included Kevin, Holly (another of my gym peeps), and another guy that I had never met. It was one of my hardest workouts yet, but I had a blast. Andrew impressed me by keeping up with all four of us doing something different. It was also a nice change to work side-by-side with Kevin, see him struggle and sweat the way he makes me struggle and sweat. Not that I had time to enjoy it, I was too busy trying to breathe. Holly and I have been in the same class before, but being in a class with someone when there are 20 of you, and being in a training session with them and there are only four is totally different. You get to see what the other person is made of, and Holly is tough.
Shelley and I changed out early morning routine up this week. She is having some problems with an old shoulder injury that makes BodyPump difficult for her. Instead of doing Monday, Wednesday, Friday (BodyPump, BodyFlow, BodyPump), we did Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (BodyCombat, treadmill, RPM). I'm so proud of her! She made it through BodyCombat without hitting herself in the face. Something that took me a couple of times to do.
Work was difficult the last part of the week. Wednesday, I really wanted to hit something when I went to the gym. Unfortunately, there was no BodyCombat that day. I asked Andrew if he would help me out and let me hit him. "NO! I see you hit Kevin, and you hit too hard. NO!" I laughed and called him a wuss. It was ok. The next day was Thursday, and Thursday is Kevin-day. Always pushing me farther, Kevin took me outside for part of my session. There is a free standing heavy boxing bag out by the basketball court. Not only did I get to throw some punches, I got to do some kicks. I'm not a violent person by nature, but I am really enjoying this fight training. I think Kevin has created a monster.
I ended the week by joining a friend for BodyVive, a class that uses resistance bands and balls as part of the workout. I had taken the class ONCE before at the beginning of my time at the gym. I remembered that the purple bands were less resistance than the black ones. I was really in the mood to push myself so I grabbed a set of black bands and walked into the class. Several women in the class came up to me and suggested that I do the purple bands instead. They were just trying to be helpful, so I smiled and said, "No, I'll be ok. I'm strong." They wouldn't let it go, so to make them happy I grabbed a purple set and put them on the floor behind me in case the black set "became too much for me". I didn't touch them the whole class. I guess I showed them!
Shelley and I changed out early morning routine up this week. She is having some problems with an old shoulder injury that makes BodyPump difficult for her. Instead of doing Monday, Wednesday, Friday (BodyPump, BodyFlow, BodyPump), we did Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (BodyCombat, treadmill, RPM). I'm so proud of her! She made it through BodyCombat without hitting herself in the face. Something that took me a couple of times to do.
Work was difficult the last part of the week. Wednesday, I really wanted to hit something when I went to the gym. Unfortunately, there was no BodyCombat that day. I asked Andrew if he would help me out and let me hit him. "NO! I see you hit Kevin, and you hit too hard. NO!" I laughed and called him a wuss. It was ok. The next day was Thursday, and Thursday is Kevin-day. Always pushing me farther, Kevin took me outside for part of my session. There is a free standing heavy boxing bag out by the basketball court. Not only did I get to throw some punches, I got to do some kicks. I'm not a violent person by nature, but I am really enjoying this fight training. I think Kevin has created a monster.
I ended the week by joining a friend for BodyVive, a class that uses resistance bands and balls as part of the workout. I had taken the class ONCE before at the beginning of my time at the gym. I remembered that the purple bands were less resistance than the black ones. I was really in the mood to push myself so I grabbed a set of black bands and walked into the class. Several women in the class came up to me and suggested that I do the purple bands instead. They were just trying to be helpful, so I smiled and said, "No, I'll be ok. I'm strong." They wouldn't let it go, so to make them happy I grabbed a purple set and put them on the floor behind me in case the black set "became too much for me". I didn't touch them the whole class. I guess I showed them!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Nervous but not stressing
Tomorrow is my weigh measure day with Kevin. Little nervous about it. I'm coming off the creeping crud that I had over the holidays. It meant there was a whole week in which I couldn't workout (Yes, Chance, I'm addicted enough that I'm upset by that even though I couldn't breathe). While feeling like eating is good for weight loss, staying in bed is not good for losing body fat. Once I got my appetite back, I think I put some of the weight back on. Think I will probably still have a loss in that stat, but not as big as I was hoping for. The other stats??..who knows. Like I said, I'm a little nervous, but not stressing. This is part of life...and this whole thing is a life journey.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Showing Off
I have discovered that I really enjoy showing off. Sometimes it is a good thing, other times it isn't.
The photo shoot back in October for the gym's mail out advertisement was the first chance I got to really show off for my team. It was a lot of fun! At that point, Kevin was the only one that had really worked with me on a regular basis. Chance and Bria had worked with me once or twice, but even that has been a month back. Phil, on the other hand, had never seen me work at all. Kevin would tell me what form he wanted me to do, and as I would settle into the pose, I would hear one of them say to another, "Wow! She's flexible!" or "That's so cool!" It was VERY encouraging. I just this week got to do another photo shoot. This time for a local magazine, Hispanic Life. I discovered then that I get a kick out of shocking people. Due to my current size/weight, people sometimes make certain assumptions about what I can and can't do. It was the same kind of scenario, Kevin would tell me the form, I would make it happen. This time, I would hear the photographer gasp in shock. I would then have to hold the pose for a bit because he would be staring, forgetting to take the picture for a minute. It was very amusing.
Sometimes, showing off can cause me to push myself a little too far. BodyPump is a weight training class. They do not want you doing it everyday, because your muscles need to recover some after the class. On Fridays, I tend to do BodyPump twice a day, once before work and then again after. On the advice of one of the instructors, I usually do lower weight in the second class. Well, that is when I'm being smart and not showing off. The other day, some friends joined me in my afternoon BodyPump. I had set up with the lower weight when one asked me "It's my first time for this class. How much weight do YOU use?" Sigh...it was on then. I upped it back to my full weight, and even tried to add a little more during the bicep track. Yeah, about that....I strained my biceps and felt it for a couple of days afterward.
I got another chance just this past Friday. As you know, I've been sick the past week. I am back to work and the gym, but have really been trying to listen to my body and take it easy. That went out the window on Friday when Kevin asked me if I wanted to play with him and Andrew. How could I pass that up??? I show up for the workout and discover that it is Andrew training Kevin, Holly, another guy, and me. So much for taking it easy. I was in a whole other league and had to push harder than I have up to this point. My lungs were burning by the end, and I am still a little sore two days later, but I HAD A BLAST!
Chance says we are going to work out together soon. (I think everyone is wanting to play with the new toy). I know I will probably kill myself that day too. Try as I might, I can't pass up the chance to show off. So if you ever want to see me work extra hard, come down to the health club and join me for a class. Tell me you are there to work out with me, and I will be sure to try my best to show off for you.
The photo shoot back in October for the gym's mail out advertisement was the first chance I got to really show off for my team. It was a lot of fun! At that point, Kevin was the only one that had really worked with me on a regular basis. Chance and Bria had worked with me once or twice, but even that has been a month back. Phil, on the other hand, had never seen me work at all. Kevin would tell me what form he wanted me to do, and as I would settle into the pose, I would hear one of them say to another, "Wow! She's flexible!" or "That's so cool!" It was VERY encouraging. I just this week got to do another photo shoot. This time for a local magazine, Hispanic Life. I discovered then that I get a kick out of shocking people. Due to my current size/weight, people sometimes make certain assumptions about what I can and can't do. It was the same kind of scenario, Kevin would tell me the form, I would make it happen. This time, I would hear the photographer gasp in shock. I would then have to hold the pose for a bit because he would be staring, forgetting to take the picture for a minute. It was very amusing.
Sometimes, showing off can cause me to push myself a little too far. BodyPump is a weight training class. They do not want you doing it everyday, because your muscles need to recover some after the class. On Fridays, I tend to do BodyPump twice a day, once before work and then again after. On the advice of one of the instructors, I usually do lower weight in the second class. Well, that is when I'm being smart and not showing off. The other day, some friends joined me in my afternoon BodyPump. I had set up with the lower weight when one asked me "It's my first time for this class. How much weight do YOU use?" Sigh...it was on then. I upped it back to my full weight, and even tried to add a little more during the bicep track. Yeah, about that....I strained my biceps and felt it for a couple of days afterward.
I got another chance just this past Friday. As you know, I've been sick the past week. I am back to work and the gym, but have really been trying to listen to my body and take it easy. That went out the window on Friday when Kevin asked me if I wanted to play with him and Andrew. How could I pass that up??? I show up for the workout and discover that it is Andrew training Kevin, Holly, another guy, and me. So much for taking it easy. I was in a whole other league and had to push harder than I have up to this point. My lungs were burning by the end, and I am still a little sore two days later, but I HAD A BLAST!
Chance says we are going to work out together soon. (I think everyone is wanting to play with the new toy). I know I will probably kill myself that day too. Try as I might, I can't pass up the chance to show off. So if you ever want to see me work extra hard, come down to the health club and join me for a class. Tell me you are there to work out with me, and I will be sure to try my best to show off for you.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Brainwashed&Broken
A friend asked me where I got the title for my blog, and it made me realize that I should probably explain it. As many thing are, it is a running joke at the gym. (If I ran as much as the jokes did, I would be getting in shape much faster)
When I first started working with Kevin, I was e-mailing him everything I ate in a day. After a couple of weeks he sent me an e-mail that said, "Great job! So that you don't feel like a robot, allow yourself one unhealthy item this week. " Of course my reply was "CAKE!!" (see previous post). My husband delivers newspapers. I help him on Sundays because that is the hardest day of the week. Before I started trying to get healthy, Dustin and I would stop at a convenience store for burritos and a large coke. My new diet had put a stop to that. I was excited. I now had permission to do something unhealthy. I was gonna save this freebie for the paper route. I waited all week, counting down the days, much like someone looking forward to seeing an old friend. Sunday came, three o'clock in the morning, and I'm standing in the convenience store looking for an unhealthy option. Sigh, nothing unhealthy sounded remotely good. I ended up with juice, jerky, and cheese. Monday morning I sent Kevin an e-mail, "YOU BROKE ME!!!!"
A few days later, I had just gotten off work (I work on the third floor) and was headed to the gym. I suddenly realized that I was walking out of the stairwell. I had taken the stairs instead of the elevator. That in itself is a good thing, but the fact that I had done it without even realizing/thinking about it was the weird part. When I walked into the gym, I looked at Chance, pointed at my own face and said, "Brainwashed!"
From that point on, I started signing my e-mails and some of my Facebook posts "Brainwashed&Broken". When the time came to name my blog, I was the natural choice.
CAKE!!!!!
One of my hobbies is decorating cakes. Honestly, I'm more of a pie person, but I took up the hobby so we didn't have to buy a cake for every celebration. As it turns out, I'm pretty good at it.
When I first started seeing results from working out at the gym (this was even before I started working with Kevin), I sent Bria an e-mail that said "I lost 2 pounds over the past few days!!!! I need to celebrate....with CAKE!" I was just joking, but that one joke took a life of it's own. Anytime something good happened, no matter how small, I started asking Kevin, "NOW can I have cake??"
It is important to set long term goals when you are trying to make changes in your life. It is equally as important to set smaller goals. Ones that you can gauge your progress with. When you reach these goals, it is important to celebrate and reward yourself for all your hard work. My first short term goal was to get under 200 pounds. As the day was approaching, Kevin asked me how I was going to celebrate. Without missing a beat, I said, "With CAKE!" He laughed and said, "At that point, you will deserve it!"
So here is my "200 No More" cake. Double fudge chocolate cake with hot fudge filling and chocolate butter cream frosting. I made it, and took it to the gym with me. First of all, because my team needed to celebrate with me. They were the ones who got me there. And secondly, because I only needed a small piece. I didn't need a whole cake sitting in my refrigerator tempting me. It was fun, and it was good. Now to decide what to do at 175.
When I first started seeing results from working out at the gym (this was even before I started working with Kevin), I sent Bria an e-mail that said "I lost 2 pounds over the past few days!!!! I need to celebrate....with CAKE!" I was just joking, but that one joke took a life of it's own. Anytime something good happened, no matter how small, I started asking Kevin, "NOW can I have cake??"
It is important to set long term goals when you are trying to make changes in your life. It is equally as important to set smaller goals. Ones that you can gauge your progress with. When you reach these goals, it is important to celebrate and reward yourself for all your hard work. My first short term goal was to get under 200 pounds. As the day was approaching, Kevin asked me how I was going to celebrate. Without missing a beat, I said, "With CAKE!" He laughed and said, "At that point, you will deserve it!"
So here is my "200 No More" cake. Double fudge chocolate cake with hot fudge filling and chocolate butter cream frosting. I made it, and took it to the gym with me. First of all, because my team needed to celebrate with me. They were the ones who got me there. And secondly, because I only needed a small piece. I didn't need a whole cake sitting in my refrigerator tempting me. It was fun, and it was good. Now to decide what to do at 175.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy New Year
As I look back on 2012, I see many changes to my life. I have been richly blessed! First and foremost that I serve a loving God that daily strengthens me and equips me for any battle that has to be faced. Secondly for my ever present husband, Dustin, who is my rock, my shield mate. With him, I never fight alone. Beyond these two, I have an ever widening net of family and friends, all of which have supported and encouraged me in the past year. The blessings I have received in the past year would not have been possible with out each one of you! I remember standing on the brink of 2012, with my heart full of dreams and hope. I never imagined myself getting to where I am today, and I have a pretty good imagination. Thank you all. Every word of encouragement...every "you go"..every "you can do this"...has been a jewel that I have held to my heart and cherished.
To my gym peeps, you may get tired of hearing it from me, but I will always be grateful to you.
-Kevin, my trainer, my friend, you once offered to "be mean" for me if that is what I needed a trainer to be. I would never change a thing about you. You are exactly the kind of trainer I need. I trust you with my whole heart. Your faith in me gives me the courage to step off the cliff and soar.
-Chance, how do I put into words what you have become for me? In a lot of ways, you are the little brother I never had. There are times when we are talking, that you say or do something and I think, "yep, he would fit in just fine with my other brothers". Thank you for the times you argued with me when I was freaking out. You weren't telling me anything I didn't already know, I just needed to hear it from someone else. Let your passion guide you for there are great things for you to accomplish.
-Blake, God has given me another brother, but try as I might, I can't see you as a little brother. You are an old soul, a wise warrior. You, without saying a word, make me feel safe and protected. If I were to fall on my face, you would pick me back up while we laughed about it. But at the same time, I feel like anyone else would have to face you if THEY laughed at me. There are days that you don't have to say a word, just seeing your smile does my heart good.
-Steve, my smoothie supplier. I take great encouragement from out morning talks over an Elvis smoothie. You know the battles I face on a personal level. You have been there. I am so proud of you and the changes that you have made in you life. It inspires me to make the changes needed in mine. Thank you for being the open book that you are.
There are so many others. Bria and Phil, who are always taking a few minutes out of their busy day to just chat with me and celebrate with me each milestone. Bridget who is new and is taking time to get to know me (don't believe everything you hear). Andrew, who is ALWAYS trash talking with me now (one day I will get you into the Pilates Studio and we will see who is talking trash THEN). Christa, Crystal, Madison, Melody, Seth, Molly and Sarah, all instructors that have made the classes fun in spite of the pain.
Now I stand on the brink of 2013, again with my heart full of hopes and dreams. As I link arms with all the people God has brought into my life, and step off the cliff of 2012 into the unknown of 2013, I do so with excitement.
To my gym peeps, you may get tired of hearing it from me, but I will always be grateful to you.
-Kevin, my trainer, my friend, you once offered to "be mean" for me if that is what I needed a trainer to be. I would never change a thing about you. You are exactly the kind of trainer I need. I trust you with my whole heart. Your faith in me gives me the courage to step off the cliff and soar.
-Chance, how do I put into words what you have become for me? In a lot of ways, you are the little brother I never had. There are times when we are talking, that you say or do something and I think, "yep, he would fit in just fine with my other brothers". Thank you for the times you argued with me when I was freaking out. You weren't telling me anything I didn't already know, I just needed to hear it from someone else. Let your passion guide you for there are great things for you to accomplish.
-Blake, God has given me another brother, but try as I might, I can't see you as a little brother. You are an old soul, a wise warrior. You, without saying a word, make me feel safe and protected. If I were to fall on my face, you would pick me back up while we laughed about it. But at the same time, I feel like anyone else would have to face you if THEY laughed at me. There are days that you don't have to say a word, just seeing your smile does my heart good.
-Steve, my smoothie supplier. I take great encouragement from out morning talks over an Elvis smoothie. You know the battles I face on a personal level. You have been there. I am so proud of you and the changes that you have made in you life. It inspires me to make the changes needed in mine. Thank you for being the open book that you are.
There are so many others. Bria and Phil, who are always taking a few minutes out of their busy day to just chat with me and celebrate with me each milestone. Bridget who is new and is taking time to get to know me (don't believe everything you hear). Andrew, who is ALWAYS trash talking with me now (one day I will get you into the Pilates Studio and we will see who is talking trash THEN). Christa, Crystal, Madison, Melody, Seth, Molly and Sarah, all instructors that have made the classes fun in spite of the pain.
Now I stand on the brink of 2013, again with my heart full of hopes and dreams. As I link arms with all the people God has brought into my life, and step off the cliff of 2012 into the unknown of 2013, I do so with excitement.
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