Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Spring Time Brings New Life
Although this year's spring weather has been as moody as I tend to be, the fact that it is actually spring automatically gives everyone a little extra bounce in their step. The days are longer and warmer. The dogs start getting longer walks and the children are outside on their bikes.
There is definitely something about spring. I don't know if it was from growing up Catholic, but I always view Spring as a time of Rebirth. Of course Easter is a holiday celebrating Rising from the dead, but the whole season is filled with that imagery, from trees getting leaves, birds returning to chirping, flowers blooming and, here in the south, we are covered in pollen.
Ten months ago I was convinced by my trainer and friend, Espo, to try Pad Work as a method of exercising. For the next four months I learned to love it and became better everyday. Six months ago I committed to it as a lifestyle and not just something I did for an hour a couple of days a week.
For the past 6 months, I remained committed. I decided to dedicate 6 months to living without alcohol, carbohydrates and workout excuses.
Sure, I've had my stumbles. I have definitely had my cheat days. I'm not going to say that it was easy or that I did it perfectly. I've had a glass of wine here or there. I've indulged in a Peep or Slice of Pizza. However, what I did differently this time was to not beat myself up every time I stumbled slightly. It is amazing how it is my natural reaction to give in to the smallest of failures.
I remember one morning telling Espo that I had messed everything up because I couldn't sleep the night before, I ate some cookies at 1 am and then accidentally slept thru my morning workout. I was devastated. I felt like I had thrown the whole 6 months down the drain. When he just laughed and said, "OK. You will eat healthy today and get in a workout later. It's not the end of the world," I just stopped. It was such a simple and truthful answer. So much so that I didn't comprehend it at first. Should I have eaten cookies at 1 AM? No. But was I going to gain 30 pounds because I had a weak moment? No. There are times in my past that this would have been the excuse I used to quit. I would have thrown in the towel and not looked back.
The focus on my new lifestyle was not always easy, but I can now say it was worth it. My life has often been planned around workouts. I became very good at developing menus and shopping for food for the week. I've learned how to look at any menu &/or convenience store and find what could be consumed for 1g of carb or less.
But here we are 6 months later and I am celebrating another rebirth this spring. My body is smaller than it has been in a very long time, down 61 lbs in that time. My commitment is stronger than ever. From the size to the type of clothes I am wearing has changed. There is a "new me" that was underneath the layers of failure and self doubt.
I am sure I will have plenty of weak moments. There is no doubt that I will eat things that aren't the healthiest. But, what I won't do is allow that to take away the progress I have made, nor distract my focus of where I am going.
I honestly look forward to where I will be in another 6 months. Before I know it, we will all be planing for Halloween and wondering where the summer went. I'm sure I won't understand how it became fall so quickly, but I am also sure that I will be a smaller, stronger version of me trying to figure it out.
Check Out Our Boxing Progress As Well...
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