Five years ago on February 3rd I decided enough was enough and I began my diet. Along the journey I have tried different forms of exercise and all different eating plans. Each one teaching me things that I do enjoy and things i simply would not tolerate if I had to make it part of my every day life. I learned I do not enjoy running but I do enjoy cardio exercise-I learned they are not even the same thing! I learned I absolutely love the physical challenge of lifting heavy objects. I also came to understand that being extremely lean and rippled is not the main aspect of my fitness interest.
I have lost a significant amount of body fat and put on a decent amount of muscle over these 5 years. I have gained some fat back, then lost it again in a constant state of change and challenge for my physical body and my emotional spirit. I was able to persue a fitness career while developing my physique and am always learning more and more as I go along. I have co-authored a fantastic book, Squeaky Gourmet, and run a fantastic website, Your Fitness Journey. I have tried to inspire and ignite the same passion for becoming the person I had deep inside all the while.
On Saturday January 17th I was lucky enough to take part in a NAS sponsored Strongman meet; Setting the Record Straight. This event was to set and establish NAS lifting records for my state. I am now on record with NAS as a strongman athlete. I competed in 3 events; the log press, the tire deadlift and Atlas Stones over a bar. Being part of this event was exilerating and so inspiring to me. It has given me new purpose to train, new goals to acheive and a whole new aspect to my fitness journey. It was honestly a dream come true for me.
I wish I could instill in everyone reading this the deep desire to find the activity that will give you the same excitement and dedication. While we each strap on our shoes and head to our exercise of choice I hope each of you is doing exactly what it is you love to do. If you are not there yet, if you are still dreading the exercise and feel it is a chore-stay the course. We are meant to move, we are a machine designed for activity and movement. Once your body becomes accustomed to working out you will crave it. Once you discover exactly what you like to do in order to move your body-your mind will crave it as well.
Some people love body weight challenges while others enjoy running for that stress release and hormone response. Others enjoy the aesthetics of body building or figure competitions. Some people enjoy the idea that a seemingly immovable object is in fact going to move under their force. No matter what level you are on in your fitness journey there IS an activity to match your desire. So if you are setting your sites in 2009 to be the best YOU there is and feel stale and struggling already with the new goals. Try something else, move onto some other physical activity. Hell, try them all!Step outside the box to really find who it is you want to be!
While I am not as lean as others may want in their own journey, I am so happy and sated with my focus and abilities. I am excited to see what my 5th year at this will bring!
What is it you want to be in 2009?
Do you want to be leaner,stronger, faster, more agile, more peace filled, happier?
What are you
doing to get there? Are you just working out and waiting or are you looking at all the alternatives there are to get you to where you want
to be?
You can be anything it is you want to be……take a step towards it.
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