Sixteen years ago, I began a weight loss journey. I was 22 years old at the time and ready to make that significant change to better myself. I started working out at a gym that was just up the road from the community college I was attending. I was oblivious to gym etiquette, which was one reason why I never wanted to step foot in one. However, I knew I needed to do this, I had decided to put the past behind me and move forward and this was the first step! I began working out on a daily basis after I would leave class for the day. My son Zach would accompany me and would be ever so patient while his mom worked to make herself feel new again. I had to have some help in understanding what I was to do, so this guy/trainer named John, who worked at the gym started to help me. He knew what he was talking about and didn't make me feel stupid for not knowing what to do or not being able to even have weights on the machines.
After a few weeks, I began to lose inches but was still not losing pounds. It was then I switched how I was eating. It was so easy back then, my body was young and I was so determined. Within 3 months I had lost 30 lbs and felt great and looked great! John and I ended up dating and a couple years later we got married. After we had our youngest son Eric, I struggled to lose the weight I had gained from being pregnant with him. Fortunately, I worked in a facility that had a gym, so my co-worker and I would go workout every day for an hour. That seemed to help me take some weight off and maintain. I've since moved on from that job and all that came with it. I have a job now where I sit most of the day and the break-room, where many snacks lie, isn't all that far from my desk. I felt out of sorts at my new job! I only knew one person, Amanda and I struggled to get past all the years I had spent at my previous job. I struggled to find myself and the struggle to find time only got worse when I enrolled in graduate school to get my library degree. I seemed to have no more time for anything, including being with my family. Working out had become a past time for me and school had become the now. Work was where I went to just get away from everything else. I soon met Ella, at my job and we started walking everyday. It was nice to have someone to workout with again. But as the cold months started to set in, so did our time end walking outside. We would start the walking back up in the spring, although it wouldn't be everyday, it would be enough to make me feel good that I had even exercised that day. I'd enter in 5k's, walk/run when I could, even bought a slew of workout DVD's but finding the time was the hard part.
Shavonne has always been the one to give me the best pep talks. I'd hear her but I guess I wouldn't always listen, yet I'd hear her voice in the back of my mind and sometimes in my sleep. Recently, Shavonne flat out told me that working out after work was just not conducive for me anymore. I constantly have something going on at least 3 out of the 5 days during the work week. I kept telling her that this would soon be over and so would this, yet something else would take its place. She was right! So to help me out she said we'd both get up and workout at 5am every morning during the work week. Now, Shavonne doesn't live close by me, matter of fact, she lives 2 hours away from me. So each morning when both get up we text each other to say we're up. Shavonne plans our workout for the week since we have the same workout videos. For 12 days now, we both have managed to get up each and every morning to workout! There are days I certainly don't want to get up, I am not a morning person and love to sleep. But I had to make this change in my life or the excuses were just going to keep coming. I can see changes in my body, yet I know I still need to change how I eat, that will help see the benefits of these early morning workouts.
We have to get out of our comfort zones! It isn't fun to get up so early to workout but I no longer have to worry about getting a workout in at the end of my day. You have to take a look at yourself deep down and know that you can do anything you set your mind to and above all ask God to be there to help you do this.
I encourage you to go out today and do something that is out of your comfort zone!!!
Karlene
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