A Journey Begins With a Single Step

 "The beginning is always tough, but once I'm in it I become UNSTOPPABLE" 

WOW! This has been a great first week! I am feeling completely positive about this Journey. When I first started, one thought that crossed my mind was "I don't know if I can make it through these classes every day!" After only the first week of the Journey and working out 5 days this week, I have to say that I love how much I have pushed myself through these classes. I said in my last blog that I felt like the classes were really intense and difficult for me to get through. This week, I feel 10 times stronger! I feel like, while each class is a challenge, I can make it...and it gets easier every time. I feel like my body is getting more muscular every day. The amount of strength that I feel after only a week is AMAZING! 

My coaches have been great. It is so awesome to come to class and have two people standing next to you and pushing you the whole time. They even got me to go on stage and to the front of the group this week (I usually hide in the back). They have been so supportive and helpful through my Journey so far. 

As for my team...I love my team! I have met so many new friends through this journey. Everyone is on the same page, going for the same goals. It's great! My team and my coaches are the reasons I keep coming back every day. Even if I don't feel like it. It is a great thing to be part of a team! 

This morning I attended my first Weight Watchers meeting since before Christmas. When I pulled up outside of the meeting place (where originally I thought I had never been before), I realized that I remembered this center. I had been here before for my advanced Leader training when I worked for Weight Watchers. Last time I was at that center, during a conversation with my trainer (this was about 4 years ago), she looked at me in the middle of practicing a motivational exercise, and said "Honey, I feel like you have lost your motivation". She was right. This was at the point in my life when I was just starting to gain back the weight I lost before. Going back there today made me realize how much I really want this. I listened to motivational speakers, including a woman who had lost 75 lbs and was still on her way to her goal. Watching her, I said to myself "That used to be me...I want to be up there again". 

Coming into Kickboxing today, I pushed harder then I have in a while. The meeting today definitely motivated me. I also have learned a lot from Maia. She said to me a couple weeks ago that I need to stop looking back at the past, and focus on getting back to my goal in the future. Ever since she said that I have used it to keep me going. I used to hold myself back with the negative thoughts that came along with gaining my weight back. This week has totally changed my outlook. I am done looking back on the past. I am working towards a happier and healthier future.  

My OH YEAH moment: Every day this week on my way home from class. I was in the car this week driving home from boot camp at the Worx and all I could think about was how I never thought I would be able to push myself this hard again. I am so proud and grateful that I have been given the opportunity to realize how much my body is really capable of. I seriously had tears in my eyes on the way home every day this week, happy, proud and extremely grateful tears.

This week my goal is to go grocery shopping and pre-make all of my meals. I think this will make the food part of weight loss easier. As for exercise, my goal is to work on my balance. I have horrible balance, but I have already noticed it getting better through coming to these classes. I plan to focus on it a lot this week. As for this past weeks goals, I feel like I have done great! I have accomplished all that I planned and more this week. 

Many of you on the Journey with me have been able to inspire me this week. Sadaf kept me going today when she told me she could tell I was working hard during class and she was proud. That kept me pushing hard through the rest of class. Dana told me he has noticed that I am working hard every class...and that also means a lot! When other people notice what you are doing, it really makes a difference! I went to Weight Watchers today with Vanessa and Nathalie, and I am glad to have other people to hold me accountable with that as well. 

On to week 2 of the Journey, and I couldn't be happier with how I feel so far. To my team: I am so proud of all of you! We can do this!