At the age of 21, doctors discovered my heart was in third degree heart block. “What did I do?” I asked. The short answer was: nothing. And that was the problem. I had NEVER paid attention to my health. I was the young, skinny, klutzy girl who was always picked last in gym class. Fitness was not my thing!
What I eventually discovered was that age, weight and not being a first-class athlete weren’t things that disqualified me from paying attention to my body. When we quit paying attention to our bodies, that’s precisely the moment they scream out to us in protest, reminding us that our families, jobs, educations and lives are all going to come to a screeching halt if we continuously put everything and everyone before ourselves.
I’m done with that. I’m still not an athlete. I dread working out most days, but I try my best to get it done. Instead of feeling guilty when I fall off the wagon, I pat myself on the back and feel good about climbing back on. Join me in my pregnant, klutzy state for our "Fitter for Winter" rebel challenge. If I can do it...trust me...you can do it. I believe in you...by the end of this challenge...you will too.
It is ironic for me to be working at a gym. I loathed the gym in high school. I was 5'9 140 pounds when I graduated. Gym class was the dreaded period where I would be picked last every time and would be picked on everyday by anyone with any athletic prewess. When it came to sports I wanted to be in them, but was way too small to even be able to compete...in anything; football, baseball, basketball for sure! When I joined a sport, I was always the bench warmer. When I went to college everything changed. It didn't matter how good you were at sports or how big you were. I was a freshman and started playing racquetball with some friends to kill time just for fun. I really enjoyed it, my friends were not competitive so I started to try other sports and liked them too. I then took a fitness for life class that opened my eyes to the world of working out. Without the dreaded bullies to watch me I enjoyed that too.
I also realized that working out gave me energy. I feel better after I work out. I love the release of endorphines it gives me. I am an avid outdoors man and enjoy; canoeing, rock climbing, water skiing, downhill skiing, backpacking, scuba diving, hunting, fishing, and many other activities. I work out to give myself "me time" and physically and mentally feel better. I also work out so I can do all the activities I love to do.
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