*Hear ye, Hear Ye.  The lovely Carla of Miz Fit Online is running a post I wrote today. Head on over.  I’m honored this is the second (and a half) time she’s shared her space.   Love her more each day…cutie Tornado and funny Ren Man don’t hurt either.*

In 2004 I decided enough was enough.  My body couldn’t take any more of the weight I added… time to subtract the pounds.  The internet and calorie counting were simple switches I could do alone but the gym was entirely different.

How do you turn on the treadmill, use the weights or weight machines, what step size do I need for class? I was intimidated beyond belief.  I didn’t belong and my anxiety almost kept me from going…almost.  I struggled to go each day because I wasn’t coordinated/strong/fast/or even good.

Yet I kept going, day after day.  I progressed from step class on the floor to the high step, Barbie weights to heavy weights

From walking in my neighborhood to running races for fun.

I even took yoga learning basic poses, sun salutations and flows and hired a trainer for a short time to learn proper lifting form.  Yet I still thought I was a novice.

I had no idea how far I’d come…everyone was better than me.  Then I met Heather.

*Note: She told me to say this.*

The things I thought were basic knowledge astonished her.  This past weekend she must have said “Show me that again” over and over and over and over – okay the last over might be an exaggeration.  Simple modifications helped improve her workout and reminded me I’ve learned more than I give myself credit.

Still a student but now a teacher I’ve come so far from the girl who was afraid to try the gym.  Now I’m excited to try these new toys.

Give yourself a compliment on your fitness in the comments.  We all need a reminder of how far we’ve come.

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