Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The things that help me lace up my tennis shoes.

I am humbled by the amount of compliments I receive, on a daily basis, regarding my weight loss & fitness. There are also comments people have made and it never would have occurred how strong an impact their words would have on me. I'd like to share a few of these with you.

"So what are you going to do today for cardio?" Said Nikki, my personal trainer, after we had completed an hour of weight training. "I thought I just finished my workout for the day..." whined a fat, sweaty, tired me. "Oh, noooooo.... you need to still do your cardio on days that you meet with me." Ugh. However, when I went home, I couldn't get that sweet little voice out of my head: what are you doing to do today for cardio? And so I went.
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"What are you holding on for?" Asked JaNae, one of the employees at the gym. She was watching me walk/run and I was holding on to the bars of the treadmill. I believe my answer was something like "I dunno." I don't hold on, anymore because I know she is there, watching.
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While discussing Pilates, Lisa Carter explained to me that the muscles & strength that I need to complete the poses is inside of me. It always has been. I just have to realize, on my own, that I have what it takes to complete the things I need to do- that I just need to acknowledge it & get my head around it. (makes me think of Dorothy & the red shoes)
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"You're endurance on the elliptical is amazing- you're going to make it." Said the hot chick working out in the hotel gym in Tampa while we were there on vacation. I'd only lost 20 pounds at that point and I wasn't sure if I would make it- it was the perfect time to be reassured by a complete stranger.
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"Are you going to join the fitness challenge?" A question that has been posted by Nikki, Lisa Carter, Melonie Parrish (who called me this morning asking me to join it with her), my gym friend Christine... all wanting me to do it with them. (it's a short term hard-core fitness contest at our gym.) They support me.
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The text message I received last Saturday, out of the blue, from Nikki that said "What are you doing for cardio today?" (I'd already completed my cardio that day- HA!)
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JaNae coming up to my treadmill today, increasing the incline to a 1.0, and saying "you should run on an incline." and then walking away. (she's a woman of few words who has lost over 100 pounds on her own so I listen when she speaks.)
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Tony from theantijared who said in an email "you are amazing."
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The comments I have received on my blog, cheering me on, on a daily basis. You all are the BEST. My own family rarely looks at my blog but I have people who care about me, about my success, that I may never meet. (although I hope I do!) And most all of my Internet buddies are going through the same fight. You understand.

..... and the best one that comes to mind is Eric simply saying "I'm so proud of you."

The compliments I hear are wonderful & make me feel good.

But when I'm sweaty and tired and want to quit- these are the things that help me lace my tennis shoes.

5 comments:

bugprincess said...

I have recently found your blog and have enjoyed coming along on your journey.
I want to tell you that YOU inspire me to lace up my tennis shoes and work harder to reach my goals. Amy, you look amazing!

Laurens_Closet said...

Hey "Bug"... what a sweet thing to say~ That brought a smile to my face, tonight! Thanks so much!!

Angela Power said...

You always bring a smile to my face Amy ;-) I'm definitely lacing mine up when I get home :-)

Molly said...

Very awesome post. We all need something to keep us going don't we? How do you fight your nighttime urges? I am trying so hard right now to not go and get out some chips!

Anonymous said...

Your blog is the only blog I follow regularly, so keep it up. You are an inspiration to so many. I too am on a weightloss journey and there is nothing like unsoliciated compliments to get and keep my butt in the gym with a smile on my face. Thanks so much for sharing your journey with me.