That Annoying Friend who is always working out

I have become that friend, you know the one: Doesn't really eat junk food, doesn't drink more than 1-2 alcoholic drinks, works out every day for extensive periods, and it constantly talking about it all.

Yeah, that's me alright.  There is more to me than that, but my life has become consumed with training for the Triathlon.  Even my kids are starting to think I am a weirdo.  It's sad when your daughter says to you, "You know, you go to the gym more than daddy does now.  Do you ever take a break?"  She is only seven and lives 50% of her time in her dad's home.  And she grew up with a fitness and health obsessed father and her mother was always more easy going about such things. 

6 months ago I wasn't that friend.  I was normal, ran a bit, lifted some light weights, and ate whatever I felt like eating.  I wasn't big, but I wasn't necessarily in shape contrary to belief. 

But what took me from just running and still being "semi-normal" to this crazed fitness obsessed woman you see now?

If I say a guy, I can just hear the collective groan from everyone but in a sense it was a guy.  No, I am not trying to impress some guy or doing this for him.  But one day we were having a conversation about people's bodies, and their perceptions.  And he said a key statement that changed me in a very positive way. 

He said his biggest pet peeve isn't what someone actually looks like physically in their body.  He used this phrase, "I don't care what a woman actually looks like. What drives me crazy is when someone complains about their body and does absolutely nothing about it to change who they are.  Either fix it somehow or just learn to accept who you are and be confident in that."

And it was exactly what I needed to hear. 

In Girls on the Run we teach a lesson about tuning into the right message.  And when my friend said this, it was like I had changed the radio dial in my head to this station that kept repeating to me-you can do this.  If you want it bad enough you can do this.



So I started listening to the right messages. Being encouraged by this same friend to join a new gym to learn Muay Thai kick boxing, but little did he know I would fall in love with Brazilian Jujitsu.  The women I met here are like me, strong, kind, and driven.  As I have heard over and over, it's a unique woman that will get on a mat in close contact and grapple with a man.  I have to agree though, there is nothing like having your face smashed between some guy's legs your first week of class to make or break you in Jujitsu as a woman.

So now my friend is two for two in motivating me.  And now I am surrounded by men and women who are all tuned into this message-that fitness can be fun and is important and measured at so many different levels. My support system has changed.  I still love all my friends that I have been hanging out with and known for years.  But waking up to messages from people asking if they are going to see you at a workout class, that they missed you when you were gone. They aren't trying to make me feel guilty, quite the opposite.  They actually enjoy my presence at workout sessions. 

So, yeah...maybe I am that nut job that is posting about eating healthy, fitness, and exercise all the time.  Maybe it annoys you because it makes you feel guilty or like I am showing off. 

But maybe, you should tune into a new message yourself if this is how you feel about my recent movement into exercise. Maybe, you have been tuned into the wrong station for too long and forgotten that you too, can be more fit and healthy and happier in your body.

So maybe my challenge to you isn't to ignore or be annoyed by my never ending updates and check-ins at a gym or park to exercise.  Maybe instead you should just call me up and come join me for a run.  Heaven knows, I am always looking for company and I would enjoy yours. 

Generousity

I woke up this morning blown away by the generosity of my friends, family, and coworkers.

Let me start from the beginning.  About two months ago my director sent an email asking if anyone wanted to join SoleMates®.  A group that raises money directly for their chapter of Girls on the Run.  They participate in different races throughout the year and competitions.  One of the events that you could join was the Athleta Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon in Columbia, MD (I happen to live here). 

I have NEVER wanted to participate in any triathlon whether it was a sprint (.5 mi swim/ 17 mi bike/ 5k run) or it was a full.  I hate swimming in lakes where you can't see the bottom and its murky and slimy and there are fish and possible snakes and leaches and heaven help me if I really know.  I get the creeps thinking about it. 

But it was like I couldn't control myself, I had this weird out of body experience and the next thing I knew I was getting an email back from my director with all the forms and a couple hours later I was writing a check for my entry into or local triathlon. 

WHAT HAVE I DONE!!!???

Did I mention my deep fear of fish...it's completely irrational, I get that but fish belong on my plate, not skimming by my legs while I swim. 

And for the first month or so I started almost going through the stages or grief. 

I went through stages of shock, denial, anger, depression...I mean it.  I was scared out of my mind and didn't want to believe I had committed to such an undertaking.  Even worse, is that I was even unsure if I could raise all the money I needed to raise. 

Then I started racing, and noticed that I had become a stronger runner. 

I kept going to my boot camp and Brazilian Jujitsu classes and noticed I was getting stronger and more adept at the movements. 

Then the impossible happened, I started believing, maybe I can do this.  Don't get my wrong, I still am freaked by the fish, but something tells me I will survive the perils of Lake Centennial. 

So I finally pushed the word out to my friends, family, and coworkers.  I need money-but it's for a good cause.  I feel so bad sometimes harassing people in this day and age when I know how tight things are for everyone. But as tight as things are for them, they have opened their wallets, reached in deep and in my first 30 days helped donate over a thousand dollars.  I still have over 60 days to go!

And I woke up this morning to see another donation and I thought to myself, I wonder if all these people realize how much this means to me.  Every donation makes me believe in myself and helps me work a little harder because ultimately it is the girls that win.  Every dollar insures that another little girl will find her spot on a team and hopefully be able to gain the wisdom, inspiration, and motivation to believe in herself more. 

So tonight when I am struggling through my two hours of working out and thinking of how much I want to go have drinks at happy hour with my friends that I miss so much, I know they will forgive me for not hanging out while I go and get Girls on the Run Strong for this competition. 

My social life has suffered in some ways due to my dedication to doing the best that I can but my friends who are really my friends understand and will be there for me when this is all done and until then they are some of the people along with my family that I lean on for support to encourage me that, "I can do this".

And I leave you with this:

“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”

― Mahatma Gandhi 

My donation page if you are interested:
Jillianne's Fundraising page