Strong beats Skinny . . .

Alright, so, I'm writing this as a compliment (dual meaning here) to my friend and workout partner of a month, Dawn Ray who has blogged and FB posted about our training sessions and our rather Cave Man like trainer, David Allen of NBS Fitness.  I say Cave Man, instead of his self proclaimed "Meat Head" title in that he's mostly built like a Cave Man and carries around a sledge hammer which looks like a club . . . and he mumbles a bit, but I digress.  He makes us lift heavy things, push heavy things and then do it again with even HEAVIER things.  I particularly enjoyed the time Dawn and I dragged each other behind a rope up the garbage ramp outside the gym.  No, really.  I loved that session--despite the stench and 100 degree weather.

This has been an awesome experience and I wanted to Thank both Dawn and David and my running partner, Laura Lea for their contribution to my mental and physical fitness.  It has been transforming in many ways and yes, as I'm holding that stupid, wretched, horrid plank--sweat dripping off my nose, I started baking sweat and soreness, weights and workouts and these observations into my fitness pie.

Be Inspired
      Work out with a trainer, a professional, someone who can speak to you from a place of experience and push you past the little voice in your head that says, "I can't".  Work out with a partner.  See the look on someone's face--pushing through the pain, reaching for something they've never tried before.  Dripping with sweat, every drop, one more little "I can't" leaving their body.  Feed off of their success.  Hold yourself accountable to them.  Hold them accountable to you.  Don't let each other down.  That's motivation to do it faster, harder, better, longer.

Be Inspiring
     Share your goals, your struggles, your motivation.  Inspiration comes in all sorts of packages.  Be encouraging when you recognize you've given off a spark.  Tell someone how you got that fantastic butt, how you dropped your belly pudge or how you overcame your Oprah Bat Wings.  Invite them to join you on your journey.  Being a source of strength for someone else makes your base stronger--one more weight to lift, one more rep to build your muscles.

Do it for the Right Reasons
     Don't just shoot for Skinny.  Strong will crush Skinny every day of the week.  I feel stronger, I look stronger--physically and emotionally.  Confidence looks strong.  Confidence is crushing.  Sure, we all want to be "hot" and "sexy".  That does not necessarily translate to skinny.  It's what's found in your eyes, in your carriage, in your backbone, your shoulders, how you carry your body.  It's what enters the room with you and commands attention.  Skinny's got nothin' on that--skinny couldn't carry that suitcase on to a plane by herself.  You lift Skinny's carry on into the bin and then steal her pretzels--what's she gonna do about it?

Do it for the Long Haul
    We hear over and over and over, "it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change".  Well, they're right.  One of David's repetitive themes is that fitness is no short term thing.  Each session, each week, you build upon the last.  You put one weight down, then reach for a heavier one.  Look back at where you started.  Celebrate your successes.  This is an ongoing commitment to yourself.  Like my previous point, the motivation can't have an end point.  I've changed my mindset from "I want to lose 20 pounds" or "I want to fit into a size 6" to "I want to be strong and carry my children", "I want to play hard and not be held back" and "I want to be proud and inspire others to find their best".  Long term, enduring mindsets also make it much easier to carry on and not be disappointed in yourself when your progress is derailed or you haven't reached a goal within the set time frame.  Like falling off the diet wagon, it's easy to stop and sit back down on the couch when the time has come and gone to buy that new skinny skirt for the reunion.  Superficial goals are easy to replace.  Strength in character cannot be shaken.  Make strength of mind and body part of your character.

By no means am I an expert in this area, I just know how I feel, how I've changed and how I'm progressing, how I'm inspired to keep going and share.  It is a long term project.  No, lifestyle.  When I fall down, sit down, don't want to get up, I want you to hold me accountable, tell me to get up.  That "you" is the "me" I'm aspiring to be.  The voice in my head I want speaking to me--shouting to me to get up and get out the door.  It can't really happen unless I believe that "me".  No one else can make me do it just like no one else can make me happy or fulfilled or satisfied.  These are my choices, my strength and I'm going to own it.

So, I'll leave you with a last slice--a little juice for your motivation from my beloved Pinterest.  Great thoughts to put you in the right frame of mind or keep you going.

• You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.
• Exercise should be about rewarding your body with endorphins and strength.  Not punishing your body for what you've eaten.
• Be the kind of woman who, when your feet hit the floor in the morning, the devil says, "OH NO, she's up!"
• The question isn't, "Who is going to let me?" but "Who is going to stop me?"
• No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everyone on the couch.

and lastly, my favorite:

• My feet hurt . . . from KICKING SO MUCH ASS!