Lessons Learned

So after today, we have two more weeks of Healthquest.:( Where have these 3 months gone? I remember the days leading up to this were anxious ones because I was so afraid of what the workouts would be like. I heard they were intense and wondered if I was in any kind of shape to last an entire class. Well, they were harder than expected, and my emotions have run from "no, can't do this" to "yes I can -push, push, push"!
I've learned that when you think you can't give do anymore, you find that last little energy to finish. That your body does get stronger, and those bear crawls are easier to finish (though some people are just more coordinated than others). After 3 months, I can actually see some muscle definition under all that fat. And even though that useless scale in my home doesn't register much weight loss, my clothes sure fit differently.
I've done many different types of aerobics in the last 20 years, and doing Carter's daily workouts have resulted in the best mental and physical change I've ever had. I know for myself that working out 5 days a week, in a row, has made a difference. It's been too easy trying to work out 2-3 times a week, because resting one day can quickly lead to 2 days, then 3 days of rest. I've learned our bodies were went to move and exercise every day.
I've always thought that I loved to exercise by myself, not in a group setting. Well, I've finally had to admit that has really never worked for me. I'm too lazy! I need the fellowship of a support group of people in my same shoes. My Healthquest will not really end in two weeks because I plan to continue on at D1 with Carter's workouts, and so many of my Healthquest team will also. It's reassuring when you see those supportive faces line up on the white line. Even though we are told to work at our own pace, seeing others complete sets sooner is an incentive to work harder and push ourselves just a little bit more. I wouldn't do that on my own. To see those strong mentors and other members that have been at it for a year and longer is also a great incentive. They have so much stamina and energy which gives me hopes that I can be like that in the next 12 months.
I believe we've all seen positive results. I can see it in our faces and attitudes. Most of us look like we've been laboring in the hot sun after a workout. T-shirts soaken wet (don't even go there), black pellets up and down our arms and legs, and bright, red, flush faces at the end. Always remarking how yet this was the hardest day. I know we feel energized when getting into our cars looking forward to making it to Fun Fridays, and actually laughing like kids while working out. (Of course Debbie finds something to laugh about everyday).
Great efforts bring great results! Happy Thanksgiving everyone, I'll be relaxing (and working out) in Destin next week.

Just chit-chatting

Who can believe we have finished 9 weeks today!!!! It really seems like we just started yesterday. Three weeks left and I guess one more dunking and more blood work. Who remembers that we are actually competing against another group? The real competition is within ourselves! Trying to push ourselves just a little bit harder this week, downing one more bottle of water when we're sure it's going to come right back up, passing up that second serving of food, or in my case, second glass of wine.
Other than seeing ourselves become stronger and leaner, the other positive aspect of Healthquest is the camaraderie among us middle-age women. I look forward to chit-chatting at the end of the workout. Yesterday, I believe we even embarrassed Toby Mac.
We girls, we'll talk about anything, and at our age we don't care. We cannot be modest at these workouts. T-shirts scrunch up our back as we do bear crawls, our rear-ends stick up in the air, the grunts and groans are unfeminine, we giggle when we attempt to try something new that our bodies just aren't coordinated enough to do, and other things occur not appropriate to mention in a blog. What wonderful support we have at these workouts (and on the blogs). My family is another source of encouragement and high fives, and as my daughter who visited this week said, "that was intense"! (She just sat and watched).
I still end the sets as one of the the last to finish, but I don't care. That I actually finished the entire set without shortening reps is a success. And maybe a year from now I can finish somewhere in the middle. That I'm jogging for the first time in my life (of course what I call a jog may be called fast walking to Carter) is incredible. My shins still ache so much, but with my visit to a podiatrist, hopefully that will diminish.
Today, after the workout as we were chit-chatting again, Debbie talked about how she recently broke out and cried after someone said an encouraging word to her. It was nice to know someone else still cries after these workouts. Earlier this week I was ready to shed those tears after an intense set and would have if someone looked at me or tried to give me a high five. The first week I cried in the car after each workout, and honestly didn't know if I would continue. But these are tears from intense emotion brought on from workouts we never thought our bodies could do. They're "I thought I'd throw up or pass out, but I finished"!
So, after 9 weeks and still feeling vulnerable and wondering if it will ever get easier, Carter talked about our minds, and how we can't be successful if our mindset is not on track to succeed. I know that in the past I wasn't committed because I reasoned I'll start "tomorrow". Just saying you want to lose weight or improve your health doesn't mean you'll do it with success. You have to have a honest conscious and a determination that it begins "today".
It started for me 9 weeks ago, and in 9 months I should, no, will be one of those success stories. (OK support group, make sure I say this to myself over and over).