My Journey & Finding Courage

About 3 years ago now, I made the decision to change gyms. I talked with an individual at another gym that was trying to lose weight and she and her spouse were seeing the Diet Doc. She told me about the program and I was fascinated.

I found Vanessa at Gold's Gym, where her Diet Doc business was located, and began seeing her there. Little did I know…she didn't just want me to eat right…she wanted me to MOVE. She asked me a lot about exercising. Initially I joined the gym to just try the machines. She encouraged me to try just one class.

I tried Body Pump. I can remember a gal trying to help me the first few times and she (a fellow student) even corrected what she perceived that I was doing wrong. I found that I enjoyed the class structure and having other people in a class setting with me.

I did Body Pump for a couple of months. Vanessa was not done in encouraging me to TRY SOMETHING ELSE…. It was all I could do to go to Body Pump much less get my courage together and walk into another class where I was clueless about what I was doing.

I tried Spinning!! I still cannot believe I walked into that class. Vanessa wanted me to MOVE and to be involved in some cardio to help with the weight loss. I sat on that spinning bike and thought I was going to DIE!! I committed to trying to make it through as much of the class as I could. I think the first day I made it through 20 minutes. I made it my goal to continue to try and stay more and more minutes every 2-3 classes. I eventually made it through the entire class session. I learned that I really somewhat liked it!! Someone suggested that I get shoes and said that having spinning shoes would be easier on my feet.

I had no clue how to buy spinning shoes. I purchased them and then the real terror began. I realized I had absolutely no clue how to insert the shoe into the pedal. I got there EARLY one day to attempt to figure the entire thing out. I put the shoe on, sat on the seat and tried sliding, pushing, ramming, etc. and my foot into that pedal. Somehow I got the shoe in the pedal but could not figure out how I had done it. The problem was, I needed to get the shoe out before class started because I had to go to the bathroom. ….

I tried twisting, ramming, etc. to get the shoe out. I took my foot OUT OF THE SHOE and left the shoe on the pedal and then hoped and prayed that I could get the shoe out before anyone got there. Somehow I did. I think the good LORD just answered my prayer cuz I have no idea how I got that shoe out. About that time, Kathy, the instructor arrived. I quickly asked her to demonstrate how to get the shoe in and out of the clip. She was very kind and no one else was in the room so I didn't feel so incompetent.

I am now confident in my spinning bike. I can adjust the seat, the handlebars, and I am so accustomed to the seat that I no longer have to wear a pair of padded shorts to make it through class.

After spinning, I added a Zumba class and I have also tried a Barre class. I have gone so far as to try Yoga at another place besides Gold's. I have taken a Club Dance class at my sisters' gym. I even allowed Vanessa to walk me around the gym and show me how some machines work.

It is a struggle to be brave. However, along with bravery, I have experienced weight loss. My body is changing and because of that, I have been able to walk up and down the canyon now, I have gone biking on the Hiawatha Trail, I and my husband have purchased a kayak and we have used it 3-4 different times. I ran/walked a 3.5 mile fun run.

I guess I am coming to the conclusion that I need to be brave so I can enjoy life to the fullest. I do not want to remain the same. I want to be different. I want to show my grown children & my grandchildren what it is to be brave and to TRY. Thanks so much Vanessa for joining me in my struggle and helping me as I find my courage.