I have started writing this first post about 15 different times over the last 6 months. So here goes nothing!
My name is ebba, and this is my story, and my adventure.
Through our lives we learn and grow, lets say mine is no different. I come from a big family, and went to the college my parents wanted me to go to, I dropped out, moved home, traveled, worked at a high school, became a firefighter, and went back to school. Before ever finishing my degree I got pregnant and became a single mom to the most wonderful kiddo ever, and then finished my degree with a newborn. (I barely remember my last year of college).
Through all of this I have had these amazing goals of being “fit” and “thin” but also strong. I never really knew where to start or I would work out with a friend or by my self sticking with it for only a couple days, and then falling off. One summer I worked out the most consistently I ever had, biking 12-18 miles a day, and then running a mile or so before some “P90x yoga”, or “hip-hop abs”, but to stick with it I had a goal, and a coach telling me what to do, and holding me accountable. After school resumed I went back to my studying, and not being half as active as I had been. Fast-Forward two and half years to February of this year. A couple of my coworkers began working out fairly consistently and were talking about it around the office, I would over hear, or listen to them complain about it being a “rough leg day” or what have you, and wish that I could go with them and work out too. I began talking to a friend of mine and we decided we were going to start a schedule and I would join this super reasonably priced gym that she and my coworkers went to. And then “ta-da” I would be on my way to that beach body! I kept finding excuses on why I needed to push the date I was going to join this gym.
I would say “oh well I’m trying to move, I really don’t have time” or “I’m going out of town next week, so this may not be the best time” or “I don’t really know what to do at the gym except walk on the treadmill” … Finally I cut through my excuses and my friend and I set a date, the weekend after I returned from my trip I would join.
February 28th I walked into Good Life Fitness, I rushed through the paperwork, (Sorry Steve), and met my friend, we walked some, and then kinda lifted some… and then I went home, a couple more days the next two weeks I went in, and my friend began having to work late, so I would go into the gym and try to figure out what to do, but I felt too embarassed to use the machines much, so I would walk/jogg, and then leave. The next weekend I decided that since I was paying for classes and feeling a little discouraged that I would try Yoga. It was amazing, I thought I was fairly decent at yoga, but I hadn’t done yoga in years so I was out of practice, and felt crazy, but I did it. I survived the class, and the next day began looking at other classes that might fit my crazy schedule.
Tuesday rolled around and I decided to give Kickboxing (KBX) a go. It sucked. and I loved it. I couldn’t do a burpee, I was not great at hitting a bag, I used the smallest amount of weight I could find from the boot camp room, and moving my bag was a challenge. Afterwards the instructor was talking about personal training, and what not. I thanked her for the class, and she told me I “killed it” and that it was good seeing new people step out of their comfort zone. and boy was I out of my comfort zone. The next week I started talking with her about personal training, and then about my goals.
My Initial goals:
- to run a half marathon at some point in my life
- to be able to do a pull up.
- to be addicted to fitness as a whole.
She immediately told me that registration for the Halfsy was open and I should look into it. I found a million and one excuses on why I should NOT run the Halfsy. I thought and said, ” I wont be ready by November to run a half marathon” “I definitely don’t want to run a half marathon on my birthday” and again “I’m not ready”, the response I got back was “yes you will, its plenty of time , you can do it”.. so the next day I registered for the Good Life Halfsy. I started trying to add more working out in my life, I decided that I would “check-in” on facebook when I went to the gym as a form of accountability. If others knew I was going, I had to go.. For my pull up goal I started personal training with this trainer. We began having many conversations about my goals, what I wanted to do, and began working on how to accomplish them.
My first day in my personal training appointment I was terrified, I had no idea what to expect. We walked into the weight room, which besides the treadmill I had found a way to avoid… She had me do some squats on a machine, and I thought I was going to get stuck, and nope, just nope. For the next couple days I nearly obsessed about how I could do this squat better, and be better at it. ( looking back now we both laugh at what I did so poorly then, vs what I do now.. its pretty incredible)
Meanwhile I began trying to figure out what other classes I could/should go to. I had established Sunday morning Yoga, Tuesday evening KBX, and Thursday evening KBX, however I felt like I needed more. My kiddo struggled at first being dropped off in the gym daycare, which took a major toll on me. I posted one day that someone should tell me to get my bum to FIRE (Freakin Intense Resistance Experience) and got an amazing amount of support saying “yes do it, take care of you so you can take care of your family and others”, and some push back saying “maybe you should just hang out with your kiddo, he needs you”. Well needless to say I made it, and was so glad I did.
I began tracking my progress in my measurements April 1st, and March 29th in pictures. I quickly became a regular in the classes I went to, and added the instructors I had taken classes from on Social media so I knew when other classes they taught would be. Pretty soon other instructors added me, I felt kinda cool for a minute.
Anyway, So the past couple months my life has changed a lot. I have found myself trying to find more things to do to step up my training. I go to classes a lot, I do boot camps now which is not something I saw myself doing… not for a long time at least… I joined a running group and walked a 5K. I started meeting with a nutritionist (who is also my trainer) and was told that I need to eat more not less. My view of changing my lifestyle has changed. I see so many things where I wish I could have found this life long long ago. I am happier healthier, thinner, and stronger! I am strong. I have increased the weight I use in classes nearly 7.5lbs in group fitness classes and use much heavier in boot camps.
Since the end of March I have trained every other week with my personal trainer who has become a friend, (its kinda nice) and here soon will be training weekly with her. I am not nearly as scared of the weight room, and even play with the idea of lifting more than I attend classes…( stay tuned… this may actually happen) …
My goals have changed some, although I have actually only attained one. My body has changed A LOT, in the amount of time I never thought possible. I am happier, healthier, and so much more positive. Fitness has become a passion, and here is where I will document my journey.
My current goals:
- Half Marathon, ( I am so prone to the race bug at this point, this will not be my last)
- Pull up (still not great with upper body things, better not great)
- STAY addicted to fitness
- Lift more.
- Get more defined muscles…
- inspire and encourage others
- find more goals.
I think that’s all for now…
– ebs.
Ps. Any Ideas, or topics, things you want to know or hear about let me know.