Blessed Indeed

Today I walked into the lunch room and Frank was sitting at a table alone.

Before the program I would have thought about joining him, but I since I didn't know him well I probably would have sat at my "normal" table.

Today - I sat down with Frank. Hmmm - guess I did that yesterday and gathered other Smallest winner people sitting alone.  Anyway - Back to today.

I have to say - that after the email his wife sent me this morning (I WAS ROLLING) and the story swapping at lunch (LAUGHING SO HARD I HAD TEARS IN MY EYES) I'm very thankful for all of the deep relationships that have been formed through the program.

I truly feel like I have brothers and sisters. Even teared up yesterday talking to Adam.

Feeling blessed!

Even though the program is over, I see it as only the beginning.  I have learned a lot and plan to start training (after I get my boot off) to climb rock walls with my grandson.  Who knows, you might see me on American Ninja Warriors!  I want to thank everyone for such a great program.

Scales....

So I signed up a LONG time ago to do the Tanita scale yesterday.

As Edna  was my witness, I DID NOT look at anything!

I covered my eyes and had the tech put the results in the envelope.

I asked Edna if I sealed the envelope would I see anything? Nope - safe to seal. I sealed it.

Hmmm......not good enough.

What if I'm tempted to try to peek through the envelope?
I did what any rational human being would do - I handed the envelope to Kathy at the front desk for "safekeeping" until Monday.

Remove temptation - that works well in our lives if we flee from temptation!
Same mentality that prompted me to have the hubby hide the scale at home :)

Finish Strong!!!

The End of the Beginning

Earlier this spring, it seemed as if God was prompting me to write a book. The subject was to be about the struggles we face in life and how trusting Him positions us to overcome. I envisioned leveraging the journey of the past three months to form the basis for the content. The main theme was to be, "No excuses!"

On the walk in from the parking lot this morning, it seemed as if Holy Spirit was suggesting a new title for the book:

"12 Weeks"

Perfect, I thought. And now I am desiring to reach out to each of the participants and alumni and trainers to ask if any of you would like to share some portions of your experiences as well! What an exciting adventure. I am so stoked because each of us have come from a place where we had an old life that we decided to put off, and a new life we chose to put on, and struggles and victories all along and in between while being supported and supporting one another. 

So how about it brothers and sisters? Who would be interested in sharing your story with the world - with whoever the Lord draws to this work to be encouraged?

I would be so honored to incorporate your story, and you now have some amazing content of your own from which to draw from.

Let me know and we will begin the process.

Speaking of "beginning", I was reminded with all the promptings recently that the finale really recognizes the end of the first chapter in our new lives and the beginning of the rest of our "more abundant lives" in Christ. So, to celebrate that I thought it would be great to share with you one of the most inspiring songs I have ever heard by David Phelps. Put your earbuds in, turn up the volume, watch and listen. The closure of the past 12 weeks is truly just the end of the beginning! 

O Lord, there I go again, tears and snot flowing... 

Bless you all!

Gavin

One A few last thoughts....
I fondly remember "The Hill" on our walking path. I smile whenever I approach it, knowing there is a bench at the top. Now, instead of gasping for air and praying I'll reach the bench, I start running. That's my "go to" bench that triggers "I can do it". I have a few other "go to" places on the path that trigger picking up the pace.
I think that the big Ah Ha! moment came slowly for me. One of the alumni from the last season was encouraging me on my 5 minutes of "Jacob's Ladder". I had to stop and wait for the stars and little lights to calm down before getting back on. He said a sign of a winner is they never quit, get back on it and keep pushing. I will remember him and the pride I felt when I finally reached 5 minutes.
I've reached several walls and pushed thru: the first wall sit, the first plank the first fire drill!, the first party train. Each one brought out the tiger in me.
Two big things I'm proud of: 1) going under the lane markers in the pool. It took like forever to get the courage to be under water even for a split second. Thank you Rick for being patient. You seemed to understand the terror I have of being caught under water - it goes back to being pushed off the dock into the deep water at the lake when I was five or six. 2) again with Rick's encouragement, walking the stairs carrying 20 lbs. I felt so strong, so humble, so focused on not falling that I didn't realize I climbed it 5 times without feeling like I was going to pass out. That's when I knew I truly had accomplished more than I thought possible.
Thanks to Fireman Rick and Conductor Tina, EJ (who will always be the nicest Ayatollah I've ever met), Andreas the Pain Slayer, Running Man Franklin and his lovely bride Rose, Paula the Coordinator and Giver of all Information, Nicholle Photo Bomber, Nurse Deb, The Amazing Jeanie, my new alumni friends, my awesome fellow partners in Season Three, and of course my Mr. Wonderful Walt who cooked, stocked groceries, created recipes, encouraged me while riding his bike along side me, washed my gym clothes and was so very amazed that I actually got up early each morning. I couldn't have done it without you!

Wow!

Final BMSW3 workout and weigh-in . . . wow! I'm alive and well! It's purely amazing to think about week 1 and compare it to today, 12 weeks later. A year ago I attended the finale. I remember connecting especially to one person's story. I remember thinking I was thankful I wasn't alone in what I was going through. I was also extremely jealous because I knew I needed this so bad. But I couldn't see how in the world I'd ever be able to work it out with my schedule, let alone live through the experience! I prayed about it off and on, and a year later, applying for BMSW3 became possible, and then a reality. In the first three weeks, I cried probably every night thinking it's just too hard. Everything is just too difficult. But deep down I wanted this soooo bad. With the encouragement of a few people, I kept pushing through. One day at a time. Sometimes one moment at a time. And now, week 12. I don't think I've cried in a month :) Not only am I physically healthier, but I have learned sooooo much more in this short time. I can plan and prioritize better. I have a more positive attitude. "Wow" is the only thing going through my mind today :)

So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish

The title of this post comes from the book "The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" and it seems fitting for the end of BMSW.  "So long", both to say goodbye (although most of us will still see each other around the office) and for what we thought would be a long 12 weeks, and also, "the fish" for our new healthier eating and exercise lifestyle.  Thanks to Rick, Tina, E.J., Jen, Frank, Paula, and the alumni who came out to share the journey.

Another quote from the Hitchhiker's Guide is "Don't Panic".  That can be applied to the 10K on Sunday, diet and exercise in the future, and those unexpected temptations that WILL come.  We've made it this far, we can keep it going for the future.