Consistency... is key.

Dear Old Me,

One thing that I know you are more than aware of is that consistency is not your strong suit. Well, I guess I should say it wasn't your strong suit. But things have changed. They have changed in one aspect of your life at least. Because clearly in others (for example, writing in this blog) you have some room to grow.

The one area that I have proven to be consistent is with my exercise. I know for a fact it is because I love it so much. I have uncovered a passion for dance and music that I knew was there, but never thought I could ever do. How could a 320 lb white girl with no rhythm and absolutely no dance experience (not even a single dance lesson as a kid) ever be a dancer. But it is happening... it is happening and it has helped me lose over 150 lbs!

There is no way in a million years that I would have ever stayed so consistent if I was doing a typical exercise routine like the treadmill or other types of aerobic classes even. There is something special and different about Zumba and dance in general. I don't want to take away from the glory of Zumba, but the core of Zumba is dance. Dance will set you free. It is what makes Zumba different and what is incredible is that anyone can do it. The creators of Zumba are inspired in the way they have created a program that allows anyone (yes, ANYONE) the opportunity to dance, the opportunity to feel free and unencumbered even if it is just for that one hour a few times a week. It happens by keeping "exercise" out of the equation or a side note at most. You know you are working harder than you probably ever have at a work out, but it doesn't feel like it. When you are done you are laughing, talking, SMILING! How is that possible? Dance. It truly is amazing and a miracle in my life.

It has given this former fat girl the opportunity for a richer, fuller, happier life full of love, friendship and passion. It has given me the opportunity to know that I can in fact be consistent. I can be consistent with one of the hardest aspects of my life, exercise. I am grateful for the gift that Zumba and dance have given me. I am now the healthiest I have ever been. I have the endurance and stamina equal to any other "fitness buff". I could with  training feel confident to do pretty much any workout from running to rock climbing. This has happened only because I have been consistent. I could love Zumba till the cows come home, but if I did not consistently go and put in the time than I would still be, well you. The unhappy, overweight, lonely, uninspired version of me. So in the end finding a workout you love is important but consistency is key.

I am going to make a serious effort to translate the consistency I find with exercise into other aspects of my life. Namely these letters. I commit to staying consistent and writing every day. Even if it is the most boring drivel and makes no sense to anyone. It will be here.

So, until next time...

The New You
(...now skinnier than you were in high school, YAY!)

Is it really that hard to say "Thank you"?

Dear Old Me,

I am sure of one thing… If I continue to eat properly, work out and drink all of my water each day, stay on plan and stay positive the only outcome will be that I reach my goals. I know I am stronger every day. I recognize my progress in the little things. Last night at Zumba (which kicked some MAJOR ass, btw) I focused on watching myself in the mirror. I saw someone who could pretty much keep up with the instructor and the rest of the class and I am learning to recognize that my hard work is paying off. 

I love Kariné’s classes because I want to push myself harder so I can keep up with her. She told me today that she's stepped up the intensity level in her classes because she has so many regulars both at the Sandy class and at the U (we keep coming back because we love her!!!). She said she doesn’t want to scare the “newbies” away. I understand completely, but I say bring it!!! They will only be a “newbie” once. They will recognize how much fun Zumba is and come back. Each time we come we get that much better and there is always new stuff to challenge us. I love all my Zumba-mates in my Thursday class. Every once in a while I catch a glimpse of them and we are all working so hard. There are a lot of regulars and it is becoming like a little family. We’re all there to have fun, let loose, sweat and get healthy together. There isn’t anything better than that.

I am getting better at getting my body to move in the way that it should and I am proud of myself. Is that wrong to say? Sometimes I feel like it is, but I am getting better. I have always been so self-deprecating because I have never felt like I deserved to be proud of myself. If I ever received a compliment I would immediately say some comment to take the focus away, make fun of myself or something else like that. So many people do this too. We all just need to learn how to say thank you and then the thing we should do is turn it around and compliment your complimentor (I just made up a word, I think). It feels really good to feel good about myself but I feel even better making others feel good. I am proud of what I have accomplished. I’ve worked pretty hard for this. It’s okay to accept praise and then turn around and make the person who went out of their way to pay me a compliment feel good too. Share the love, so to speak. If I did an awesome job at work and everyone was commenting on it I wouldn’t say “Oh, whatever, I still suck at this or that or I did XYZ wrong or I sounded dumb when I said blah, blah, blah.” That would be wrong. The right thing to say is “Thank you, I worked hard on that project. What is awesome is how you handled XYZ during our staff meeting. Way to go!”

I believe true happiness is learning how to accept who we are and knowing that it is all good regardless of what anyone else thinks. We should strive to not speak in a negative way about ourselves or others. Accept praise, let it make you feel good and then move on. When we hear negative things or think negative thoughts we need to let them go even faster. Make a conscious effort to always be positive. The last thing the universe needs is another negative word or thought floating around! We should only speak when it is in the direction of progress, truth and love. Like my mom used to say "If you don't have anything good to say, than don't say anything at all." I would add something else to that though. I would say if you don't have anything good to say, than don't say anything at all... and don't think it either!!!

So to get what you really want you have to stay focus and recognize your progress. Continue to do the things that you know will make a difference and accept praise for a job well done. Today I am going to embrace what I have accomplished. I am going to relish in the fact that my legs are skinnier than I ever remember them being, I can dance for an hour or more straight, I can stay on my food plan, I can comfortably button up a pair of size 12 pants that I never could have a month ago. I feel stronger and healthier than I ever have in my entire life. I am truly proud of myself and not afraid to admit it. The more that I accept that this is how I feel, the happier I get. I am proud and humbled by my progress. I have to remember that this is a gift and feeling this way takes a lot of hard work. It takes focus and perseverance. It’s hard, but at the same time it is so, so easy. If you continue to recognize your forward movement, celebrate it, invite others who recognize it along with you for the ride, and stay consistent than only good things will happen. It is so strange how it works the same way as when we belittle ourselves. The more we speak negatively the less happy we feel and the more people don’t want to be around us. It seems crazy that it is that simple, but it is. It is amazing to start really believing it.

I have seriously got to get to work. So, until the next time…

Love,

The New You