The First Step…

It’s always the hardest step you will ever make, that first one, into something new, something unknown.

I know this.  I have literally just done it.

Long-time readers of this old blog will know that sometimes I am really into my fitness.  And sometimes I’m all about the cake.  And then I might be on a fast, a cleanse, some diet or other.

Yep that’s me.  Little Miss Inconsistent.

I also have occasional periods of great anxiety and depression, though thankfully not too often.

I was struck with a pretty bad one this year though that really knocked me sideways.  Full on sucker-punched me to the floor, straight out of nowhere, ten tonne strike.  And you know what, as with every other time this has happened, I clawed my way, with much help I might add, to the other side a little bit wiser and a little bit stronger.  BUT this time something was different.  I AM different.  I didn’t come out a little bit stronger, I came out gloves on, arms swinging, mouthguard in and fighting.

So what made the difference?

I think it started with a group I had been running, my 21 day fixers.  Prior to the killer blow landing I had not long finished running a closed online support group for a small bunch of women aiming to get a bit fitter and healthier and support each other through it.  Some were training for races, a lot of us did the 21 day Fix together, a 3 week fitness challenge.  Whatever we were doing we posted in this group daily, cheered each other on and got each other through. We also helped to pick each other up when we fell spectacularly off the wagon and, trust me, sometimes my wagon wasn’t even in sight anymore.  

It was women supporting other women and it was awesome.  It’s very true what they say.  It is the strong women in life that lift each other up rather than put each other down, and that is exactly what this group did.  And it made me that bit stronger.  It gave me that bit of extra strength that enabled me to kick the arse of this latest bleak episode right back down to the mat.

I had started the group as a trial as, for a while, I had considered becoming a Beachbody coach.  Tom and I did Insanity years ago and have done several other Beachbody workouts since but, guess what, I was never consistent.  I would lose a bunch of weight, and trust me I did…

…and then I would gradually put it all back on again.

I knew that Beachbody were launching in the UK, and MY Beachbody coach kept encouraging me to go for it.

But I wanted to try it out first, to see if I could actually help other people, online, with their fitness goals.  And I actually did with this group.  And it felt great!  This is what happened…

I was gobsmacked, truly, but it gave me that little bit more faith in myself.  That little bit more inner strength to come out fighting.  That little bit more courage to take that first step.

There are basically 3 reasons I eventually took that step and became a fully signed up Beachbody coach.

1. The discount.  Seriously.  You start drinking Shakeology and you’re going to keep on drinking it.  Trust me.  I’ve spent the last two years having it posted out from the USA because it wasn’t available here, thankfully it now is, BUT it is NOT cheap.  And there are several very good reasons for that but that is another post in itself. The discount alone was ALMOST enough to convince me. “Discount Coach” is an actual term in Beachbody land and there are lots of them.
2. Accountability.  This is a BIG one for me because, guess what, I CRAVE CONSISTENCY but I’m really, really bad at it.  So, I have made the commitment to myself, and my group, that if I am going to be out there telling them every day to get up and press play I better damn well be doing it myself.  And I have.  Amazingly I’ve not missed a day yet and I even let them pick my latest programme.  Because I have promised to lead by example I am doing 12 weeks of P90x3. I am just two days in so far and cannot do a single pull up.  Not one.  I literally dangle from that bar like a rag doll. But when I started Insanity I couldn’t do a single press up on my toes.  Now I can do 8 or 9 before I collapse.  I have high hopes for this programme.  I even got myself out of bed this morning for a run…
3. THOSE COMMENTS FROM MY FIXERS, THOSE AWESOME PEOPLE THAT GOT ME THROUGH.  If I can help even just one person a month this way, THAT is what I want.  Women supporting women. Women supporting men. PEOPLE supporting people.

To my little Fixers group, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  The strength that group has given me is quite incredible. Every day I am reaching WAY out of my comfort zone.  I am speaking to people online I never would have had the courage to before and, you know what, I have whole bunch of new friends.

I am working out daily.

I am eating better, but not 100% of the time.  I’m aiming for 5 days a week being good, I’ll let myself have the other 2 without restriction.  I am setting myself realistic goals and I am striving for them every single day.

I feel different.  And apparently it shows.

I had a meeting with my GP first thing.  I ran there so I was a red-faced, sweaty mess when she called me in.  Her first words were, “Well something has changed!  You look great!”.  And you know what, the old me would have laughed self deprecatingly and countered with “What this fat sweaty mess?”.  Today, before I could even think about it I heard “Thanks, I feel it”.  I JUST TOOK A COMPLIMENT.

And it felt great, you should try it.  The next time someone tells you that you look good don’t get all embarrassed and point to the pounds you wish you could lose or mention how your hair needs cutting.  Try saying “I know right?”

It feels good!

So, this is the very beginning of my coaching journey.  Where it will lead me I have literally no clue but I am excited to find out.

I’ll keep you posted.

Also, if you think you might be the next person I might be able to support just drop me a line here or come find me as jbmumofone on the book of faces and you can always PM me there.  

Maybe it is time for you to take that first step?  Deep breaths and…54321go!