Frustrated & Motivated! Weigh in Update

I am not so much as disappointed as I am frustrated. I have been pushing hard in the gym with weights, running more than I ever have before. Swimming has slowed down and perhaps that needs to be added back into the mix. I stepped on the scale today waiting to be rewarded with a number in the 200’s. The scale came back with 300 exactly. I am tired of seeing the “3”, I feel like I have earned my right to get out of the 300 club forever, but the scale says otherwise. After the rough couple of weeks that I have had I did some reflecting and came up with an action plan to reach that next level.  I am getting close to 6 months out and have lost 152 pounds and my goal of 225 is only 75 pounds away. I will meet this goal by 5/22/2013, and I wouldn’t be telling the truth if I didn’t say that I want to beat that date by a significant amount of time.

Last night I did something that I have wanted to do for a long time. I went to a place called Fitness Never Sleeps or FNS. It’s a gym, but not like one of the traditional sense. I knew I was reaching my limits on my own and thought about finding a personal trainer, but I have played that game and didn’t particularly enjoy it. Perhaps that was my old self thinking, but I didn’t feel like a trainer understood me and what my goals and intentions where and only stuck to their “normal” routine.  I was more than nervous even though it was an old friend that invited me and was there with me. He too made a significant life change a few years back and he is now where I want to be in a year! (Well done Sean, your dedication to a new better version of yourself is something that will be rewarded with additional years of quality life!)  I have been working my ass off (literally) for the past 5 months, but let’s face it I am still a 300 pound man! I was afraid of being embarrassed by my lack of ability or the fear of not fitting in. I imagined this place full of top notch athletes that might look at me like I was the kind of person that disgusted them. I know you might think to yourself, if I thought that then why on earth would I go….? Well I want to be one of those top notch athletes and when I get there and along my journey my focus will be to help as many people who want/need it to join me.  Also, please don’t get me wrong, these stereotypes are only ones that I have driven into my head and used as excuses to avoid places like this in the past. I am a new man from a health perspective and seeking that next level of fitness to push to me to be a stronger, healthier and a more driven version of myself. I am seeking what I will call Mario2.0!

Right as I walked through the door I was greeted and felt very comfortable. My old friend showed me around, it’s not this huge facility meant to impress you with fancy towels, nifty workout machines and cable TV. I saw it as a place of business, a place of focus, a place that could change my life! As I looked out the window of the top floor yoga studio into the workout area, I watched the 5:30 PM class going through their workout. It was intense to say the least, I knew I was about to be challenged and nerves set in again. As the clock hit the 6:30 mark, we were quickly taken outside for a warm up. I have to laugh here because this warm up was one that I could have not completed just a few months ago! We then went inside and were instructed on the workout and stations for that night. With the warm up complete and sweat dripping from my face the real work out began. This is a class setting of small groups, and throughout the entire thing I was pushed by myself, other members and the trainers! The experience was wonderful, but exhausting. I found what I needed, I am still very new but this place just felt right! The ora, the sense of community and ideals all fit with what I need in my life. There are top notch athletes here, along with people of all various physical capacities. I felt welcomed and encouraged and even more motivated than I could have ever imagined. In just one work out all of these feelings existed and excitement has set in. I am going back tonight and many more nights to come! If you live in the south bay and want to improve your health with a well-rounded approach you would be silly not to at least give this place a try!

I am excited about my new found discovery, I know this is exactly what I needed to go to the next level!

Until Next Time – Warrior, Training for a Turkey Trot!

Mario