Be Encouraged...Bootcamp Busts My Butt Whilst Teaching Life Lessons

The alarm goes off at 5:00 A.M. It's really 4:40 because I set it 20 minutes early to give myself some time... to realize the commitment made, stick to my intentions when I made the commitment and finally... to get up in time to make the 5:30 bootcamp class at the YMCA. It happens to be on a Monday, and I read a tip from a trainer that says Monday sets the workout tone for the rest of the week. Well, Monday bears that burden or that honor, depending on how you see it, for most areas of my life. If I get up on Monday morning, I'm more likely to get up and work out for most of the mornings of that week. While all of this is true and important and probably more insightful than you ever thought it would be, it's hardly the point I was making. The point is that I have been getting up for this bootcamp class at the Y, and it has been kicking my butt in a colossal way. The first time I took the class, I almost cried in the middle of bear crawling and frog jumping on the basketball court; this was after a couple of rounds of burpees and squats. "Why am I here" is what I kept asking myself as I got tired and frustrated because I was the "least of these" in the class. I was the only obese person. And while I know I was not the only one struggling, it felt like it in the moment. I was on the verge of tears. I felt every wave of emotion coming from all the times I'd struggled with the dichotomy of weight loss and acceptance of who I am in the present while trying to lose the weight. I was also just discouraged because the exercises were downright hard. I didn't cry. I talked myself out of the pity party and instead turned it into a moment of encouragement. "You showed up, and not a lot of folks can say the same"; "You are on the journey and just because this is a hard place doesn't mean you give up or give in". I spoke a word over myself, and I kept going and eventually, the hour long class was over. I have since been back every week for about a month. I'm getting stronger, and I'm losing some weight. A butt kicking bootcamp is nothing for this Monday morning workout maven! Keep moving your feet and your mind and heart will catch up...oh and so will the rest of your body.