Wellness Warriors: Week 1

Last night was the BIG meeting with Chantel Hobbs.

Have you ever been in a room full of people where everyone knew what was going on but you were just a little bit clueless?  Yep - that was me.  So here is what I've gathered so far...

This is a group 6 people from across the country.  I'm still learning names (but I doubt I'll ever mention them by name specifically on this blog).  Everyone needs to loose anywhere between 20 lbs to 100 lbs. (I'm at about the 40 lb mark.)  Chantel is our cheerleader/guide, and the goal is that we lean on one another.

She emphasized and re-emphasized that she had thousands of entries.  So as she is talking about this, I'm sitting there thinking "How in the WORLD did mine get picked?"  I have no clue.  As a Christian, she said she prayed over them and she felt everyone was chosen purposefully according to His will.  So this has really gotten me to thinking...

God has been nudging me back on the weight loss track.  It has been a small nudge here and there.  I keep saying I have no time.  Yet here I am...thrown in with a group of strangers all talking about our goals etc and how we are going to do them. I feel obligated to make the most of the opportunity. It definitely is an opportunity! And it seems like such a rare one - that to pass it up because I'm too tired seems like such a chicken answer.

So I have found myself thinking ALL MORNING about how the heck I'm going to fit in 30 minutes of cardio 5 times a week (one of our homework assignments).  I parked my car in the back of the parking lot, as a starting place.  And I have two choices for putting back my exercise regime into my day.  I can either get up earlier (I already get up at 5 AM to pump) or I can give up my evening wind-down TV.

My fear is that if I exercise at night and expect to go directly to bed...I'll be too full of adrenaline and end up staying up even later.

My fear is that when I see the "4" on the alarm clock, I simply won't be able to motivate myself to get out of bed after being up with Ruth 2-4 times during the night.

Chantel went around to each person and chatted with them about exercise.  I accidentally dropped off for a moment (my silly cheek - of ALL the times to hang up accidentally!), so I wasn't exactly sure of the question.  She asked if I liked exercise. I told her no.  ;-)  But then we started talking about my time dilemma.

Before I continue - let me say that this is one area the "virtual" Chantel has challenged me before.  In her book "Never Say Diet" she talks about time as an excuse.  At first, I was offended.  SHE didn't know my situation.  HOW DARE she make such a broad statement!!!  Turns out - she was right. ;-)  I magically found time in my day to exercise.

During the meeting, Chantel told me I was in a vicious cycle...too exhausted to work out when in fact if I did muster the energy to do it, I would probably be less tired.  She didn't really say too much more about it.  I have to say I was relieved she didn't tell me time was just an excuse. ;-)  BUT I have been pondering the whole vicious cycle concept.

To break a cycle, you must make a change.  So what kind of change am I going to make?  I'm unsure of that as of yet but I do know I will make one.

NOTE:  I started this entry yesterday.  I did end up attempting a work out last night.  I wouldn't say it went well...I was only able to complete half of it because Ruth was screaming and William couldn't get her calmed down.  And THEN I was just wide awake and didn't go to bed until after 11.  I don't feel too bad today (well, other than being sore!), but it is early morning and who knows what will happen later! :-)  I guess that is why this is a process!