Yesterday, Dan the Mailman dropped of a tiny package of the finest floral spandex at my door. I debated chasing him so I could give him a giddy kiss, but I was too excited to jump into my new tights and hie my hind end to Life Time.
Used to be, deliveries were from the liquor store. Another case of wine. Or from the pizza place. Another extra-large with everything. And breadsticks. With that icky cheesy dipping sauce. Getting out from under the burden of giving up on myself was daunting. I had a lot of help.
At the gym, I stopped to catch my breath between rowing and deadlifts. I caught the motivating smiles in the mirror from other folks devoted to getting it and getting fit. I thought about the top five helpers that kept me going this month:
1. Specific Tracking:
Behold the Soleus Pulse Rhythm, a gift from my number one #InspirationCrush, the World Class Boyfriend. Because nothing says hot love like a hot pink heart monitor. Very cool optical sensor technology and enough functions for me to figure out, I figure it’ll make my brain strong too.
2. Sweet Tunes:
I dance to the beat of my own drum, or whatever wild new tune has found its way into my playlist, which spans the gamut from opera to disco to techno to metal. Topping the charts this month is Uptown Funk. If I had it in a 45 on a Hi-Fi, I’d’ve worn through the grooves by now. A seriously good groove! Don’t believe me? Just watch:
3. Strong Community:
The #FitFam is everywhere: Twitter, Instagram, FaceBook. But some of my favorite faces are those I find up close and personal, like The Muscle Jamboree at the Highland Park Life Time. They do more than coach, the roll up their sleeves and sweat right alongside us. It’s like being in the midst of the gods on Mount Olympus. A taste of training with them is better than the best ambrosia.
Click the pic for fantastic fitness insight and articles.
4. Supportive Friends:
My best fitnessey girlfriend surprised me with the Believe Training Journal, which is jam-packed with inspirational quotes, smart suggestions, tracking methods, and ways to make the most of every step of this crazy year when I’ve said yes to ten 5Ks. What mattered most to me was the sentiment in the gift. She believes in me. I cried big happy gloppy tears and then got busy writing. I’m looking forward to seeing what I’ll reflect back on at the end of the year.
Amazing, the feeling of someone believing in you.
5. Something Pretty:
Which brings me back to Dan the Mailman’s delivery yesterday. The Athleta floral tights I’ve been mooning over since Spring Fashion Week. I’ve sported my share of grotty gym clothes these past few years; ugly unloved stuff from the last-chance outlet store clearance rack. Treating myself to a full-priced highly-prized billboard-smeared pair of tights put me over the edge into fitness bliss. I did everything at the gym yesterday. And some things I did twice.
Never underestimate the power
of buying yourself flowers.
I’m grateful for January. Winter in Minnesota is good incentive to go inside, and they gym is warm. Tomorrow I start February off with a “what was I thinking?” when I meet up my fellow Spartans for the first time for a Spartan Race Workout. If you’re there, come find me. I’ll be the one in the floral spandex.
You get it, you got it, go get ’em!
Propellergirl
