chub for change

I'm getting ready to hop in the shower after my first spinning class since last November. That's right, you're not crazy, it's Friday and I was up before noon.

Despite the fact that it was raining crushed ice, I was invited/motivated by my close pal Linds to join her in the 12:00pm spinning class at the Aquatic and Fitness Center here on campus. I dragged my ass out of bed circa 10am and popped a load of laundry in while I ate breakfast (yeah i'm eating in the mornings now, and yeah, i get up in the mornings now). I checked my image issues at the door, pulled on my spandex shorts and threw on a DMB tour t-shirt. After filling up my water bottle and putting my ear buds in, I was off to spin the fat.

In an effort to wake myself up and get energized I put Cotton Eye Joe on repeat on my iPod. No T.I, no Bon Jovi, no Beyonce, just my favorite guilty pleasure work out song straight from the Jock Jams archive. When you're new to Friday mornings, you have to pull out the big guns in order to be a highly-functional human being and not worry about listening to hip tunes. I wasn't feeling hip. I was feeling like a sleepy fatty 2x4 that was braving an Icee downpour to participate in a high octane workout. When I'm rise n' shine Fitness Barbie then I'll listen to the Black Eyed Peas or Rihanna.

I met up with Lindsey, secured the bike in the back corner by the fan and voluntarily surrendered myself for a royal ass-kicking by the 4'10" ripped oompa loompa who was calling the shots out front. She had a wife beater tank on that said "lil killer" on the back with iron-on letters and a white bandanna tied around her head Hulk Hogan style. Her little nugget body looked like 90% muscle. The workout was truly strenuous, worked us hard, and overall I approved her choice of tunes. The only thing that made me want to halfway punch her was that when a power song came on she would indulge in some busch league dance motions and lip sync the words complete with facial expressions. This isn't America's Got Talent, I get that your one of those people that wakes up in the morning chomping at the bit to get off on a killer workout and then go drink a protein shake and feel like your body's hugging you. But I prefer instructors that tone down the personality parade and push me to ride my legs down to stumps. Someone akin to Jillian Michaels on the Biggest Loser. I believe that woman could make me into an Olympian. Nonetheless, I did feel like I hit my burn and got a stellar workout.

I really only made myself one pledge for this new year and that was to get my body back in the game. Boost my fitness level, trim the fat, tone the muscles, improve my diet & eating habits, and get the sleep I need. I'm not a pudgy porker or anything but over my college years I've accumulated about 10-15 pounds that I need to drop to be at my healthy weight. But I'm not interested in any dieting or metabolism shortcuts. Everyone knows those are quick fixes that aren't healthy roads to fitness. I'm looking to make a few modified lifestyle changes that will get my body back in shape and help me maintain that level of well being for the remainder of my adult life. Despite my sarcastic and borderline curmudgeon attitude earlier, I'm actually very optimistic and enthusiastic about committing to this process and reaping the benefits. There is a certain satisfaction you get from actively working for a change you want to see. Which is why I'm most inspired by the overweight, unhealthy, unkempt bodies that I see in the gym and out about campus walking, running, biking, and playing sports. Not the trim fit bodies. Because it's the hefty people struggling in the gym that embodies the spirit of change. Checking your excuses and insecurities at the door in exchange for something better, something more, something for you. The gratification comes when you get your ass up and doing something by you for you. Because you know you can do it and you deserve it. You are worthy of better.

When people aren't happy with an area(s) of their life and know they aren't living they way they want to/can then they lower the expectations of what they deserve and aspire to. I've done this myself. They surround themselves with people who enable their vices and weaknesses, they spend energy on finding excuses, they lower the standards of their achievements and on their overall quality of living. It's a vicious cycle that develops a strong hold on you. I've been there. It's dark place where complacency is your greatest danger.

I've known for a while that I wanted better but it was just recently that I developed the desire to change what I want into what I have. Mostly because I feel like I've really started to get my shit together as young adult in other areas of my life and I believe that by finally reclaiming my fitness I'll also begin to feel that I deserve better in other things. For instance a healthy relationship with someone who also takes great care of themselves and keeps a healthy lifestyle. Someone who is hard working, dependable, fun, intelligent, and has a zest for life. I'll deserve better roles and opportunities in my professional life. I'll deserve to have children that I raise with confidence as a healthy parent who models a healthy lifestyle. These are all things I deserve and that only I can give myself. I must desire them, work for the change, and take the reigns of the new life I make.

So here's 2010 and all the chubbies in the gym. We're all in the same boat. Let's do this.