I truly believe that in order to be the most productive at work and at home you must take care of your health and well-being first. One year ago I started out on a journey that led me to discover the benefits a regular workout schedule and improved eating habits would have in my life. I’ve always thought of myself as an active person, playing sports from softball to curling to figure skating in my youth and then attempting to keep up a gym schedule, and sporadically running as I got older, and less involved in organized activity. Never though, have I been in better health as I am now.
Last spring, after an unusually difficult winter, I had a melt down over a pair of pants that no longer fit. At that point I was determined to do whatever it took to get back in shape and back into those pants! It took me a couple of months to find the fitness program that would work best for me and my schedule. Through a co-worker I was introduced to Goals in Motion (GIM) - Ames. GIM offers a full body workout, alternating between kick-boxing for cardio and resistance training using bands, core balls, kettle bells and bodyweight exercises.
GIM introduces people to their program through a 9-week challenge that includes fitness and nutrition coaching. At the beginning of the challenge you weigh-in, take body composition measurements and do fitness tests, including push-ups, sit-ups, sit and reach and a mile run. These may seem like daunting challenges all on their own, but none were as humbling as the “before picture” that had to be snapped prior to starting the program. Of course, you’re not required to strip down to your skivvies in front of anyone but the owner of the studio, but still, just knowing those images would be permanent record of the state of one’s physic at a particularly low time of self-appreciation is nothing short of terrifying.
Once the initial testing was over, the real work began. I was lucky to have my husband join me in this adventure, which made it much easier to get up at 5:00am, to work-out each morning at 6:00am. I will be honest; I used to scoff at the idea of getting up at that hour to workout. I swore I was not a morning person and could NEVER make that happen. I believed the only thing people should be doing at 5:00am is sleeping. Turns out - people can change. For over a year now, I’ve been getting up at 5:00am, six days a week to get my workout in. It is so much easier to do it at that time of day, than try to fit it in after eight hours at the office and between kids’ activities.
The first workout was grueling. It didn’t help that the first week of our challenge fell right in the middle of our county fair and that the first day was actually the day the kids showed their lambs in the 100+ degree heat and humidity. Because of the busy day, we had elected to work-out that evening. My husband and I are both very determined and committed and would not think of missing the initial work-out, regardless of the tough day we had put in. To put it gently, that workout kicked our butts. Mark was nearly incoherent for an hour afterwards! Well, we survived that day and pushed through to the end of our challenge, thanks to excellent instructors, coaches and the sense of accountability that comes from the group fitness setting.
It was amazing to see the improvements we had made in our strength and endurance, and those “after pictures”, although still humbling were not nearly as scary as the “before pictures”. The change in weight, body composition and fitness level were awesome and even better was the impact the increased activity had on my overall health, including state of mind, cholesterol, triglycerides - you name it, and it was improved.
Everyday, it becomes more apparent that most things in life are out of our control, but eating well and being physically active are two things well with-in everyone’s power. It is up to me and me alone if I decide to get out of bed in the morning to work out. Once I get there, I decide how hard I’m going to work and how far I’m going to push myself that day. I know the positive impact GIM has had on my life and I encourage you all to take the initiative to do something like this for yourself. If you live in the Ames area, feel free to come to GIM this week for a free, 6-day trial before the next challenge starts on Aug 6th. If you don’t live in the area, find something in your community that you love to do that keeps you active and engaged. Do it for you; do it for your family; and do it for your professional life; you’ll be glad you did.
