Motivation To Move | Community

Goal Accomplished!!! Share your Successes

2007-12-18T13:05:01-05:00

It’s the end of the year and before we jump right into goal setting how about taking a few minutes to share you success stories from 2007. Sometimes we don’t realize just how far we’ve come until we look back for a few minutes.

I remember climbing Tuckerman’s Ravine on Mount Washington in New Hampshire many years ago. We were hiking with skies and were planning on skiing the headwall. We climbed slowly, one step at a time climbing up steps that had been packed in the snow. Finally, when we took a break and looked back, we realized just how far we had climbed, even though while we were climbing, all we saw was more snow and more steps ahead. From our spot on the mountain, it seemed like we could see forever, the cars below looked like ants, we could see Wildcat Ski area.... All we did was look at our journey from a different perspective to appreciate how much progress we had made up that mountain.

This year, I’ve accomplished many goals, and not accomplished others. The most important is my relationship with my boyfriend. With lots of support from MTM and others, I’ve made some significant breakthroughs in the relationship and we have found something that will last for a long long time. Accomplishing the goal, just means that I will make new goals to continue to improve and enrich the relationship. Next year we want to find a place to live together, and who knows what else.

I finally learned to roll my kayak - Remember that I was going to learn to roll or drown trying. I’m happy to say that I’m alive and breathing, and it’s not salt water that I am breathing. In addition to just the rolling skills, I also took an instructor’s workshop and started teaching kayaking. Rolling was the hardest skill that I ever tried to learn. It’s not intuitive, requires being comfortable under water wearing a 17’ boat, and is a combination of coordination and flexibility more than strength. Once it’s mastered, it’s very easy to do. I was at the point of giving up by the end of the summer, but then I pushed through, kept going and finally did it. Another month of twice a week pool sessions and practice, practice, practice, I finally think I have it. That doesn’t mean stop practicing though, I’ll be back in the pool when it opens again next year.

There are other smaller goals that I’ve accomplished - some at work, some around the house, some with friends. I’m grateful for the support and encouragement found here at MTM. I’m looking forward to hearing about everyone else’s success this year.

The weirdest thing happened at the gym today….

2008-02-29T09:08:31-05:00

So I’m running along on the treadmill today at the gym at work and I have the whole place to myself. Then a senior VP comes wandering in stops beside my treadmill and just looks at me. Once I finish fumbling around with my ipod to turn it off and not fall off the treadmill he says:I see that you’ve started running, good for you. At this point I’m just thinking, I’m at the total other end of the corporate food chain, you even know who I am? Then he says, “I’m also a trainer at the Running Room, If you ever have any questions or need any help I’ll be glad to help you.” (At this point I’m just going...Ummmmmmmmm) Then i mentioned I was thinking about trying my hand (or feet) at a 5K but all the ones I’ve seen were on Sundays and I wasn’t free. So he says I’ll be right back. A few minutes later he comes back with 2 5K’s written on a piece of paper, both on Saturdays and says I’ll see you there!

So I guess I’m running in a 5K!?!

Its funny, the day before my friend asked me to try a 10K walk/run with her, but I’m leaving for Halifax the day before. Seems the universe is trying to tell me something! Who am I to question?

Then and Now Full Body Photo Challenge!

2007-05-26T14:45:33-05:00

OK, I need some help. As some of you know, I had an emotional issue with before and after pictures last weekend. The after pictures were all so perfect, and I got discouraged. Scott always says “see it for what it is, for what is real” but with these before/after pics, I have no conception of what is real, what is possible. I only have the advertiser’s airbrushed, Photoshopped, perfect ideals. In my 100 Day’s Journal, I said it would be cool if we had a place here at MTM for real before/after shots. Gina said before/current as she’s not yet an after. Me neither. Then I remembered the Sweaty T-Shirt Contest thread, and so I came up with the Then and Now Full Body Challenge.

It would help me out a lot if you could show me some real then/now pics. I know some of you have posted full body before pics, Bree and Carlyn come to my mind. You’ve only seen my before face in my original avatar. Lots of us have posted current pics, me included. I would like a place to come and see these photos all in one place, to get a feel for Real Results from Real People! Could you please help me out?

Since I’m a great believer in the down ‘n dirty truth, I’ll take a BIG breath, a REALLY BIG Breath, and post my then and now pics first. It’s lonely here all by myself, please join in!

So, at not quite 5’2”, Then at 330 (with my cane), and Now at 225.