Hello, all and sundry!  I have been listening to the MTM podcast for about 6 - 7 weeks, and gaining a lot of great information and motivation for my career pursuits as a Membership Counselor for L.A. Fitness.  I NEVER, EVER thought I’d be doing what I’m doing with my life!  Seven years ago, I was (at 5’4") almost 300 lbs., and confined to a wheelchair with Lupus and Fibromyalgia, looking like I was in my 60’s at age 40.  People were guessing me to be my kids’ grandmother, instead of their mother!  Now, people guess that I am in my early 30’s, and are surprised that I have a son in college!  But, it happened because I started by WANTING the change in my life.  I began nutrienting my body and working out.  My first workout?  Get out of the wheelchair and walk for one minute as far as you can as fast as you can.  Do that for a week, then try for two minutes.  And so on.  Now, I am actually helping others plan their own gym workouts, and - you guessed it! - getting others who have been physically compromised to move!  What a rush!  No longer do I have the physique of Jabba the Hut!  I’m not at my “ultimate goal” yet (not even sure what that will be!), but I’ve reached some great interim ones, and have more in the future!  My motto is: Just one more!  (That used to mean doughnuts, but now, it’s push-ups, minutes on the treadmill or reps on a machine.  LOL)

I’d love to hear from any of you, especially in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex!

Hi HealthyWealthyYY,

Welcome to MTM-land!  Your story is so inspiring!  I’m looking forward to hearing more about your continuing journey.  I think you’ve got a lot of wisdom to share with us.

Cheers,
Julie

Wow Great Story…

As to your poll...I’m broke most of the time so Price is my #1 factor for picking a gym.  Next one is Location...if you can’t get there whats the point!

Welcome Healthy,

To anyone who says “oh there is no way I can do that.” Your story should serve as a wake up call.  Most people in your position would have given up.  I don’t even know you and I am so proud of what you have accomplished.  It makes me want to stand up and go outside for a walk around the block....

O.K. I am back that felt great!!!!  That is the amazing part about what we are doing here at MTM land.  We are inspiring others to do the same.  By putting ourselves out there for the world to see, one cannot help feel something inside. 

Keep up the great work, I look forward to learning from your experiences.

All the best,
Stu

What an inspiring story!

I’m in the Metroplex, have been for some time now.  New to the MTM community, but determined to make it work this time.  I’m exercising more now that the pools are open, but have trouble getting it done otherwise.  I’m considering signing up for a class to make me accountable to someone.

Thank you, everyone, for your votes of confidence and pride.  It sure makes a girl feel good to have her hard work appreciated!

One thing that Newbie brought up is something I see and hear about in the Club all the time - the idea of accountability.  I know that having someone who will notice whether I do what I say I want to do health and fitness-wise makes a lot of difference to me, so I try to be that person for all my members.  I have one little lady (not even enrolled by me, but we just “resonate") who is in every single morning.  She has come a long way, overcoming a great deal to achieve even the ability to come to the Club to work out.  I admire her spirit, and always try to take the time to really SEE her and tell her how special and wonderful she is.  So many people don’t realize that taking the opportunity to say something true that is nice about another person can make all the difference. 

I have a “treasure map” that I made, using cutouts of all the sorts of things I want to manifest in my life, and as people tell me good things about myself, I put them on Post-It notes and stick them to the map.  It’s sort of like finding the dropped dubloons on the way to the buried treasure.  It’s not the whole thing, but it makes you feel like you’re getting warm, at least.

Does anyone else here have a “treasure map” of the goals they are working on?  I actually am feeling the need to make a new one, as some of my focus has changed.  I am beginning to value my inner riches more, and taking time to develop my character, rather than focusing on the more materialistic goals I had initially set.  It’s a change, and not necessarily a comfortable one, but one that I am seeing is long overdue, and makes me feel even more joy and self-esteem than having all the goodies on my “old” map.  It’s also more under my own control than any economic gains I might realize.