BelovedHeather
Cathlete
Another month is almost over, and it is time to flip my Cathe calendar again. This is not the update I was hoping to share, and I was tempted to skip it this month. But I made a commitment to stay accountable this way for a year, and this is one commitment I can keep even when the scale does not cooperate.
All in all, I consider this a victorious month. After an extremely stressful September, I got back on track in October. I was hoping to have a boring month so I could focus on my fitness journey. It was anything but boring. An unexpected phone conversation challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and face old fears. I did so victoriously and decided that I would not let insecurities about my weight and size keep me stuck in a familiar comfort zone. A friend told me years ago that comfort zones are the lobby of hell. I certainly do not want to stay there. My faith was stretched this month, and that is a good thing!
I received an e-mail that upset me and saddened me greatly. In a moment of insecurity, I took a flying flip off the wagon and comforted myself with a small cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread, salt and vinegar chips, a small cinnamon roll, and a glass of sweet tea. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever conquer emotional eating for good. I was faithful with my game plan for 18 days. I blew it that weekend, but I got back on track before a lapse turned into a relapse and a total collapse. I hate conflict and confrontation, but I needed to respond to the e-mail and express that I was not happy. I was raised in an abusive home. I learned to walk on eggshells and be a good girl all the time to avoid rocking the boat. I never knew what would trigger my stepfather's violent anger. As a result, I learned to stuff down my feelings with food. I am finally learning to share my feelings and speak up if something or someone upsets me (even at the risk of being rejected and losing the approval of someone I love). It was hard for me, but it was the right and healthy thing for me to do instead of keeping those feelings all bottled up inside and stuffing them down with food or making myself sick with anxiety. I did not need to vent to other people. That often becomes a form of gossip. I needed to go the source and express my feelings. I stumbled and did some emotional eating over it, but I ultimately rose to the challenge and did the right thing. After a lifetime of unhealthy relationships, I am learning to trust again. I have always known how to give love. I am slowly opening my heart and learning to be loved again. October was a month of deep and intense emotional healing (that started during the Road Trip). Living fit and free is an inside out transformation.
I had a weighty revelation this month. Miss Cathe inspired me to buy heavy weights. When I picked up a 20-pound weight, it dawned on me that 20 pounds is a lot of weight! I was feeling discouraged for “only” losing 20 pounds so far this year. When I carried the 25-pound weights (for a total of 50 pounds) up the stairs, I was carrying the equivalent of the 50 pounds of excess baggage I hauled around all the time when I started this journey at 260 pounds. No wonder my feet and joints hurt all the time! I was in such bad shape that I had to rest after every few steps to catch my breath. I am rejoicing in my heart and praising God for the amazing progress I have made. Yes, I am still a long way from my goal, but I am filled with renewed hope after carrying these heavy weights from my car to my home. I am a visual learner, and I can finally imagine how much lighter on my feet I will be and how much better I will feel when I break free from this fat cocoon.
Hell froze over this month too. This cardio queen embraced heavy weight training and found weight workouts I love in Cathe’s 4-Day Split! All in all, I am delighted with this new series. I had such a good time with the double cardio premix from the 4-Day Split Friday morning. Lower Intensity Step has my all-time favorite warm-up of any workout I have ever experienced (live or on video by Cathe or anyone else). It is dancy and so much fun. I fell in love with the hip hop move during Cathe’s Friday morning step class and the Road Trip. I love the step sweep in the first combination too. Higher Intensity Step is a blast too! I wanted something as much fun as Cathe’s Friday morning step class on DVD, and she granted my wish with these new workouts. The choreography is creative, dancy, fresh, and fun with some of my favorite moves like mambos, cha chas, triple steps, figure 8s, power jigs, ponies, pivots, spins, and turns. This is definitely in the same league with my beloved Rhythmic Step and Step Works! Boot Camp is more playful and fun than I expected it to be, and I am delighted with Kickbox. It brings back warm memories of the Road Trip. This is without a doubt my favorite kickboxing workout. I would love to have Rhythmic Step 2 as well as a long kickboxing workout similar in style and intensity to this one. I love dancy and complex step choreography, but I prefer simpler kickboxing drills so I can free my mind and focus on executing the moves with good form. This is the first kickboxing workout that makes me happy! I love Cathe’s other kickboxing workouts, but there is something special about this one.
Yes, I was frustrated and discouraged when I stepped on the scale Monday and saw a 10-pound gain after my first week of heavy weight training. I am thankful for all the encouraging words y’all shared with me, and I am trusting that this is a temporary setback. I am still inspired and still believe with all my heart that Cathe's 4-Day Split is indeed my breakthrough series! I have not been this excited about my fitness journey in a long time!
Wow! It takes a lot of words to put a positive spin on gaining 10 pounds in a week! LOL! I still love Cathe, but the new workouts need a warning label if this is a side effect of heavy weight training! LOL! Okay, I am going to be brave and record my weight on my calendar for this month. Ugh!
I have a new birthday to add to my calendar this month. My precious nephew was born this week! He arrived 2 weeks early and still weighed in at 8 pounds, 3 ounces. Meet my beloved Grant:
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=18193449&uid=3778596&members=1
Blessings,
Heather B.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).
All in all, I consider this a victorious month. After an extremely stressful September, I got back on track in October. I was hoping to have a boring month so I could focus on my fitness journey. It was anything but boring. An unexpected phone conversation challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and face old fears. I did so victoriously and decided that I would not let insecurities about my weight and size keep me stuck in a familiar comfort zone. A friend told me years ago that comfort zones are the lobby of hell. I certainly do not want to stay there. My faith was stretched this month, and that is a good thing!
I received an e-mail that upset me and saddened me greatly. In a moment of insecurity, I took a flying flip off the wagon and comforted myself with a small cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread, salt and vinegar chips, a small cinnamon roll, and a glass of sweet tea. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever conquer emotional eating for good. I was faithful with my game plan for 18 days. I blew it that weekend, but I got back on track before a lapse turned into a relapse and a total collapse. I hate conflict and confrontation, but I needed to respond to the e-mail and express that I was not happy. I was raised in an abusive home. I learned to walk on eggshells and be a good girl all the time to avoid rocking the boat. I never knew what would trigger my stepfather's violent anger. As a result, I learned to stuff down my feelings with food. I am finally learning to share my feelings and speak up if something or someone upsets me (even at the risk of being rejected and losing the approval of someone I love). It was hard for me, but it was the right and healthy thing for me to do instead of keeping those feelings all bottled up inside and stuffing them down with food or making myself sick with anxiety. I did not need to vent to other people. That often becomes a form of gossip. I needed to go the source and express my feelings. I stumbled and did some emotional eating over it, but I ultimately rose to the challenge and did the right thing. After a lifetime of unhealthy relationships, I am learning to trust again. I have always known how to give love. I am slowly opening my heart and learning to be loved again. October was a month of deep and intense emotional healing (that started during the Road Trip). Living fit and free is an inside out transformation.
I had a weighty revelation this month. Miss Cathe inspired me to buy heavy weights. When I picked up a 20-pound weight, it dawned on me that 20 pounds is a lot of weight! I was feeling discouraged for “only” losing 20 pounds so far this year. When I carried the 25-pound weights (for a total of 50 pounds) up the stairs, I was carrying the equivalent of the 50 pounds of excess baggage I hauled around all the time when I started this journey at 260 pounds. No wonder my feet and joints hurt all the time! I was in such bad shape that I had to rest after every few steps to catch my breath. I am rejoicing in my heart and praising God for the amazing progress I have made. Yes, I am still a long way from my goal, but I am filled with renewed hope after carrying these heavy weights from my car to my home. I am a visual learner, and I can finally imagine how much lighter on my feet I will be and how much better I will feel when I break free from this fat cocoon.
Hell froze over this month too. This cardio queen embraced heavy weight training and found weight workouts I love in Cathe’s 4-Day Split! All in all, I am delighted with this new series. I had such a good time with the double cardio premix from the 4-Day Split Friday morning. Lower Intensity Step has my all-time favorite warm-up of any workout I have ever experienced (live or on video by Cathe or anyone else). It is dancy and so much fun. I fell in love with the hip hop move during Cathe’s Friday morning step class and the Road Trip. I love the step sweep in the first combination too. Higher Intensity Step is a blast too! I wanted something as much fun as Cathe’s Friday morning step class on DVD, and she granted my wish with these new workouts. The choreography is creative, dancy, fresh, and fun with some of my favorite moves like mambos, cha chas, triple steps, figure 8s, power jigs, ponies, pivots, spins, and turns. This is definitely in the same league with my beloved Rhythmic Step and Step Works! Boot Camp is more playful and fun than I expected it to be, and I am delighted with Kickbox. It brings back warm memories of the Road Trip. This is without a doubt my favorite kickboxing workout. I would love to have Rhythmic Step 2 as well as a long kickboxing workout similar in style and intensity to this one. I love dancy and complex step choreography, but I prefer simpler kickboxing drills so I can free my mind and focus on executing the moves with good form. This is the first kickboxing workout that makes me happy! I love Cathe’s other kickboxing workouts, but there is something special about this one.
Yes, I was frustrated and discouraged when I stepped on the scale Monday and saw a 10-pound gain after my first week of heavy weight training. I am thankful for all the encouraging words y’all shared with me, and I am trusting that this is a temporary setback. I am still inspired and still believe with all my heart that Cathe's 4-Day Split is indeed my breakthrough series! I have not been this excited about my fitness journey in a long time!
Wow! It takes a lot of words to put a positive spin on gaining 10 pounds in a week! LOL! I still love Cathe, but the new workouts need a warning label if this is a side effect of heavy weight training! LOL! Okay, I am going to be brave and record my weight on my calendar for this month. Ugh!
I have a new birthday to add to my calendar this month. My precious nephew was born this week! He arrived 2 weeks early and still weighed in at 8 pounds, 3 ounces. Meet my beloved Grant:
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=18193449&uid=3778596&members=1
Blessings,
Heather B.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).
