Fitness milestones

morningstar

morningstar

Cathlete
What are some of your fitness milestones? You know, those times when you realize you are so much fitter than you were.

I've had a million of them, but one I had just today was when I was doing ab roll ups this morning. I remember a couple of years ago that I couldn't even do one- and I stared in disbelief at a woman doing them with ease. Today, they weren't even difficult and I realized how far I have come, just in this one area.
 
Yesterday I ran my first real 5k race. I had pre-trained the course and it was horribly tough.... HUGE HILLS!!!! In fact, a friend who has run 2 dozen plus 5ks said it was the toughest course she has ever run. I set a goal of 35 minutes, my previous PR 5k distance on a totally flat course was 30:30.
I finished in 29 minutes flat and was 3rd in my age group! I still can't believe it and can't quit smiling!

Becky
 
I have several. I keep thinking I should hit that link for SNM's success stories over in the stories forum.

Older ones....

Completing KM the 1st time I did it. (it was my 1st Cathe and I was about 225lbs at the time) the warmup nearly killed me, the blasts about had me at a 911 (it wasn't pretty) and the legs drills were pure evil. I THOUGHT I was fit/fat at the time, bc I was able to do intermediate tapes by other instructors pretty well. But I was determined to finish it, and I DID!! The next couple of days were quite painful, but I came back for more and more. Now KM is an easier day workout, but I still don't do the leg drills:eek:;):p

Lifting weights I never dreamed of! I remember when the 3s and 5s were killer! Now I stand on them for raised toe deadlifts! And I can squat/lunge more than I ever would have figured. One day I realized that I used to carry that much weight around all day, every day and squatted down to get things off the floor, so no reason I couldn't do it in a workout. Weight is weight. So I stopped with the "I can't" and "its too heavy" and worked my way up. It wasn't fast, it was sometimes painful (those special Cathe DOMS), it wasn't easy, but I did it!!


More recently...

Being able to run, I started last summer, but have recently really gotten into it, and now actually consider myself a runner:D I'm not fast, but I'm running and having fun.

The biggest things (not sure they're really milestones) is the realization that fitness is fun. It makes the rest of life so much easier. And getting over the mental blocks. I CAN do it. Sometimes it takes some cursing and swearing and stopping and starting, but once I decide I can, I can.

Nan

(do I win cheesy post of the day?)
 
Pull Ups! Before doing a P90X rotation last year, I couldn't do any and now I can knock out a set of 10 wide grip pull ups!

Being able to squat press 2 15# kettlebells for 20 reps(at the end of a kettlebell bootcamp class)-thanks to STS which upped my endurance a ton!

I'm sure there's more but it's late and I can't think anymore!
 
Being able to do every one of Cathe's STS Meso 1 pushups off my toes (except I changed the Elmos to another kind- seriously, what was that woman thinking?). I still can't believe I did it.

Running intervals on the street - I used to be so afraid that someone would look at me running and laugh at the fat chick. They might be laughing but now I'm going too fast to see them!
 
morningstar said:
They might be laughing but now I'm going too fast to see them!
Click to expand...

I love it!

For me...lessee...

- back in the day, the first time I was able to complete a Tae-Bo advanced workout. Just a few months before I hadn't been able to get through 15 minutes of the basic workout!

- when I first did bicep curls with #20 in each hand.

- getting through the P90x chest and back workout and realizing that I could actually do all the push-ups, the chin-ups and *some* of the pull-ups. Still working on pull-ups. :)

- recently when I was sprinting on the treadmill at 12.5 for 30 seconds. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror after, all sweaty and breathless and thought "not bad for a former chubby girl." :)

Great thread!
 
Way to go, Becky! :eek:

Push ups. Definitely push ups. I can't do many ~ about 15, and those last few are shakey ~ but darnit...I can finally do them on my toes.

Next: Pull ups
 
Goal #1 - A 210lb deadlift (1.5x my bodyweight). I'm currently up to 200lbs for 4 reps, but a want a consistent working 210.

Goal #2 - The ever elusive pull-up. I need to develop a strong plan for this.

I'll set more when #1 and #2 have been met.

ETA: Crap. I just realized this thread was for milestones that have been met, not set. :eek:
 
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Beating an eating disorder? Who would ever think that weight gain would be a good thing? Not that I was technically underweight-just underweight for me.

That and reforming my exercise habits so that I would

A. Fuel before and after to prevent muscle loss.
B. Be fit but not obsess.

At 3/4 inch under five feet, I'm a big little person. That is, I have better muscle tone than the average person my size and I am (literally) big-boned. Am I Ms. Universe? No, I inherited my mother's front "pouch" (and her love handles, for that matter), but diets are a trigger. I eat healthy foods, but avoid the diet mainframe.
 
DH & I went out of town on vacation for a week to celebrate our 15yr wedding anniversary without the kids
(7, 5 & 3) I kept to my STS rotation and worked out in the hotel everyday! (because I wanted to) No dread factor.

Push ups....couldn't do one now I can do 16 with good form!
Pikes on the ball! :eek: I even surprised myself here!

IMAX3...I could only do the step intervals first. After I mastered those I took on the the first premix, combo/blast 1-5 and added one more each time I did it until I was able to finish all 10 intervals. Now I don't get that uneasy feeling while the disc loading up.;)

Pull ups...I am thrilled to say that I can do 4.

STS....When I first saw it advertised I remember thinking "oh, that's out of my league." But I did it! I completed it!!!:cool:

This is such an inspiring thread, thank you.
 
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