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Monday, April 14, 2014

Breaking through fitness walls

As part of my own Back to Basics campaign, I hired a trainer at the gym for a month. Yes, I wanted to lose some weight, but even more important was my goal to get stronger, to feel fitter. 

And I do. 

What's even more fascinating to me, is my willingness to just go with it. Whatever he tells me to do, I do. 

A few years ago, the elliptical machine was off-limits. It made me sea sick and I had no stamina to make it past 2-3 minutes. The first week, my trainer put me on the intervals for cardio after our appointment. I made it the required 10 minutes (about 2 miles), at continuous intervals of levels 1 and 6. 


The second week, before my training appointment, I went 20 minutes, keeping my levels 1 and 6 intervals throughout the workout, and went 5.1 miles. I made gains in speed and distance..progress! 

Last week, I increased my elliptical intervals from levels 1 and 6 and 20 minutes to levels 2 and 7 for 30 minutes, and logged 8 miles. 

I am lifting heavier weights and performing exercises that I never would have tried without his guidance. I felt like a rockstar.

Until the box jump.

For the past five years, I have participated in a step class, now re-branded as Group Blast


For five years, a box jump onto the step (with or without risers) has been integrated into various cardio tracks. 

For five years, I have stepped up, not jumped. I embraced my modification and I was happy with what I was able to do, given my size and fitness level. Fear of falling and uncertainty of my ability to clear the step kept me grounded. 

Who wants to be "that girl," especially in those days when I was the biggest one in class? I was continually haunted by the ghosts of my obese past.

Today, I am no longer obese, but I am was still doubtful. 

FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. 


And it was. 

Last week, my trainer, told me to box jump up onto the step. 

I said no. I can't, I said. 

He reassured me that I could and he suggested made me jump next to the step to prove it. 


And I did. 

And then onto the step. 

And then onto the step with risers. 

For three sets. 


BOOM!

I can't wait to see what this week brings. 


Have you ever had an aha moment, when you broke through a wall that you thought you might never conquer?

32 comments:

  1. Sometimes you just want to be told what to do! I have no clue about weights, training, basically anything gym-related. So I understand that motivation could come from a bossy yet skilled trainer!

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    1. Thanks, Farin! I defer to the expertise of my trainer every day. So far, so good! :-) Thanks again.

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  2. Congratulations on breaking through that wall! I think that trainers are a really valuable asset for working toward fitness goals (in the interest of full disclosure, my mother is a personal trainer). They know so much about how to move you past plateaus.

    I really admire your goal of wanting to be stronger and feel fitter.

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    1. Thank you, Rachel! I defer to the expertise of my trainer every day. He's very knowledgeable on fitness and nutrition. So far, so good! :-) Thanks again.

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  3. Congratulations on these accomplishments Kelly and breaking through the wall! Good Luck in your further progress.

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    1. Thanks so much, Peggy. I am looking forward to working with him until we leave for Spain. I'm hoping for great results. :-)

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    1. Thanks so much. Cari! That means a lot! :-) All I can do is take it one day at a time, like all of us. Thanks again! You made my day!

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  5. Congratulations! Overcoming fear and walls always feels so good!!

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    1. Thanks so much. Juli! It sure does feel great. :-) I take it one day at a time, like all of us. Thanks again!

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  6. Love this post! What a great place for me to look when I need a little inspiration!

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    1. Thank you so much for the support! It was a great day. One day at a time. :-) Thanks again.

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  7. That's awesome! Good for you. I love when you can bust through a wall like that.

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    1. Thanks so much, Steph. It sure does feel great. :-) I take it one day at a time, like all of us. Thanks again!

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  8. Keep up the awesome work, and for not giving in to fear! WTG!!

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    1. Thanks so much, Jennifer. I take it one day at a time, like all of us. Looking forward to bigger goals to achieve and bigger walls to crush. Thanks again!

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  9. What a breakthrough. I bet that felt amazing!! Good for you honey!
    I can't think of anything right off hand, but I have a cold so am not thinking properly lol

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    1. Thanks so much, Angie. It sure does feel great. :-) I take it one day at a time, like all of us. Looking forward to bigger goals to achieve and bigger walls to crush. Thanks again!

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  10. Well this just inspired me to up my game!! Thank you so much for sharing and CONGRATULATIONS!!

    From the #AllAboutYou link and pin party

    Angie from reasons to dress, life as a North American mom in Italy.

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    1. Thanks so much, Angela! It sure does feel great. :-) I take it one day at a time, like all of us. Looking forward to bigger goals to achieve and bigger walls to crush. Thanks for the opportunity to link up. :-)

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  11. This achievement sounds amazing! I'm truly inspired, love the quote about recognising that your body can now do something it couldn't two weeks ago! I'm such an all or nothing girl, it's great to be reminded that small steps result in huge leaps! Thanks for sharing your fab story #AllAboutYou

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    1. Thanks so much, Katy! It sure does feel great. :-) I take it one day at a time, like all of us. I love that quote too...I'm looking forward to bigger goals to achieve and bigger walls to crush and be surprised by my body again. Thanks for the opportunity to link up. :-)

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  12. This achievement sounds amazing! I'm truly inspired, love the quote about recognising that your body can now do something it couldn't two weeks ago! I'm such an all or nothing girl, it's great to be reminded that small steps result in huge leaps! Thanks for sharing your fab story #AllAboutYou

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    1. Thanks so much, Katy! It sure does feel great. :-) I take it one day at a time, like all of us. I love that quote too...I'm looking forward to bigger goals to achieve and bigger walls to crush and be surprised by my body again. Thanks for the opportunity to link up. :-)

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  13. It's so important to remember that huge leaps begin with small steps! Loved reading this #AllAboutYou, thanks for the inspiration x

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    1. Thanks so much, Katy. Every journey begins with a step...sometimes off the ground, but a step, nonetheless. Thanks for the opportunity to link up. :-)

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  14. What fantastic motivation! Go you! Amazing how your body surprises you over time, thanks so much for joining #AllAboutYou, off to add you to the group Pinterest board now!

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    1. Thanks so much, Zaz! :-) Thank you for the opportunity to link up.

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  15. Congrats on beating your fear and showing it who's boss!!

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    1. Thanks, Kerry. Every time I leave my session, I'm amazed by what he gets me to do. It's the best decision I have made in months!

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  16. Hi Kelly! I'm stopping over from Let's Get Real today. This is such a truly inspirational story. I still do not exercise as much as I should, but I know with each new activity that I do, I feel better and better. My daughter and I camp with the Girl Scouts late summer and there is an enormous hill that we need to climb several times a day. As you said, "I don't want to be that girl" huffing and puffing up the hill. I want to overcome that mountain.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words. You will conquer that mountain and others too. One step at a time. Thank you so much for stopping by! I really appreciate your visit and your comment. Please come back again soon. :-)

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