"You can't drown in your own sweat" and other T-shirt quotes

 "You can't drown in your own sweat!"  

and 

"You are only as strong as your last excuse."

Two T-shirt quotes I have seen lately, that stick out.

For the past month I have been working with a personal trainer.  More of a life coach than trainer as he looks at all aspects of my fitness. (physical, nutrition and at times mental). For a month, I have sweated, grunted and survived through his workouts.  Two days a week I am a little petrified and sort of excited to see what is in store for me at his gym. Bring it on, I say.

Today marks the start of week 5 with him.  Last week was the first week of  radical nutrition switches.   Talk about a huge challenge!  I have lived thinking if I just worked out hard enough I could eat what I wanted.  The calories would take care of themselves.  This is why I need a personal trainer,  a life coach.  He has done the research. He is the certified nutritionist.  And though very nice, he is the strongest, slightly scariest person I know.  His imaginary face on my shoulder keeps me on track through food tough times.  Trust me there are plenty. Week 2 of Nutrition plan shall be a challenge as the newness of eating healthy will become daily life.  (The pizza delivery car just pulled up next door.  Satan, be gone!)

Though I am not super woman by any means, I have started noticing a few changes.  I survived a  five day backpack trip with no serious leg issues.  I am taking stairs with alternating steps.  This is big, as I used to do this left legged shuffle up steps.  I did not know I was until  my eyes were opened to this.  I can sweat for 45 minutes on the Nordic Track.  When I am not sore from a workout, daily life is so much easier.  I have this weird urge to go for a run.  I have not run for pleasure in years.  So, yes, I am making progress.

These T-shirts I have seen lately, they stick out to me. 

I can't drown in my own sweat.   I can leave puddles on the gym floor.  I do leave puddles on the gym floor.  I can be proud of those puddles.  They are products of hard work, of fat melting off and turning into muscle.

I am only as strong as my last excuse.  So no more.  I will not be swayed by sick dogs, backed up sewers into the basement,  busy life or cracked ribs. I will give my best towards a workout every time. I deserve no less.

My goal when I started this journey was to get in shape, to survive ski season. I gave my  personal trainer a bunch of excuses why I am needing him now. (Remember no more excuses.)  I need to throw them away and work on what is in front of me.   It is time to readjust, I want the fit, healthy me.  One, where not only surviving ski season is the goal but,  also being able to bless others while doing it.  I have the West Yellowstone Rendezvous Nordic Ski Race, 25k, in my sights.  I don't want to survive it.  I want to ski it. As Toni, my daughter, says, "I want to be fierce!"

I am finding the current in my chaotic life, in the routine of training, of  workout diaries, and meal diaries.  Though not my entire life focus... It is a good focus.

Who knows I may make the before and after section of the gyms web page yet.