For those of you who knew me in my younger years, you are probably rolling your eyes right now. Me athletic? I know, tough prospect considering I had a junior high basketball coach tell me to shoot free throws underhanded. But I am proud to say that things have changed for the better. It was a very long road however.
Back in my school days, I loved sports. I remember watching the Olympics on TV and reading about our girls' basketball team going to the state basketball tournament. I always wanted to be one of those people. I didn't realize at the time how much the odds were against me. My family lived a very TV centered lifestyle. You could say we were coach potatoes. This is not good when all of your classmates are in youth leagues and building their skills. When I started team sports, I was hopelessly behind. I was the laughing stock of every sport I tried. And being the competitive town it was, nobody stopped to help me.
Therefore, my desire for sports plummetted. I got very discouraged. My self esteem was in the toilet. Even if I had developed some skills, I probably would not have gone any farther because sports are as much a mental game as they are a physical game. My confidence was gone. So I did what any other sane person would do. I ran to the arts. Choir geek, band nerd, forensics, you name it. Maybe not the coolest thing to do, but in the arts I had some success and I actually enjoyed it.
But deep down, I still wanted to be an athlete. I joined the cheer squad just so I could be close to the game. I clashed big time with the other girls though. Let's face it, I'm not girly and I wanted to work hard. Those were two things that were very foreign to our cheer squad. I eventually ditched cheer and went full force into the arts by being a music major in college.
Years later, after my teaching career fell apart and I had fat rolls everywhere, I finally got fed up. I joined the gym. But my previous demons still followed me. I didn't know how to use any machines and I got tired really easily. I remember smashing the weights a few times and storming off the floor. "Here we go again," I thought. But then I saw him. There was this early twenty something guy that looked like your stereo typical California boy. He was working with a client and they were smiling and having fun. Fun and sports were never in the same sentence for me. Call me a stalker, but I wanted him. Professionally, that is. I waited until he was finished with a client and started asking questions about training. I signed up that day. Training with Zac was the push I needed in the right direction. He was positive and encouraging. Anytime I said I couldn't do anything He would always reply, "Why not?" and then make me do it. My confidence soared and my body changed. I'll never forget the day when he said, "You have gone from timid to bad ass!" I even had the confidence to flirt with the hottest guy on the gym floor. Of course, I then had to remind myself that I am married and to cut it out. Whoops!
I would not call myself a stellar athlete by any means, but I have something now that I never had before. I believe in myself. That has been more rewarding than the muscles. I push myself to run faster, lift more, and go further. The athlete mindset is a great thing to have. Work hard, no excuses, keep going. I truly believe that is what pushed me to give birth to my daughter without an epidural, which can slow labor down. I have also lost all of my baby weight and people have told me I am an inspiration. You can't put a pricetag on that.
Live life to the fullest,
Culture Girl
