Where did I start? Why of course, at the beginning.

You know, I always am amazed when I see pictures posted of others before & after pics. They inspire me beyond belief every single day. I tend to forget where I started...it goes on the back burner most days. But now and then...like today, I go back and take a look to refresh my brain.

The pic on the left was just after I had started ChaLean Extreme. The pic on the right was about 2 weeks ago. In my journey I have done predominately Beachbody programs, getting better with each one and pushing myself as I got stronger. It did not happen over night, but over time as most journeys go. I to this day, could not love what I do more as a coach, but I was not a coach when I started here in the first pic. I knew there was something amazing in being a coach, so I kept on til I could be one!

My story has had a plot twist or 2 along the way. I have had setbacks, injuries and times where I fell off the turnip wagon, but I always managed to haul ass off the ground and run after that wagon.

I now have a new journey to the figure stage ahead of me and before you ask, YES I still do Beachbody programs and I always will. I just completed the PiYo program and my body needed that in so many ways.

I may not have lost 100 pounds in my story but I did lose about 35 lbs from where I started. More importantly I gained a sense of who I am & because of ChaLean and Miss Chalene Johnson, I learned to change my mentality. I learned to do things I never imagined, I gained a whole new extended family, I have created a brand new life for myself and MY family and I now can pay that forward to others every single day. All because I one day decided to JUST. PUSH. PLAY.

Dance. Don't Hold the wall.

I never thought of myself as being one to stand on the sidelines.  The person that hovered and watched others do crazy shit while I just marvel at their chutzpah.  Oh no, I am usually the one in the throes of the insanity. And I like it.

Til now.

There is this little thing looming over me as I head towards my first figure competition.  This thing...dun dun dunnnn....called posing.  **EXHALE**

Wow, this girl looks perfect!

Hmmm, this girl needs to learn a LOT!!

Let me make something perfectly clear: I have ZERO clue about posing for figure. ZE. RO. Am I breathing right? Is my butt in when it should be out? Is my leg bent enough?  Is my leg supposed to be straight? When the hell will my arms and abs start showing? How am I going to remember to smile and stay flexed at the same time? These are just a few of the questions that goes through my head at any given moment throughout my day. 

I have so much to learn but I have to start somewhere. I will be working with someone to teach me the ways of the stage. I am extremely nervous about this because it is so much out of my comfort zone. But I never half ass anything so I plan on nailing it and practicing like crazy. Pray for me...haha!! This is all new to me. I hope we all make it.

Once I have proper shoes (sorry this is all I have with me at the house while camping), that will help tremendously as well.

So starting NOW I have decided to not just hold the wall, but to actually dance.  No more sidelines.  

Fear, I shall slay thee with my blinged out bikini & my hooker heels!


My theme song this week!  :-)  Mmmm, JT.  

She's got thighs...

I am pretty sure I am not meant to be a size 4. Or a 2. Hmmm, I think I was skinny once...when I was 3. LOL. I have decided I really don't care about those numbers. I have other numbers in mind. 

How about putting a focus on the number of times we move our bodies. How many days we sweat and feel like we conquered the world because we ran 10 miles. Or PR'd our deadlift. Or how many times during the week we made healthy choices for our bodies instead of choosing crap...when there is so much of it in our face 24/7 to sway us. How many times were YOU strong when you went out to eat, passed by that bagel shop or drove on by the Golden Arches?

Those are the numbers that matter. Sizes, schmizes. They mean nothing. There are beautiful, wonderful, amazing, healthy fit people in EVERY size imaginable and I am one of them. I have friends that are power houses and they are wrapped up in these tiny packages but size is deceiving. They are strong. They can kick ass!! I also have some friends that society might consider overweight that could throw me under the train in any race and fitness competition. They would mow. Me. Down. 

Healthy is not a cookie cutter thing. One size does NOT fit all. I am surrounded by fit friends of all shapes and sizes and honestly they inspire me. We don't need to be labeled by a number on our jeans. That is SO 1980's!

I believe if we wake up and track the numbers that count...like how many times we make better choices, how many days we wake up with a wonderful attitude, how often we show those we love that they matter, the times we give to those who need it more, the moments of random acts of kindness....that our notches we have marked off would be way more significant at the end of the day than a tag sewn to denim.

Wait...I am woman. With strong-ass thighs. Hear me roar.  

Are you proud of your strong legs too?  I would love to hear your answers below in comments!