Val is focused on her goals. And, she has not allowed the "unforeseen circumstances" to derail her progress. That is what RESOLVE your resolution is all about!!!
Val says:
All my life I've been an athlete, gifted in that I can get by at most things but exceptional at nothing. You know the type -- coaches describe me, then and now, with terms like "hard-working," "dedicated," and having "a good attitude" as opposed to words like "fast," "unstoppable," or "possessing freakish strength." But that's okay: I have a liberal arts body, whose jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none status makes me open to new activities. During the past 5 years, I've been working to manage a mostly benign but persistent condition of my central nervous system that makes me prone to low blood pressure and fainting, and whose treatment sometimes makes me feel worse than the condition. After getting things under control during 2006-7 (a year in which I was largely unable to drive, exercise, or do a lot of things), I turned back to group sports and training in a move to focus again on what my body COULD do, while also gaining the security of having people around while I trained. During those 4 years of half marathon and triathlon training, I made great friends and marveled at crossing off many events from my lifetime achievement wish list. I also got more comfortable knowing when I was pushing myself too far, and coming to accept that my body just won't let me push itself on some days.
While racking up participation medals and race shirts felt great, I was frustrated with the results I was NOT getting, namely my body fat ratio and frequent lack of energy. I decided to take a break from triathlon training and try to figure this out. Enter the Pure Austin Resolve Your Resolution Challenge!
I feel extremely fortunate to be in this program. Working with Laura, I established several items to cross off my lifetime achievement wish list (just in time for my 40th birthday!):
1) Comfortably complete 10 pull-ups and 20 "real" pushups
2) Reduce body fat by at least 5% (ideally with corresponding weight loss)
3) Consistent schedule of at least 5 quality workouts a week, with a focus on developing a solid strength program
4) Significantly increase 5K speed
Six weeks in, I'm definitely feeling the challenge of my goals but am also having a lot of fun. Laura helps keep me motivated and has challenged me with some killer treadmill interval workouts. I ran a 5K earlier this month and secured a PR (I'm basing this on the years I've been on chronic medication) by some 2 minutes, which felt great. While I'm only down 4 pounds, I'm eager to get my body fat percentage retested. It's pretty easy for me to choose healthy, whole foods -- I run an organic cotton textile company, Mod Green Pod, so I'm quite educated about the effects of pesticides and other chemical nasty --- but it's still a challenge to maximize my energy and metabolism for my workouts by what I eat, when. This is an unexpected challenge within this program that I'm really appreciating. I'm also paying extra attention to portions and to slow down when I eat. (I'm a notorious fast eater, which I still blame on my Catholic school experience where we had 18 minutes for lunch -- NO JOKE). I'm also slowly starting to be able to kick out a few push-ups, and I'm up to level 16 on the assisted pull-up machine. (I had to start at the very easiest 18 level, but at least I've progressed to 16).
Along the way, I've already learned several things from which I think all Pure Austin members could benefit:
1) Try new classes! I've had a blast doing everything from Ballet Booty, Hatha Yoga Flow, Spin, PUMP, Dymamic Strength, etc. Next up, I can't wait to try some Kayaking
2) Let the instructors help you modify I pinched a nerve in my shoulder during my first week of this program, and it was completely my fault! I decided to forget that I'm pushing 40, have a chronic medical condition, and haven't really done structured weightlifting. I jumped into a PUMP class and wanted to keep up with everybody else in the class. Big mistake, for me. I'm better now, but it taught me to push myself within MY limits, and to introduce myself before starting a new class -- the instructors are great at providing modifications. And just yesterday, Ryon helped me adjust the Keiser bike to make sure I'm getting the most out of spin class.
3) Learn from other members One of the things I love about our gym is that so many members are educated and fit. I've picked up lots of good exercises by watching other members, and even getting up the guts to ask them what they are doing. I'm now getting a lot more great stuff out of the cable cross machine and medicine balls.
4) Conversely, be inspired by, don't compare yourself to, other members I can't do pull-ups right now, but I'm working on it. Last weekend, I was taking turns on the assisted pull-up machine with a young woman almost half my age and size. She was whipping through her reps the way I hope to. Before I was part of this program, I probably would have just skipped that machine. Instead, we alternated happily between my level 16 and her level 4, exchanging a smile while setting up the machine for each other's next set. I changed my mantra from "You'll never do that" to "Keep working at it."
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