Wednesday, November 2, 2011

One Bootcamper's Story


Hi.  My name is Kelly.

I am one of the least athletic people you'll ever meet.  I was picked last in gym class in high school for four grueling years and can't hit a barn with a ball from 10 feet.  Also, I'm clumsy.  I can trip over a crack in the sidewalk, fall up steps, and am generally so clumsy that I have knocked my glasses off my own face.

I was overweight and deeply insecure about it, wasn't sleeping well, couldn't fit into any of my clothes, was grumpy to my kids, and wondered often about who that chubby woman was who stared back at me from the mirror.

So taking an exercise bootcamp seemed like a very daunting idea.  My friend called me and asked me to go with her.  I gritted my teeth and said, "Okay, I'll do it." It's 8 weeks, I decided.  That isn't a lifetime.  I can try it for 8 weeks.   I called LaBet and asked her what kind of skill level I needed.  "I'm really out of shape" I told her, wondering when it was--if ever--that I was 'in shape'.

As it turns out, she wanted me to push myself, to be successful, to get my rear end off the floor ("you grew it, you LIFT IT!") but she didn't try to kill me.  She was 180 pounds in high school, so she knows what it's like to be uncomfortable in her own skin and what it takes to change that--so you aren't taking this class from someone who hasn't been there.  She gets it.  She's compassionate and genuine, and while she urges you to do just ONE MORE LUNGE, she also urges you to listen to your body and not hurt yourself either.  She encourages you to go at your pace, and can provide alternate exercises for your level of fitness right there on the fly.  There is no judging because you're not up to the fitness level of others. Let me say this again:  she wants you to succeed.
 


So, what do you do now? You show up. It's only 8 weeks of your life.  Eight weeks is something we can all do, right?  It's only 2 months.  In two months time, you can fit into your clothes better, sleep better, be nicer to your kids, and get some confidence, because you're doing something good for your body.  All you have to do is SHOW UP.