Okay, the first week of badassery has been laid to rest… On to week two.
The mind wants to be over congratulatory, and the body is like “really? you are doing THIS again?”

Propriety says, “We are getting in a groove,” and ADHD says “But what about this over here?”

The first week, is the hardest. It is the hardest because, taking that first step, is really hard. Admitting you are discontent with yourself, and DOING something about it, is hard. Working muscles sat dormant for who knows how long, is brutal.

Why is it so brutal? Change happens in life all the time. It doesn’t seem like people put nearly as much thought, time or effort, into some of life’s other changes; as they do body improvement. I mean, really, think about how life changing and easy it is for some people to get pregnant. And for those, it comes easy to… rarely is there much forethought or planning.

Getting out of shape is easy. It literally takes no thought at all, just reaction. When laziness or sedentary-ness become habitual reaction, shit get’s out of control. You may remember sitting down as a size five, and when you finally get up, you realize you are a sloppy size 20.

A great quote, from some name I do not remember, said “If you want to know how you will feel tomorrow; pay attention to what you are thinking and feeling today. If you want to know why you feel the way you do today; look closely at what was going through your mind yesterday.”

Our bodies are a reflection of our internal state of being. A person can say they care about health, and wellness… and their body can tell you what they really think.

Each and everyone of us, have lives that we live; involving other people. And as much as we feel, our world revolves around us; as main players…the realization is, we are all truly equal and deserving of attention and love.

You know who never gets enough attention; appreciation and love for the hard work they do? Moms. Caretakers.

They worry their little heads off and run themselves to empty for the sake and welfare of those they love. Rarely asking for much in return, but sighing relief when everyone gets along and the domestic seas are calm for a few hours.

We have all seen that lady, who could use a couple extra hours of sleep; but forgoes it to stay up, and put the finishing touches on that science experiment, or that costume for the play. We see how she dismisses her own needs for the sake of others, with out complaint; knowing deep down, there is something she wants, but feels there is no time or energy to ask for.

Everyone has their jobs, and their home life, and that secret and often times silent part of themselves that SCREAMS for attention, but is often times drowned out by the impending nature of the needs of those around them.

All the while, that voice screeches “WHAT ABOUT ME?”

Maybe one day, when it is just quiet enough, and a nap seems enticing, that screech becomes unbearable; and you listen. You listen so hard, you can’t help but repeat what you hear; to anyone that will listen.

And what sounds like a demand, falling from your lips; twists itself into a plead.

Going from a solid “I need this,” to a whimpering “Can I please?”

Waiting for some sort of external validation, that your desires are worthy enough to address.

And, if you aren’t squashed immediately, a seed starts to grow, saying “I will, no matter what.”
Then you see the opportunity for your “will” to become a “do,” and you think… “yeah, it’s on.”

So you pummel through the doubt, and you go that first day, a bit hesitant, but determined; and you get through that first week, and think “yeah, I made a life style change! I am proud of myself!”

But, then, all of a sudden it is the weekend. A holiday weekend. And you have kids, and things to do. You slip your empowered self, back into the closet in order to fulfill the many roles and demands presented to you by anyone and everyone, but you. And it seems daunting. And you wonder if they actually SEE you, the YOU, you want to be. The YOU, you are, with out them. And then you feel guilty… because it feels selfish to honor the part of yourself, which is separate from those who rely so heavily upon you.

Maybe, you wonder, “is it worth it?” Maybe, you think, “do I really have time for this?” Maybe, you keep showing up with some sort of guilt on your shoulders.

Admittedly, I am not a mother. But I am a care taker… and I have already mulled some of this over in my mind.

On prediction, I am sensing that week two is going to be brutal, in a new mental way. It is the absolution of making a decision and sticking with it, with out excuses. It is the psychological fuckery, of admitting to yourself, that you HAVE TO, NEED TO do something for yourself.

Class is ONLY a half hour. Sticking to the dietary changes is an ongoing job, and life continues it’s path around all of that.

It will be easy to stumble. However, stumbling isn’t the end of the world.

Keeping focus may be hard, because life keeps going the 23.5 hours you aren’t “working” yourself out. But that one half hour, every day… is priceless and all about you. It is so deeply about you, that it is bound to knock emotional boundaries loose; emotions and feelings you may not realize you had stored in the recesses of the folds in your brain, and those atrophied hamstrings.

The work you are doing at Fit Body Boot Camp is hard, hard enough to allow you a half hour to readjust your thinking; back to the moment that includes you and your body, and not the impending laundry.  Maybe by week two, you are potentially arguing with yourself, that even a half hour a day is too much time to spend on yourself… “I mean after all, it ends up being approximately 3 hours a week, I could be ironing pleats into pants that do not require pleats.”

You haven’t yet made it to the 21 day mark… that place where “new habits and routines” reside.

Day 6 is closer to day one, than day 6 is to day 21.  And day six is still so far away from 6 weeks.

It can seem daunting, and almost unreachable.

I ask you, what are you trying to reach?

If it is to be a centerfold in Fitness Magazine… I say, “GO for it.”  If it is just to have more energy, and to feel better about yourself while trotting through the normalcy of life..”GO for it.”

For every valid reason to move forward with the excitement and mystery of life; there are a million excuses not to, and most of them revolve around some martyrdom for the sake of some one else.  What makes you think, that you don’t deserve the same treatment?

We live in a world where self worth is rated on a scale of superficiality.  And it can seem as though, taking a route to a healthier body may be placed in that category; somehow making it frivolous and easily dismissible.  The superficial aspect denies the whole person, that wants more out of life.  The person that would rather worry about the form and the focus in function, than just impressing lookers on.

It isn’t superficial to want to love your body.  It isn’t superficial to want to feel sexy for your partner.  It isn’t superficial to want to wear a smaller pair of jeans; all the while living and playing the many roles we all have.  In fact, to attain that comfort, is one less thing to worry about.

Week two isn’t just about showing up; it is the first step in asking the self a bunch of “why’s” sat dormant.  Lucky for you; you are not alone.  And yes, YOU are WORTH IT!