CUT BACKS

As the dust settles for the last day of March I am reminded to celebrate and welcome the light of what is promised tomorrow. Tomorrow will be the day that I resume the worn path of fitness past. I will carefully navigate my journey so as not to end up on a route that dead ends or results in a misplaced step over a cliff. I will be sure to stop and ask for directions as I travel, use a map, and take advantage of knowledge from previous journeys so that I can take the right option off the fork in the road to experience new scenery. I do have to admit I am ready for a change in the environment.

In the way that a runner loads up on carbs for the long run the next day, I have been loading myself up on memories to keep me energized on this never ending journey. The memories that I am loading up on are thoughts of days that I have been able to prepare homemade meals and work up a sweat in the same day. I am thinking of how good it feels to consume food that I know was prepared selfishly with only my taste buds in mind. Food that I know has been prepared with my hands and has not utilized the dirt or saliva of some outside seasoning source. Yummm... Ahhhhh.... Can't wait.

Like sheep jumping over a fence, I am counting dumbbells dancing over weight benches to carry me to my day dreams. I am overindulging in day dreams of cursing my lungs for not being able to keep up with the pace of my favorite song that is playing on my iPod while I burden my joints and muscles to propel me past the park.. down the street... and back home. Despite my naturally occurring tan, I am becoming darker and darker with every trip trekked around town. I don't like wearing shorts when I workout outside, but my ankles... arms... shoulders... neck... and face remind me of my daily trips. Even though it seems like I am running in circles (beginning and ending at home) I am steadily moving forward down this path.

Each day that I finish strength training my heart for healths sake ... I look forward for water falling from that shiny spout up above. It feels so great. How is it that these tiny droplets know just where to hit this newly tanned hide to prepare it for the following day. Then at the end of the day (rinsed and relaxed) I am ready to lay my head, body and mind on that big cushion that allows everything to slow to silence. I have earned this silence. Silence of my muscles that once ached. Silence of my hunger. Silence of my thoughts....

At this point I have cut back on all the things am currently experiencing. I have cut back on food that reduces the efficiency of the way my body utilizes energy. I have cut back on excuses for the lack of physical activity that currently occurs. I have cut back on taking advantage of sleep that is not well earned. I would have never imagined that I actually look forward to cut backs, but I do and I know these cut backs will allow me to navigate to new places with my head held high.

Golden is Ambition when Ambition is Golden.

A New Start

So for the life of me I have had to revisit the past to see what happened to this very motivated lady that loves "sweatin to the oldies." I barely made it through the Columbus Half Marathon, and have since put couch potatoes to shame with the lack of working out that has consumed my life.

On a daily basis I think to myself, "Hey, Today is the day," but that thought has done nothing more than encouraged an increase in my Netflix consumption. It is funny, I even put exercise videos in my "instant cue" as though I am going to get up off my toosh and "shake it like a salt shaker." I have also found myself guiltily giving exercise and fitness tips as though I am currently a glowing example when I need to follow my own advice. The most recent piece being, "You need to pack your clothes when you go to work so that you can go straight to the gym with no excuse to allow you to miss your workout." This is true you know.... at least in my experience it has been.

I know that there is no reason to begin a workout regime at the beginning of the month or week outside of the fact that ... it makes sense (to some one?) But my WORKOUT REVOLUTION begins on Friday, April 1st... and this is no Aprils Fools. I first thought, "Why do something tomorrow, that you can begin today," but since I am the boss of me... I can do what I want.

Before I move into my thoughts about edible substances that assist in the maintenance of energy through the day, I have to give a voice to the cotton materials that cover my body ... my clothes. While I have been fighting the battle to against food and fitness, my clothes have been fighting the battle to zip, button, or otherwise conceal my flesh. On a daily basis I hear the cries of my clothes as I sit at my desk. They say.. "Please hold your breath or suck your stomach in before I embarrass you at work." I use my telepathic powers to inform them that there are only a few more hours left before they are relieved of duty and can allow the next group of recruits to inherit the burden and battle cries for the night. Once I am able to release the "fatty battle balls" that lie under my skin will I be able to give my clothes a better tour of duty.

The pursuit of physical fitness begins begins Friday, but the trek to healthy food faithfulness began today at breakfast with an honorable mention that included some sodium infused pieces of shaved turkey and a slice of processed cheese. Today's midmorning snack was the only healthy thing I had in the form of carrots (outside of the bottles of water that I have chosen to "water-bong" periodically throughout the day. I have to say, I have the hardest time with eating decently because I don't like cooking for only myself, but recently it is like cooking for three. I also do not like eating a multitude of leftovers from day to day. So yesterday I made chicken fettucini alfredo for dinner .... and I had it for lunch at work.... and for dinner tonight... yum, leftovers for the Golden Trinity. Despite being tired of this dish, I am happy that I have not "waved the white flag" and conceded to the ill fate that lies as a result of the consumption of Qdoba. I did however treat myself to some orange pineapple juice and large quantities of ice.

So as I conclude my thoughts for the day and relax to the last two episodes of Roswell on Netflix I have to say, "I feel GREAT!!!" I am planning on starting off with reasonable expectations for food and fitness that can grow the longer that I stand "Committed to Change." I am 31 and ready for the challenge. I am also hoping to lead by example in communicating that it IS possible to morph into something that efficiently uses energy and can leave less of a big fatty carbon footprint.

Ambition is Golden when Golden is Ambition.