I have been M.I.A. Not on purpose, but I just haven’t been motivated. I hate to use the phrase “I fell off the wagon” because I didn’t fall. I think I’ve just been comfortably riding in it down a proverbial hill. I exercise regularly. Shoot, I’m out exercising in 100 plus degree weather! For whatever reason, I am the same place I was a year ago. I am coasting along and not really getting anywhere. It is time for a change.

I have decided to challenge myself to push harder. Think outside the box. I started this journey so long ago and in my own weird way, I quit. I didn’t intend to, but I made excuses. I set out to get to a certain place back in 1999 and I failed. Somewhere in my mind, it’s just 2002. It’s not. Newsflash: it’s 2011….the middle of 2011, might I add. About 2 weeks ago, I decided it’s time to really challenge myself and make my goal. It won’t be easy. It won’t be fast. But it will be doable!

I recently looked up the word “challenge” in the dictionary. There were many definitions. The one that stood out the most to me, was this: “A test of one's abilities or resources in a demanding but stimulating undertaking”. I am about to test my abilities in this undertaking battle I call “weight loss”. I abso-tee-totally-lutely, refuse to take some magic pill or starve myself. Seriously. So I decided to only chose foods that are beneficial to where I’m going. I’m not loving it, but I’m getting used to it. I cut out dairy products and sweets. I went cold turkey. Oh and I literally started eating cold turkey – but lower sodium turkey. Have you checked the sodium count? It’s unreal. Anyway, I am forcing myself to just turn the notch up. For starters, I’m writing down everything I eat. Everything. I used to think it was silly, then realized that it’s necessary to finish my journey. I need to be held accountable for every item I consume.

I’m trying my best to push myself in boot camp. I’m trying to get myself out of my comfort zone. Recently, I had a training session with Rachel. I figured it would be so easy. I work out 5-6 days a week. I told myself “You got this”. Well, 20 minutes into the workout, I’m sweating, using 15 lbs weights and crying my eyes out. Although I still have my eyes. Really think about this. Sweating, crying, stepping up on weight bench in one motion with a weight. Repeat x 25 then switch legs. I think I eventually quit crying because it wasn’t helping me to cry about it – in the heat of the moment. Rachel let me cry, but I needed to focus. I was reminded that we tend to get comfortable with things. We tend to just get in a comfortable place. We tend to just move along with things and sometimes you have to challenge yourself. So I had a pep talk with myself. I had to realize that just because I haven’t made my goal, doesn’t mean it’s over. Time to man up, or woman up in my case and get focused.

So I challenge you to do this: What’s something you’ve been trying to do, but you’ve been simply making excuses for it? Just do it. It’s possible! What are you waiting for?!