Do you need encouragement? Do you need support? Do you just need to know that there is somebody in this universe that can remotely relate to the ups and downs of weight loss and fitness? Well now you have a place to turn. I will be regularly blogging and updating to give you laughter and support as we take this journey of boot camp and eating healthy. I’ll be honest and tell you when I fail; as well as succeed. I just want you to know that I am a human being. I’m not working out 8 hours a day and eating lettuce and ice cubes. I’m a normal person. I have a job. I have bills. I am not competing for half a million dollars. I’m simply competing for my life. (Feel free to stop and get a glass of water to sip on while reading)

Let me introduce myself. I’m Susan Nooney and I’m an Extreme-aholic. I mean that on two levels: Food and Exercise. At night, I dream about eating tons of food, Augustus Gloop style, doing burpees and then running 100 mph with a medicine ball over my head. Who am I kidding? That last part is a nightmare.

Here’s my story:

As a child, I remember being very aware of my size compared to others. I was the big girl in the pool with the t-shirt on. When I went to college do you think I became acquainted with “The Freshman 15”. No. I met a new friend called “The Freshman 40.” Yes. 40 lbs in one year. The first summer I was home, I tried a program that was nothing but drinking liquids and eating these cardboard flavored bars. Blech. Oh I lost weight. However, I went back to school and I put on most of the weight. Shocker. When I moved back home to attend a local community college, I ate out for every single meal. You read that right. Every.Single.Meal.

One day, I had a wake up call. I decided to visit the doctor because I was very tired, dizzy and short of breath. The nurse asked me to step on the scale and there were the numbers that haunt me to this day: 236. Let’s say that out loud: Two hundred and thirty six pounds. I joked to the nurse “Guess I better change my license”. I honestly don’t remember the rest of that doctors visit. I went home, sat on the front porch and cried like a baby. I mean, complete sobbing like a 2 year old. I knew I was big, but I was over 200 lbs? ME? The funny girl? Wait a minute! That meant I wasthe funny fat girl. Well that was just great! The more I thought about it, the more I cried. While I was sitting there, I thought to myself "I can either sit here and cry or do something about it". I stood up & headed to the end of the driveway – all while still crying. I simply walked to the end of our street and came back. I felt like I had walked across the entire United States of America. Realistically, it was about a block. I thought my chest was going to explode and I couldn't breathe. The next day, I walked up the end of the street twice! What was next? A triathlon?! Over the next few months, I started walking around a lake. I even jogged a little. Slowly but surely I increased my exercise and lowered my caloric intake.

Ultimately, I went from a size 24 pants and 1X shirt to a size 10 pants and small shirt. Keep in mind, this has been over the course of 10 years. Say that again: TEN YEARS! I didn't pay anybody anything. I didn't take any magic pills. I tried a few crazy fad diets (cabbage soup, really?!) but for the most part I just tried to eat healthier. I have had several set backs and have yet to achieve my goal. I was very close; however, I got married – to a chef - and thought I could now let myself go and eat whenever my husband ate. Wrong. Some of the weight came back like a moth to a flame. So here I am again, working on my goal.

I started Extreme Fit in April of 2010. I went to “Bring a Friend” Day in March. Within 5 minutes, I was sweating, seeing spots, almost losing my lunch and immediately declared my “friend” my newest enemy. In the car on my way home, I even called one of our mutual friends and left a message of “Be glad you didn’t come!!!! You were smart!! It was the toughest workout I’ve ever done. I thought I was going to die! Call me”. Two days later, I registered for April. To this day, I cannot get Message Friend to visit one class.

Here’s the thing: I’m not an athlete. I’m not trying to be one. When I’m in class, I do my best to give 120%. There are many times that I’m the person at the back of the pack. It seems like I spend most of boot camp catching up. I’m last in finishing the 100 jump ropes and 1 million bicycle crunches (ok that’s what it seems like). The key to it is this: I finish. I don’t quit. I try to do what I feel is my best and I know it’s not the same as the person next to me. I’ve shed blood (literally), sweat and enough tears to fill a swimming pool. I’ve found that when I start to have self doubt in the middle of a workout, I can think of 5 people who are at home doing absolutely nothing and wouldn’t come to boot camp to save their life. So do what is your best and try to push yourself just a tad bit further.

“If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed” – David Viscott