Tuesday night I raced home after a long day of work in order to make my 7:15PM spin class. By the time I got home at 6:00PM I had zero motivation to go to class. I knew I’d feel better if I went to class but I was super tired and hungry.
When I told Neal I didn’t want to go I asked him what he thought I should do. Neal hesitated for a second, but after reassuring him that my pregnant self wasn’t going to get emotional, he told me that I should go and that I’d feel better afterwards. It was just what I needed to hear and it kicked me into full gear!
Just as class started, our instructor welcomed a new classmate to the class. It was her first time ever taking spin, which made me think about my first time taking spin back in 2006. I was at my highest adult weight (261 pounds) and scared out of my mind. I struggled throughout the entire class and made up an excuse to leave class early. It was truly my fitness rock bottom!
That day, as I was pushed outside of my comfort zone, I realize just how out of shape I was. Although I was a college athlete and confident in the weight room, my cardiovascular health was extremely poor and I was unhealthy! I needed to change my habits and I needed to get into shape. It was scary and though I never wanted to take spin again, I knew that it didn’t have to get any worse! This could truly be my last rock bottom.
After class on Tuesday I talked to my new classmate about her experience and I couldn’t help but be so happy for her. I knew exactly how she was feeling and how tired her body was but I also knew that it would only get better. I encouraged her to come back again and to know that the soreness was normal.
I got in my car and realized just how far I’ve come. 8 years ago I never would have imagined that I’d be 7 months pregnant in a spin class. Spin has become my passion and is one of my absolute favorite workouts. Not only was it the workout that made me realize my rock bottom, but it has become the workout that pushes me the most and makes me love fitness more and more each week.
I’ve been thinking about my classmate, her experience, and my rock bottom a lot these past two days because I think we all have to reach that place in order to change. We have to be so tired of where we’re at that we’re willing to tackle our fears in order to be better- to feel better! It starts with wanting to be different, wanting to change, and wanting to take on what scares us the most. For me it was spin, and although that day was my lowest of lows on the fitness front, it has forever changed me.
If you’re unhappy with where you’re at I challenge you to tackle what scares you. Try something new and allow yourself to hit your fitness rock bottom. Maybe it’s spin or maybe it’s running. Either way, the first day is almost always the worst and I promise, it’ll get better!
