Inspiration and Encouragement

Yesterday I had a moment of inspiration. It was not a spiritual inspiration. It was not an artistic inspiration. It was a Biggest Loser inspiration!

Without giving too much detail about my day two of week two run with C25K (I plan on doing another post about all of week two) let's suffice it to say that it was...AWFUL!!! At one point, I though I might die, puke, or both. But as I contemplated quitting, I thought about all those contestants on The Biggest Loser. I thought about how Jillian told them they couldn't quit. The only way they could quit was to puke. So, I decided that if they could do it, so could I. I decided that I would keep going until I threw up and if I threw up, I'd just walk the rest of the way home.

You know what happened? I FINISHED! I was utterly exhausted so I had to do my happy dance in my head but I was doing it!

I watched the live finale of The Biggest Loser last night after my run. I can't tell you how many times I was moved to tears which was dangerous since I was eating my dinner. I seriously liked to have choked once! While, I was beyond thrilled for all the contestants, I must say, the most inspirational ones are the ones who got voted off early and lost a ton of weight on their own. It gives someone like me the hope that I don't have to be on some show, or even have a personal trainer...I can do it! Now, I realize the need for having a support system, people who encourage you along the way, help you achieve your goals. And I am thankful for those people in my life.

A special shout-out to Ryan who recently got us a gym membership and is encouraging me in my running and working out and will eat whatever I fix. To my mom and dad, who have always encouraged me and believed in me even when I tried and failed many times. They were always there to offer their support and never criticized even when I fell off that wagon for the umpteenth time. Also, my mom is going to run my first 5K with me in July and that is a huge motivation. To my granddaddy Strickland for getting me interested in being healthy and being a constant supply of healthy and yummy recipes. To my cousin Lindsey who is on this journey with me. I look forward to your texts, emails, and phone calls everyday. I just hope that I am encouraging you as much as you are encouraging me. And to Clara, whom I've never met. I had already started my journey when I found her blog. But her constant support, emails, tips, recipes, etc. are helping more than she'll ever know. Her story alone would be inspiration enough.

There are many others out there who I know support me, pray for me, and encourage me. I can't thank you enough either. I love all the comments on my blog or on my Facebook page.

Love you all,

~Jess