I GOT MY LIFE BACK................

I submitted an essay and won a contest that gave me 4 FREE sessions of FitWit. I posted my essay in January if you would like to read it. At that point, I know that I needed something to help me continue the journey that I was on. I am grateful to have WON the contest and feel that they have given me what I needed and I have done what was asked of me.

When making a life change it can be overwhelming. You don't know what to expect and at times anxiety sets in and makes you uncomfortable. I was there in January. I remember that I was EXCITED and NERVOUS at the SAME TIME! When I got the email stating that WON, I was like YES and then said....what in the world have I gotten myself into. Many thoughts were going though my mind and fear started to set in. I was nervous that I wasn't going to be able to do anything with others and they would make fun of me or judge me by the lack of ability due to my weight. I knew that I was going to be the heaviest person. I started to reflect about my "bring a friend to camp" with Megan a few weeks earlier. I could not even climb my steps when I got home or roll over in bed. I was SORE! I had to redirect those thoughts and put positive ones in place. When it comes to fitness then "MIND/MATTER" is IMPORTANT! I can tell you that from experience. When you line up your mind and push then you will be able to do things that you thought that could not have been done. My first week of camp was TOUGH, but as the weeks went by my body was adjusting to the workouts. Not saying that it was easy, but I was starting to WIN the BATTLE that I have been trying to FIGHT for all my life. I learned not to compare myself to the next person and just focus on what "Jo" could do. Josh and the other trainers were there to support and push me along the way. They modified things for me and encourage me when I was feeling that I wasn't going to make it to the end. I can remember a time that Josh was there through my tears and pushed me when I was close to the end or when the ENTIRE camp was cheering when I was completing my 17 touch drill or finishing my first timed mile. Words can not express the feeling that I have inside NOW and when you are doing things that you thought were impossible. The LITTLE things that no one else things of unless you have struggled with being overweight ALL of your LIFE. Now, I can walk up three flight of steps, walk to lunch with my co-workers, get on an airplane and fit into the bathroom and to know that I am striving to see my daughter grow up and be there every walk of the way and ALL without STRESS and WORRY!!

FITWIT HAS GIVEN ME MY LIFE BACK!!!!! It is my GOAL to encourage my family and friends to GET THEIR LIFE BACK! God has given you a "temple" and you need to take care of it. I just had a Sorority sister to have a heart attack and she is maybe 30 years old. I am EXCITED to say that my cousin, Trish, has changed her life and on the journey with me. She is the camper that I invited and she left during the middle of class. She sees the results that I have gotten from FitWit and says that I can't leave her and she has to joined me. My waist has changed over 12 inches!!! My body had RESHAPED and I am LOVING ME!!!!

I have lost between 60-65lbs and going to continue this journey until I reach my long term goal. I have become apart of a family(FitWit) that cares about me and knows my desires. Just remember that a lifestyle change is a two way street. I have to do my part by making healthy choices, because FitWit gives me what I need during that hour. Diet+ Exercise = Healthy life.

If you are feeling like you CAN'T then it possible that you wont. CHANGE those THOUGHT and KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO IT!!!

JOIN ME and get YOUR LIFE BACK!!!!!!

PLEASE leave me any COMMENTS and ASK me QUESTIONS!

Jo

Think FitWit is OVER.....THINK AGAIN! LOOK...

Do you think that I would STOP FITWIT NOW? No, I have come TOOOOO far to let it go. Just look at the pictures and SEE for yourself.

I'm Camper of the Week!

OMG!!! I can't believe that I got camper of the week again. Week # 5 was tough and I put my heart and soul into the workout on last Friday. Joe was my partner and it was a TOUGH workout! All I remember is plunging down on my mat while Josh was talking and about to introduce the camper of the week and then he said my NAME! I was like Me! OMG!!! I know that I struggle a bit during the week. The heat has me moving in SLOW motion.

I am PROUD to be camper of the week and continue on the journey that I started!

Jo

I started my 31st BIRTHDAY with FitWit in Grant Park!!

On Friday, June 25th, I started my 31st birthday with FitWit! I was a GREAT feeling to be able to do something that I have previous not done or thought that it was important to do. Many of my friends told me that I should have taken the day off...it was MY BIRTHDAY, but I know that I needed to get a workout in, because you know that I LOVE CAKE!!! I had dinner plans at No Mas Cantina and I knew that I was going to have chips and salsa, cheese, chips and salsa, fajitas, and maybe a drink.......I wanted all the things that I normally don't eat because it was MY BIRTHDAY! I must say in the end that I MADE SOME GREAT CHOICES and had a half of a drink. I gave up alcohol when I started my journey in January 2009, because of ALL the CALORIES!!! Well, I think that the workout from that morning made me REALLY think about my choice.........I DON'T know what the HELL Josh was thinking when he came up with that workout!!!!!!!! Chillllle, I thought that I was going to be the last birthday I would celebrate. Now, if you know me then you know that I HATE TO RUN!!!! We did our warm up as usually and then they break us up into groups based on our running levels and I was with the MIGHTY TURTLES! We had to run over to the Boys and Girls club(a bit over a mile) then complete a workout THEN RUN BACK! Well, by the time I was able to reach the Boys and Girls club, I was sweating and tired, not to mention that I had just left camp 12 hours ago since I am a normal 6pm camper. As I started running down the never ending steps, lunges across the field and back up those steps. It seemed like they were never ending ALL THE WAY BACK UP! I thought we were going to take the steps back to Maynard Jackson...WRONG!!! Guess again! We had to do the jog ALL the way back.
Of course, I was the last one to finish, but I made it! It doesn't bother me that I am the last one. I just look at the positive things and keep moving. I am there TRYING and doing what it takes to get in shape and to LIVE for my family. I beat myself up at times, and get upset when I don't hit a goal my a given time, but I realize that it takes time to get in shape and drop weight and I should be proud to have dropped over 60lbs.

On bring a friend to camp really made me realize that it doesn't matter your size to determine your fitness level. There were many friends that were half my size and could not make it through the complete workout. Josh and I had a talk and he told me that he was proud of me and brought it to my attention that I have come a LONG way! I know that the road is still long, but I am not at the starting line.

2010 has given me a NEW out look on LIFE and I am proud that my journey has not stopped!

Jo

Burpees in SLOW motion!

Well, Friday was the end of week 3 and I had a challenge on my hands! Burpees.......I am doing my burpees but they are in SLOW MOTION! I would rather have then in SLOW MOTION than not to be able to do one at all. The first part is faster and the last part, after I hit the "deck"(aka the ground) then my body is stuck there and I generally takes me a few moments to pop up and get my hands up in the air to clap before I'm get ready to "hit the deck" again. "Hit the deck" is a term that Josh uses often.

Just think.....in week #1 I was not even close or trying to think about doing a burpee and NOW...I can do more than 5 in a row! Trust me FitWit is taking me to NEW LEVELS and I'm enjoying the ride, but it takes HARD work! NOTHING comes w/o a PRICE!!!

Jo

It has been a while, but I'm BACK in Grant Park

Did you miss me? Well, I am back and ready to continue to blog about my experiences at FitWit. I must say that the past couple of weeks have been stressful and I had to roll with the punches. It was a test on many areas of my life and for once, I can say that I did not allow food to control or take over my emotions. I am true and staying focused on the path and journey that I have decided to take.

The first and second week of camp have come and gone. Where is time going?

The first week was like OMG! I think that my body was use to resting and then I put it back to work, I must stay that I needed the rest but I just had a first hard week.

Now, this past week was like OMG times 2! I was sore this week and really worked hard. On Friday, we worked out at Grant Park. I missed a night of camp and was depressed. Ian, my boyfriend, was at the ER and I was there with him. Thank God that he is fine and it was an eye opener for him. I get to Grant Park on Friday and Josh tells me that it was the timed mile. I wanted to CRY! I was not wanting to do the mile in the park and Grant Park workouts are HARD!!! It was HOT and it felt like 100 degrees and the wind was not blowing. I was sweating after 1 min of the warm up. Well, it took me 16 mins to run a mile and I think that it was HARDER the last part because it was mainly up hill. I felt like I had nothing else left in me after that. I managed to finish up doing core work with Amy and about 6 other campers.

I am trying to learn to just get negative thoughts out of my mind when I hear the word "run" or any form. I think that once those thoughts set in then it is all downhill. I am challenging myself to run a mile for homework this week and time myself. I am going to do it around my neighborhood, so that I will have some up and down hills. I will post the results in my next blog.

Thanks you all for the support that you have given me on this journey.

JCE

Walking Downtown is a BREEZE!!!

I have been working downtown for 4 years. When I first started, we had some type of luncheon that we talked to about 6-8 blocks away. I remember that I was huffing and puffing and struggling to keep up with my unit. I was breathing hard and just thought that I was never going to do that again. I remember not being able to talk when they were asking me questions, without feeling shaky tone in my voice from trying to breath and talk. THAT IS HISTORY! We went to lunch on Wednesday and I was able to keep up, in fact I was leading the way. I was even able to hold a conversation while walking. I wasn't out of breath, I wasn't feeling that I needed to take a break!

THE FEELING=PRICELESS!!

FITWIT WORKS!!!!

This week was my off week and I have taken advantage of it. I have been resting my knee and getting ready for camp. See ya TUESDAY!!!