Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Who is that lady?

Yesterday was an exciting day!  I was like a little kid waiting for Santa.  The anticipation was incredible.  I was giddy all day.  I had an appointment at 4:30 to get my new bike.

It was a little disappointing when I got there and they were not ready for me.  They did not realize I was coming in.  I had an appointment, the person that made it just did not communicate it.  It was all good - they took care of me.  I learned how to use bike shoes with clips.  (What an adventure!)  I tried to figure out how to use the bike gears - that was interesting.  I still have not quite figured it out, but I will.  After a considerable amount of time at the bike shop, I left with my new bike.  I was exhilarated.

When I got to the store, one of my former students was sitting in the parking lot, painting a bench.  I saw him, smiled and said, "Do you work here?"

Armando:  "No, they are my friends and I'm helping them out."

I talked to him for a minute...I was in a rush to get my bike, so I didn't take long.  I could tell, though that he was uncomfortable.  When I went out to put my wallet in the car, I said to him, "Armando, do you remember me?"

Armando (the look on his face was priceless, a complete blank stare):  "Ummm..."

Me:  "Armando, it's me, Mrs. Coleman from ...  I was your guidance counselor last year."

Armando (eyes widening):  "Mrs. Coleman?  ...?  No way.  I did not recognize you."

I laughed and said, "Yes, Armando, it's me.  Mrs. Coleman."

He was quite dumbfounded.

Me:  "Armando, it's okay.  I've lost 70 pounds.  My hair is up, I'm in gym clothes.  You just don't recognize me."

This was a first for me.  Armando was one of my favorite students last year.  (All the ones with a story are my favorites, by the way.  Just don't tell them that!)  His accomplishments made me so proud of him.  I think it's funny that he didn't recognize me.

This week is Spirit Week at school.  Today was Decade Day.  Erica convinced me to participate, so I dressed as Rosie the Riveter and she dressed as an 80's Flash Dancer.  It was so much fun.  Imagine what Armando would have thought if I had gone today to get my bike!

I am at a point now where I'm not really sure what direction to take with this "getting fit" journey of mine.  I have lost right around 70 pounds (some days it's 70, some days more, some days less, depending on daily body changes).  I feel good.  I feel strong.  There are still some ripples here and there that I would love to get rid of, but I know that will take the longest to diminish.  Subcutaneous body fat is a beast, but slow and steady wins the prize.  Being so goal oriented, I talked to my trainer, Dmitriy about this and he told me to take my focus off the weight and look at decreasing body fat and increasing strength.  Okay, those are good things to consider.  I'm so stuck on the pounds that it is not easy to think about it in different terms.

For sure, I know I have some real fitness goals.

One:  I still want to do three sets of 10 push-ups.  I'm getting closer, but I'm not quite there yet.

Two:  I want to be able to do pull ups without assistance.  I'm not sure why this is important, but Dmitriy is pushing me to do them, which I think is funny.  It is really cool to see how much I am improving with them each time I try.

Three:  I want to bench press 100 lbs.  I am at 75 lbs. now, but I think 100 lbs. would be really cool.

Four:  I need to increase my stamina and endurance.  I feel like a total wimp.  As strong as I am from the weight training, I can't get through more than 20 minutes on the elliptical.  (Not only is it boring, but it exhausts me.)

Five:  A two-hour bike ride, including hills.  Ideally I need to set a pace and move up from there.  Now that I have my bike, I can do that.  This will allow me to build on my cycling goals so I can do the Ride to Remember in September.

I just HAD to take my new ride out for a quick spin around the block last night.

So, who is that lady?  I would like to think I am the same today as I was a year ago.  Maybe, since I am feeling so much better, I am less depressed.  The exercise helps me to deal with stress better.  I would like to think my focus on fitness has taken the magnifying glass off my obsession with work.  I really was a bit of a work-a-holic, although there are times when I have to put in a lot of extra time.

I wonder how many Armando's I will run into.  "Who is that lady?"

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

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