As I got dressed the other morning, with eyes half shut so as not to offend myself, I evaluated my torso in the mirror. I am beginning to see signs of that dreaded middle-aged tire. “Not so fast”, I told my new chubby attachment, I am not going to give in that easily. If I don’t fight the fat now the battle will become increasingly more difficult.
That afternoon, I went grocery shopping and there in the cart was a crumbled up flyer advertising a Boot Camp class for women with Eric Bullock from Eagle County Barbell. The camp started at 5:30am, a perfect time for me to work out before Wade departs for work. I signed up without hesitation. Throughout my life I have had the desire to change the physique of my body to longer, leaner muscles and I saw this as my chance.
I want to get up from my lounge chair at the pool and not wonder if people are thinking that I have developed a taste for doughnuts. It would also be wonderful to have my clothes fit more comfortably. Certainly, it would make getting dressed for a night out on the town much more pleasant. It may eliminate the cyclone of clothes I always leave strewn across the floor as I insufferably change from one outfit to another reminding me of my bachelorette days when my dressing meltdowns would leave a permanent sea of clothes on my bedroom floor.
Since I have had children, my work outs have become my Prozac. Consequently, I have made it a priority to fit exercise into my schedule. To retain my sanity as well as my physical well being, I have taken time to go off on a well trodden hike and become one with nature. For meditation and a hard core workout, I fit in my Bikram’s yoga practice whenever I can.
This summer has been different. The camps and classes for the kids have been scaled down to a bare minimum and it has been a real struggle for me to fit in the mental and physical balance. One might deduce from reading this post that I must be slightly off kilter at this stage of the game and that would be a correct assumption.
Last night as I was setting my alarm, I came up with a million excuses as to why I shouldn’t get up early to go to Boot Camp. I could catch up on sleep or write about my incredibly spiritual day but I was determined to stick to my New Year’s Resolutions;
#1 Don’t let my fears drive my decisions
#2 Challenge Wade with his accusation that I always start off strong but fizzle out on ideas and creative projects
#3 I’m not telling. Surprisingly, I do keep some things to myself.
So I woke up and sluggishly drove under the starry sky to the appointed field. It was so peaceful being up at this time of morning and I stopped to take a photo. As I stood on the empty country road I could hear the coyotes howling in the distance, and this time I wasn’t even singing. It was a chilly thirty-seven degrees but it felt good to be changing the direction of my life.
Eric was standing there with his hoody on, clipboard in hand, stop watch at the ready and a smile on his face. I had envisioned someone all pumped up with testosterone anxiously waiting for a chance to blow on his whistle and make demands for me to drop and give him twenty. Eric was different then I had imagined. He had kind eyes and it was plain to see that he was passionate about helping people achieve their goals. I and five other women began our warm up run. One hour later, after dropping and giving him approximately sixty push ups (because he asked nicely), as well as sit ups, and every squat imaginable to man, I arrived home refreshed, energized and happy knowing that I was finally on the right track.
I am ready to wake up at 4:45am, five days a week for four weeks and work out as the sun slowly rises over the mountains changing the sky from velvety black to midnight blue and when its warm rays finally reach us, our work out will be over.
I no longer have to endure the endless struggle of finding the balance between a healthy diet and a good exercise regime on my own. I am committing twenty hours to Eric who hopefully will keep me focused and determined to finally lose my excessive weight and inches. If I make my goal then I may even publish my before and after photos, but don’t count on it. Stay tuned for the updates.
You are a funny funy girl! Do not let the ‘chubby attachment’ win. Go girl!!! xo
Hey Jillian,
Nice, I like it! You make me out to be a nice guy…you just wait. These ‘kind eyes’ will soon be filled with fire as my testosterone induced yelling echoes through the valley.
I look forward to your progress and future posts. See you in the am.
Eric Bollock
Eagle County Barbell
As much as I want you to keep some things to yourself, I’m dying to know what # 3 is
…..
Since I have had children, my work outs have become my Prozac.
love you Jillian. lol.
Oh my gosh! 4:45am you woke up? I am truly impressed! That quiet early morning time you described sounded amazing.
You are an inspiration!
OMG!! I just wrote a whole paragraph and it got deleted. So now a short version. I did his practice bootcamp several weeks ago. When I went to Fl my friend did a bootcamp at the YMCA. It was great. Now that I know enough “moves” I head up Watson Divide at the crackass of dawn and do my own bootcamp. After your month is over and getting up has become part of you routine all you have to do is drive over Watson Divide and we can do our own bootcamp. It’s such a great feeling knowing you have done a great physical and mental workout and it’s done. Keep it up!!!!!
I had no idea that boot camp would spark such an incredibly spiritual and emotional journey! Taking a new direction in one’s life is a remarkable experience.
Loved seeing you running on the bike path, in the sun, with a huge, happy smile on your face. I’m guessing you were on your way to Watson Divide.
Great idea to do boot camp with you! I’m sorta hooked on Eric’s program for the moment, I don’t even hate him for all those dreaded squats…yet. Let’s hope I make it through the month.
Good for you! I have always made working out a priority, and it is a challenge with the kids home. I don’t know that I could be quite as dedicated as you are by rising at 4:45 a.m. in the SUMMER, though! You are an inspiration! I’ll anxiously await hearing about your end results.