This is the story of a Badass, born 25 years ago today.
This is the story of a young woman whose inner Badass got lost for awhile, thanks to a campaign trail job and other "this is life" roadblocks and late-night drive-thru choices that left her far less fit than she wanted to be. This is the true tale of goals set and met. Of the steady perseverance and hard work that left her more than 25 pounds lighter -- and stronger than she ever thought she could be.
This is the story of Sarah Criser, client and friend, and how she unleashed her inner Badass.
Sarah's transformation didn't happen overnight. Instead, it happened the healthy way - slow and steady, with a combination of healthier eating and challenging workouts. And this is why I am sharing it. This is why she is sharing it.
The Sarah I first met seven months ago could be any one of us: mostly healthy but not in strong physical shape. Eating and enjoying too many happy hours, not exercising enough. Feeling like we'd never get our mojo back. The Sarah I know today (at right, and above) represents the ultimate Badass transformation. The Sarah I know today gave 110 percent, and got results.
Seven months after that first training session, Sarah is 26 pounds lighter and 2 dress sizes smaller. She has cuts in her legs, biceps and legs that she didn't have before. She lifts heavier, and with better form.
She is you, and your "what is possible."
There is no magic pill. But you get out of the Badass Journey what you put into it. And when you put in grit and sweat and moxie, you get that magic, amazing feeling of looking in the mirror or running your best-ever (or first-ever) race and knowing, I did this.
Tomorrow, Sarah and a few girlfriends will run the 12-mile Tough Mudder obstacle course in Tampa. As they cross the finish line, and I know they will, Sarah gets to enjoy that magic feeling of knowing every single step came as a result of the many hours she invested.
I'll let her finish the story from here, but I need to say this: Sarah impressed me and made me smile constantly along the way. No matter how cold and dark it was at the track, she pushed through. Through the fatigue of working a full time job AND finishing her master's degree at FSU, she always gave me those last 10 burpees or pushups.
She is One Tough Mudder. Just read on...
When I came to Shannon in May, I had just finished working through two legislative sessions and a campaign, which many of you know do little for your waistline. Even though I had enlisted the help of a trainer since moving to Tallahassee in December, I had not seen any results - unless you count the scale moving in the opposite direction.
However, while I was frustrated, I wasn't willing to give up. In fact, I was more determined than ever. At work, we were encouraging more active and healthy lifestyles, and I decided that I was going to start practicing what I was preaching. I just needed to have the right tools to do so.
So, as I am on my way to reaching some of my own fitness goals, I'd like to pass along some of the things Shannon has taught me in the hopes that it inspires another person in this Army to never give up or be afraid to set a goal which may seem out of their reach.
1) The amount of exercise isn't as important as the type. You can't lose weight flipping tires, which I did plenty of with no results... Trust me. It's not cute.
2) Your workouts should be diverse. In running that same 3-mile route every day, I was not challenging my body to work any harder or improve.
3) It's just as much about what you are putting in your mouth and how often you eat as it is the frequency with which you workout. Two-a-days won't give you the results you want if you give in to that Whataburger Double Bacon Cheeseburger that keeps calling your name.
4) It isn't about going on a diet. While I can sometimes still hear the faint whisper of the drive-thru, I learned that I needed to make smarter choices the majority of the time, so I can truly enjoy those moments when I indulge in a cookie or a piece of cake. Yes, it is okay to indulge as long as it doesn't become the norm.
5) There are no quick fixes. Yes, we all wish we had a magic wand, and while crazy diets may have quick results, they will ultimately result in harmful effects to your body in the long-term.
6) It's about making a lifestyle change - a change to make yourself the best you can be both inside and out.
Tomorrow, I will embark on one of the most challenging fitness tests of my quarter century life with 4 women who have encouraged and inspired me to achieve my own fitness goals. They, too, have made great strides of their own along the way. As we brave the 12-mile Tampa Tough Mudder and test our greatest fears - heights, freezing temperatures, enclosed spaces and electrical shock, among others (yes, we know you are asking yourself why we would voluntarily subject ourselves to this) - we know we can get through it, because we have a goal, we are strong (thanks to Shannon), and, together, we are invincible.
Whether your goal is to run your first mile, eat a little healthier, complete one more push-up or FINISH the Tough Mudder, remember... You can do anything you put your mind to. Real change usually happens in baby steps, not huge leaps and bounds. Set goals. Celebrate the small accomplishments, like shaving seconds off your split time or giving up soda, and always know that as part of the Army, you have people to support and encourage you along the way!
Good luck!