Don't Limit Your Challenges ~ Challenge Your Limits

I just love this quote ~ "Don't limit your challenges. Challenge your limits." It's actually been something I've been striving for over the past few years. 

I took on running and training for a half marathon...something I NEVER dreamt I could do. To be very honest, I didn't think I could even finish the training...much less actually run the whole 13.1 miles when it came to race day. I had never been a runner. I was carrying a lot of extra weight for my body. What made me think that someone like me could go do something like that?  BUT.... I DID IT ANYWAY.

I took a class to get licensed to instruct Zumba....something that wasn't even on my radar until a friend sold me her Xhilarate program because she didn't have the room to do it at home. I had never been even remotely interested in leading an exercise class....frankly LEADING anything. I do NOT like to be the center of attention and would much rather be in with the pack than leading from the front. I am not graceful. I am not the most coordinated. And, it takes me FOREVER to learn even one new routine. BUT.....I DID IT ANYWAY.

I signed up to be a Team Beachbody coach even though my life was already very full with my family, a full-time job, teaching Zumba classes and working to lose weight and get in better shape. AGAIN, something I NEVER thought I could do (I had been looking into it for almost a year before I finally took the plunge). I didn't think I could be successful at it. I didn't have a transformation story yet. I wasn't someone who had reached all their goals. I didn't have all the behaviors other coaches had. And, again, I didn't think of myself as a leader. BUT.....I DID IT ANYWAY.

I CHALLENGED MY LIMITS. I decided nothing worth getting was going to come easy. I decided to push myself when no one else was going to do it for me. I changed my way of thinking. I day after day tried to be better than I was the day before. I sacrificed. I lived on less sleep. I didn't stop when it hurt....I stopped when I was done.

I CHALLENGED MY LIMITS....and I found I am limited.  SHOCKER!....lol.

And, although I don't think I would change any of what I went through to get to where I am today, I do have to be very candid and say that I pushed myself to my breaking point. I went too far. While I've been making it a point to always put Brooklyn first, I was not putting enough time and energy into my marriage and I now recognize this has been happening for years. I've been barely surviving on 4 to 6 hours of sleep a night. I've been taxing my body and in turn taxing my mind. I was spending at least 6 hours a week doing Zumba, in addition to sometimes double workout programs AND interval training and had been functioning like that for almost a year. I've been scattered and forgetful at my day job. I've sacrificed time with family and friends. I've spent the better part of the last 4 years thinking I can out-train a bad diet.

I posted on my fitness page last week that life is an ongoing cycle of peaks & valleys. And, while I do believe this to be true to a point, after having a few more days of soul searching I discovered that life is less about peaks & valleys than it is about the decisions we make each and every day. These are conscious decisions that shape our outcomes. These are small, seemingly unimportant decisions that over time have huge and amazing consequences. 

I think I have an addictive personality (I've openly talked about my food addiction) and I finally now recognize my exercise habits were just another addiction. I called it workout ADD back in another post but what it really was was an addiction. I needed it. It was one thing in a long list of other things that I could control. I've sacrificed time with my family & friends for it. I've sacrificed sleep for it. And, while I may still sacrifice sleep some nights for it (I have a 4-year-old who STILL doesn't sleep through the night but I'm not gonna let that stop me from getting my workouts in in the morning!), I am going to try my hardest to not let it affect my relationships any longer. I need to work out smarter, not harder. Hell, I need to WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER in all areas of my life.

Yes, indeed, I am limited. But, through my adventures and pushing my limits, I've finally found balance. I have refocused. I am grounded. 

Am I going to continue to push my limits? ABSO-FRICKIN-LUTELY! But, this time, I have a more clearly defined idea of what those are. I'm going to PUSH to be a better mom, wife & friend. I'm going to PUSH to focus on good nutrition. I'm going to PUSH to be the best employee I can at work. I'm going to PUSH PLAY 6 days a week on my PiYO and NOT DO ANY OTHER PROGRAM. I'm going to PUSH for my 10 minutes of personal development every day. I'm going to PUSH to be a better coach, teammate and leader. I'm going to PUSH to make my Faith a priority every day. I'm going to PUSH for financial freedom. And, I'm going to PUSH to stay positive, focused and grounded during it all.

See ya Friday!

#livefitlongstronglivepink