I am not going to lie, four years ago things weren't going so great. I had started school and was met by one of the most challenging classes I have ever had. Not only did I have 26 fifth graders of varying needs, abilities and discipline issues, the state and school were putting even more pressure on ISTEP scores.
Trying to be the fun, witty, inspiring teacher that I liked to be soon transformed into being Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Kindergarten Cop." You know the scene where he loses his cool and yells at the kindergartners and tells them to "Shut up?" That was me on a daily basis. Needless to say, I was worn out. I didn't eat right. I hadn't been exercising. I felt stress doing its number on my body.
I was 37 years old. You have to understand that the number 38 has hung over my head like a thunderstorm since I was six-years-old. That is the age my dad had his first heart attack. I noticed that my stomach was making cameo appearances in pictures. My pants were getting tight. How could that be? I had been that same size since college!
I had done everything imaginable to win over the disruptive students so the ones who were wanting to learn could find their success. I toiled day and night trying to figure out ways to do what I needed to do. I was nearing the end of the semester when my friend, Nancy Pugh, invited me to try out her gym, Farrell's Extreme Bodyshaping. They were having a "Bring a Friend" week. I had seen a transformation in her, even though I considered her "fit" even before she began going to this gym. She was nice enough to change her class time from an early morning class to an evening class to accommodate my schedule.
I was so nervous. You have to understand, I was not an athletic person (I still do not consider myself "athletic!") I was the kid who was picked last in gym class in junior high and high school. My attempts to play sports were few and far between. I rarely watched sporting events. That 13-year-old on the inside was afraid that the people who were going to be in the class were going to make fun of me. I just knew they were going to stand me in the middle of the mat and point at me and laugh.
The first class I took was a lower body class. I grabbed the necessary resistance bands. The instructor began and told us what to do. Luckily, my friend was there to show me how to wrap and use the bands, or they would be flying everywhere. I was quite impressed by the workout I got. To celebrate, I dropped by Taco Bell.
The next day, I could barely walk. I walked into school like a zombie on "The Walking Dead." I considered calling her and telling her to forget working out that night. That evening's class was kickboxing. I could not imagine trying to kick my legs. Then there was a mid-day moment that changed my mind.
That particular day things were gradually getting worse. I had to become warden and watchdog. I cracked down hard. Then after taking a restroom break not even 20 minutes before a student came up to me and asked to go to the restroom. I told him he would have to wait until we finished class. He became angry when I told him "no." He then proceeded to call me "a stupid teacher."
Think of the Arnold scene, except 100 times worse. Needless to say, I kept my appointment to go to the kickboxing class.
When I arrived, I was given wraps to wrap my hands and a pair of boxing gloves. You have to also understand, I have never been in a fight in my life. I am so non-aggressive. It was a little intimidating. The upbeat music began and the instructor led us into a warm up. I am sure I looked like Scarecrow from "The Wizard of Oz." Arms and legs were flying everywhere! When we rolled out the bags and began to throw jabs and rounds, something changed within my psyche. Is it possible to reduce your frustration, stress, and allow you to let your day go with a good right cross? After the class, I looked like I had just been on a water ride. Something amazing happened: I was noticeably much better off than when I started.
I attended the Saturday morning upper body class. I was becoming hooked. I signed up that very day for the next 10-week session.
When January rolled around, I had to do initial testing with all the other people who had made their New Year's Resolution to get fit. After getting weighed, checking body fat and flexibility and getting body measurements, we partnered up and had to see how many push-ups we could do in a minute. I didn't do too bad. Then came the sit-ups. This is the one I worried about. I don't remember ever doing a full sit-up since elementary school. My partner held my feet down, the start was given, and I made it up. Then, there were no more sit-ups. I looked like a turtle on its back. I was so humiliated. The mile run was last. Man, it was cold! I was more pleased with that result.
That Monday, I began as a 10-weeker. I had 10 weeks of working out 6 days a week to see what result I would have. In my over-imaginative mind, I was hoping for a Channing Tatum or Ryan Gosling miracle. In reality, I wanted to lose a few pounds before I went to Florida on Spring Break. I really didn't know what to expect. I had always assumed I would be the way I had always been.
Over the course of 60 days, I made it to every class. Hey, I wanted my money's worth. I pushed myself further than I could ever imagine. When I did my final testing, I had great results. 20 pounds down, loss of inches, increased push-ups, and yes, a lot more sit-ups. I was pleased with what I was able to accomplish, but something else changed within me.
I loved buying new clothes. I loved going to Florida and being on the beach to show off my results. Those were great, but Farrell's gave me a confidence I had been missing. By pushing myself and doing things that I never thought I would do, I found that I was more capable of things that I didn't think I was able to do before.
The other thing I gained was a group of supporting people. When I joined a gym a few years before, I never felt like I belonged. I always felt out of place. I had no one to guide me or help hold me accountable. It's like the "Cheers" theme song, "sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name." Farrell's gave me that. I added a group of friends I would never have expected at a fitness place. The support inside the gym and outside the gym was something unexpected.
Who would have guessed that I would be asked to be a coach to others beginning at Farrell's? Me, a coach? I honestly thought the owners had gone crazy when asked to instruct resistance bands and kickboxing classes. Me? The kid who was always the last one left in dodge ball, who was pounded by those rubber balls from aggressive teenagers. It was, and is, an incredible honor.
I always like to tell people that Farrell's helped transform me from George Costanza into George Clooney. It has helped bring out the best in me. It brought out the person who kind of hid behind himself. Confidence is something everyone needs. When you find a place that can bring it out of you, you can't help but shout it out. I am very grateful for finding a place where I belong. It was a missing piece in my life that came at a critical point in my life.
Again, Nice it is never too late to make changes in your life. If you feel like you are at a point where you are unhappy about yourself, make that step forward. Don't make excuses, because too many people make them. You owe it to yourself! All you have to do is figure out what will make the best you possible. It is possible!
