One of the many things I think about now is how others see me. Working for a fitness trainer has some interesting aspects to it. One of the biggest being the look I get when someone asks me what I do. I don't really look the part. What people do not see are my before pictures. They don't know that person I was in January 2014 when I attended my first boot camp. They see me and they don't know I used to weigh around 385.
I have been really praying for God to reveal His purpose for me and He has been faithful to reveal part of His plan. I have had a few deep conversations with Bethany about what I feel like God is telling me. She is always so insightful. I think God tells her long before He tells me because He knows I will need someone to speak life and truth over the situation...and boy, does she obey!
Fact is, I don't pass the eyeball test. Like it or not, people form opinions about us based on what they see and when someone new sees me, they do not see a trainer's assistant. Now, before you go getting all over me, I am not beating myself up or trying to put myself down, I am simply processing my thoughts about this job I have.
We have one chance to make a first impression. I am supposed to represent my employer well, right? I should be a product of the product she offers, right? When someone comes to the check in table or to a function, they shouldn't be confused, right? RIGHT. I really love what I do. I am honored to be trusted with the tasks I have been given. I am a product of the product and I believe I play a significant role in the lives of the people we work with, but I need to get serious!
I have had more than one person tell me that I inspire them. Some people had shared with me that the reason they are at camp is because they know I understand and that if I can do it, they can too. This is all well and good, but it also comes with a great deal of responsibility. If folks are going to look to me to set the example, I have to get my butt in gear and meet my goals. The first one is weight related (and the only one we will discuss right now).
Weight related, WHAT??? I say all of the time that success is not measured on the scale and I sincerely believe it. I rarely weigh myself, maybe once every three weeks or so. So why in the world would I have a weight loss goal? Well, I work in the fitness industry. My goal is to get to a much healthier weight. What that will look like depends on how I look as I loose weight. If I am healthy at a weight that is between 165 and 185, then I will be happy there. In case you are wondering, that require me to drop between 80 to 100 pounds. That is a HUGE goal (no pun intended), but it is something that is possible if I eat right and exercise.
Passing the eyeball test honors the effort that Bethany and Misti put in to being my trainers. It shows them that I understand the role I play. It honors God because it lays a foundation for Him to use me to change others. AND it honors the people who have said I inspire them because it shows them I am serious about what I do.
It will not be easy and I will not pretend that I am going to like changing my diet, but it will be worth the effort. By the time I reach this goal I will have potentially lost over 200 pounds...and that will be an amazing testimony to God and to the people who believe it is possible. It will also open doors to the other things that I know God has called me to do. 2016 will be a year of CHANGE for me. Sit back and watch what my God can do! Be blessed and be healthy!
