Feel Good Friday- Mirror Edition

There is a funny side effect of this whole Healthier Me thing I've got going on. My goal is to run. I want to run a 5K. I, generally, make food choices based on how that food might impact my running performance. Because of the changes I am making, there is a fantastic side benefit- weight loss. I've shared my weight loss and the reduction in clothing size here on the blog and on Facebook. I've had great friends and family cheering me on, supporting me. I've spent the last week venturing out to a gym near home to take Zumba classes. I went to a Zumba for Autism event on Saturday afternoon and loved it. The gym gave us 2 week passes to come back and try other classes and so on. I've never been a group fitness person but I have to admit I'm loving it right now! I went back Monday evening for Zumba and Wednesday evening, too. Tonight, I plan to venture out for an aerobic dance class (blend of hip-hop, jazz, modern, disco, etc) and a core conditioning class. I might even try to squeeze in a cycling class on Saturday. One thing that this group fitness thing has shown me... and this was creeping up on me, this new awareness... I love mirrors.

In the group fitness room at the gym- there are mirrors everywhere. So I see myself as I wiggle my hips and move my legs and reach up high. At my gym by work, there are mirrors and I've been seeing the changes in my body every time I walk in. I know you like to tease me about my pictures that I take in the bathroom at work. But I can't walk past that mirror without taking a moment to admire the view. The space between my legs, the lack of rotund belly sticking out, the muscle flash in an arm, less of a chin, and so on. I just can't help but stop and admire the view. It itsn't that I think I'm so hot or anything. I am just amazed at how different my body looks and feels! Even at my biggest, I loved my body, my belly, my legs. It's been years since I would look in the mirror and say hateful things to myself- I've certainly been there. But years ago, I gave that up and learned to love myself, as I am. But it's the change, the strength, the grace, the newness of the muscles and abilities of this stronger, healthier body.

I even ventured out to a different bathroom mirror today- just for you. Bad lighting in that bathroom but I do like that full length mirror! The truth is that I've come to just love seeing mirrors and reflections of myself. I won't go so far as to say I'm vain. I'm just so stinkin' proud of the changes I've made and upheld. Yes, I am proud that I can run a mile and that I am continuing to plug along on my running. Even though this last hurdle has lasted longer than the first, I continue to try and try and that's better than not trying at all. I'm branching out to new exercises that work my body in different ways. I'm eager to push myself and do more. When I did those Zumba classes over the past week, I did not struggle. I was not exhuasted by the end- not even after the 2 hour session (broken out into 3 sessions with short breaks in between). I was sweating, my heart rate was up but I was still going. On Wednesday, I even went from Zumba to the treadmill and did a mile (walking and running) just because I needed to run. So I'm finding my reflection anywhere I can and I am enjoying catches these little reminders of how far I've come, how much hard work I've done, and I am feeling very proud to FEEL SO GOOD!