part of the club

Like many other people, on Tuesday nights i love to watch Extreme Weight-loss on ABC. This past Tuesday I watched a man lose 180 pounds and he still didn't qualify for skin removal surgery and what he said has stuck with me since. He said, "I feel like I got kicked out of a club that I never really belonged to."

Fitness is not a once size fits all. It's not a one way fits all. It is surely not exclusive and we would all be better off with it.

To the man in that show, despite how you feel with your accomplishments but not hitting your goals, you belong. To the woman who is a celebrity trainer and helps millions, you belong. To the dad who works out after work, you belong and to the woman who is just beginning her journey by walking her dog - you belong.

This club has the ability to feel exclusive. It has the availability to be harsh and mean and discouraging. I am here to tell you, get with the right people.

I remember when I started Turbo Kick and everyone in there was so fast, and so slim, and could follow cues and I would think, "what am I doing here?!" And I didnt reach out for help and I didnt reach out for friends and I remember hearing that the instructor was part of a fit girls clique. I remember feeling sad and frustrated!

I refuse to let anyone feel that way. It is not okay to make someone feel bad for wanting to be better than they were the day, or month, or week, or year, or hour before!

Today I felt the nearly 200 pounds of my body holding me back. I did my fave class Turbo Kick and then I did a hardcore kickboxing class at another gym. And in both instances, my fat got in the way. (please don't say I am not fat. I am, but I have learned it doesnt define me) As luck would have it, during the kickboxing class, I was paired up with the wife of another instructor - who had badass-ery mastered. She was amazing. She was pregnant and still kicking butt! She could have taken one look at me and said, NOOO THANKS. But she too believes that the fitness club is all inclusive. She helped me perfect my stance, reach further with my strikes and punches and she cheered me on - and I tried my best to do the same for her.

So chin up all you people who are trying your best to be the best you. Who are trying your best to get weight under control, to manage stress through fitness, who are trying to perfect that shoulder and round that bum - we all have different goals but we need to be inclusive. We need to invite people to be healthy and we need to encourage them to keep trying, keep perfecting, and STOP giving up!

You ARE part of that club.