A Tale of Two Childs

So I entered the Gold's Gym Challenge- On May 14th they announced the winners, but you had to pay 15.00 a ticket to go to the NGA Mountain States competition where they would make the announcement. It is a fitness competition where REALLY fit people come out in their skibbies and flex. I never knew they made bikinis with rhinestones, and I really thought there was a legal limit to how many spray tan's a person could get in one day...turns out there is not, and there are people who get about 5 spray tans in one day and stand in front of judges. To be honest, I did not realize people I go to the gym with actually do that kind of thing... anyway...

Well, I am quite frugal- and I think 15.00 is a pretty big price to pay to see something that I would never choose to see. I would not pay 15.00 to see a movie that I REALLY wanted to see, I would wait for it to come out to the Red Box...So I decided to go to the competition and hang out in the hallway and see if I could get away without paying for my ticket, just to hear my name... They actually have bouncers man the doors at these things. Apparently this is a big deal...

We got there at about 6:15 and I asked the ladies at the table if we could get away without paying... there was really no way... so I asked if I could loiter in the hall til they announced the winner of the local Gold's Gym Challenge- they allowed me to. Finally at about 7:15 they go to announce the winners, and ya know whose name they said first??? MINE! ! ! I won the challenge for the Womens Division! I lost 37.4lbs, 20.25 inches and 9.06% body fat! I was so excited and it felt great. After they announced my name, Caleb ran to get me a ticket (they would not let me in to get my prize even... I still had to pay) I ran up and got my prize and off I went!

One of the class fitness instructors saw me at the competition, but did not hear the winners announced. I went to her class the following Monday and she asked me if I was going to go into the bikini competitions... (HILARIOUS) I laughed and emphatically told her that would not be my cup of tea... but that I had gone to hear the winners of the golds gym competition. She said "oh yeah, I did not hear the winners...did you know who won?" I told her I did and smiled. She asked "who was it?" I said "ME!!!" I think that was my favorite moment of them all. She was so excited for me! I really felt like I had accomplished something!

Below is my essay that I had to write for my entry it could only be 250 words in length... I am really grateful for what the Gold's Gym Challenge taught me, mostly that I can accomplish anything that I decide to truly dedicate my time and energy to: now I just need to decide what to put my efforts toward next! ( :

Essay:
Exhaustion, frustration, strep throat. Stress, bronchitis, relief, elation... these are all words that describe the past 12 weeks as I completed the Gold's Gym Challenge.

I've never been the typical beautiful, small girl. I am tall with broad shoulders. I had gained weight since I got married and I work at a company that distributes for Hershey's Candies. Imagine an all-you-can-eat candy buffet, all the time- sounds great right? Perhaps to your taste buds, but not to the bathroom scale.

I took the challenge because I needed something to motivate me that had a clear deadline and the support that Gold's Gym could offer. I quickly found that I always knew HOW to get healthy, but never the drive. I knew I had strength to become who I wanted to be, but never tested it. I was scared of changing for the better, afraid of failing myself. To avoid disappointment - I just didn't try. I accepted mediocrity and stayed who I didn't want to be.

I distinctly remember one evening at the gym, I had lost 20lbs and felt great. I looked in the full-length mirror and was shocked at how small I looked. With my own eyes I was seeing myself as SMALL! I've always felt uncomfortable in my own skin. It's been a long time since I've felt beautiful. Thanks to the Challenge, I've found my strength and beauty within, finally I have made the lifestyle changes that I can take with me beyond this experience.