There I was, mascara pouring down my face, drenched in sweat, and ready to call it quits…needless to say, I still remember my very first day at Art of Eight Training in San Diego.

It was  just after I had moved  to California, after having spent a month in Europe soaking in the sights, and devouring pretty much every macaron and baguette in my path. While I have aways had an active gym membership, it had been months since I adopted any sort of fitness routine, and I could feel it in my waistline…not cool.

As fate would have it, I was on my way home from work one day, and saw a pack of people running around a gym in boxing gloves — literally…running around the building. Being the big fan of  group interval training that I am, I immediately went home and looked the gym up to try a class…which brings me back to to Day 1.

Push kicks, burpees, squats, more push kicks, mountain climbers, plank…and that was just the warm-up! Then, our coach tells us to take it for a lap, and put our gloves on. Like a heard of antelope, the class took off out the door and left me in the dust while I was still trying to catch my breath, not to mention find my pulse. I quickly weighed my options and decided quitting was not among them, so off I went.

By the end of the class we had taken 4 laps total around the gym, attacked the punching bag like the chic in Revenge and busted out more crunches than I had done in a month. Every part of me was aching and wanted to run out the door and never come back. I mean no one would notice… I was seriously the last person to make it back inside the gym…every.single.time.

As humiliating a blow to my ego as  it was, I could not explain the overwhelming sense of accomplishment I felt when the class was over! I could care less if I was first, or last. I finished —  and I was hooked! So  I swallowed my pride, and decided to sign up for the long haul.

A week turned into a month, and month evolved into a year.  Today I am sharing my progress over the last year, and am happy to report that thanks to the amazing coaches, classes and #fitfam at AO8, within months I had not only regained my waistline, but learned to be patient with myself and trust the process.

So next time you are working out, and feel the overwhelming desire to quit or let your ego get in the way – I hope you remember me, and my mascara laden face and keep going!

BTW – Are you local to San Diego? Come check out a free class, and join the #Ao8FitFam >> here. Otherwise, join in the fun via my the Health + Beauty section on my blog where I share recipes, and exercises perfect for a girl on the go!

xx,
J

/// SHOP the LOOK ///