Getting Started Part Two: Inspiration

Ok. Where was I? I was active in high school then went to BBC, got injured, got a bad attitude, got huge. Remember? Good.

In order to move on with my story, I need to share with you a portion of another person's story. I first met Stephanie Norton when I began working in childcare for the YMCA in Ankeny. I worked with her at Southeast Elementary for about a month or two before going to Crocker Elementary for the summer. I saw Stephanie a few times over the summer when sites would combine for various reasons or at all staff meetings. Every time I saw her, however sporadically, during that summer, I couldn't help noticing how much smaller she was getting.

Stephanie was a big girl when I met her in March of 2009. She wasn't a cow by any means but she will be the first to tell you that she was big. Little did I know, Stephanie was at a point in her life where she wasn't happy with her health and decided she needed to make a change. By the time the summer was over and I came back to Southeast for the next school year, she was a trim athlete and getting more and more fit. I began talking to her about the definite, noticeable change I saw and she was quick to tell me all about her change.

She was definitely the most driven and hard working person I have ever met. She consistently kicks her own backside and puts in a hard workout almost everyday. She will tell you this isn't true but she's also the most disciplined person I know with food. She made a complete turnaround from who she used to be and who she is now and I know she's much happier because of it.

When I first learned about her hard work and dedication, I instantly admired her. There are few people in this world I respect more than Stephanie. Even people who have never done it know that making such a dramatic life change is incredibly difficult. Not only did she lose so much weight but she did it in a healthy manner. She didn't starve herself or take a bunch of pills that lack FDA certification. She ate nutritious food and made herself sweat! It is staggering to think about the girl I first met two years ago and the girl she is now. It is crazy to think that she's ran three half marathons and, in the remainder of 2011 alone, she has two half marathons and her first full marathon planned.

Looking at Stephanie and her accomplishments inspired me. Look at all she's done. Why can't I do that? I established in the last post that I knew I was grossly overweight and unhealthy but couldn't motivate myself to care. I still couldn't motivate myself to care. Stephanie, however, could motivate me to care. And she did.

Over the next year or so, Stephanie and I became close friends. I would occasionally ask Steph if she would help me get into shape as she had done. She was always more than willing. However, I was not ready to change my trend of giving up after the first day.

Stephanie was patient with me. I think she probably knew I wasn't quite ready to commit to a lifestyle change so she didn't push me. She didn't yell at me for not exercising or yell at me for eating poorly regardless of how many times I swore I was going to change my habits. She did tease me a lot when she knew I ate garbage but she was more or less just joking around. That's what makes her great. She doesn't judge people for their health and fitness choices. And I can't count how many times she told me that she would be there for me if I needed any help.

I'm going to jump slightly ahead in the story real quick to right now. To some people, this may sound extreme but it is the 100% truth: Stephanie Nicole Norton is a hero to me. Forget all of the baseball players, the football players, the politicians, and the rock stars. Stephanie inspired me to change my life, motivated me to change my life, and has helped me in so many ways to change my life. She quite literally helped save my life. If that, along with her own accomplishments, doesn't make her a hero, I guess I don't know what a hero is.

I've tried thinking about it several times but I'm not quite sure what exactly pushed me over the edge. It may have been the realization that I gained almost seventy pounds in a few short years. It may have been the fact I couldn't help but notice how massive I was in our family Christmas photos compared to everyone else. It may have been the fact that I was breathing heavy at the top of our flight of ten steps. Whatever it was, I was sick of it.

I knew I wasn't this huge person I saw in the mirror or in pictures. I knew that underneath all of that, I was a competitive athlete. Even in high school, I never reached my full potential physically but this was ridiculous! This needed to stop! This needed to change!