Feeling inspired

This last week I have had a few women come up to me and tell me that I've inspired them to exercise and/or to try and keep up with me.  I was shocked when I heard this because all of the women who have come up to me are women that I'm trying to "keep up with".  After my spin class this morning one of my gym buddies came up and said "Wow!  You are doing AWESOME!  I kept watching you today and telling myself that I had to keep up with you."  It's humbling to know that there are women out there who are feeling inspired to get up and go.  My life is so much better now that I've decided to take control and get my body and mind back to where they once were.  I am so tired of being the fat chick.  I'm tired of being the has been or the wanna be.  I'm tired of looking back on my teenage years with fondness and not being able to just enjoy what is right in front of me. 

My teenage years are no longer my best years.  My best years are still to come.  I am at a much higher fitness level than I was at 16 and I am 70 pounds heavier than I was at 16.  This July when I kill my triathlon I am doing it for a lot of reasons. I am doing it for those who don't think they can get back into shape, for those who have told me that I can't do it either by their words or their body language, and I am doing it for my Grandma who I lost 3 years ago.  She had a heart condition and it ended up killing her.  She always made it to all my sporting events and band activities.  Even most of my swim lessons.  She taught me to play baseball and to hold my head high.  She taught me to never let anyone make me feel stupid or incapable.  She taught me what family was and is all about and to cling to them for dear life.  When I'm in the gym doing my spin classes or my weights classes sometimes I can hear her on the side lines yelling at the top of her lungs "Let's go Jennifer!  Pick up the pace!" 

I am working on improving myself so that I can feel better and maybe a part of me wants to be able to rub it in the faces of those who have made me feel like less of a person.  I am stronger than all my adversaries and instead of letting them in my head they are now my fuel that keeps me going.  I take them one at a time and beat the crud out of them for an hour a day 6 days a week.  Another great thing that has come from this is I have grown to appreciate the Sabbath day.  I truly enjoy my day of rest and being able to relax with my family.  They are my everything.  We have such a loving Father in Heaven how in His all knowing has given us people in our lives to help us through our times of sorrow and happiness.  I am beginning to understand His love for me and why He gives us the commandments that he does.  As I improve my body, my mind and spirit are improving and my eyes are being opened to what is around me.  I am so grateful for this journey that I am on and for those around me who help lift me up and keep me going.