Blog #6
I didn’t go anywhere
Well, its been a while! Yes I am still going to the Y and working out and its still going really well. Jacque is keeping me in line and trying to get me to work my butt off, literally. I am thankful every day that I was introduced to the people at the Y. It amazes me everyday that these complete strangers have taken such an interest in my life and in helping me in my journey.
My biggest accomplishment as of late has been to quit drinking pop. I was a massive pop drinker, as much as two liters a day. But I have been slowing weaning myself off the “good stuff,” and am now entering my second week of no pop and no sweets. I have been really surprised that I didn’t get those caffeine headaches I was really concerned about. But so far so good.
Ok, so if I can be Patty Positive for a moment here. Working out at the YMCA has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I really wish that everyone could experience what I am every day. If you are reading this, you either enjoy my show, or are at least slightly interested in my story. If you’ve come this far…maybe you can come a little farther. Come see the folks at the Norm Waitt Sr YMCA. Whether you want to lose 10 pounds, or a 100, you CAN do it. I make no qualms about the fact that I have a way to go to get to the end of my journey. But I know that I can get there. A cliché if I may, and I know if I can, you can too.
Blog #5
One small notch for my belt
So here we are with another round of the “amazing, vanishing LeRoy” or whatever it is that Cowboy Bob calls it. About a week ago I had one of those amazing breakthroughs that you can have when going on a journey like I am right now. I had been noticing for a couple of weeks that the jeans were getting a little loose, which is always a good feeling. However one morning they were a little too loose for my liking, so I made the decision to try and cinch the belt up another notch. Much to my surprise the belt didn’t even put up a fight. I personally cannot remember the last time I had to make my belt tighter. It was an amazing feeling. Even as I write this I have a smile on my face. I have been my own worst critic for the longest time. It finally feels like I’m doing something right, like I’m on the right path, like I’m winning. Making that move on my belt re-lit a fire under me. I’ve been pushing myself even harder since that day. I know I can do it. I know I can get where I want to be. I know the end isn’t near, but its coming.
I have now come to realize we are in the toughest part of this journey for me. Not because I am afraid it will get too hard, that has passed. Not because I will stop going to the Y, I’ve got too many friends to stop. But because I LOVE MY JOB! Confusing isn’t it?? One of the surprising parts of radio is how engrained you are into peoples lives. I am fortunate that I work in a building with many talented people, Cowboy Bob, Randy Renshaw, etc who are mainstays of Sioux City radio. People spend their days or mornings listening to them almost like they are family. And what do you do to family during the holidays?
Feed them sweets!
Every day or 2, boxes and trays and pans full of candy and brownies and other goodies just seem to appear at work. So every time I walk down our hallway, I see the bounty of sweets. I’m very proud of myself that so far I have been able to stay away. But those dang chocolate (or whatever it is) covered pretzels are screaming my name!
In reading back over my previous blogs, and even in this one, I have noticed I always talk about my path. Where I am, where I’m going, etc. I saw this quote the other day and figured I would include it in my blog.
Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal.
-Friedrich Nietzsche
Stubborn. Kind of sounds like me.
…til we meet again…
Blog #4
Ok, so I maybe a couple days late on this whole “What I’m thankful for” thing. But let’s be honest, can you ever really be late in giving thanks to people or places that are making you happy? Didn’t think so. Here we go in no particular order.
I’m thankful for:
…Dennis Bullock, Cowboy Bob, and everyone at Powell Broadcasting who believes in me enough to give me the opportunity to do what I love everyday. I was beginning to wonder if that day would ever come for me.
…Faithanne, Jacque and all of the folks at the Norm Waitt Sr. YMCA for helping me on my “Wellness Journey.” I know that I could not be doing this without you.
…the lady at the Y today who asked me for help with one of the machines. “I see you here all the time so I hope you can help me.” Ma’am, you just made my freakin day.
…My friends (way too many of you to name…but since his ego needs it, like Brett Harris) who have been incredibly supportive not just in the weight loss journey I’m on, but also in listening to me on the air and telling me what you like, don’t like, and what makes you laugh.
…Me. I’m thankful that I finally made the decision to make the necessary changes in my life. I never knew what kind of impact such a small (yet big) decision could make.
2011 has been such an amazing year for me, I don’t know how I could ever top it. Personally, professionally, I feel like I am firing on all cylinders for the first time in my life. Ok, well I do have a couple of ideas for 2012. But one of my biggest fears as I began to work out, and work on my diet was the holidays. Like most people, I tended to get a little crazy on the holidays. I was as proud of myself as I have ever been after dinner when I realized that I didn’t have that overstuffed, bloated feeling. I enjoyed a nice steak, a baked potato, some corn, and a biscuit. Ok, fine, and a piece of key lime pie. But once my plate was clean, I was done. I sat at the table and chatted with everyone as they continued to eat, but I knew I was done. Part of that 80% rule on the Blue Zones Project pledge I took. It sounds like the simplest thing in the world, but just having the willpower to stay on course is giving me more strength, and more faith that I am doing the right things and going down the right path.
One thing I’m not thankful for…No Joe Roepke in 2011. You sir are one of my best friends and it sucks in a massive way that I couldn’t make it out west to see you this year. Maybe we’ll have to see if the Mayans are right and go out in style in 2012.
Blog #3: Six weeks in. It sounds crazy to even be saying that. But here I am, six weeks into a workout regimen and diet plan. I find myself saying things I never thought I would. I sent an email to the boss the other day saying “I was thinking today at the Y…” I never thought those words would come out of my mouth. But they did. I’ve found, for me anyway, that working out has given me two things, first, a sudden rush of thoughts and ideas. The 40 to 60 minutes I spend at the Y I am flushed with ideas. Almost as if my mind turns everything else off and just allows me to think and be in my own world. The second I’ll get to later.
Today was a good day. I felt really energetic when I got to the Y today and thought that maybe I would try to add 5 minutes onto the end of my cardio for the day. But as I crossed the half way point on the treadmill I really began to waver on if I could or should try for that extra five minutes. I’m aware five minutes doesn’t sound like much, even writing this now it sounds so short, but when your heart is pumping, your breathing a little harder, your muscles are burning, five minutes is an ETERNITY. But as I got closer to my normal goal, I heard a voice in my head say “Head Up! Shoulders Back! Lets GO!” Thats exactly what I did. I looked off into the bright blue sky over the Sioux City Skyline and off I went and blew right past those five minutes. That brings me to that second thing I mentioned earlier.
The second thing I have been given at the Y is ME. I walk a little taller. I look more people in eye. I’m a lot friendlier. For the first time in a long time I am comfortable in my own skin. Now I still wish there was less of it, but I know that I am doing the right things, and it is giving me that confidence to know that I can do the things I want to do. Six weeks ago I couldn’t go half as fast for half as long on the treadmill. Once I crossed that extra five minute mark I stepped off the treadmill and was so excited I wanted to turn the dang thing over. But I bet its pretty heavy.
The other thing I wanted to make mention of is my goals. I really only have two right now, and for the most part I’m keeping those close to the vest. First goal is my end game. Where I want to be when its all said and done. The second goal is symbolized by a $50 bill taped to the back of my bedroom door with 6-7-12 written on it. That money and date bear a significance to me that probably won’t make sense to anyone else. But for me its very important. Each day as I leave for work I give it a little pat, almost like my “play like a champion today.” Its just my reminder of where I’m going and how I’m getting there.
Blog #2:
Before I get to my latest update, if I may, I’d like to look back for a moment. Since my last post, I have felt like the prettiest girl at the Prom (Faithanne didn’t think I would actually say that). The amount of support, kind words and words of encouragement have been completely overwhelming. I never had any clue that my words or my story would gather any kind of response, much less the incredible response I have received. So for any who may read this, THANK YOU!! It has been incredibly humbling to know that there are THAT many people who have taken any interest in what I am doing. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
Unfortunately with the good comes the bad. Today was the first day that I REALLY struggled in working out. I didn’t sleep well and unfortunately overslept a bit in the morning. Therefore, I did not eat breakfast. Much like everyone in the world my parents always told me “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” I never knew why until today. What a difference it makes! I felt lethargic all morning and struggled through my entire workout. I couldn’t keep my usual pace, got tired very quickly, and overall felt like I didn’t perform as well as I could/should have.
Something surprising happened on my way home though. I mentioned before about trying to be more positive in my life outlook, and spent some time trying to find the positive. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. The fact that I simply went tells me that I am going down the right path. Many times in my life when faced with even a slight amount of adversity I would just walk off. Skip it. Let it be. Not this time. I can honestly say the thought never entered my mind to not go to the Y. So it may not have been my best effort, but it was 35ish minutes of cardio more than I would have gotten sitting at home. 35ish minutes of cardio that are making my life better. 35ish minutes closer to my goals. It might not be the biggest win…but its a win.
LeRoy
Blog #1 
So I have been on the fence as to whether or not I want to talk about this openly for a while now. But I think its probably for the best. September 12th was a big day for me. It was the first day that I officially took over the morning show on Y Country 1013. Along with that I decided that I needed to make some changes in my life that would help me be more successful in all aspects of my life.
The biggest change I have been trying to make is with my weight. I have been some sort of overweight for as long as I can remember. But thanks to Denny Bullock and the folks at work, I have been graciously been given the chance to work out at the Y. Its been not quite a month, but this has been the best thing I have done in my life. I can’t believe how good I feel most days. I sleep better, I’m more awake, I have more energy, I am enjoying life again. Five or six days a week you can now find me at the Y, usually around 930am, and some days are better than others. The trainers there surely know how to make you work. And as strange as it may sound the harder it gets, the better I am liking it. I find myself setting new goals every couple of days. Today I’ll go this far, or today I’ll go this long. I’m truly amazed at how much work I can do to my body and have it keep asking for more.
I think its odd though, when I am on the cardio machines, my eyes tend to gravitate towards two things: Mercy Medical Center and Big Daddy’s “Size DOES Matter” billboard. I find it odd because that is my yin and yang. So much of who I am, my personality, the things that define me are based on my size. However, if I would have stayed on the course I was on, Mercy would have been my home sooner as opposed to later. But I know this work I’m doing is the right thing and its long overdue.
The other big change I have been trying to make is to be positive and to be more open and honest with myself and those around me, which is probably partially why I am writing this. As strange as it may sound, I have always been the type of person who holds anger and frustration back until it just kind of blows up, which really does no one any good. I’ve spent a good part of my life hiding behind a hat bill to keep people on the outside. Almost like I was hiding, if I couldn’t see you, you couldn’t see me.
But those days are gone. The last six or so weeks have been some of the best in my life. I’m enjoying being on the air more than I ever could have imagined. I actually ALMOST enjoy working out. My good friend Justin Barker has given me the opportunity to call football games with him on KSCJ rekindling my love for not only broadcasting but football as well. I really feel for the first time like I actually could take over the world.
Now will I continue to write about whats going on with my life? Maybe…maybe not. But if you ever want to know. Just ask away.