The End of the World

I never thought I would say this, but this “end of the world” talk has really got me thinking about what I’m doing with myself. I was pondering the fact that I was working out the day before it all “ends”. Why not just eat ice cream and 24 honey BBQ wings, sit around at home and watch the Cosby Show and wait for it all to be over. Believe me, I in no way, shape, or form believe that it’s going to happen, but if it does, I wasted my last 24 hours on earth caring about getting healthy. It would be ironic that for 22 years I haven’t really cared, and then for the last three weeks, I have been doing my best, and then it’s all over.

For anyone, life can end at any point. It doesn’t have to be May 21,2011 at 6:00 in Pittsburgh, PA. I can guarantee that sometime every one of us will die. For some young and for some old, but life always comes to an end. Steve Prefontaine was a famous middle and long distance runner. He held records in seven distance track events and inspired all types of people to run. He was from a small town in Oregon, and one leg was shorter than the other. When Prefontaine was preparing for the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, after finishing his running career in college,he flipped his convertible and was killed. At 24 years old, about to peak as a running sensation, his life was instantly taken.

One of Steve Prefontaine’s quotes is painted in the Spinning room at the Ridge. It reads, “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” Every time I read that quote, it inspires me to press on and to not waste the gift of life that I was given but to cherish it and respect myself. It is one thing to sit around waiting for the end, filling myself up with crap and doing nothing versus understanding every day is a gift, treating myself with respect, and doing my best to be my very best.

Today starts week four of Summer Slim Down. Being completely frank with you, this week has been tough. Adding veggies into my diet has been challenging, but I have started to make the life change. I had a tough workout on Thursday, causing my hip to be pretty inflamed. Also, on Thursday I cheated. I got on the scale early because I’m starting to become obsessive about losing mass amounts of pounds. After coming clean to Lana, and being frustrated with myself about losing no weight, the scale was taken away from me. “It’s a marathon Serene”, Lana said, “You cannot expect to be losing seven pounds every week. You are on a mission to be healthy, and with that, comes the weight loss. You are not striving to be skinny for a month. You are changing your entire life.”

As I reevaluate my attitude, my life choices, and the gift of life, I remember how incredibly blessed I am. I am thankful for the people who have invested in me for four weeks, and the people that continue to encourage me. Although I have lost my privileges at the scale, I still celebrate the small victories of 22 days sugar free and not eating out for 14! Thank you for your support and for believing in me through the good days and bad. Here is to celebrating life, not sacrificing it.

One Less Day