One eye opened. The clock stared back at me and screamed 3:50. It was five freaking minutes before my alarm went off. Ugh! I debated turning it off. Sleep is always the easy path. My hand slipped from beneath the covers to reset the alarm…. no. No, I wasn’t going back to sleep. My feet swung around quickly and hit the floor. Something inspired me. Something.
People don’t quite understand how tough Paul Lacoste’s bootcamp is until they do it. It’s a very strenuous test of your physical and mental skills. You keep moving. You push yourself. And you sweat profusely.
This morning’s workout on the football field was illuminated by the Harvest Moon. A light fog crept across the fake grass ask we did everything from running W-drills, pushups, core work, arm mechanics and sprints. The last five minutes are always the hardest. At that point, I am ready to quit.
But I didn’t. Just like I didn’t sleep in. And you want to know why?
I emceed a Biggest Loser 2 Awards Ceremony at Pearl River Resort. They are proactively helping their employees lose weight. Two years ago, 50% of their employees had diabetes. Yesterday, the group had lost over 5,000 lbs. and has lost 9,000 total. That’s amazing. And for the company it not only makes sense, it makes good dollars and cents. It was awesome seeing the winners come up and get reward checks. That’s a pretty tasty carrot dangled out in front of you.
On yesterday’s radio show, I had a lady who started a camp to help kids lose weight. The numbers of obese children in Mississippi are staggering. When kids have heart disease, something has gone off the rails.
I have complete empathy for people who struggle with weight. I gained and lost 50 pounds in a year. Mississippi has been once again named as the fattest state in the nation. But I am determined not to be a statistic. And I am trying to set a good example for my children.
That’s why my feet hit the floor this morning.