“The Journey to 300” Part 7: Letting It Go, Coming Together
Editor’s Note: This is the seventh part in a multiple-part series written by Athena Perez, chronicling her year-long weight loss challenge, which she now calls “The Journey to 300.” Perez has documented her weight loss and fitness journey across social media and in her articles for Morning Chalk Up. You can read the other parts here and here.
As I was finding my footing in the new coaching setup, I found myself juggling a lot, professionally.
On the one hand, I was heading to the HSN Gym Accelerator Summit to present a breakout session and preparing for a second appearance on the Best Hour of Their Day podcast. On the other hand, I was gearing up for the Working with Larger Bodies Seminar at PRVN HQ in Nashville.
Public speaking, while exhilarating, has never been my strong suit.
I often find myself as jittery as a squirrel on caffeine. Always flustered, nervous, and seemingly suffering from sudden amnesia the minute I’m supposed to talk.
This wasn’t merely a test of my newly acquired consistency and nutrition prioritization skills. Rather, navigating the whirlwind of travel and the adrenaline rush of public speaking was a full-scale challenge. And let’s remember the encore conversation with someone where our initial duet didn’t exactly hit the right note. The mere thought of returning to the Best Hour of Their Day podcast made my stomach churn with anxiety. But then again, who doesn’t love a good challenge?
Overall, the Gym Accelerator Summit was nothing short of amazing, and the takeaways were priceless.
- Two presentations I saw that became my favorites centered around the principles of harnessing resilience to ward off burnout and the notion of creating a genuine impact.
Both were impeccably timed and resonated profoundly.
I found myself immersed in the narratives of others present, an experience that was nothing short of inspiring. The energy and enthusiasm around the tables were beyond words.
I was touched by their ability to recognize more member victories and their adoption of the HSN Nutrition approach, which I’ve always held in high regard and is the reason we integrated the program into the Working with Larger Bodies Seminar.
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When I think about the hurdles that larger-bodied individuals encounter, the way we discuss nutrition and engage with people becomes a significant factor. Yet, witnessing the transformation in that room filled me with hope.
- However, amidst the excitement of the event, I found myself pacing the confines of the learning center, battling rising nausea as I braced myself for my second appearance on the Best Hour of Their Day.
Several years ago, I was a guest for the first time and chatted with host Jason Ackerman about my journey in CrossFit.
During the episode, he made a comment that completely blindsided me.
- “I’m always impressed/surprised by people that need to lose weight but are at these CrossFit competitions volunteering,” Ackerman said. “[O]k, you’re here, you’re part of this lifestyle, but you know something is not clicking for you,” he continued.
Despite my belief that I had handled the situation with grace, the response from my audience upon hearing it for the first time was decidedly negative.
Ackerman was quick to volunteer to appear on my podcast to apologize to the listeners. I was open to this idea, eager to set the record straight.
- However, when he did join me on my podcast, he not only reiterated his initial comment but also amplified it (what I would call doubling and tripling down).
I felt the situation had deteriorated to such an extent that I decided not to broadcast it, fearing it would only exacerbate the issue.
Even though I decided not to air that episode, it left a funky taste in my mouth that lasted several years.
- I was propped up against a table, sipping my coffee, my head playing reruns of the chat we had nearly four years prior. The mute commentator in my head was trying to rationalize why I’d been lugging around this tomfoolery for so long.
“You’re not a grudge holder, darling. You just remember things for a very long time!”
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Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted him sauntering into the room from over my right shoulder. It was time.
I let out a snort of laughter. “Go on, girl, make this the best hour of your day!”
An hour and a half later, to my sheer surprise, I discovered him to be quite likable.
Perhaps it was the ability to be in his presence this time and being able to observe the subtle nuances of his facial expressions and body language. Or maybe it was his willingness to open up and share more about himself.
Regardless of the reason, a shift had occurred.
Reflecting on it now, do I genuinely believe he was intentionally trying to be hurtful years ago when this silliness started?
No, I don’t.
Maybe it was just easier to let pride take the reins. Maybe he had grown in the last few years, but maybe I had, too.
That conversation stayed with me the entire day and well into the weekend, even as I presented the seminar on Sunday.
When the last of the class had left PRVN HQ that evening and I was finally in my car, I opened my phone to read a text message from Ackerman.
The bottom of it read: “I hope our friendship will continue to grow.”
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The entire weekend was unforgettable and perfect. I leaned against the headrest, closed my eyes, and let out a soft chuckle.
We are all more powerful when we stand together.
That’s the true essence of CrossFit and the beauty of each of us striving to make a difference. The strength of our collective spirit and the shared determination to improve is what makes us truly unique as a whole.
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The Journey So Far
Day #: 109
Victories:
- I’ve shed 53 pounds. That’s a green Rogue kettlebell!
- My daily steps are averaging well over 10,000, and my sleep is improving significantly.
Lessons:
- Events are not always going to pan out as you’ve envisioned, and that’s absolutely okay. They might even work out better than you expected. Welcoming the situation with open arms can empower you to navigate the change effectively, make the essential pivots, and propel you forward in the aftermath. There will be ups and downs, twists and turns, but the thrill lies in the ride itself, not just the destination.
Featured image: @athenamariebt / Instagram