Stronger
I feel amazing, strong. This afternoon, I successfully intensely rowed for 50 minutes. I’ve rowed with the crew before, but today was different. I matched them stroke for stroke. With the same level of intensity.
It takes strength and great effort to row — you want the power in your legs. It took me a while, but today I felt it in my legs. The sound of the water: swish, swish. That was assurance — I was in unison with the crew. The rowing crew.
A few days ago, I was chatting with Sherri (owner of Northwest Personal Training) about my fitness goals. Sherri advised me not to focus so much on my weight, but focus on getting stronger. She said, the stronger you get, the more efficient your body will perform. And eventually the pounds will drop. She used some other fancy training terminology, but that’s the gist of it.
Working out is not only about physical strength — it’s more about the mental strength. I battle with myself often, but when I get out of my own way, I’m stronger, more efficient. Today, I feel stronger than ever. Thanks Sherri and NWPT for helping me get stronger.
Chrisetta Mosley
I am a product – and now a survivor – of childhood obesity. As a child, my family always told me that my extra weight was merely baby fat and I’d eventually grow out of it. I never did. Instead, my childhood is filled with memories of not being able to ride a bike, flattening its training wheels from being over the recommended weight, and avoiding P.E. classes by any means necessary. For years, I wore my fatness like a wounded soldier wears a Purple Heart - with pride. I owned the look. I dressed it up. I worked the room. There wasn't a skinny girl who intimidated me. I made sure my hair was laid just right. Nails polished. Outfits coordinated to the tee. Accessories to compliment every outfit. But everyone has a breaking point, and mine came in the spring of 2004 when I tipped the scale at nearly 400 pounds 388 to be exact. I was MISERABLE trapped inside of that body. I no longer wore my Purple Heart with pride. Rather, I was ashamed and frightened. Ashamed that I had allowed food to become my everything – frightened I would die because of it. Drastic times called for drastic measures... Today, I’m bound and determined to live a better, healthier, active lifestyle. I realize I’m no longer a passenger in my life, I’m the driver. I’m overcoming my inhibitions and I’m slowly but surely saying farewell to my old childhood nemesis, obesity. For once and for all, Farewell Fatso!