As of today:  50 Days and counting!

Michele Savoldi of Columbus ImPRessions, Shannon McGill of Shan’s Fitness and I have been working hard organizing the first ever retreat with the ReTweaters and are excited to release the  itinerary for the upcoming Weekend ReTweat Spring Fitness Retreat.  The itinerary is packed with invigorating and rejuvenating fitness activities led by Shannon, while leaving room for indulging in a spa treatment (extra cost) or just hanging out with your friends.

I’m excited to be apart of the Weekend ReTweat team planning this spring adventure.  Organizing trips marries my love of travel and my love for event planning.  Working with Michele and Shannon, along with the staff at the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls has been delightful!

And… as you may know, I could always use a little push when it comes to fitness.

Hope you are able to join us!  I am confident you will fall in love with the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls and will return to the routine of life renewed.

For complete details and to register visit:  http://springfitnessretreat.eventbrite.com/

Promoting My favorite places, Travel Columbus ImPRessions, event planning, fitness, getaways, Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls, latin dance, Michele Savoldi, Retreat, Shannon McGill, Shans Fitness, Tiffany Eckhardt, travel, Weekend Retweat, wine tasting, yoga

It’s true.  Most of the time I feel like the biggest looser.  Now… I just wish I could be The Biggest Loser.

Last September I started to work with Shannon McGill of Shan’s Fitness with the goal of getting fit and losing weight.  I had great plans of making lifestyle changes and fitting into a little red dress I affectionately call the “little number”.  I wish I could say that I’m at my ideal weight and wearing that cute little dress again.  I do feel stronger than I felt four months ago and am more conscious of my eating habits.  However, I wasn’t faithful at giving up extra calories or staying on an exercise routine.  I have lots of excuses that makes me feel like a loser.

I now have a dream trip to Italy that has renewed my motivation.  That “little number” would be so fun to wear while roaming the streets of Rome.   The past few weeks I have been giving up the defeating items in my diet and working out, even when I don’t feel like it.

Feeling like a big loser

Working out has always been my biggest challenge.  I am not a fan of it.  I LOVE the endorphins that are released afterwards, but a new phobia is kicking my butt.

Shannon had me running on the tread mill when it happened the first time.  Running with an elevated heart rate, I felt as if I couldn’t catch my breath.  I never experienced that feeling before.  I was frightened, embarrassed and felt like an out of shape looser.  Shannon gave me her kind smile and encouraged me that I wasn’t going to die.

I explained this experience to my husband Jeff who replied, “Tiffany, you won’t die.  You will just pass out and then your body will resume breathing.”

Not comforting to a woman prone to accidents.  I had images of myself passing out on the tread mill only to break a bone or bash my head on something.  Thanks Jeff!

Today, I made an effort to push through this bizarre fear during my personal training session with Shannon and even laughed about it.  I am very thankful that Shannon doesn’t cut me any slack and pushes me past the limitations I place on myself.   I am always energized by the release of endorphins and have a sense of accomplishment.

Pushing through fear to BE the Biggest Loser.

Anything worth accomplishing usually requires pushing through an element of fear or overcoming a fatuous obstacle.  It’s a part of Doing Life.  I know this!!!  Having these fears and obstacles doesn’t make me a loser, but overcoming them is a requirement for me to become The Biggest Loser…. of weight that is.

I am recommitted to being the biggest loser (of weight), wearing my fun “little number” and living a life that takes my breath away!

How do you push past the fears and obstacles that prevent you from Being what you want to BE?

Doing Life! Fear, fitness, goals, Italy, Little Red Dress, overcoming fear, personal training, The Biggest Looser, Tiffany Eckhardt

Day One:  Shan’s Fitness Combo Class

This morning I woke up at “0:dark30″ to get started with my new fitness class.

It was a short drive in the dark to West Liberty where my class is held.  The whole way there I was distracted by the beauty of a full moon and the annoyance of wandering thoughts of what was in store for me in class.  It has been a long time since I’ve taken a class and am definitely out of shape.  Would I be in a class with super heros of fitness?  Am I really that out of shape?  However, I am committed and arrived just in time to jump right in.

It didn’t take me long to get in the groove.  I thought to my self, “I can do this!”   Not long after that initial thought, I began to sweat and fight random thoughts about the hour, the drive, aching muscles, etc.  I hate to sweat.  My southern friends would call it glistening.  This wasn’t glistening.  However, I am committed to push through.

With the annoying beads of sweat dripping off my forehead, I was determined to shift my mind to thinking thoughts about the goals I hope to accomplish.  That’s Not My Name by the TingTings was the very next song.  Perfect!  I started to sing to myself… “That’s Not My Name!”  and somehow was energized.

What keeps me from exercise?  You could say that is is a combination of  laziness, fear of discomfort, lack of time, depression… excuses, excuses, excuses.  In just a few short seconds my song became, “They call me chubby, a little lazy, not very motivated…. That’s not my name!  THAT’S NOT MY NAME! That’s not my name, ame, ame!”

It’s funny how thoughts fly through your head!

For the rest of the work out I continued singing the song in my head.  I am committed to this new fitness regime and energized by the thoughts of reaching my fitness goals and being proud to be Tiff… That’s my name.

Promoting My favorite places Exercise, fitness, Shans Fitness, Thoughts, Tiffany Eckhardt

Time for Tiff to get Fit.

I’ve written four, now five, posts on this subject.

I know you’ve heard it before.  There are a million excuses why I haven’t conquered this struggle in my life.

The difference this time is that I will have support with a personal trainer.  Another blessing came my way from networking with social media.  I have recently partnered with Shannon McGill of Shan’s Fitness.  The plan is for me to help her with social media marketing for Shan’s Fitness in exchange for help with my fitness and weight loss goals.

Shannon’s enthusiasm is contagious!  She is genuinely excited about her growing fitness business and helping people reach their fitness goals.  She offers a variety of classes in West Liberty and Bellefountaine with plans to expand in other markets.

Shannon also offers Group Personal Training through a Fitness Bootcamp.  I love the idea of getting a personal trainer in a group setting.  Shannon will offer a personalized approach, while the group will be encouragement and accountability.  I met with her to take measurements and go over the program.  I will also complete a fitness test the first day of class.  My progress will be measured and monitored.

I have two fitness goals in mind.  Weight loss is the obvious goal.  However, eventually I would like to run a half marathon.  It has been on my bucket list for a long time.  Shannon has a program for that too!  Most important to me is that I develop a balanced and healthy lifestyle.  Along with fitness, Shannon will also help me tackle nutrition goals.  The key is for me to develop a healthy lifestyle that I can maintain.

I thought it would be fun to document my journey.  So, here we go again… this time I’m determined to make it a permanent lifestyle change.

Doing Life! bootcamp, fitness, Shannon McGill, ShansFitness, Tiffany Eckhardt, weight loss