BEfore & after photos (Page 6)

AdventureBear - 2005-03-10 9:23 PM



You know what? I think you do more good showing an imperfect body competing than you do if you show a perfect one. Of COURSE a perfect body can do triathlons. But for somone who is just an ordinary Jane to get out there and splash, mash and dash really makes it seem possible to the people reading the company newsletter.

I showed myself in my underwear because I know that you're not sitting there judging me, you're sitting there thinking, "wow, if she can do it then so can I". The point is to inspire. I think it really helps to realize that hardly anyone is judging you, they're mostly just thinking about how this new information affects them. I mean, who (besides you) CARES if you had a paunch? They just care how THEY look.

Another little trick I have is to give myself huge points just for showing up. Last January (a year ago) I signed up for my first 5K, a winter romp through my local park. Well, no. It turned out to be a four mile road race populated only by fanatics all on roads. It was 14 degrees out that morning and no one came out to cheer but the race volunteers. I came in resoundingly in last place, being beaten on the sprint by a 70 year old just coming back from ankle surgery.

I get very philosphical about this. First of all, it really made that 70 year old's day to beat me. Heck, who knows, maybe I was the angel that inspired him to keep running instead of hanging up his sneakers. You just never know when you're a piece of a bigger cog.

The other thing I think is that there are 15,000 people in this town race and only about 150 showed up to run that morning which means that I beat 14,850 of them. Showing up is good enough sometimes.

Don't wait to live until you have a perfect body. Live now, let your body catch up. :-)

Gwendal

Krakatoa - 2005-03-13 2:47 AMI can't find a 'before' on this computer, but was up to 240 pounds not long ago. I think I was at about 200 in this picture........five months ago.........now I am battling my way back down from 215. Why I ever let myself plump up again, after all the work I'll never know!! Anyway, that first effort was for a sprint tri. I did it, then stopped training. I now feel like this is something I want to sustain and make into a 24/7 lifestyle.

Krakatoa - 2005-03-12 11:47 PM I can't find a 'before' on this computer, but was up to 240 pounds not long ago. I think I was at about 200 in this picture........five months ago.........now I am battling my way back down from 215. Why I ever let myself plump up again, after all the work I'll never know!! Anyway, that first effort was for a sprint tri. I did it, then stopped training. I now feel like this is something I want to sustain and make into a 24/7 lifestyle.