For a good portion of my life I have been told more often
what I couldn’t do and would never amount to than what I could do. Fortunately
I am stubborn and rebellious but I have been reminded of that many times on my
journey to fitness but most recently this has been especially poignant. Except
this has been a reminder that those things are not true. That, for the most
part, we can do anything we put our mind to.
As I have transitioned to this travel nurse business I chose
San Antonio, Texas as my first location, in part because I knew they had Camp
Gladiator which has been a huge fitness platform for me. Its hard to transition
to new trainers but at least I knew there was something. Yet when I got here my
attendance was sporadic at best. I had fallen off of the fitness wagon before
leaving Waco and it didn’t seem like I would be getting back on.
So when I needed a little FITspiration I got it . . . she isn’t
20 with beautifully designed muscles and a tiny waist though . . . my
FITspiration comes in the package of a lady with a little bit different
physical look but the heart of a lion . . .
One day I showed up to camp (late), with a back injury that
limited what I could do and set up next to Mrs. Diana. Now one of the reasons I
have liked and stuck with Camp Gladiator is that while it can be intense, it
really is suitable for all fitness levels. After all, I started Camp Gladiator
almost 70 pounds heavier than I am now. Sadly, I have put weight back on since
then and feel the frustration of that. But here I am, at 32, which is old but
far from disabled with a body that is more than capable to push itself and I
just want to complain and give up.
But not Mrs. Diana. She comes out to camp, at some practice
soccer fields with her rolling walker to do Camp Gladiator. As we paired up as
injured partners, she mentioned she was well old enough to be my mother. We
discuss the struggles of weight and the victories of how far we have come and
want to go. She leaves her walker at the starting line to start her version of
the lap as I start out slowly on mine. She does push ups and sit ups and some
version of what everyone else is doing while using her rolling walker. Our
trainer comes over to guide her in that. Now if anyone has a reason to say “I
cant do it” maybe it would be Mrs Diana. You wouldn’t see her on the street or
at her job and maybe think “GLADIATOR” but she is and maybe even more so than
the rest of us.
From that day, I look for her as I more consistently show up
to camp. I excitedly tell the friend I bring with me to try it out that she is
there when we pull up and how cool she is. And that if she can do this, NO ONE
has the excuse to say they cant.
She also reminds me that its okay to modify which is no
small task for me. But my body has been through a lot and is heavy and has a
lot of wear and tear. And I will push to my hardest that day. Some days that
will be getting out there and barely moving, others a full on sprint. But in
those two extremes and everywhere between, I can be a gladiator and continue to
take steps towards health and strength and fitness.
I was the one that was invited to Camp Gladiator a year and
a half ago and said, “there is no way.” But I gave it a chance and I did my
100% with a trainer who encouraged me and a fitness program that truly works
for all ages and fitness levels. I am not where I want to be but I am also
nowhere near where I used to be. I cant sing praises for Camp Gladiator and the
amazing trainers enough. But sometimes you need to partner up with your own
Mrs. Diana to get the perspective you need to get to that next level.
