Soo. This past weekend I climbed the mountain, Pichincha, here in Ecuador, for the 3rd and probably last time. The first time I conquered the mountain ALL the way to the top, 2nd time I was a bit sick and not able to, so this third time I just knew I was going to summit again but the weather disagreed with this little plan of mine.
My body was not physically tired; my lungs were still inhaling and exhaling, my legs: still moving, my heart: still pumping.
My mind was not mentally blocked (yet).
Nature was our biggest enemy this time and our barrier between us and the summit. We got really close today but as reached we closer and closer our vision became a useless sense as the clouds rolled in with chilling winds.
So, thank you Mother Nature. Its good to know it wasn't me! ;)
But really, I will elaborate at this point on the fact that this third time around might have been my best time yet. Now, don't get me wrong...the first two times were great--obviously summiting a14,000 ft mountain is one for the books but this one was different in that I never felt so good going up.
At the start of the climb at 9,000 feet the altitude in and of itself is enough to tell you to turn around and as you hike and hike to a greater altitude you question your sanity altogether and if you are someone who likes to exercise and workout you question your physical ability and you wonder what you've been doing at the gym this whole time.
Me, being the avid runner and exercise enthusiast that I am have questioned my decisions in the past two hikes and my physical fitness altogether but like I said this time was different.
I never felt so in shape. I did NOT lack physically and I don't say that to brag I say that to show hard work at the gym does pay off! ( a little encouragement for those of you out there who might need it).
I also say this to remind myself and you all with abled bodies to be thankful we can hike a mountain if we wanted to and get out there and do it! Okay Okay, I will be a realist--I don't expect you all to go out and hike a mountain and I expect some of you to get offended but this whole point in general but really get out there and move: step away from Netflix, step away from your desk, step away from your checklist (or add exercise to it) and get out there and move. I can almost guarantee you (after the soreness) you will be glad you did.
Now now, for the plug. ;) I don't just push exercise because of my own love for it. I push it because I have recently become AFAA PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINER CERTIFIED. And, yep, I am pretty proud. After the lectures, the notes, and the hours of studying and the 2 tests I had to pass for this certification you'd be pretty proud too. haha
I do love that feeling of accomplishment especially since this is something I have been wanting for a while now and I am so passionate about it---therefore I am really glad to pursue a career in something that the Lord has given me passions for.
With all of this being said: I will be returning back to the states in July and want to hit the ground running with pursuing this career. I am open to whatever that may look like and all the different ways it may look for different people. So, if you are at all interested in a personal trainer, know someone who is, need someone to teach classes, know someone who does or have any ideas for me to move this career along please feel free to contact me with any information or questions that you might have! :)
Okay, I stop my promotion there but stay tuned for more Training and Nutrition coming your way via this blog site.
So, if you have made it this far...past the many paragraphs and self-promotion...CONGRATS! Here are some pictures to describe everything I just tried to write down in words. Pictures may do it better! For your sake and mine I will stop typing now and you can just sit back and enjoy the view (via photographs).
Thanks for stopping by!
But first...let me take a SELFIE!
And I guess this is the kind of crazy stuff personal trainers do after hiking up a mountain:
a little workout of course!
Until Next time,
Choose Joy,
Saved by grace,
Kb.
