Week 6: the halfway point. Its hard to believe we are already halfway thru. In some ways I feel like I’ve been doing this forever (in a good way) and in other ways I find myself approaching each week’s workout for the first time with fear and trepidation. We have definitely hit the in the trenches feeling, where babysitters are harder to come by and husbands are slightly less enthusiastic about swapping kid duty but we are making it work the best we can! And one key factor in all of this, is the constant hard work, support and enthusiasm of our trainer: Coach Jordan. Being that next week is her one year wedding anniversary and she is currently on her way to a weekend of fun and relaxation, I thought I would add to her celebration by bragging to you about her this morning.
As it has been stated and re-stated many times, this little boot camp adventure began when I asked Jordan to help me workout for a few weeks before my family’s annual beach trip in June. There are a few reasons why Jordan was the first person who popped into my head to help me out. First of all, she is my best friend and I feel like I never get to see as much of her as I would like, so I thought this way we could at least see each other a few times a week (even if it was only going to be conversation via grunts and moans). Secondly, Jordan has always been just the right amount of workout buddy for me. We have trained (embarrassingly enough) for 5k runs like the Turkey Trot together, we have hit the gym together and we have always tried to be each other’s biggest cheerleaders when it comes to setting life goals and achieving them. Jordan has just the right of grit combined with a positive attitude. Even outside of a working out relationship, I have always admired Jordan’s way to combine silliness, professionalism, smiles and sarcastic zingers. She has just enough edge to her to keep my interested and just enough rainbows to keep me accountable to not living under a constant rain cloud. And she walks that fine line even in our boot camp. Where as I might say, “I think I’m going to throw up!” She has the quick reply of, “That’s great! That means you’re engaging your core! Way to go!” She usually says this while taking a small step away from me, just in case it’s more of an overexertion issue rather than a core engagement issue, but still, it’s encouraging. Thirdly I knew she would make me take it seriously. I knew she would know how to poke at my competitive side without sending me over the edge of self-loathing and despair when I fell short.
And she has not disappointed me in the least! She has welcomed each new member of our crew with a warm smile and a true delight to meet them. She somehow manages to pay attention to where all, sometimes 13 of us, are physically and tracks are progress and still manages to call out tips and encouragement to each of us as we stumble through with her. Each week, Jordan takes the time to create a new workout and then every Saturday she drags her patient husband to the park to take pictures and videos of each move so that the many women joining us across the country can get as much of a one on one experience as possible. She coordinates schedules and she throws in extra workouts each week to accommodate as many women as possible. And she does all of this, which pretty much equates to a part time job, absolutely 100% for free. Not one woman has given her 1 cent for this valuable experience. And for those of us on tight budgets and with diaper wasting kids, this is truly an amazing gift.
Each time I track my progress or step on a scale, I am overwhelmed with gratitude at the sacrifice of my friend. And I know that my fellow boot campers feel exactly the same way.
itaintallrainbows 
Can’t wait to see the “new” Reagan.