Results and a Glimmer

Hello Bleaders...are you noticing that lately I have two main topics that I write about, and lately neither of them have to do with infertility?!  Well, that isn't really on my mind lately.  It's all CFP clogging my thoughts lately!  Wow, that's a lot of "latelys"!  ;)

Not much time to waste, so we'll start off quick.  Remember how in August I mentioned that I had joined a program at my gym called Elite Performer?  Well, if you don't, here's that post.  This morning was my follow-up appointment and it was mostly good almost all good.  I didn't lose any weight, I actually gained a couple lbs, but I blame it on the wine from Busted Kate's shower yesterday (will post on that later when I have photos), and I didn't reach any further than before.  But EVERYTHING else was improved upon!  Yes, everything.  Just for a recap, here's where I was in August:
Push-ups in a minute:   37
Leg presses at my body weight in 2 minutes: 33
Plank (just hold):  1:45
Treadmill in 15 minutes, 3.0 incline: 1.05 miles

And this morning's (3 months later) results were....(drumroll):
Push-ups in a minute:  47  (Increase of 10!)
Leg presses at my body weight in 2 minutes:  47 (Increase of 14!)
Plank (just hold):  2:10 (Increase of 24 seconds!)
Treadmill in 15 minutes, 3.0 incline: 1.21 miles (Increase of .15 miles!) There was lots of running this time!

Trainer was very happy and said people very rarely increase in the Treadmill!  That's awesome!  It gave me some renewed faith in myself that even though the scale didn't go down, I improved upon my own performance.  There's actually a chance that I will win this thing!!!  Will keep you posted...won't know until January...what is it with test results in January!  Geez people! 

Okay, now for my glimmer...

Let's begin last Thursday...at bootcamp.  One of our campers was having his last day and we were all giving him a bit of a hard time about that.  Anyway, he is an insurance agent (mostly same industry as me, just a different aspect of it).  Before he left, we were chatting a bit (we really push each other and give each other a hard time) and he asked what this big test was that I kept talking about.  I said, "CFP" and he looked at me dumbfounded.  He had no idea what I was talking about.  He is the same industry as me and he doesn't know what the CFP is!  That killed me.  He has taken some of the other tests I had as well, and knew what those are, but CFP had eluded him.  How sad is that?!  Someone in my industry had no idea what I was working so hard for!  Well, then what was the point?!  I should just throw up my hands and quit now!  If even people in my industry don't know what I am busting my butt for, why do it!?  I went home a little dismayed...this doesn't sound like a glimmer does it?  Just hold on for a second...

Yesterday, at Busted Kate's shower (I promise to blog about that later, but need pictures from her...ahem!!) I was trying to mingle, but failing a bit.  At one point I was standing with Busted Kate and she was chatting with a judge she used to work with.  She introduced us and got us chatting a bit, including saying something to the judge about CFP that I was studying for.  The judge started asking me all kinds of questions, and telling me that she knew all about the CFP and how prestigious it is.  She said she would never work with a planner who didn't have those little letters behind their name!  She went on and on and on about how important it was and how great it was that I was doing this.  It really gave me a great lift, especially after Thursday's ordeal.  It gave me a glimmer of why I am doing this and why it is all worthwhile.  There was my glimmer...that, and that I may be able to pull this off.  I just may!  Busted Kate would say to be more positive!  I'm positively trying!

I can do this...I can do this...I can do this!  

I also downloaded "I have confidence" as sung by Julie Andrews in the sound of music.  Hopefully it will help as a reminder as well!  I tried looking for a video, but nada!  So here's the lyrics:

I Have Confidence, as sung by Julie Andrews (Maria - in The Sound of Music)
What will this day be like? I wonder.
What will my future be? I wonder.
It could be so exciting to be out in the world, to be free
My heart should be wildly rejoicing
Oh, what's the matter with me?

I've always longed for adventure
To do the things I've never dared
And here I'm facing adventure
Then why am I so scared

A captain with seven children
What's so fearsome about that?

Oh, I must stop these doubts, all these worries
If I don't I just know I'll turn back
I must dream of the things I am seeking
I am seeking the courage I lack

The courage to serve them with reliance
Face my mistakes without defiance
Show them I'm worthy
And while I show them
I'll show me

So, let them bring on all their problems
I'll do better than my best
I have confidence they'll put me to the test
But I'll make them see I have confidence in me

Somehow I will impress them
I will be firm but kind
And all those children (Heaven bless them!)
They will look up to me

And mind me with each step I am more certain
Everything will turn out fine
I have confidence the world can all be mine
They'll have to agree I have confidence in me

I have confidence in sunshine
I have confidence in rain
I have confidence that spring will come again
Besides which you see I have confidence in me

Strength doesn't lie in numbers
Strength doesn't lie in wealth
Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers
When you wake up -- Wake Up!

It tells me all I trust I lead my heart to
All I trust becomes my own
I have confidence in confidence alone
(Oh help!)

I have confidence in confidence alone
Besides which you see I have confidence in me!

And to end a different way today, here's a quote my Daddy (yup, I'm 30 and I still call him that!) sent me before I went to Phoenix for my class that I need to keep repeating to myself:

We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible. 

- Chretien Malesherbes