If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else,
it will spread into your work and into your life.There are no limits.
There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there,
you must go beyond them.
–Bruce Lee
I’m looking back at this year and I’ve done a lot. It doesn’t feel like it, but I have.
I got on a plane. All by myself.
That may not sound like much, but to a girl who has been vaguely agoraphobic all her life it’s the equivalent of backpacking solo around the world.
I ran a fun mud run. And then a timed 5k the day after.
I ran the Color Run with my family. And I talked dozens of friends into joining us (and thousands of other colorful runners).
I ran another mud run that was pretty grueling. I was filled with accomplishment that I had done something that was so hard for me…. and enjoyed every moment of it. I’ve run a bunch more 5ks since then, and plan to run 13 races (stepping out of my 5k comfort zone) next year.
I was recognized by BlogHer as a Voice of the Year, for the most difficult post I’ve ever written. A post that was zero craft, zero technique, but just me trying to understand.
I modeled, for the camera and the runway. I’ve actually done this before, as a kid, and it did such a number on my body image that I’ve avoided mirrors, cameras and trying to look “pretty” ever since. (I have no problem looking like an idiot on camera. You see those shots here all the time.) I admittedly felt dumb and self-conscious and out of place, but I managed to keep the self-loathing to a minimum.
I entered and won a photography contest, and my photo was placed in the Picaboo calendar given to each attendee of the Type A Conference.
I split the driving to Type A, by the way. All the way to Charlotte and back. Have I mentioned I hate driving, especially when I don’t know where I am? I didn’t crash or anything. And then I went and mingled with people I didn’t know. I even captained a team for a danceoff. That’s crazy! Robin pre-2012 would never have done such a thing.
photo credit to Sarah
Hey! I lost a lot of weight. I gained some muscle. And I wrote about it in a place where people would actually see it.
I coached basketball.
I did some videos. I talked about some hard stuff to talk about in a couple of them.
I helped grow FitFluential into the company it is today: with over 800 Ambassadors, 7000 members, 26K Twitter followers, 12K Facebook fans and catapulting into 2013 at breakneck speed. Being part of a startup with only 5 employees is tense work with long hours, and it has been worth it for this moment, looking back and seeing how far we’ve come. (Kelly Olexa is a powerhouse.)
And now I’m learning to swim. The decision to sign up and show up was terrifying; right now it’s very frustrating. But I have no doubt that sometime soon, I will be able to move through the water without touching the bottom. Without drowning.
It has been a year of stepping out of my comfort zone, and as a result I’m stronger in every way: mentally, emotionally, physically. And the best part about that is knowing I’m being a role model to my girl… she knows no limits to her abilities now, and I hope that her age, her gender, her insecurities never get in her way.
2013 better hold on to its hat.
GIVEAWAY!
I want to know how you’ve stepped out of your comfort zone and grown this year! And how you plan to take 2013 by storm.
Reebok sent me a few #getafterit shirts to give away. These tees are emblazoned with the #getafterit logo in Vitamin C orange to give your workouts a shot of energy 🙂 I get a lot of “I like your shirt!” when I wear mine to the gym. My hope is that maybe some of those people check out the #getafterit hashtag on Twitter and tweet out their own accomplishments after a cathartic sweatfest.
I have 2 of these in size medium, and three in large, so there will be FIVE winners in all.
Just follow the directions in the Rafflecopter widget. Here’s to a fierce December… and a 2013 to remember.
I’m medium and I have been going to Body Pump class, definitely OUT of my comfort zone but I love it!
I put my face out there despite a weight gain. I asked to join Fitfluential even though I’m not gracefully thin and gazelle-like, but I AM fit! I hauled my behind up and down mountains in Colorado and ran 2 half-marathons. And Crossfit is just my way of telling my body it’s time to wake up and MOVE!
I’m going to need a large….for a few more weeks 😉
I have stepped out of my comfort zone but pushing through physical therapy and repeated battles with my health this year.
I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone by running! I always hated it but I’ve pushed myself to do it this year and I’m really enjoying it 🙂 I plan to run a half marathon at the end of February so I’m starting 2013 off right!
Large
I stepped out of comfort zone when I signed up and did my first half marathon. i still had the I cant do it thinking and strived ahead beyond that monkey chatter.
I would need a large size
OH MY HECK, I love this post. I was getting teary eyed just reading how your year has been, and realizing how much I have stepped out of my comfort zone and redefined who I am. I decided last year to lose some unhealthy weight and feel like Alice falling down the rabbit hole into a completely different world – and I love it!
I stepped out of my comfort zone by kicking asthma in the face and giving up on that excuse to live unhealthy. I finished a mud run, became a half marathon runner, traveled alone to become a marathoner(!!!), Fitfluential Ambassador, and that’s just scratching the surface!
I am so ready to kill it in 2013 and finish my 39 before 40 list (39 things to do before I turn 40 in August)
🙂
– Medium 🙂
started running! med please!
My husband and I have commmitted to racing in 2013 together and we are determined to keep each other on track
Large please
Medium would be great! I plan to kick more races’ butts and see if I can start working towards a full marathon…and not fall apart 😉 and definitely be more involved with Fitfluential!
I decided to work more on my blog. AND I ran my first half marathon–and helped encourage others at work to start running races. This year I plan on running more races (and rocking them) and cross training and encouraging others to do the same. (medium please)
Size M would be AWESOME!!!!!
large would be great! I stay fit by doig body pump, spin, combat and other stuff : )
This year I took everyone by surprise by having my second baby at home. To me, birth is an athletic experience so it inspired me to have the courage to run. I ran my first 5K on Thanksgiving in honor of my family. Next year I’m going to work on getting faster and fitter to be a role model for my girls! I’m a size Medium and would LOVE to inspire others to #GetAfterIt.
Wow, listening to all of you and your marathons is making me feel my age! And my bad knee! While I didn’t do any marathons, I did expand my knowledge about blogging and take the tough steps to get out and speak in front of crowds (not so easy for me! Just call me chicken!)I planned a wedding, (not my own) and volunteered for six different fundraisers. In all I raised nearly $30,000. Not so much as some pros but good for a newbie. The key: persistance. The quote by Helen Keller below that says “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I refuse not to do something that I can do.” just about sums up my life.
This year I have started doing things instead of talking about doing them. That sounds silly but for me it was huge to finally do things instead of wanting to do them.
Large
I have been more experimental in using power tools myself. I loved your post. I admire all you did this year …specially mingling at conferences. I am horrible at that. Horrible. And I am a large 🙂
I feel kind of quitteriffic about this year :/ can I just say I learned more about myself? Next year is to improve 😉
Thanks for the giveaway. If I win I’d need a Large!
2012 definitely through me for a major curveball, to put it lightly. Then in Oct. I broke my ankle so in 2013 I’ll be working towards getting back into the gym and healing my leg. Sometimes you just have to take life’s challenges and grin and bear it.
… On second thought, you could just overcome!
LOL
I’d need a Medium 🙂
I have been running and this would be great for me
oops size large please
This past year was rough with my wedding, Trying to balance work, and Finishing my masters. For 2013 I have decided that I will do one new fitness activity or fitness class at my gym each month And write about it.
Medium please.
I’ve been pushing forward with my blog and tackling new challenges everyday. I have still not given up my goal of loosing weight and this t-shirt will help me get back on track to #getafterit
We moved 600 miles away from the only state I’ve ever known as home. I’ve used it as a chance to try new things (hello hilly runs) and meet new people with common fitness interests. After 6 months, I couldn’t picture myself anywhere else! That’s how I stepped out of my comfort zone!
Doh… pushed enter too soon. I would take a large
I started going to different events where I didn’t really know anyone. Pretty bog for me. Oh, and I ran a 5K even though I could barely run lol.
i started lifting weights… in 2013 i plan to do more and get more ripped… L
I tried lots of new things: kettlebell, boot camp among others. One goal I have for 2013 is to unassisted pull ups! I will need a size medium.
This year I stepped out of my comfort zone by starting to lift weights! I started dressing more like an “adult” on my days off and trying to mingle with people that I didn’t know (bc I moved to a new city and didn’t know ANYone!)…which is REALLY hard for me bc I’m very introverted and socially anxious. I’ll take 2013 by storm because I’m getting married next year!! Hoot!
Size med please 🙂
I stepped out of my comfort zone and experimented with different forms of fitness. I continue to do the same in 2013!
I stepped away from group fitness classes and started working out on my own. I changed my diet (eliminating gluten and meat) to help cope with my IBS, and it worked! I put on muscle ad stopped stepping on the scale, telling my eating disordered past to get lost. I went after, was offered, and accepted a full time job after being a stay at home mom since my son was born 5 years ago (I also have a daughter now as well). I put myself out there in the social media world, blogging when I have time, IG-ing, posting on FB, and tweeting as I learn more about respecting myself and my body. Yep, it’s been a year of change! (And I would like a Medium!)
I am still lingering near my comfort zone but I push myself every day. I want to call myself a runner but FEAR keeps rearing its ugly head. By the end of the year, I will say that I can run a 5K nonstop…Sez large shirt. Please