Six Pack Portraits & Beach Bonfire

Greetings my fellow fitnesseurs!!! I hope your weekend was awesome. Summer time is the best time to catch up on all those activities and relationship bonding on your to-do list.

Back in March, I announced I had a six pack. I’m sure a lot of you were skeptical since pictures were not posted. I did take pictures in March. I just wasn’t proud of them.

March 3, 2013

Before I began on my quest, I’d been warned that getting a six pack is hard. I shrugged it off thinking this person had no gauge on my ambitions. That advice has played over in my head at certain levels including when I observed the pictures in March.

Now, I realize I was being too hard on myself considering the lighting in the studio. Today, the March pictures reflect a fascinating fitnesseur! It’s funny how on the path to change a certain aspect of your life, what you really need to change is your perspective.

One important detail learned on my journey so far: being healthy and getting a six pack are two VERY different things. To get a six pack, you have to cut out naturally healthy items. You begin to ask questions like:

1.) Is it worth it?

2.) What does gaining it mean to you? (helps with worth question)

3.) Once you get there, will you be able to maintain it or is getting there all there is?

For me, it began as a goal to say I achieved it. Let’s start from the beginning….

My fitness journey began in college. After I had adopted unhealthy food habits from new friends and realized the ridiculous amount of weight gained, I joined the school’s gym ($98/year, lovely price). Looking back, I am proud the decision to depart from those habits were mine entirely. Amidst my loss, I recall comments that were made by associates prior to the loss, which I’m glad I was too naive to comprehend.

On my path in losing weight, I wasn’t educated with fitness terms. In fact, the first time I saw a six pack was on a music artist in her video and was rather ignorant about it. My initial reaction was “it’s too much”. It became desirable when I saw it on another public figure with a more lean and elongated version. As I sought inspiration and discovered Jamie Eason, Amber Elizabeth, and others, I considered a career in fitness modeling (for a split second). However, obtaining a six pack never stopped being personal. In fact, the journey has made it more personal. My fitness journey began to gain my teenage figure back then advanced into another journey. I’m grateful of my many accomplishments.

With a bonfire planned for the past weekend, I set out to tone my six pack. Here are pictures to reveal my present physique:

Pretty impressive quality from my phone. I guess it works best with sunlight. Here’s an up close pic I took of my abs this morning; prepare to adjust your eyes.

Currently, I have no conclusions which is an acceptable place to be. A very important lesson I’ve learned in my trials and tribulations is nothing is final. To conclude would be futile. I’ve learned too much to say “I’m done” or develop old habits. One thing I know for sure is, I’ve grown into me more since the day I started being healthy. The confidence expanded as I hopped into the “six pack” zone. There’s no way I’ll abandon healthy habits I’ve maintained for over 5 years. Okay, that’s enough update.

How was my bonfire?

Bombastic! I missed the opportunity to go into the water being the host and all: help set up grill/volleyball net, relocating food and cooler to the shadows, answering phone to give directions. Before I knew it, the cold air resumed (arrived around 8AM to reserve a pit). I’ll leave you with pictures.