Recertified (4 days early) and It feels so Good

Hello My Lovelies and Gents,

Did you hear that loud scream of joy earlier tonight?  That was me! 

Four years ago I became an ACE Certified Personal Trainer. It was not an easy road. I spent 9 months studying for that exam. I was working full-time, commuting 2 hours a day, and still getting my workouts in. So basically I studied every available moment. I spent many lunch hours, late nights, and weekends studying. I suffer from Anxiety and my anxiety over the exam was almost the death of me.

It was a glorious 23 months before the panic set in and I needed to get recertified. I had two years to take the credits and I didn't do it. So that August I spent every available second studying and taking classes. I made it just in time.

This time a year and a half went by and I decided to get an early start on it. There was a deal on a Fitness Nutrition Specialist program. If I passed that program it would count for my recertification. So I ordered it. And then it sat on my shelf for a little while. A few months ago I panicked and pulled it out and started studying. I was also pretty good at procrastination.

Mentally it was exhausting. The stress eater was studying nutrition. It was very hard. I would just finish a chapter and then at the grocery store I would make a stress eating induced impulse purchase...maybe a candy bar...maybe a lunchable with oreos...maybe a microwavable dinner. Then the guilt of the purchase, and subsequent consumption of said purchase, would depress me. It made me feel like poo.

I was at a meeting yesterday and we divided into groups under categories that we struggle the most with. Mine was Self-Control. It's easy for me to control outside things. But, I really struggle with my own self control. That's why routine is so important for me. And my schedule is far from routine. I'm a hot mess most of the time. So basically, while I was learning a lot and feeling very excited about what was to come, I was a basket case.

The Fitness Nutrition Specialty included two textbooks, many online tutorials, and two big exams. A month ago I got the crazy idea to take the first exam on a Friday night starting at 8am. I finished before midnight, but I passed. The month since has been nauseating. It was like I had a split personality. One side of me was having full blown Anxiety attacks over studying. The other side of me was chill and just kept thinking "everything is fine". There was no middle ground.

It's been a crazy busy month, summer, okay year.

My recertification deadline is this upcoming Thursday. Panic set in. My schedule is pretty full. And so this past Friday night I decided to start the final exam. I'm super happy that I had the option to save my answers. I spent 2 hours on 25 out of 70 questions. I was out all day yesterday so I cancelled all plans after church today to finish the exam.

Cut to me running into the grocery store on my way home. I needed bread and vegetables for salads. The bread aisle is also the candy aisle. NOOOOOO!  Oh and it's across from the frozen pizzas and burgers. Just keep walking Jennifer! Seriously, I'm about to take a Fitness NUTRITION exam...I can't buy crap. Okay well I bought a Seagrams Strawberry Daiquiri so celebrate, or commiserate with.

I managed to buy the essentials and get home. After a quick lunch break I got down to business. I put on the Vivaldi station on Pandora and got ready.

Crap. Where is my lucky pen? 

It's okay. It's just a pen.

OMG WHERE IS MY PEN???

Relax, this other pen is fine. It will have absolutely no affect on the outcome.

*Me tearing apart my room looking for my lucky pen*

And four hours later I PASSED!  *I never found my lucky pen.

That was the scream.

*****

So what does this mean now? What can I do with a Fitness Nutrition Specialty?

I can lead Nutrition Seminars

I can advise athletes on their nutrition during event training

I can lead Grocery store tours

I can do basic meal planning (not including special needs)

I can lead Healthy Cooking lessons

Lucky for you I will be blogging about a lot of what I studied. I should have some extra time now :-)

Have a Blessed Evening
****Please note****


 If you feel like you are alone on your journey and you just need some encouragement I am here for you! Shoot me an email and I will do my best to check in on you or give you the words of support you need several times a week. The journey is so much easier if you have support.

jhendersonfit@gmail.com 
Check out my Facebook Page for Confessions (there are before and work-in-progress pictures):

http://www.
facebook.com/ConfessionsOfAFormerFatGir

yeah, sorry, I messed up and the "l" is missing....I need an assistant :-)

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter: hugsnsmile
Instagram: Jennie5973

Comments

  1. I am so proud of you. In case people don't know- that test is NOT easy. Mike had to study forever to pass his. He had some people at work that could not pass the test.
    So CONGRATS to you for getting it accomplished!!

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