Dedicated exercisers, what "odd" thing makes you proud?

For example, I'm proud that:

• I don't carry a purse to work.  I bring a gym bag (it's not high fashion, but it's very nice IMO)
• half my weekly laundry is gym clothes
• I'm one of only 10 or so regulars at our office gym (there's 200+ people in our office)

There are other things too.  I'll list them as I remember.  What makes you proud?

Im proud that,

1.  i didn't give into my laziness.

2.  i don't need a physical trainer to help me lose weight because i found that i can do something on my own for once. 

3.  i actually found something that i enjoy doing.

• I don't actually know anyone at my gym, but all the "regulars" know who I am.
• I could kick butt if anyone in my office challenged me to a duel. Weak creatures.
• I buy lots of sneakers, because I wear them out.

• I am also proud that going to the gym is my favorite part of the day, not settling into a movie or a good tv show like it used to be

I'm proud that I can throw my 44 pound daughter up in the air.  Really throw her up.  Not many moms can say that, the weaklings.

I'm proud that I sweat when I work out, and get all red-faced, because I am really WORKING out.

I am proud that my exercise is so much a part of my life that I don't log it anymore.  Just set my activity to moderate and actually know that I am achieving that level.

Also, that I "just do it" now.  Don't have to talk myself into it.

Original Post by puh8suwrux:

I'm proud that I sweat when I work out, and get all red-faced, because I am really WORKING out.

Yes! It's gross and embarassing but, I'm actually kinda proud when I have to wipe my sweat off the floor - eeeeewwwww.

I am proud that I bike to work every single workday, rain or shine, even through the cold rainy winter when all the fair-weather-riders were too wussy to keep it up. I love the rain, makes me feel badass.

I am proud that I wore out the brakes on my new bike in about a year. And not because I brake a lot....just because I ride a lot!

I am proud that I can wear my gym shoes now and not feel like a big fraud. I never wore any kind of sports shoes for years and years for fear of someone laughing at me...now I don't care if some one thinks a fat girl in sports shoes is ironic. I need them to actually exercise in!! Ditto my bike shorts.

I'm proud that when I do Wii EA Active - it's my light workout between heavy lifting.

Original Post by victoriagirl:

I am proud that I bike to work every single workday, rain or shine, even through the cold rainy winter when all the fair-weather-riders were too wussy to keep it up. I love the rain, makes me feel badass.

You totally are badass victoriagirl!  That's awesome.  I'm a fair-weather wuss myself but I've been caught in the rain a few times - I hated it, so I'm most impressed at you.  *bows to the biking diva*

Original Post by amethystgirl:

I'm proud that when I do Wii EA Active - it's my light workout between heavy lifting.

This sounds awful but...I love that alot of people can't do what I do on my easy days.  It shows me how far I've come.  I don't mean to sound arrogant but I've worked hard and turned down alot of french fries to get here so I'm proud of myself.

I am proud that I can swim 50 laps, when in past years I would get winded doing maybe 5 or 10. I am also proud that eventhough we are having a major heatwave here in texas that I am not having a meltdown. I am still hot, mind you very hot, but have not come close to passing out as I would have at my heaviest. I am proud, like someone else on this thread already mentioned, that I can exercise and do things to lose weight on my own and do not need someone with a whip and chair making me do it.   I am proud that I am eating healthier and that when I do eat foods that are not as healthy I do it in serving sizes and not" bags full".  I am happy that I now crave vegtables, and salad has always been  my favorite even when I was much heavier.  I am also proud that my blood test numbers actually show how hard I have worked, and that the dr. recognizes this and actually says he is proud of me too.   I am happy that I am doing things that are within in my power to make my life and my hubbies better and healthier.  I am proud that I found cc. and that I have other people to talk to about weight issues, food, exercise etc. I am proud I took that first step... the hardest one and that one step turned into another and another.

Original Post by runyourlife:

Original Post by puh8suwrux:

I'm proud that I sweat when I work out, and get all red-faced, because I am really WORKING out.

Yes! It's gross and embarassing but, I'm actually kinda proud when I have to wipe my sweat off the floor - eeeeewwwww.

I totally agree... I love coming home after a long run and having a perfect outline of my sports bra as the only dry spot on my shirt!

Original Post by victoriagirl:

I am proud that I bike to work every single workday, rain or shine, even through the cold rainy winter when all the fair-weather-riders were too wussy to keep it up. I love the rain, makes me feel badass.

Oh, this is so awesome! I am exactly the same, and the harsher the weather, the prouder I feel. It helps that when I show up somewhere carrying a muddy raincoat people ask "Wow, did you ride your bike in this kind of weather?". And I am nothing short of ecstatic (though holding it in for the most part) when replying "Yes.".

I am proud that I come to my office gym even on the weekends.

I'm glad I started this thread - it's very inspiring to me.  

We all deserve a "pat on the back" for making exercise a habit (rather than a chore).

*pat, pat, pat, pat*    *takes a modest bow*  " thank you, thank you"

• I can walk up this local mountain by my house and have some random teenager with his friends compliment my 6 pack.
• I'm 153, and beating a 210lbs guy in an arm wrestle is pretty funny. The hidden strength of a rock climber are amazing.
• Being the only person I know who has completely weened himself from caffeine, in addition to any form of soda, diet soda, coffee, well, anything besides water and V-8. (and I never get sick of water)

• I gotta add the 2nd posters number 2 statement as well, not needing a trainer to lose weight, I've gone from 230lbs to 155 TWICE in the last 5 years; needless to say I've gotten good at losing weight. This time I KNOW I'm keeping it off.

Love this thread! Odd things that make me proud?

- My toned legs

- My unswerving dedication these past seven months to my elliptical

- Having to buy smaller shirts that don't interfere with my movement!

- The sweat that drips from my forehead

- Seeing my resting heart rate go to 58 bpm

I'm proud when sweat drips from my face.

And because I'm the only sixteen year old girl I can think of who'd be proud of such a thing.

Original Post by victoriagirl:

I love the rain, makes me feel badass.

I have to agree. When it storms outside and people are running for the cover, it makes me feel so awesome and energized to know that I'm enjoying the run and rain, people staring at me like I'm crazy. In fact, I try to go run right before the storm so that after half my run, I would run through rain.

What a great thread!

OK, now this is odd.  I do excercise videos 6 days a week, and have been doing so since January.  While I do them, I've been watching my way through a sci fi series that lasted 214 episodes, 2 episodes at a time, and I'm halfway through my second go around now.  It's kind of a weird measure of progress, but I'm proud of it.  It's also kind of an odd motivator.  I only watch it when I work out, so especially if I know there's an episode coming up that I really like, I'll say, Well, I'd better work out or I can't watch it.

I'm also proud when the sweat liberally drips off of me onto my mat.  It's kind of gross, but nice to know I'm working that hard.