I DID IT!!

We have so much to catch up on, but I just posted this to my Facebook page and I couldn't share it there without sharing it here with you guys. Because you all are so much a part of this journey for me. You know that. I know that and I wouldn't be here without all the love and support you guys give me...the emails, texts, hearts on instagram, comments here and on ravelry. I appreciate them all.
xoxo Carrie

I'm still on a high from how PROUD of MYSELF I am! I had such an awesome morning, I just can't put it into words, but I'm going to try. I held back tears through most of my 45-minute workout this morning. Not because I was exhausted or tired, but because I couldn't believe I was there, in a group of 80 or so fit, fabulous coaches working out.

I hadn't had a second thought about joining my awesome team of coaches when they invited me to join them for Super Saturday! These women remind me so much of my circle of knitting friends- fearless, fun, passionate (heck, they even have crazy conventions and retreats for their fabulous passion). Their passion just happens to be fitness and health instead of knitting. Anyways, as the 80 or so of us got ready to #CIZE with Shaun T on a big screen I realized I hadn't done a group exercise class since probably right after college, so maybe 18 or 19 years ago. And I looked around and realized I was probably one of the heavier people in the room, if not the heaviest, about to do this. But I wasn't nervous or worried. I knew that I could do it because I'd been doing the workouts at home for the past two weeks, cheered on by my challenge group and other coaches, and I had my friends there supporting me. But a few minutes in, I could feel the tears coming on as I was really doing it. 15-minutes in as Nikki Boyle​ gave me a high-five I almost lost it, but just kept going.

Last spring, after having dealt with being diagnosed with cancer twice and radiation leaving me so tired and exhausted, I felt like my body betrayed me even more when my doctors told me that the pain I was experiencing was chronic pain that wasn’t going to go away.  First, the surgery in 2012 to remove the tumor, then a year later radiation, that all seemed to set the nerves in the temple area of my head on fire. They were already a bit messed up since I’ve had headaches and migraines since college. But this pain just wasn’t going away my doctors told me. Awesome. Oh, and yes, this particular cancer has a 50% chance of reoccurring, which is why my doctors say I’ll have this diagnosis forever. Most of last year was spent figuring out how I was going to be able to work full-time again when I was exhausted and in so much pain. How was I going to get my strength back?

I’m so grateful that a few months ago just some small changes in my diet and drinking Shakeology helped with my pain levels immensely. I’m blessed that when my friend and coach Kristina and I talked about what my health goals were she mentioned the discount coach opportunity to me because she knew I was dedicated to doing this no matter how long it took me to get healthy. Because the coaching opportunity exposed me to this bigger support group of women right away who are so much like my Irish Girlie community of friends. I am so grateful for all of their motivation and inspiration. Their honesty in sharing their successes and failures. Their neverending support.

I am so blessed to have the family, friends, and community that I have and I wanted to thank you for hanging in there with me. I have felt all the love, prayers and support the past few years. And today, I cried happy tears after my workout. I know I’ll be stronger and healthier for the next challenge that comes my way. I’m doing it!!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits