Why I Choose Fitness?

I don’t know about you but I struggle every day with eating healthy, staying fit and losing weight.  

I have been on so many fad diets out there.  I have followed many fitness gurus online.  Many that promised you x amount of weight loss in x amount of time. And you have no idea how many online workout plans or home workout DVDs  I have purchased.  I have tried Weight Watchers and Medifast.  I even joined a local gym for some time.  Nothing was sustainable. Or better yet, I was not sustaining any of them. 

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I know. I know.  Being consistent in your workout and developing a healthy eating habit will get you to your end goal. But it is so much easier said than done.   

After having 4 kids and creeping up to my 40s, I could tell that my body was slowing down. I was an avid pop drinker.  Coffee with tons of sugar and creamers. I ate whatever I wanted and whenever. I rarely drink water.  I was always on the go.

 I don’t ever recall a time in my adulthood that I was able to just slow down and relax.  Grabbing whatever was available trying to re-fuel myself before I head out to the next things on my list. 

It wasn’t until I hit 40 and was at one of our vacations that I told myself that I had to stop and take care of myself.  I had been so focused on taking care of others and making sure I was able to provide for my family that I had let myself go.   Some serious self-reflection was needed! 

One day shortly after returning from our vacation, as I was scrolling through Facebook, an ad popped up.  An ad that I have seen way too many times and disregarded it each and every time.  However, on this particular day as I have been thinking about how to take my life back, this ad came to me like a sign.  I quickly clicked on this ad to see what it was all about.   Without a second thought, I signed up for their service.   And that was it!  That crazy, annoying Facebook AD got me. It really got me!   🙂 And I am honestly so grateful it did. 

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So, what is this ad I am talking about?  Well, let me tell you.  This ad was of a local gym offering their 6-week health and fitness program.  It included one on one coaching, meal plans, and group fitness classes.  I thought… What do I have to lose?  It is 6 weeks of my life that I can try to do this or 6 weeks of going on as I have.   I had no idea what I was getting into.  Only thing I knew at that time was that I was doing this.  

I remember going into orientation and just soaking in on all the information.  Looking around the gym, I saw people just like me (or at least I think just like me); trying to make a better version of themselves.  I started the program out strong, following everything to a T.  Meal planning, working out 3-5 days a week, drinking water, checking in with the coach weekly.  By the time week 4-5 rolled around, I officially joined the gym.  My main goal or motivation was to lose weight. 

Did I see any weight loss around this time? Not much at all.   So why did I commit to yet another gym membership?  While I did not see the scale moved, I noticed my mind and thinking have never been clearer, I was more focused and I was sleeping better.  I felt really good about myself.  

I have continued with this gym for now over a year. I love the workouts, the coaches and the community there.  I felt like I fit in. I never felt like I was out of place. Everyone is so supportive of each other. It is like a huge family. In and out in 30-minute sessions but during those 30 minutes, we are one big fit family.

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Since I have been with the gym I have not noticed significant weight loss. What I  found was unexpected.  I went into working out and eating more healthy in the hopes of losing weight. But what I have gained is so much more powerful than that.   I have learned that the numbers on the scale do not mean a thing even though it took me a long time to come to terms with that.  My clothes are fitting better. I am physically and mentally stronger. I have learned to love myself in my body.  I have learned not to let others view of me bother me.  I have developed the confidence that I did not know I had.  

I still have a long way to go. I still struggle with my eating habit but working on it every day.  There are times that I do so well with meal prepping and eating “right” then there are times that I just let loose.  Life gets hectic and I may just want to relax instead of being in my kitchen prepping my meals for the week. Or I may not even have the chance to get my meals prepped.  Whatever the case may be, I am listening to my body.

So as life continues, I will continue on my journey with health and wellness in mind.  

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