My Fitness Journey
Fitness (and overall wellness) has been a passion of mine for years. Admittedly though, it wasn't always as important to me as it is now. I actually entered the fitness world when I embarked on my own personal weight loss journey. I always "worked out," but it was never strategic and I had never followed a plan or program. I would go to a group fitness class once in a while, or just run on a treadmill. I wasn't comfortable in the gym, and would try my best to go into a corner and workout where no one would really see me. While this is all better than not exercising at all, I wasn't seeing the results I was wanting, and was in a bad place mentally.
A few years ago, I decided to totally change my habits and mindset and make my health a priority and I ultimately lost 20lbs. This new routine led me to fall in love with the journey and just enjoy exercise and the feeling of pushing myself. Not only did I begin to change physically, but the mental adaptations that came along with a healthier lifestyle were amazing. I am now stronger and more confident both mentally and physically.
Fitness became a huge part of my life, and people would come to me with questions about exercise and nutrition, or if they were just stuck in their journey and needed a little push. It led to this passion and urge to help others also fall in love with the journey. I ended up pursuing my personal training certification, with the hopes to help educate, support and motivate others. Having a support system and people you can lean on to keep you going is a critical component in continuing to show up for yourself, and I love being able to be that person for others. Education is also critical, as it leads to empowerment. Providing knowledge to my clients allows them to feel more comfortable in their journey, and gives them the confidence in themselves and their ability to follow their new routine and build healthy habits that will be attainable in the long term.
Through everything, I learned that consistency is the key to achieving your goals. A lot of people ask me how I stay so motivated, and I can say with certainly that it is not motivation that got me to where I am today. We all have bad days, and we all have those times where we just aren't "feeling it." We are human, and we are never going to be motivated 24/7/365. What takes you further in your journey is being consistent and having strong habits in place. It will never be perfect, and a bad day will not derail your progress, but continuing to show up for yourself and overcome these battles are what will set you apart. That trumps motivation for me. Making my health a top priority has been a long and difficult journey, but it has been beyond rewarding.