It has been close to two years since I began my fitness journey. For as long as I can remember, I have struggled with commitment and lacked consistency. From the span of when I began, I have discovered a core truth: I tried to handle the commitment to fitness alone…and I failed. Royally.
Mind you, I was a fairly active kid growing up. I played outside with childhood friends among various sports, such as basketball, football, and baseball. I had actively tried to get into working out in my undergraduate years. However, I made a commitment to get into fitness out of grabbing the attention of a girl who clearly was not interested in me, but that is a different story for another day. After the realization dawned on me, I lost all motivation and my momentum for staying in shape. Then, I transitioned into a more sedentary lifestyle. I kept ordering takeout and sat the majority of the time in my dorm room, playing video games for about ten hours per day, on average. I gained more than the dreaded “Freshman 15.” At the start, I was 160 pounds. After I graduated college, and looking at the candids taken over the years there, I saw how fat my cheeks were as well as an increase in my gut size. I did not get on the scale until that early 2011, where I tipped the scales at 220 pounds–a net gain of 60 pounds due to prolonged periods of inactivity and overconsumption. I reflect on eating a large Papa John’s pizza all to myself, washing it down with Brisk Pink Lemonade from the basement level vending machine…
I had then made a definite decision that I would not be that heavy again. I cut back on my caloric intake. Thankfully, one of the jobs I worked at the time involved staying on my feet for 10-12 hours per day. I also took it upon myself to start a regimen of pushups every morning and at night. I maxed out at 150 pushups. Through circumstances and a change to full-time employment in 2016, I commuted longer and, once again, I reverted back to that essentially sedentary lifestyle. Due to growing inactivity, my weight also grew. My critical moment to make the fully committed change happened after an establish care visit at my local clinic in December of 2016. I weighed about 196 pounds, but my blood work came back with elevated cholesterol and A1C in the pre-diabetic range. From that point onward, and with clear awareness of my family medical history, I made conscious choices on educating myself on proper nutrition. I shifted from eating bowls of cereal to bowls of apple cinnamon oatmeal. I cut back on starches and tons of bread and tried to incorporate a variety of fruits and vegetables. I drank more water and cut down on sugary, processed drinks. While I made it a habit to walk during my breaks in work, I knew that another component was missing…
I had to get this fitness routine handled!
It was near Thanksgiving of 2018 when I tried (and failed) at a free CrossFit workout. I brought up my fitness failures to my work friend and colleague, and, after our open dialogue, she recommended to me to try out a fitness bootcamp program that she attended. I registered through the program in January of 2019, coordinating with the fitness experts who had the results I wanted; the results I desired…
While my first ever workout did not pan out so well (I ended up with a leg cramp near the end of the session), I gradually improved over time. I knew then that I had to consume more water to maintain adequate hydration for my body. I have not gotten back down to my high school weight, but I have remained stable between 173-178 pounds.
Due to the risk factors according to my family’s history, and not wanting to die at an early age like my father did, I dedicated myself to improve my quality of life. That was my why; my motivation as to why I started and will continue to remain consistent. I sought out the specialists, masterminded with my Partner Trainer on proper form and nutrition, and saw results by following instructions.
I would love to extend my passion to those who have struggled, or are struggling, with meeting fitness goals, and those willing to help, serve, and assist those along the journey. For professionals in the fitness, health, and wellness industries who require digital outreach, I will gladly be of service to get you more leads and paying customers. For my services, contact me for details.