I am very proud to say that today makes 4 YEARS that I have been weight training! It truly feels like yesterday that my dad took me into the gym for the first time and taught me how to lift weights. Little did I know then that weight lifting would become so much more than a hobby. I was 16 years old, and I fell in love with it so quickly. I fell in love with the way it made me look, but more importantly, I fell in love with the way it made me feel.
I’ve learned so much about myself and what my body is capable of in these past 4 years. My fitness journey has not been perfect. I have made some mistakes and I have gotten off track a few times. What matters is that I’ve stayed consistent. I’ve stuck with it. There is power in taking control of your health. In loving yourself. This is one step I took that led me to feel so much more confident.
When I first started weight lifting, I had no idea if I was going to like it or stick with it. My goals were to simply tone up and get to the gym 3 days a week. Now, my goals look a bit different. My schedule is a bit hectic right now, and to be honest, I haven’t been getting to the gym as often as I would like to. I was never one to work out in the mornings, but now, because of my schedule, I have been doing this twice a week. My current workout split is not ideal for me, but I have been working out at home when I can’t get to the gym. As of right now, I am working out 3-4 times a week. I have very long days, so finding the time to get to the gym with my new schedule has been a challenge, but I’ve managed to do it because it is a priority to me.
When it comes to healthy eating, this has always been one of the most challenging parts of living a healthy life for me. I first started eating healthier in January of 2018, and while I did really great that year, I got off track a bit in 2019. Now, I have been getting back into eating healthier meals, but my biggest struggle is and has always been sugar. I find it so difficult to avoid foods like ice cream, cake, or cookies. Sometimes we just have these foods lying around and it can be very tempting. I have really long days at school, so I have been eating big and healthy breakfasts, packing healthy lunches, and making myself dinner every night. On the weekends, my family likes to eat out for lunch, so I allow myself to enjoy whatever I want for those meals. (I plan on making a post all about my favorite go-to healthy meal ideas in the near future!)
Sometimes, I forget how far I’ve come. Sometimes, I struggle to see my progress. I think that because I am very hard on myself, I don’t always see how my body has changed. This is something that I am working on. Lately, I have really been learning to love my body for exactly what it is in this moment. And it feels good to feel this way. Yes, there are days when I eat a few too many cookies, or I skip a workout or two, but missing a gym day or eating a little too much sugar is NOT going to derail my progress. It is not going to make take me back down to zero.
When I stop and look back at these last 4 years in the gym, I really do feel proud of myself. I feel lucky that I am one of those crazy people who actually LOVES to workout (most of the time). I have always been a very motivated and determined person, but motivation comes and goes, and not every workout is amazing, and that is ok.
When I first stepped into the gym, I had no idea if I was going to enjoy working out. I didn’t know if I’d commit to it. I always like to thank my dad because without his guidance and support, I would not be celebrating my 4 year anniversary today. He is always the first to lift me up and remind me how amazing my progress has been. I’ve always been close with my dad, but the gym has helped us bond even more, and I am very grateful for that.
My fitness journey does not end here. Weight training is something that I plan on continuing for the rest of my life. I am also hoping to try out new forms of exercise once in a while (such as boxing). I am thankful that I got into this healthy lifestyle when I did. I truly do feel stronger, happier, and more confident than I ever have, and while I give my dad and the gym a lot of the credit, I credit myself above all else.
Thank you so much for reading. My fitness journey is personal to me, and I love sharing this part of my life with you all. As I continue on this journey, I will, of course, share more fitness updates and tips with you. Today, I just wanted to share my 4 year anniversary with you all and let you know that you really can do whatever you want to do in life. If you have a goal you desperately want to reach, go all in, and when your reach those goals, make new ones and keep going. Have patience, and most importantly, believe in yourself. I promise you, when you really work toward what you want, it will come to you. And when you come out on the other side, you are going to feel unstoppable.
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