My Fitness Journey

My fitness journey started two years ago, I found myself approaching 200 pounds and when I looked in the mirror I didn't recognize who was staring back at me. Ever since I was a little girl I played sports, but I've always had an issue with body dysmorphia. I always thought I was fat, even though I had grown out of my chubby child phase around age 13, and had an athletic young woman's body. I perceived my athletic body as bigger in comparison to my friends that I grew up with who didn't have the muscle and build that I did.

Flash forward to college, I was always consumed by how my body looked, which led to issues with anxiety and depression. I had started working in a restaurant my sophomore year and was introduced pretty heavily into the partying scene; staying up all night and doing things my parents wouldn't be proud of. This made my anxiety and depression even worse, but I wasn't aware of it at the time. The partying, sleep deprivation, and fueling my body with things that weren't nutritious, led to weight gain and a general unhappiness within myself. This was a vicious cycle I kept up with for 3 years, and the results were a 40 pound weight gain, failing out of school, as well as depression and anxiety issues I had to get under control.

Upon moving home, I knew I had to change my habits. For starters, my parents were not supportive of the lifestyle I had adopted, and I knew I had to start turning my life around. I also wanted to feel better on the inside, and with my appearance on the outside.

I had to start somewhere so I dug deep into my athletic roots and got a gym membership. It had been so long since I worked out, but I needed to find a routine I could stick with. I had always hated running, and at nearly 200 pounds it's hard to just pick up running again. I started slow and set goals that I knew I could attain. Cardio was going to be a struggle, but I got myself on the treadmill and decided to believe in myself.

Here's how I started:

1.​ Treadmill workout for 30 minutes.

a. For the first 10 minutes walk at an incline of 8-10 with a pace of 3.0 mph. b. Then put yourself back down to a 0 incline and walk at your normal pace of anywhere from 3.0 - 3.5 mph for 2 minutes. c.​ Then for the next 8 minutes increase your incline back up to 10 and continue at a 3.0 mph, focusing on your leg and gluteal muscles. d.​ At the 20 minute mark put your incline back down to 0 and walk at a pace of 3.0 - 3.5 mph for 2 minutes. e. For the last 8 minutes you are going to run for as long as you can, at a comfortable speed. I started at 5.5 mph and would run, at the beginning, for only 2 minutes. This is NORMAL. You have to build up your stamina and endurance. Take it slow. Once you practice this method your lungs and heart rate will pick up with you and you will be able to go faster, for longer periods of time!

2.​ Stretch!

a. This is where heart rate recovery comes into play and it's kind of like a mini break, but it is so important! After working your body for 30 minutes you need to stretch out your muscles, if not it could result in an injury where you would endure a setback on your fitness journey.

3.​ Start with simple strength training exercises.

a.​ Do not be afraid of the free weight station, or the cable machines. b.​ Go up and grab anywhere from a 5 lb. - 10 lb. weight, just to start out with! you can always work yourself up to a higher weight. c.​ Follow instagram influencers who are fitness gurus. They always have videos for beginners who need the guidance. My favorite is @ashleigh_jordan, she is real about her journey, and posts the best videos of the workouts she does. She also includes a tip on how to do the move correctly so you achieve an optimal workout that will benefit you! d. I started out with shoulder pumps to help define my shoulders and neck, and if you research any shoulder workouts you will find a plethora of workouts you can do with free weights or with your own body weight.

This is just a simple guide to how I started my own journey. Everyone has a different journey with fitness, and no(body) is the same. Do what feels right for you, and make sure you do it for yourself. Your opinion of you is the only one that matters because you fall asleep and wake up with yourself every day. I started this journey to feel better about myself, that was my "why". Everyone has their own "why".

I can promise you that you will feel better, partly because working out releases endorphins into your body that make you feel good! Once you start to see the changes, big or small, you will feel so accomplished.

Here is a before and after photo showing my progress: be kind.