avatarDrthefit | Ankita

Summary

The author shares a personal transformation through fitness, emphasizing the importance of consistency, self-love, and community support.

Abstract

The article "A Look At My Fitness Journey and How It Changed Me" details the author's personal evolution in fitness, which began with a lack of knowledge but grew into a passion. Over time, the author learned about various exercises and developed a routine that adapted even through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. By using the SWEAT app and focusing on motivation, mindful eating, and celebrating small victories, the author achieved significant physical and mental improvements. The narrative underscores the value of patience, self-compassion, and the support of a fitness community in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reaching fitness goals.

Opinions

  • The author believes that fitness is a personal journey and that self-improvement is more important than comparing oneself to others.
  • They express that understanding one's body and finding enjoyable exercise routines are crucial for long-term fitness success.
  • The author suggests that motivation can be sustained by creating a workout schedule, focusing on form over numbers, and tracking progress.
  • They advocate for mindful eating and understanding the nutritional value of food rather than following fad diets.
  • Celebrating small achievements is seen as a key motivator and a way to acknowledge one's hard work and dedication.
  • The author values the support and inspiration provided by the SWEAT fitness community and encourages finding a workout buddy or community for accountability and encouragement.
  • Patience is emphasized as essential, with the author cautioning against expecting overnight results and encouraging trust in the fitness process.
  • The author shares a vulnerable perspective, aiming to inspire others by showing that everyone has the potential to become healthier and happier with the right mindset and support.

A Look At My Fitness Journey and How It Changed Me

Image Source: Google Images

Fitness is not about being better than anyone else. It’s about being better than you used to be. I’ve always been passionate about fitness and working out on and off my entire life.

Initially when I started, I didn’t know the technicality behind the work out routine. But slowly I started reading about fitness and what type of work out I should add to achieve my goals.

I am not an expert in fitness but want to share my fitness journey and how it has changed me as a person. Sure, I’ve had ups, downs. I’ve gained, I’ve lost and I’ve learned. Everyone’s journey is different and this one is mine.

Since last couple of years, I decided to make a change in my fitness routine and gave serious thoughts. Soon I realized, I need to understand my body better and find things that can actually help me with my fitness goals.

Image Source: Unsplash

Many many years back, when I first walked in to a gym, I had absolutely no idea what to do in the gym, nor where to even begin, but as time went on, I figured it out. I met very kind people in gym who really helped me out to work around gym equipment, machines and even helped to complete my sets.

I created my own little routine to kick start my gym work outs. I would make myself run on treadmill for like 15 minutes. It’s the hardest 15 minutes of my life and just wanted to get over as quickly as possible.

After treadmill fiasco, I would then go down to the yoga mat, I would stretch, do a series of abs and core exercises, and then I would do weights and little bit of lifting. I would normally do full body exercise 5–6 days in a week.

When corona happened and I was asked to do work from home in March 2020, I needed something to keep my work out routine active. As all gyms were getting closed, I started using SWEAT APP. I was already a member, joined in 2019 and was adding app workouts with my gym routine.

Now question is how to keep myself motivated everyday to do work out as I am mostly going to stay at home glued to my couch and on laptop screen.

To keep myself motivated, I created a schedule for my work outs and strictly started following it until it become natural to me. After 4 months of work outs, I feel stronger, motivated and happy. So what changed in last 4 months, let’s talk about it.

I start loving my little work out routine — After doing continuous work out for like 4 months, I am finally enjoying it. Even the exercises, I used to hate. Now it’s my little set of joy. I am better at push ups, burpees and feel happy after I finish my work outs. I am adding new variations in my exercises and getting better in form and body postures.

If you don’t know how to start, why not start with a simple walk or a light run or biking near your apartment or near by park. The goal is to move your body. If going out is not possible, start with some light cardio, stretching, abs and core exercises like plank, jumping jack, skipping, squats, mountain climber, push ups, lunges etc at home.

These exercises are easy to do and you only need a yoga mat. Start adding timer for 30 secs and see how many reps you can complete.

Image Source: Unsplash

Motivation — Earlier I am not able to complete the set, I used to feel disappointed and agitated. In last few months, I stopped worrying about numbers. I focused on form and actively watching my movements.

Once I gain the forms, I am automatically able to add speed and start completing my full set. Still there is scope of improvement but I am not afraid of new challenges and exercise variation. I’m actually looking forward to it now.

If you’re working out from home, capture your movements in videos, take pictures and see how you’re doing and start improving accordingly. It will motivate you to do better every single day.

Mindful Eating — Fitness isn’t just about exercise or following your work out religiously. You also need to make sure you give your body the right food to fuel your workouts.

There’s no need to follow any fancy diet. I started understanding about different varieties of food and what nutrition value they have.

I started eating plenty of vegetables and fruits, lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. It’s all about balance and giving your body the nutrients it needs and moving to keep it healthy.

Image Source: Unsplash

If you have specific weight loss or fitness goals in mind, make sure you’re adding balanced diet in your routine.

To understand the science behind food, I am following blog channels on Instagram and it really help me to understand my food habits and how I can incorporate Indian diet with my fitness goals.

Start adding carrots, broccoli, beans, cucumber, bell pepper, squash, beet root, seasonal fruits etc. If you eat meat, add salmon, chicken or eggs in your daily diet portions.

Celebrating tiny victories — I started rewarding my self for all the hard work and dedication I have been putting in, like buying new gym gears, new running shoes or have a fitness gadget to keep track of my daily activities or just a piece of cake. It will definitely cheer you and you will start looking forward to many milestones to come.

Make use of phone app to track your daily walk, calories burn, fitness activities. You don’t need to go all in. Do little things that give you joy and motivation to continue with your work outs. It’s about being happy with who you are.

Amazing support from sweat fitness community — Everything is more fun with a friend. Find a friend who also wants to get fit. You can push each other to fitness goals and be each other’s cheering squad when things get tough. Plus, having someone with you can relax your mind while trying new exercise or going to a gym.

I am grateful to be a tiny part of amazing and awesome sweat community where everyone cheer and motivates each other.

I learned and took inspiration from many amazing ladies ( or we call them sweat babes )who are part of sweat fitness community.

You can share your fitness journey with them and you’ll realize you’re not alone in this journey and now you got a support system as well to back you up every single day.

Image Source: Unsplash

Patience — I learned patience and stop expected results over night or a week later. I am not saying results are not important, It definitely is; but I started trusting on my fitness routine and the hard work I am putting in every single day.

After 6 weeks, I can see tangible changes in my body and over all health. I understood, ultimately, the key is patience and fortitude. Be kind and loving to yourself. If you don’t like something, then change it. Trust the process. You’ll get there my friend, I promise.

I don’t want you to read this and think I am just writing this for praise or anything else because really I am not. To be one hundred percent honest, it actually gives me a bit of anxiety putting this out and for being so open and vulnerable.

Image Source: Google Images

Finally now I look in the mirror and feel at peace. So that’s where I am now, focusing on learning to love my body, learning to love myself. I have really worked hard to get to where I am today and that I will continue to workout hard and to eat healthy.

I just want everyone who is trying to lose or gain weight, realize that you’re incredible, beautiful & you can change your habits into being a healthier and happier person.

My fitness journey will never be a finished chapter. Your body changes everyday & it’s a life long commitment to a healthy lifestyle. It’s just finding what works for you at that moment & what makes you happy.

Wondering what I am doing next, follow me on my Instagram .

I hope you guys liked reading my fitness journey as much as I have enjoyed sharing it.

Fall in love taking care of yourself. Fall in love with becoming the best version of yourself with patience, with compassion and respect to your own journey.

Be Bold

Be Courageous

Be Your Best

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