Falling In Love With Your Fitness Journey
Throughout my childhood and into high school, my life revolved around playing soccer. We joke that my sister grew up on the sidelines. By the time I got to my senior year, I was completely burned out. My fitness routine became practically non-existent when I stopped playing. I gained some weight and went off to college with health low on my priority list, and went to the gym only a handful of times my entire freshman year. I had no idea what a fitness routine was supposed to look like, and I didn’t have the drive to make it a consistent part of my life.
By the time my sophomore year came around, I felt like I had to start doing something, but at the same time I had no idea where to begin. I recognized just how crappy I was treating my body, but I felt overwhelmed by how much I didn’t know.
This may be a familiar story for some of you.
Looking back now, I do see the bright side. Because I truly believe the hardest part of anyone’s fitness journey is the beginning.
You feel alone, lost, and unsure of which steps to take first. I know I sure did. But the key I found is not to get overwhelmed by what you don’t know. The key is to focus on the adventure that lies ahead.
Because you should fall in love with your fitness journey.
Your fitness routines should never be something you dread. And if you do, at any point, you can decide to try something else that keeps you active, but is still something you look forward to. After all, there are so many activities that you can try. You can swim, bike, lift, walk, and dance your booty off.
And you know what else? It is never too late to get started.
You have the opportunity to grow now, right this very moment. All you have to do is jump in and commit to trying something new. Be open to the possibilities that surround you.
Since my fitness journey began my sophomore year, I have fallen in and out of love with a variety of different practices. I went on a running kick, which led me to eventually run a full marathon. When my fiance and I first started dating, I started lifting weights and saw results that to this day keep me going back for more. I swim, which is a practice I find extremely meditative. Every once in a while, I will get back on the soccer field for a season or two with my co-ed team. A couple of years ago, I practiced yoga with a friend on a regular basis. And although I no longer find that it lights me up as much as it did then, it is a part of my fitness journey. And it is important for you to keep in mind that your fitness journey is just that – it is a journey. It may make twists and turns, but it never hurts to try new practices, and you should always explore the things that excite you.
I’m not saying that there won’t be days that you have to drag yourself into the gym. There may be times you want to skip it all together. And that’s okay. But there is so much hype around getting to the gym and losing some weight, that too often people forget that there is such a wide variety of routes they can take to get them there. Then, slowly, they lose the passion and drive to keep going, because hitting up the stair master every morning for 45 minutes can only do so much.
