5 Things No One Tells You About Actually Sticking to Fitness
I started my fitness journey because like many in their 20s, I felt lost. I wanted to “be better” and I wanted to “work on myself,” but didn’t know what that exactly meant. I knew “working on myself” would be something long-term, something I could work toward for the rest of my life.
It began with my morning practices: I became an early riser after reading The 5AM Club, and with the extra time I had, I could meditate consistently. With my soul taken care of, I wanted to show some love to my body too. I’d been to the gym before, but it never stuck as a routine; I knew that if I wanted to take this seriously, I had to put in more effort. So, I signed up for a gym membership nearby with the logic that if I’mpaying for it, I might as well make the most out of it. And— it worked.
Fast forward a year later today, working out has become a non-negotiable part of my day. The first stop I make before even coming to school is the gym, and guess what— the “I really don’t feel like working out,” days have turned into “I wish I could be at the gym right now,” on rest days. So— here are five things I learned on my path to being healthy, or as someone in their 20s might say: on my path of “working on myself.”
Lesson I: Try Everything— Find What’s Right for You
I tried spin bike (hated), Pilates (love-hate), pickleball (fun, but still not “it”), yoga (love), barre (neutral), and even aerial hoop (interesting, but something’s missing) to finally find the right movement for me: weights. And before it became “right,” it took me multiple tries to finally fall in love with weightlifting.
The moral of the story is not “give your ex a second chance,” but that not every workout feels right at first, and sometimes it takes two or even more tries for you to find your “true love.”
Luckily for you, the RAWC offers a wide range of Group Fitness Classes, Drop-in Sports, and even a Learn-to-Play Program to make your fitness and sport dating pool closer, so your thumb doesn’t get numb from swiping left and right trying to find what’s right for you before the workout even starts.
Lesson II: Track Your Progress, Not Perfection
You might not want to take your progress pics when you don’t see any progress yet but trust me on this— I’m so glad that I took even just one picture on my day one. Looking back, I truly feel proud of myself for how far I’ve come. Being able to see your progress and that tiny muscle gain can keep you going in the long run. (The best motivation you can have is seeing the changes in yourself.)
You can keep your pictures in a private album on your phone or track them alongside your body weights, exercises, weights lifted, etc. in your Notes app or other fitness tracking apps. If you are a bit old school, consider bringing a physical journal with you to the gym. It doesn’t need to have a fancy template; a lined or dotted notebook will do. Keep track of the exercises you did, the weights you lifted, and even how you felt doing the exercise.
Lesson III: Make Workouts Fun— Your Way
Want to know the real reason I love spending time at the gym? It’s not even about muscle gain— the real reason is that I love music and I love self-care. There’s nothing better to me than blasting heavy metal, waiting for the frying scream to push another rep to see how far I can go—the gym is just a place for me to combine two of my favourite things.
You don’t have to listen to metal; you just need to make your workout session fun. Combine it with something you enjoy doing: bring a book to read on the treadmill if you love reading, take a walk outside if you love nature, or get a coffee as your pre-workout if you love caffeine. The secret is in the mashup— make it a double win, your way.
Lesson IV: Rest Is Your Secret Weapon
As much as I think “I wish I could be at the gym right now” on my rest days, I take regular breaks because, just like your brain needs sleep to function, your body also needs breaks to recover. During workouts, especially during intense training, your muscles literally tear so you can gain muscle from the repairing process. Emphasis on the repairing process— like wound healing, repair takes time.
When you’re first starting, it’s easy to feel guilty for taking breaks because you feel like you’re losing progress or breaking a promise to yourself. But resting is also part of training, and if you are over-exercising, not only are you increasing the chance of injury, but you’re also contradicting the purpose of being healthy. Listen to your body and allow yourself to rest without guilt.
Lesson V: Mindset Shift— Know Who You’re Becoming
Why do you want to work out? Why do you want to be better? We are all doing it for ourselves— for our future selves. Health is life, and life is a long game, so be patient and be persistent. When in doubt, or when you feel like giving up, ask yourself why— why did you start? Whatever your answer is, keep that in mind; it will keep you going.
I started because I felt like I “should” show some love to my body, and I ended up staying because not only do I enjoy seeing the progress, but it also helps me stay disciplined, challenges me to step out of my comfort zone, and inspires me to take control of my health and wellness.
Your mindset is everything; it’s all about your perspective. I remember one time during training I was pushing myself for another rep, my brain went: “Go for one more, you deserve it,”— “deserve it,” as if it was a punishment. But I caught myself and immediately changed the way I spoke to myself: “Push one more, because you can do it.” It’s as simple as that. Be aware of your thoughts, notice if you’ve been doing some negative self-talk, and take action to change that.
Quote of the Week:
“You have power over your mind— not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
— Marcus Aurelius
There you go— five lessons I learnt the hard way along my path of taking charge of my mind, body, and soul. Pick one lesson this week, think about how you can adopt it to your own journey, and don’t forget to rest and to keep your “why” in mind. You’ve got this.
