And the Award Goes To: My Fitness & Wellness Year in Review

And just like that, we are wrapping up another school year. This year was filled with plot twists, breakthroughs, sweats and a few tears too. I wouldn’t know where to start if I were to write a regularreflection, so instead, I’m giving my ups and downs the stage. My year did not look perfect, but it looked real, and each part deserves its own spotlight— even the failed moments. So, in honour of the end of the year, here are my personal fitness and wellness awards: 

And the Award for “Most Likely to Be Skipped First” Goes to: 

Cardio— my biggest rival. If I were to label my relationship with cardio, it would be a situationship. Some days it makes me feel good and gets me going; other days it has me questioning: “what are we?” “Do you like me?” “Do I even like you?” 

When things get busy, cardio is always the first thing to go. I know it’s good for me, and it’s important if I want to achieve that lean bulk physique, but realistically, it’s a different story. As much as I share tips on sticking to your plan on this blog, I’m really no different from the rest of you. There are days when other responsibilities need more prioritization than the others— and by others, I mean cardio.  
And the Award for “I Swore I’d Do This Every Day” Goes to: 

Logging my movement and workouts every day. The New Year Hype  got me all excited to use this fitness journal template I got from Etsy. I swore I’d log my workouts every day, my weight changesevery two weeks, and my lifting progress.  In theory, it sounded great— I could track my progress and adjust my plan. But in reality, it was very time-consuming, especially filling out each section word forword.  

I kept the tab open on my PDF editor, tracked some days, missed a few, and before I realized it, missing one log turned into missing several. Soon enough, I stopped going back to that tab altogether.  

Lesson learnt – I now use my Notes app for easier access. I type in my data during rests between sets, and I keep it simple by logging only new PRs (personal records) and organizing them by month for tracking purposes. If a new habit is not working out, don’t stress yourself out, figure out something else that works for you. You’re not a failure for not sticking to a habit, it just might not be the one for you. 

And the Award for “Workout of the Year” Goes to: 

Strength Training— my number one movement choice. I love it because not only does it keep me strong, but it also helps me stay disciplined and push my limits. Let’s be real: going to the gym is hard. You feel sore after, and you don’t always see progress right away. But it is exactly for that reason that I love it. It keeps me disciplined and it gives structure to my days. 

I love a good challenge because that’s where growth happens. Weightlifting challenges me to push for more reps, lift heavier, and stay consistent even when things get hard. Strength training hasbenefited me not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally too.  

And the Award for “Proudest Moment” Goes to: 

Days when I did strength training in the morning and cardio in the afternoon. I might have a complicated situationship with cardio, but on the days when we’re good, I truly appreciate it.  

Here’s my workout plan: strength training in the morning five times a week, plus cardio in the evening three times a week. And let me be honest— after a full day of school and work, I often don’t havethe energy to follow through with the second part of the plan. Which is exactly why, when I do, I feel extra proud and locked in. 

It was never about being extreme, but about proving to myself that I am capable and that I follow through with my own words. I feel proud on those days because the effort came from self-love, not punishment. 

And the Award for “Habit That Didn’t Make It Past Midterms” Goes to: 

Meal planning and meal prepping. You know what they say: 10% exercise, 90% diet. In a best-case scenario, I do my grocery shopping and make my own meals to ensure that I am eating clean and hitting my daily protein goal. But with midterms, deadlines, and life in general, I realized that it was much harder to sustain than I thought.  

It requires more time, more energy, and more advanced planning than I realistically had. Even though I couldn’t keep up with this habit, it didn’t mean that I failed. It simply showed me that this system did not fit into that season of my life, and that if I want to make it work, I need to be more prepared. Maybe it just needs a simpler version next time.  

And the Award for “Special Recognition Award” Goes to: 

Spotify and Kindle— my best gym buddies. Spotify carried my strength sessions, pushing me to hit my PRs. Kindle kept my attention on the treadmill and StairMaster, so I wasn’t constantly looking at the display and checking how much longer I had left. 

These two have been there for me, on the boring days, the hard days, and the really good days. A huge shoutout to Slipknot, Rob Zombie, and Megadeth for blessing my playlists, and a big thank you to all the writers out there for continuing to write in the digital age we live in. Without them, I truly would not be standing here today.  

Final Remarks 

If this year taught me anything, it’s that good things take time and honest work. You can’t ask for something without also being willing to work for it. The truest blessings often come from the hardest work. I like to see it as the Universe testing whether you truly want what you say you want. And if you can prove it through consistency and resilience, the blessings will follow.  

I might not know what the future ahead looks like yet, but I do believe that everything will unfold naturally for all of us, for our highest good, if we continue to show up as our best selves. They say life is a marathon, but we are all running different races, so stop comparing yourself to someone else’s pace and focus on your own path. 

And for my final words in this blog: I wish you all good health and peace in mind.  Stay active and stay positive. Life might not be easy all the time but know that you already have everything you need to succeed— you just need to start seeking from within.  

Quote of the Week: 

“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer."