On How I Changed My Life Stepping Foot in a Gym

We all enjoy talking about wellness, don’t we? Or at least learning some good tips now and then.

After all, we all want to be fitter, healthier, and more beautiful. We want to feel good with ourselves both physically and mentally.

But what is wellness exactly? I guess we all have our own definition for it, but I’m sure we can all agree on the fact that it refers to being healthy in body and in mind.

Today I will be focusing on the “physical” part of it.

Let’s start by saying that I had literally never set foot in a gym until five years ago. I was a teenager with other priorities like…having fun. I was playing volleyball just because I liked the sport, but that was it. There wasn’t a deeper meaning to it, and most importantly, I was not aware of the importance of being active yet.

The very first time I set foot in a gym, it was to start my training for the pageant. I started with some squats and I felt exhausted very quickly. I simply wasn’t ready. This happened a few more times, until I found a class that got me excited. That is when everything changed, when something in my mind clicked. I was exercising, and the workout was a tough one, but I was having fun, which made all the difference to me!

I was getting through the entire exercise only to discover that it felt so good at the end, and that all the pain and effort were paying me back with a sense of accomplishment and energy that felt limitless.

A few months later, I was training twice a day, two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. And the more I was doing it, the better I was becoming at it, and it felt so good that I had to continue. My motivation trigger had kicked in and my brain and body were reacting to it beautifully.

Today, working out is part of my wellness routine, it is part of who I am and who I want to be going forward. As much as food is our fuel, moving our body keeps the machine going and is essential to our physical and mental health.

I know what you are thinking of at this point: “I cannot do this!” But of course you can! If I did it, you can too.

Remember: I started from a couch! Yep, that was me some time ago. And then one day I got up and I gave it a try. And then I gave up. And then I tried again, until it started working for me. I had found the right recipe, the right routine, the right group of people to train with. Then it was only a question of consistency and persistence, which of course is the most difficult part, but you just have to not think about it too much.

Just put on your gym clothes and go. Push yourself to work out, even if you lack motivation. Just do it! Once you are there, you are in it and you will make it happen. And the awesome part is: YOU WILL NEVER REGRET DOING A WORKOUT!

I promise you: this is going to change your life, like it changed mine. So, listen to your body. It is probably telling you something, and you know very well what I mean. It’s that little voice inside you, which is whispering to you to take action, to start changing things, and to get into that good habit mode that will make a positive impact in your life, slowly but surely. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was your body, which needs to be nurtured and preserved at all ages, with dedication and perseverance. The results will come, and they will help boost your motivation. Remember: only you can change your life, no one else can do it for you!

My tip for you is to start with little things, don’t pressure yourself, and don’t overdo things. Again, listen to your body. Maybe you can do a five-minute run on your very first day, or stretch your legs, or walk fast for ten minutes. You’ll build your routine over time, like I did with mine. You will slowly understand what you like most and what you dislike and you will find the right balance between working out, having fun, and being healthy.

In fact, that is precisely my definition of wellness: the balance between moving, having fun, and eating healthy.

To summarize:

• Start with little things.
• Don’t pressure yourself. It’s a process and it’s going to take some time!
• Make a playlist that will help you feel great and energetic while working out.
• Find a type of exercise that allows you to have fun. Working out doesn’t need to be boring or stressful!
• Keep it interesting! I sometimes work out at a park, sometimes at the gym, other times in my house, and I do it with friends or alone…
• Find the time to train that works best for you. Some people prefer to do it in the morning, others in the evening or afternoon.

And finally…

• Simply find and do what works for YOU, and what helps you with your goals.

You might surprise yourself of how far you can get, if you just give it a try.

The new you is going to be amazing. I promise you.

So, get up from that couch and start using that body you have!

Let me know how it goes and what kind of tips would you like me to share the next time! ☺

Photo Credits for header: Andrés Espinosa