One year ago, if you asked me how often I exercised, I would have laughed. I would have told you that my only exercise was when the elevator was too crowded in my dorm, and I had to take the stairs or else I would miss class. In fact, I probably could not have even told you the last time I put on my running shoes.
Then, everything changed with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was sent home from college in mid-March, and I was left feeling lost and empty with my freshman year abruptly interrupted by this pandemic. For the first few weeks, I woke up at noon every day, threw together whatever assignments were due for my online classes, scrolled endlessly through TikTok, then fell asleep to repeat the cycle the very next day.
About three weeks into “quarantine,” my mom walked by my room and asked if I wanted to do a workout video with her. When I was younger, we used to do a mother-daughter bonding session of old Jillian Michaels workout videos, so I begrudgingly agreed. Little did I know that the workout video was the first of one hundred workouts.
The workout program was called “Morning Meltdown 100” through BeachBody On Demand. It used a blend of cardio, upper body, lower body, core, and a little bit of yoga in there as well. Right off the bat, it was SO DIFFICULT. The workouts were only 20-30 minutes every day, but it kicked my butt every single time I pressed “play.” I had not worked out consistently since 8th grade basketball, so I was huffing and puffing even after a few jumping jacks.
As the days progressed, it got progressively easier to show up and do the workouts. I wouldn’t say the program ever became easy, even as I approached the 100-day mark, but I soon did not dread every workout. I found myself enjoying the process of getting stronger and faster, and I would admit that I was a little sad when we reached the 100th workout.
When I first began the workout program, I truly had no idea what I was getting myself into. Working out for 100 days straight made me develop a wellness routine for myself, and I would even dare to say that I enjoy working out now. I found myself feeling a lot more energized during the day (even though I was sore a good majority of the time).
Working out doesn’t have to be scary. You don’t have to start working out because you want to lose weight or change anything about yourself. Working out is such a wonderful way to take care of yourself, physically and mentally. All you have to do is find a workout that feels right to you and run with it (no pun intended).