Working out has always been a vital part of my life. I played sports at a young age and was even on multiple teams during different seasons. By the end of high school, it became a chore and less of something I enjoyed fully. When I entered college I tried very hard to go to the gym and work my hardest. Even then, I got sick of doing the same thing everyday. I became determined to find a way to enjoy working out again.
I started this journey by finding what I liked doing at the gym best and aligning that with what I wanted to work on. My goal going to the gym was to sweat as much as possible while also building muscle. I wanted to work on each muscle group at least once a week and really work on abs after each workout. My ultimate goal was to get in better shape overall, and for a while, I was doing great and being consistent – although at some point it became obsessive. I would feel guilty for the days I was too busy to go to the gym.
When quarantine hit, I fell into a huge slump and felt very guilty each day I allowed myself to stay in that slump. I had no idea what to do about working out at home and fell victim to a world with no structure. It was a slow and difficult process, but eventually I began to find my groove again. It was not by any means as consistent as life at school was, but it was better than how I started quarantine and that was totally okay. I needed to learn to cut myself some slack and forgive myself if I only felt like working out every other day. When I stopped putting a ton of pressure on myself to workout everyday and only worked out when I felt like it, I noticed my workouts getting better and more focused. I purchased some workout bands and was using a set of old weights my family has had for years.
It became fun again. I was focused on going for longer walks and runs and finding the best music to listen to to keep me motivated. With my newfound energy for working out, I looked forward to getting back in the gym. But, I still wanted something that gave me the structure I was so used to, without it being a long process. So, I signed up for this gym called F45. It is a 45-minute workout that makes you sweat! It is the perfect fit for me. It has that group setting I liked while growing up on teams, and every other day alternates between strength and cardio. I can choose which days I prefer. It gives me the freedom I want while also not taking up my whole day. I look forward to going every time and feel a lot less pressure to go everyday because the workouts make me feel so accomplished each time.
What I can say on the topic of falling in love with working out as someone who is still finding their way, is to find what works best for you. If you hate cardio, then try a HITT workout. If you hate pushups, try bench pressing. It’s all about what best suits you. There are so many alternatives to love in the area of working out. Spending your energy on finding your groove is far better than dreading the next workout.