Finding What You Like…and Doing It

Fitness is something that has never come second nature to me. I hated PE as a kid…I absolutely loathed it. As a perfectionist, it was one thing I was not good at, and being an overweight kid, I struggled with exercise. It was the only class I’d get a B in, and it killed me. I’ll never forget the time I had to run the mile, and because I didn’t complete it in the required amount of time, the instructor made me do it again…by myself. So many wounds, so much embarrassment surrounded fitness.

I’ve attempted to become active several times throughout my life, but it almost always came begrudgingly. It’s only been in the past 7 years or so that I have both taken it seriously and actually grown to love it. While I have exercised off and on much of my adult life, it was after my lapband surgery that I started taking it seriously. I knew statistically, I would likely lose weight fairly rapidly. When you have an extreme amount of weight to lose, excess skin can become a real issue. The best way to combat that is both through staying super hydrated, as well as building muscle mass. Given I really did not want to deal with another surgery to remove skin, I started going to the gym 6 days a week. I fell in love with lifting weights. I found Zumba classes to get my cardio, and I attended yoga to help stretch it all back out.

The most important thing to me was both having routines, as well as having ways to break from those routines to keep from getting burned out. I created a rotation of exercises that was predictable but varied, keeping me from getting bored. I tried several different classes, finding what I both liked and didn’t like.

I’ll tell you straight up, I am not a fan of HIIT. While I appreciate the aspect of ending a class feeling like you’ve done something, it just isn’t my jam. I don’t like exercising in a way that makes me feel like I’m going to die (hence why I left a spin class early a couple days ago…). Running is another thing I like in concept, but even at my most fit, I still couldn’t get past the cold feeling in my chest of not being able to breathe.

My biggest piece of advice to someone either starting fitness for the first time or getting back into it is try everything. Play tennis, go on walks, take a martial arts class. It doesn’t matter what it is. And if you have tried everything possible and still can’t find something you like, choose the thing you hate the least, grab an accountability partner, and put it on your calendar 3 times a week. While I like aspects of working out alone, having others around definitely makes the time pass more quickly.

Getting started is the hardest part. Working through the soreness is the next hardest part. But once you can find something you enjoy, put it on your calendar, and make it a routine, you’ll start reaping the benefits. You start feeling better, you gain confidence, and you’re more likely to find ways to keep yourself active in your daily life. You’ll take that further parking spot, take the stairs instead of the elevator, and often sleep better.

I’ve had plenty of times when the busyness of life has kept me from taking the time to take care of myself. After two weeks of going to the gym daily, I already feel much better in my own skin. I’m starting to feel like “me” again. I’m regaining some of the sanity I’ve lost through having two small children during covid with no time to myself. I know it’s not easy getting started, and it’s not easy trying new things. At the same time, just remember what do you have to lose, and instead what can be gained. After all, we’re all just a work in progress.