Rekindling My Love For Fitness

Rekindling My Love for Fitness - My Journey Back to Working Out.

by Alecia James Monday, December 1, 2014

In my third/fourth week of working out; hips don't lie, biceps don't lie, quads don't lie.

I'm such a fitness and wellness enthusiast, so much that I and obsessed with eating healthy and working out, with my eyes fixed on a sensational fitness cup/trophy that will someday be deservedly handed to me. But how did I get to this point? Let's rewind.........

In a post that I did last year, I Have a Confession and a Plan for the New Year, I revealed that I have been less than consistent with my exercise and eating habits. I devised a plan to grab the reins and once more regain control of my life where wellness and physical fitness are concerned. However, like many resolutions, this is much easier said than done. I've seen weeks past and maybe months that I haven't done a single crunch. I did a few exercises at home, now and then, but it was far from consistent. There was no regularity involved that would at least produce visible changes. I was hit with a harsh reality when I looked in the mirror, and became suddenly devastated with the state of my mid-section and lower back. I needed to act promptly because unwanted body fat would not be the victor when facing off "neck to neck" with me.

(Side note---everyone has their own formula, so do what's best for you). But I know that sticking to my plan and executing it daily is what has brought me success in the past. I immediately knew that structuring a routine and adhering to it would be my winning strategy, since I have fixed goals in mind that would build a happier me, inside out.

Can you imagine my thrill and excitement when a new gym opened in my neighborhood a few months ago? I saw this as a golden opportunity to rekindle my lost relationship with fitness. It was a perfect 15 minute walk from my home which would elevate my heart rate giving me a head start on my cardio session.

I later met with a fitness consultant who prescribed a series of exercises including cardio, back, leg, ab, and total body exercises, utilizing both machines and calisthenics. He also recommended that I exercise at least 3-4 days per week to achieve the results that I so dearly seek. I started working out towards the end of October, and the pic above was taken a few weeks in. I FEEL BETTER, inside out. I have such an intense hunger that if I miss a day, there's a feeling of guilt and lost opportunity. I LOVE IT! In a nutshell, I'm concerned with building, strengthening, shaping, toning, and sculpting. I'm pretty modest, but will add that an awesome physique doesn't hurt either.

Albeit a late start (for a New Year's resolution), I'm extremely delighted that I've embarked on this journey. Lesson here: it's never too late to start. Whatever makes you happy, find it, claim it, tackle it, and enjoy it. The impetus I have for exercising is now unmatched. At times, I'm exercising up to 4 days per week in the gym, going for about 2 hrs. I'll start posting pictures periodically to show my progress.

With this post, I'm by no means decrying what I said earlier in the My Body is My Gym article. It's just that I'm at a different stage of my life now where actually executing certain tasks is powerfully liberating. Doing a 200 pound leg press, effortlessly raising a barbell above your head, or bench pressing with the guys, makes it even more fun and interesting since each exercise presents a new challenge, and the urge to do more.

Until next time, BE BOLD, BE ALLURING, BE DIFFERENT!