Fitness Journey

Nearly three years ago I joined Fit Body Bootcamp and am working toward completing my 400^th session! Even though I hoped that I would have more by now, I give myself grace and recognize that what I have accomplished is still over 350 sessions than I have ever done over any period of time! I have always been active in one way or another, but I have struggled with consistency. My consistency struggles have a lot to do with the other demands of my life including career, community and family. However, consistency was always a goal and Fit Body helped me with that.

The convenience of the location, the time frame of the workouts and the accountability have all made committing to my fitness goals easier. Since I started working out consistently, I have learned more about nutrition and the importance of protein to help achieve certain fitness goals. I have met friends who I look forward to seeing at workout. I have been celebrated and have gotten to celebrate others. I have carved out a bit of time dedicated to me, my health, my wellbeing and my personal goals.

Working out hasn’t just been about losing weight but it is also about embracing what I have and toning up what I can. It’s not just about losing fat, but it is also about building muscle. It’s about ensuring that I can lift more easily and move around more assuredly as I age. It’s about keeping my joints lubricated, improving flexibility and cardiovascular health. Women are more likely to suffer from heart disease than any other illness. Exercise helps reduce that risk. As women age, muscle mass decreases over time. Exercise that includes strength training combats this. Due to a loss of estrogen as women age, bone loss also happens. This can lead to increased risk of fracture. Through exercise, our bone can remodel causing bone strengthening.

It’s about showing my kids that mom can hang and the importance of exercise throughout life. One day, far in the future, lol, I hope to be able to chase grandkids around. If not that, I still hope to enjoy a hike or a long, long walk on the beach with my husband.

Let’s break this down even more and go day by day. On the days that I exercise, I notice that I feel better overall. Not only do I feel accomplished, but I feel more energized. I also sleep better on those nights. If you have ever heard the saying that “motion is lotion”. I can totally relate. On days that I exercise, I have less stiffness and aches because movement “moisturizes” joints, bones and muscles so to speak.  

In a nutshell, consistent exercise is about:

• Body positivity

• Building muscle

• Decreasing bone loss

• Improving mobility and flexibility

• Reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer (to name a few)

• Better enjoy life

• Weight loss or maintenance

  
  

If you have been on the fence about exercising, lack the motivation or believe that you don’t have the time. I encourage you to make some sort of exercise a priority in your life. You don’t have to join a gym or a boot camp. Find what works for you and strive to be consistent. Start with one day a week and gradually progress to three or four days a week. This could a walk around the neighborhood or a park. It may cause you to start your day earlier or wrap up your day a little later but by making you and exercise a priority, it can happen.

It’s about doing what you can to be the best that you can be. For me, exercise is a matter of life and a better life. Exercise does have an important companion that works well to meet specific fitness goals such as weight loss. That companion is nutrition but that’s a post for another day, lol! One step at a time, right?