By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
I’ve never been thin, necessarily. There have been times in my life where I was athletic and mid-sized, but I’ve never had a thigh gap or only one chin. My basketball coach would pull me into her office and tell me that I’d play so much better if I dropped 20 pounds. After a devastating knee and ankle injury, I lost my motivation and my muscles. I gained a little more than I’d like.
After moving home from college, I was given an opportunity to get my fitness back. I started listening to podcasts on wellness and joined a Crossfit gym. My progress is slow but steady, and I am proud to say that I am moving in the right direction.
I know that lots of people feel overwhelmed by starting a fitness journey. Well, here is my advice as someone who doesn’t have a Sports Illustrated body. From unfit person to unfit person trying to better their quality of life, here are my tips for improving your strength and stamina:
Choose to be uncomfortable and persist
I joined a Crossfit gym almost a month ago, weighing double what the average athlete did lifting weights beside me. I didn’t look like a Crossfitter, and even when I wanted to run away and eat an entire bag of chips, I chose to stay. When my peers were sprinting laps outside around the parking lot, I jogged from one storm drain to the next. When the workout prescribed pull-ups, I did rows with rings. When everyone else kept moving, I was on the ground, sweaty and panting like a dog. And yet, I came back day after day, confident that I will one day do that pull-up or race around the building. Not being the best but enduring makes you a winner, no matter your fitness level. Choose to look clueless, exhausted or weak.
Be realistic
To motivate myself, I watched reruns of the NBC show, “The Biggest Loser.” I cringed as I watched coaches verbally abuse participants and force them to exercise for over six hours per day. Some contestants lost 37 pounds in one week! Rapid weight loss risks weight regain and puts stress on the body. To make fitness sustainable, strive to lose 2-4 pounds per week and exercise 3-5 days per week. If you are craving something sweet, have only one instead of an entire box. Moderation leads to long-term success.
Find a cheerleader.
No one can succeed alone. My mom and I bond over health and wellness goals, congratulating each other on choosing balanced meals or moving the needle on the scale. At my Crossfit gym, the group cheers on every person, no matter how slow they are moving. The app in which we log scores allows athletes to comment or like each other’s results. If you are starting a fitness journey, consider posting about your progress on social media or partnering with your spouse or friend to keep accountable to exercise and eat well.
Do what you love.
No part of life should be dreadful, well, maybe except taxes. Exercise comes in a variety of forms, from surfing to kayaking to rugby to pilates. Ask yourself, “What means of movement will make me smile?” If you played sports in high school, join an adult league. If you love anime or video games, try cosplay. Even taking your dog for a walk around the block will boost your metabolism and improve your cardiovascular system. Consistency is key, though, so make sure that your strategy works for multiple days per week.
Set yourself up for success.
For some people, this looks like meal-prepping for the entire week. For me, I like to pick out my gym outfit the night before everyday. The fashion component makes me feel creative and drives me to “show off my look” to my peers during our workout. I make sure to do my laundry regularly so I always have options for mixing and matching. Consider deleting unhealthy delivery apps, buying new sneakers, always taking the stairs instead of an elevator, and stretching before exercise to promote joint health and flexibility. How can your higher brain set yourself up for success?
Do it for you, not for anyone else.
In the end, only you will benefit from positive changes to your health. You may want to please your partner or garner compliments from your coworkers, but when they fail to notice, choose to be enough for yourself. Set aside some time to consider your “why.” For me, I want to fit more comfortably in roller coasters (which I love), be able to go for a long hike with a group of friends, and get rid of my sleep apnea. I also wanna do a pull-up for the first time in my life. And by choosing to lean in and make time for yourself, you can get there and reach your goals. Just watch me.
