I love moving. I love sweating. I love riding my bike. I love gym-ratting. I love feeling the pain during a working out and knowing that I can push through it because I’ve done it before. I love jumping out of bed at 5am for a workout, able to wake up because I remember I have never regretted a morning workout. I look forward to the grueling hike up the Grouse Grind at the crack of dawn with my headphones on so I can tune out the world and work on myself. I love the feeling of pushing my body to the limits because it’s a great way to take myself out of my comfort zone and allow for growth. I love riding my bike to work knowing that I’m saving money and the environment (and passing the cars stuck in rush hour traffic!). I love cycling up mountains because it makes me feel invincible. I love long bike rides because it allows me time to reflect on a lot of things, whether if the thoughts are useful or useless, it has a great psychological effect. I really really fucking love fitness. Can you tell?
Fitness is my life.
My confession: I do not have any fitness goals. I move, workout, sweat, lift and cycle because I genuinely enjoy it. I do it for fun, it makes me look and feel good and it’s been working for me for almost 5 years so I have no complaints! People preach about having goals all the time but I disagree, because I have an amazing way of life. While many try and fail, my fitness journey worked for me because I thoroughly enjoy the process. I don’t look at end results since I don’t think I will ever have the perfect body— no matter what, I will always want more but fitness gives me the satisfaction of knowing I’m constantly taking good care of myself. There are days when I think I look good (which makes me feel good) but I do have days when I’m feeling tired, fat and bloated but isn’t that just a part of being human? I have come to accept that.
The best way to approach fitness is to view it as a life-long habit that will improve your quality of life and in order to do so, you need to find joy and gratification in the process.
Most people don’t understand that there is really no “right way” when it comes to fitness. Everyone has an activity they find the most happiness with and whether it is cycling, running, yoga, weightlifting or even just walking— it doesn’t matter.
Fitness is a way of life and something that should be practiced throughout your entire lifetime.
Remember:
- Just because you are not “dying” after a workout, doesn’t mean you didn’t do it right.
- Instant-gratification and fast results are overrated.
- Most diets and training programs don’t work because they make false promises and don’t actually advertise how much hard work it actually takes to achieve a certain fitness level (or those six-pack abs).
- One size does not fit all. Just because it worked for your best friend doesn’t mean it will work for you.
- If you hate running or if you hate going to the gym, find something active that you will enjoy doing instead, so that way, it maybe sustainable.
- Think about what makes you happy and healthy now instead of in the future. This will also help you find something sustainable.
- Find your intrinsic motivation— your drive to achieve without external rewards. That’s the only way to make life-changing improvements in your lifestyle.
- Start small and work your way up. Short walks, short runs, lighter weights— again, there is no wrong way. Just move.
- The best way is the way you can stick with.
- It’s natural to have bad days. Shit happens. Forget about it and start over the next day.
- Nothing is impossible. The only thing holding yourself back is your mindset.
Have you found your way?
