I celebrate myself, and what I assume you shall assume.
– Walt Whitman
My true health & fitness journey began six years ago when I met my now husband. I’ve always been active but not passionate about it. When I was young, it was for fun; when I was older it was for aesthetics purposes (sadly enough). At the time we met, I was in to spin and running and honestly was just trying to get smaller; he was (and still is) a personal trainer and convinced me to try lifting weights. I fell in love.
I learned that I love to feel strong. I love to feel the thrill of improving, reaching a new PR, doing better than last time, perfecting form. I caught the bug and I caught it hard. I worked with my husband and learned about training methodology. Then, I went and got my own NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) personal trainer certification. Even though I never really did much with it as life changes in unexpected ways, the certification was a great base. From there, I soaked up information like a sponge.
There’s a lot in between then and now and plenty of time to dish it out. My point is that I love fitness and health and nutrition. Today, though, my perspective and goals regarding fitness have changed. Maybe I’m getting old or maybe it’s just my personality, but I don’t have aspirations to be famous, to earn a bodybuilding pro card, to be an elite powerlifter. My goal is to experience life, to stay mobile until I’m much older, to feel good and agile, not stiff and achy. Also, mentally, my goal is to have less stress, to not to track my food all the time or to be so regimented in what I can and cannot eat. I’ve been there (food tracking) and I have a tendency to be regimented, so I understand if you don’t agree, but this is just where I’m at right now.
My hope is that I can share some of what I’ve learned and what I am continuing to learn about fitness, health, strength, nutrition and just general life. My hope is that in these words that I write here someone will find a shared story and know that they are not alone.
The quote above is tattooed on my forearm and even though I have changed a lot since I put it there, its meaning is always relevant. To me, right now, it means that I should love myself and treat not just my body but my mind with respect and care. It means that how I treat myself sets the base for how others will treat me and see me. So, if I love myself and show myself respect that others around me will do so as well.
