As human beings it is inevitable for us to be flawed. Therefore,
it is inevitable for us as humans to feel insecure about these ‘flaws’. One
thing I have learnt during my 20 years of existence, is that not one person is
perfect. It took me a long time to figure this out after years upon years of
comparing myself to others; feeling inadequate and unhappy with my physical
appearance. It is important to understand that comparing yourself to another
person will NOT change your situation; it definitely didn’t change mine. I
realised that in order to change my situation, I would have to change my
lifestyle. My journey to fitness wasn’t a ‘wake up in the morning and join a
gym, go on a diet’ kind of journey. It has taken me years to get to the point where
I can openly accept my flaws and try to do something about them rather than
complain 24/7.
When I was younger I was constantly being compared to other
girls, my older sister, sometimes even my mother. It was like the body I was
born with wasn’t good enough for people. It was like, if I didn’t look a
certain way or have certain features, I wasn’t feminine enough or I wasn’t
beautiful.
My body has been through a series of changes over the last few
years. Up until the age of 16 I was about a size 4-6, and unlike many girls who
would do anything to be skinny, I was the complete opposite. I hated being
slim, so much so that my desire to gain weight almost consumed me.
From about 16-17 I gained weight rapidly and went from a size
4-6 to a size 10. This was the point in my life where I learnt that the grass
is never greener on the other side. Alongside all the other features I wanted
to gain, I also gained a muffin top (big stomach). However, because I didn’t
gain weight the healthy way, I gained weight in all the right AND wrong areas.
By the end of my first year at university (present), I went
down from a size 10 to a size 8 bordering 6. However, my stomach stayed the
same. This was because I didn’t lose weight the healthy way either. In both
situations I ate junk food with no exercise or any form of discipline. I had reached
my breaking point. Not only did my physical appearance need to change, so did
my lifestyle.
For years I have done nothing but complain about each and
every single insecurity and flaw and done nothing about it. Nothing, until
01/08/2015. I realised that even though I am 20 and my body STILL isn’t where I
want it to be, even though I’ve made the same mistakes over and over again, it
isn’t too late because it’s never about how you start, it’s about how you finish!
It dawned on me that not only do I want to look fit; I want to
BE fit, and in order to do so I will need to change my entire lifestyle! This
means, I needed to start exercising, changing my eating habits, and changing my
mentality because fitness is much more than just the physical aspect of oneself.
Don’t get me wrong, there have been MANY times in my life
where I’ve started ‘my journey to fitness’ but gave up after a month, sometimes
even a week, but this time was different! I joined a gym for the first time in
four years, ordered healthy food to
get me going, and have given myself a 6 month goal. By 03/02/2016 (my 21st
birthday) I need to have reached my fitness goals. At the moment, my physical
fitness goals are to get a toned stomach, smaller waist and appear bigger on my
lower body area. It’s no secret that so many females want this body, but you can
either dream, or you can go to the gym. Your choice!
I know it won’t be
easy, and there will be many times I will want to give up, but I plan to not
only keep myself motivated through this fitness journey, but also to motivate
someone out there who needs it.
Here are some tips I found on how to stay motivated:
§ Take it one day at a time
§ Surround yourself with positivity
§ Create a vision board
§ Make S.M.A.R.T goals
§ Reward yourself
§ Believe in yourself
§ Acknowledge your positive attributes
§ Recognize your progress
§ Visualize accomplishing your goals
§ Be kind to yourself
§ Don’t compare yourself to others
AND
Over the course of ‘My Journey to Fitness’ I will be keeping
you up to date with my progress every
other week. In addition, I will be listing and elaborating on my work out
routines, tips and essentials, ideas for healthy meals and any other things I
try in order to reach my fitness goals. By the end of this 6 month journey, I
will also post a before and after picture to show you that anyone truly can do
it!
‘There will always be two options, you can wish for it, or you
can go out and MAKE IT HAPPEN’.
Join me on #MyJourneyToFitness, and remember to avoid being
your own enemy! Accept your flaws, learn to love them and beat your
insecurities with a healthier lifestyle on YOUR fitness journey.
