It’s hard to believe it’s almost been a year since the world went into lockdown.
So many things happened in so many spheres of my life, yet others were completely paused.
Sometimes I find myself wondering
How did I get here?
Let’s Fitness talk.
One unexpected thing that happened is that I became in the best shape of my life. How I describe it to people when they asked me how or why I did it, is that it just happened. And I don’t mean it in an arrogant way… I actually mean the physical changes weren’t planned or expected. They were just the end result.
I started running more, like most people, because gyms were closed. I also started running longer distances because I had the best trails available to me during my stay in Canada. The woods that surround my parents’ house were the perfect escape from reality and the best stomping grounds. I thought I knew these woods like the back of my hand, but I realized I only knew a little bit of them. It became a fun adventure to go out for a run with my hydration pack and just get lost in the woods and in nature… the mileage increase just happened naturally and gradually.
So when I am asked what I did to get the body I currently have, I am torn between two answers. The first one is simple: I was consistent with (mostly) clean eating, intermittent fasting and working out. The second answer is not as positive: I believe I lost a lot of weight because of the anxiety and stress, lack of sleep and distress I was faced in 2020. Be careful what you wish for.
It’s almost been a year since I stopped consistently going to the gym and working out in a community. Although I really miss the vibe and not having to think about planning a workout, it hasn’t been too hard to do solo workouts thanks to the OnePeloton app and the new road bike I purchased… and, of course, all the running. Some days are harder than others. When those arise, I ask myself:
‘Is my body tired or am I feeling lazy? How do I truly feel?’
If you take the time to listen to your body, you’ll get an honest answer. Rest is as important as working out hard: you need to be able to rest.
When people tell me ‘Oh but it comes so naturally for you to workout/run’, I want to scream so hard that it DOES NOT come easily. Let me explain:
Yes, I come from a family of very active people.
Yes, I played sports most of my younger years : soccer, flag football, badminton, karate, yoga, weight lifting, snowboarding, etc.
Yes, I find comfort and release in working out.
BUT
I HAVE struggled with so many injuries that my body is always aching. I can’t recall the last time I was able to do a full workout or run without pain or having to modify or end it.
I DO invest a lot of time in my recovery: I foam roll every night, I use my massage therapy gun daily, I stretch and yoga daily.
I DO physiotherapy exercises every day to strengthen my ‘problem areas.’
How I got here was not a coincidence.
It’s the result of hard work and consistency.
It’s the result of pushing through pain and keeping going.
It’s the result of going through hardship, heartbreak, loss and grief.
It’s the result of taking care of my body and being grateful for all that it does for me.
What do I train for?
LIFE.
And life is a marathon, so might as well buy some good running shoes, find a steady pace and push through the discomfort.
Related posts: How confinement made me fitter, Looking back on 2020, My favorite workout apps, Definitely not a pause,