FITNESS| 6 Things I’ve Learnt On My Fitness Journey

We’re in the second quarter of the year!!! How was your health and fitness journey during the first quarter? If it wasn’t as good as you wanted it to be, you have another chance to step up your game. I have learned a lot of things since I started my fitness journey and today, I am sharing six of them with you.

1. You Don’t Need A Gym To Lose Weight

I have never belonged to a gym. Yes, that’s my truth. If you think it’s a must you register at a gym to lose weight, I am here to tell you today, that it is not necessary. I have never had a fitness community or a gym instructor hounding me to finish my reps. When I started my journey, I worked out at home with Shaun T’S T25 workout videos. Later on, I chose the routines that I was comfortable with and simply set my goals myself. Then I discovered walking, and the rest is history.

2. You Are What You Eat

No one tells you this but what you put inside your body matters more than how many calories you burn every day. No matter how many workouts you get done, if you aren’t eating right, you will never see any progress. It took me some time to discover this. I kept wondering why I wasn’t seeing gains but when I caught down on all I was eating that I didn’t realize was junk, I started seeing changes in my clothes. Now that I’m only maintaining my weight, I still don’t know how to eat unhealthily, it has become a lifestyle. You can refer to You Are What You Eat for more info.

3. Fasting Is Essential For Healthy Living

Fasting is a great way to lose weight, detox and improve your overall wellbeing. There are different types of fasting but I have been fasting intermittently (now subconsciously) for over 2 years. Fasting has a lot of benefits such as helping to curb unhealthy eating, curing diseases, teaching perseverance amongst others.

Why OMAD Is A Good Choice For Healthy Living

4. A 30 Minutes Walk Every Day Goes A Long Way

Walking is the easiest way to burn fat without doing too much. Most people never accomplish their fitness goals due to laziness; when they think about driving to the gym or jumping they procrastinate. How about just going for a walk instead??? You can walk as slow or as fast as you want to, just make sure you try to do it for a minimum of 30 minutes. The more you walk, the more you will enjoy it when you start seeing results. Walking is also a good way to clear your head and relax.

5. Exercising Induces Happiness

This may be shocking to read but it is true. When you workout and achieve your goals, it makes you feel accomplished. Completing a routine, when you felt like giving up or running 5km in 10 minutes will make you reach for the stars. I’ve found myself smiling uncontrollably after a workout or being in a better mood than I was before I exercised. So when you have had a long/bad day, exercise!

6. Everyone’s Fitness Journey Is Different

Just like everything in life, do not compare your fitness journey results with anyone else but yourself. This is because our bodies are wired differently, and for some people, it is really easy to lose weight while for others it is really hard. On the flip side, it is also really easy for some people to gain weight, while some people have been trying to gain weight for months. Trust your journey, focus on your gains and trust the process.

I’m nowhere near perfect but I know what I need to do when I fall off my routine to get back in shape. I hope these tips inspire you to take the first step.

Thanks for reading.

Mariam Shittu