Sometimes I forget what it feels like not to be comfortable in a gym.
For the last 7 years I have spent just about every day within the four walls of our small family business. Over the years, there have been many days where I have closed up after our last class and realized that I had been inside the gym for over 15 hours. Our kids have grown up here. We have thrown birthday and Christmas parties, hosted multiple baby showers and had countless afternoons where we stuck around drinking and having fun with gym friends hours after classes were over. Some days it feels like we live here. For all these reasons, I feel very comfortable being in a gym. This is my comfort zone.
I’m not trying to pretend that working out is easy or that I don’t push myself to work hard during my workouts, but what I mean in stating this is that I don’t get nervous when I walk into the gym. I’m not anxious to come to a class or workout with other people (granted, there are definitely days when I dread having to do our workouts). To me, the gym feels like home. I feel fulfilled here. I feel strengthened, empowered, capable, and proud here. This is how the gym makes me feel now, but not too long ago I remember feeling exactly the opposite.
There was a time early in my career where I was anxious just being in the parking lot of a gym. I lifted weights in middle school and high school, but spent less time in the weight room during college. While I was studying for my personal trainer certification, I would get up before the sun came up and head to the gym to workout. I didn’t do this because it was the only time that I had available. It wasn’t because I loved mornings or working out before my day began. I went to the gym at the earliest possible time because I was so intimidated by the other gym members. I was scared that I would do something wrong or that I wouldn’t be able to complete a lift. I was worried that I would look like a “pretender” and that everyone would look at me and know that I didn’t know what I was doing. I honestly felt like this for the first couple of years that I worked out.
It took time… a lot of time. It took time for me to be comfortable being in a gym. It took time for me to become confident in my abilities and knowledge. It took consistency with my workouts and patience with my progress. I had to show up and put in the work to improve. I had to have an accountability partner whose knowledge was greater than mine and whose dedication was unwavering.
At 36 and after carrying 4 babies, I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life. It hasn’t been the result of a magic program or diet. It’s slow changes. It’s consistent work. It’s not caving to the excuses even on the days that I feel like I just can’t do it all. It’s surrounding myself with people who are better than me, who lift heavier, push harder, run faster, who have a “why” that is greater than their excuses and who aren’t afraid to push me when I say I can’t do it.
At fitpeople we say that consistency, hard work, patience and self-awareness are the keys to success. They’re definitely all important, but I think the most important traits are consistency and accountability. Keep showing up. Never stop moving. Surround yourself with people who know your goals, who care whether or not you achieve them and who aren’t afraid to tell you the truth.
Do you need an accountability partner? We would love to be yours! Email me, shoot us a text or give us a call. We’re here for you when you’re ready! – Annie
205-542-8773
