Unstoppable1
New member
Not really certain how to start this out, but I guess an introduction is in order? Sort of. I guess like a lot of you, I've been on my weight loss journey for awhile. I've started and stopped more times than I can probably count, but I recently (late January) started working in the gym of a local recreational center while I go back to school to become a Medical Assistant, and being there has really done wonders for changing my mindset about fitness and weight loss and living healthy in general.
I'll be honest and say I suffer from chronic depression (diagnosed at 13, I'm 27 now) and more recently PTSD from a car crash. So I really haven't cared about myself or my well being in a long time. But I get members who are 84 years old running on the treadmill, lifting weights. There are people who suffered debilitating injuries and illnesses coming in every day, putting the work in to get better. There are some with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, people who shouldn't be standing but are because they didn't give up on themselves. I mean, how can you not be inspired?
My shifts are a workout on their own. I never stop walking or standing up because I'm walking around, talking to and engaging with members. I'm cleaning equipment (and no, I'm not a clean freak, but I do go hard core on the cleaning because frankly the amount of sweat splashing everywhere is terrifying at times). I walk around and make sure everyone is safe, I walk laps around the gym because I want to be available and in sight to everyone. So it's a slow but steady cardio (I average 10-13k steps a shift) , plus I'm always re-racking people's weights (no matter how many times I remind them, they conveniently "forget"...) so I actually get do some lifting and squatting while I'm at it.
On the days I don't work, I do actual workouts. I usually warm up with stretches and 10 minutes on the elliptical, strength training, and then another 20-30 on the elliptical to finish.
I haven't seen too much weight loss in terms of the scale, but I do get a lot of people telling me that I look a little slimmer, so there's that. Furthermore, I just feel better all around. I have more energy throughout the day, I sleep way better at night, I actually like... look forward to my workouts and whatnot. So maybe my numbers haven't changed, but I'm far from stagnant. But I definitely want to "up" my game, and writing everything down here is sort of to help me keep track of all that.
The percentage is different depending on who you ask, but 80-90% of weight loss is done in the kitchen, which I know at this point is my weakest link. I'm going to start calorie counting, but my ultimate goal is to be able to eat a balanced and healthy diet without resorting to that. I'm aiming for balance and sustainability, and I know for a fact that I do not want to be counting calories for the rest of my life. At this point, however, I think it's extremely useful in learning about what I'm putting into my body so I that can adjust or maintain my energy output.
Anyway, I'm "officially" starting on Monday. It's Easter this weekend, and I'm visiting my sister tomorrow and Sunday, so I'll be on a small weekend vacation. I just wanted to get this written and posted so it's ready for me when I begin. If I get home early enough on Sunday, I might squeeze in a workout, but it's a holiday and I'm not going to fuss too much about it.
Sorry this got so long, but if you read all the way through, I commend your effort and thank you for putting in the time. Even if no one reads this, it's still there for me to keep track of my journey, and personally that's more important to me than if other people read it or not (though I'm happy if on chooses to!).
And, uh... that's it. For now.
I'll be honest and say I suffer from chronic depression (diagnosed at 13, I'm 27 now) and more recently PTSD from a car crash. So I really haven't cared about myself or my well being in a long time. But I get members who are 84 years old running on the treadmill, lifting weights. There are people who suffered debilitating injuries and illnesses coming in every day, putting the work in to get better. There are some with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, people who shouldn't be standing but are because they didn't give up on themselves. I mean, how can you not be inspired?
My shifts are a workout on their own. I never stop walking or standing up because I'm walking around, talking to and engaging with members. I'm cleaning equipment (and no, I'm not a clean freak, but I do go hard core on the cleaning because frankly the amount of sweat splashing everywhere is terrifying at times). I walk around and make sure everyone is safe, I walk laps around the gym because I want to be available and in sight to everyone. So it's a slow but steady cardio (I average 10-13k steps a shift) , plus I'm always re-racking people's weights (no matter how many times I remind them, they conveniently "forget"...) so I actually get do some lifting and squatting while I'm at it.
On the days I don't work, I do actual workouts. I usually warm up with stretches and 10 minutes on the elliptical, strength training, and then another 20-30 on the elliptical to finish.
I haven't seen too much weight loss in terms of the scale, but I do get a lot of people telling me that I look a little slimmer, so there's that. Furthermore, I just feel better all around. I have more energy throughout the day, I sleep way better at night, I actually like... look forward to my workouts and whatnot. So maybe my numbers haven't changed, but I'm far from stagnant. But I definitely want to "up" my game, and writing everything down here is sort of to help me keep track of all that.
The percentage is different depending on who you ask, but 80-90% of weight loss is done in the kitchen, which I know at this point is my weakest link. I'm going to start calorie counting, but my ultimate goal is to be able to eat a balanced and healthy diet without resorting to that. I'm aiming for balance and sustainability, and I know for a fact that I do not want to be counting calories for the rest of my life. At this point, however, I think it's extremely useful in learning about what I'm putting into my body so I that can adjust or maintain my energy output.
Anyway, I'm "officially" starting on Monday. It's Easter this weekend, and I'm visiting my sister tomorrow and Sunday, so I'll be on a small weekend vacation. I just wanted to get this written and posted so it's ready for me when I begin. If I get home early enough on Sunday, I might squeeze in a workout, but it's a holiday and I'm not going to fuss too much about it.
Sorry this got so long, but if you read all the way through, I commend your effort and thank you for putting in the time. Even if no one reads this, it's still there for me to keep track of my journey, and personally that's more important to me than if other people read it or not (though I'm happy if on chooses to!).
And, uh... that's it. For now.
