It’s been 2 years since I last posted here about my fitness journey. For those of you who are used to seeing my latest gym exploits on social media, let me remind you where I was 3 years ago before I dedicated myself to going to the gym:
- Unhealthy weight and more importantly, unhealthy amount of fat (as the number on the scale is not necessarily an indicator of health)
- Not able to do a basic body squat, i.e. I would “flop” on the couch, not lower my body down
- Unable to run a mile
- No concept of weight training
This was me at my highest weight of 200 pounds in July 2015, unable to do the above listed items:
In 2016 I revamped my lifestyle and starting pursuing a fit lifestyle. between Jan 2016 and April 2016 I lost 10 pounds following a macro diet:
In 2017 I continued to see excellent progress and started CrossFit as a beginner in March:
In 2018 I’ve been consistently working out 5-6 days a week, and you can clearly see a big difference in muscle tone and tightness since 2015:
22 pounds lost in 3 years, is that enough?
Currently I’m at 178 pounds, which is really only 22 pounds less than where I started almost 3 years ago. That’s not an impressive number adjustment on the scale, but if I had been good about tracking my inches lost, that’d be a significant number. I have all these pictures to show you so that you can see for yourself. Consistent nutrition or weight loss diets have not been my priority; getting physically fit has been my priority. I am sure that the number on the scale could be dramatically lower if I committed to a calorie tracking program.
Most importantly, I’m no longer unhealthy physically or mentally. I no longer care that I weigh over 150 pounds as a woman. At this point 178 pounds is a number on the scale that is reflective of the enormous amount of muscle mass I have obtained when I do things like flip 400 pound tires, squat over 200 pounds, or lift a 100 pound barbell over my head.
I am a bonafide badass. I still have some unwanted fat, but I am strong, I am confident, and I have quads that would make an Amazonian woman swoon. My cardio is in excellent condition thanks to all the circuit training I do via CrossFit.
I believe I still have more weight to lose, but I’m not sweating it. With my active lifestyle, the fat is melting off and my overall health continues to improve.
The Real Benefit of Working Out
I wanted to put this out here publicly, because I know plenty of women who feel ashamed of their number on the scale. They’ve been working out consistently and not seeing that number drop, but they are recognizing that their overall physical condition is improving.
Ladies and gentlemen, your worth is not your weight. Working out or becoming physically fit should be a priority, but not for purely aesthetic reasons. Getting a tighter body is a byproduct of working out, but it’s not the main benefit. Gaining self-confidence and feeling those endorphins is a byproduct of working out, but it’s not the main reason why you should pursue it. The quality and length of your life is the main benefit of being physically fit. By consistently working out, you will lower your risk for the main issues that plague our loved ones, or maybe even you: heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, dementia, and the list continues. In addition to this, I’ve heard personal testimonies from people whose chronic pain has been alleviated by consistently working out.
Fitness is a slow journey for most, particularly if you are starting off unhealthy. You will be in discomfort, and you will fail. You may not even enjoy going to the gym at first. I didn’t! Any consistent activity forms a habit, particularly if that habit produces endorphins and causes a net-positive gain. It’s taken me years to get here, but it’s worth it. I know you can do it too. See you on the other side.
Need some inspiration? Here are some of my tips for novice gym goers: 10 Steps for Healthy Living. You can see me lifting heavy stuff and more on Instagram.com/she_noted. Follow my blog to keep up with the latest.
She Noted 