My Fitness Journey

Let me start by saying, I am NOT a fitness guru or expert. But, I’m super proud of my fitness journey which is now a lifestyle for me. If you struggle with getting started or staying consistent, you are not alone! It took me 3 years to finally knock out some of my fitness goals and embark on a healthier lifestyle. I lost about 30 pounds over the past two years, but my goal is no longer just a number on the scale. My goal is to love what I see in the mirror and how I feel mentally and physically on a daily basis. Here’s my journey and tips I’ve learned along the way:

First thing, just start. Go for a walk every day, dance, ride a bike, jog on a treadmill or stretch as long as you get active. I learned that it takes at least 21 days to create a habit, so strive for at least 21 days of activity and keep going. Try challenges (I love Capri Curves’ 30-day Challenge), get a gym membership or create your own gym at home! No kind of activity is too small. Even walking around your neighborhood is better than nothing. My first step was getting a gym membership but with gyms being closed right now due to COVID-19, I still continue to work out at home. It took me a while to enter the gym but once I did, I took it slow and steady with walking on the treadmill, light weights, and fun cardio classes. To burn fat (and keep the curves), I do high interval training (HIT) with weights and isolated weight training. Exercise not only changes your physical health, it changes your mind and mood for the better. I typically exercise 3-4 times per week. Tip: don’t be afraid to seek accountability. The support from my sister and best friend helped me stay on track. Check out my YouTube playlist featuring my favorite fitness videos.

I know by now you’ve probably heard “abs are made in the kitchen” or “exercise is only 20% of reaching your goals”. Healthy eating habits are very important to reaching any fitness goal whether you are trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or just maintain. Well, food is my greatest struggle because I wasn’t exactly blessed with a fast metabolism where I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want and not gain an ounce of weight (Yes, I’m side-eyeing ya’ll with a fast metabolism). I gained about 40 pounds alone due to stress eating. Then, I woke up one day and decided to try Keto for 30 days which jumpstarted my weight loss. But, I hated how guilty I would feel whenever I decided to have a cheat day. Now that I’m more aware of my body and what it takes to feel my best, I choose to follow a balanced diet and I try to keep my carbs and sugar intake low. Like I said before, I’m not a stranger to trendy diets. I’ve tried Keto, Whole 30, and smoothie/juice diets but just couldn’t keep up with any of it. I’m not saying you shouldn’t try one of these but the reality is, fad diets are hard to maintain. Once I became consistent with eating healthy, I saw and felt a true change. Tip: to give your digestion system time to work properly and to avoid gaining water weight, refrain from eating late or right before bedtime. Lastly, water is your best friend. No explanation needed. I like mine infused with lemons or a splash of apple cider vinegar.

Finally. I’d like to leave you with this — what works for me, may not work for everyone. We all have different body types and health systems. We simply cannot copy and paste someone else’s regimen without first listening to our own bodies. Do your research, speak with your doctor, set your goals, and be consistent.

Fill your feed with inspiration — my favorite fitness influencers to follow on Instagram:

· Capri Curves

· Brittne Babe

· DDR Fitbody

· Mr. & Mrs. Muscle

· Chloe Ting

· Jenna DeLeon

· Insecure Fitness

· Nekisha Tanell (Lavie Physique)

· Tae-Leon ( A Little Taeste)

· Angoswede