What your relationship with physical exercise is like says a lot about you. I used to be a smoker, binge drinker, and would order a family-sized pizza over a large just because I wanted to drown in my own indulgence and comfort. Honestly, it was a great time... until it wasn’t. That was in my late 20s, where the thought of the future wasn't really one that existed. My main concerns were partying and drinking, and hey, every now and then they are too, but I’ve learned a bit more about a thing called discipline and the relationship I have with myself.
See, in life, you attract what you are. If you spend a lot of time doing degenerate activities and hanging around with losers, then you yourself will become a product of that. In hindsight, I can see how some people wanted to limit spending time with me or cut me off as a friend. Maybe I was the bad influence. Come to think of it, I probably was, and it's because I didn't really care about myself much at the time. I was just existing.
As life has a way of throwing us second chances until we realize it, it hit me when I was walking up a few flights of stairs and got to the top and was just absolutely gassed. Sweating, out of breath, and all of about 26 years old, I realized that if I keep going in this direction, then maybe life wasn't going to be that great. I decided then that I needed to try and take my health more seriously. But where do you even start?
Building a routine of exercise isn't easy because like many things in life, there's a difference between wanting it, needing it, and being ready for it. I needed it, I kind of wanted it, but I wasn't ready for it. I couldn’t commit. So I slowly started doing bits and pieces here and there, but in hindsight, it was fuck all. But what I've learned is that a little bit is better than nothing.
Cut to about 5 years later, and this was when I realized: I wanted it. I needed it, and I was fucking ready for it. I got sick of being the chubby guy, I got sick of being out of breath, I got sick of being gassed easily, I got sick of being me. I needed a new version because this one sucked. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but when you change to the other team, you almost can't believe you didn’t do it sooner, but loving yourself can be an uphill battle when you've done a lot of damage, but it’s never too late to start.
I threw myself into all kinds of different exercise, but the main one for me was group HIIT classes. Think F45. If you've never done that before, it's basically group workouts, someone telling you what to do, and you go pretty fucking hard for 45 minutes straight. The first session I was fucked, the second week I was fucked, the third week I felt alright, 6 months later it was a challenge but it was 100 times easier than week 1. I still remember one of the trainers coming up to me after the 6-month mark and saying, "I just want to say, that who you were when you came in and where you’re at now is such a difference." Comments like that humble you and make you realize that maybe you are on the right track.
Now a few years on from that, I fill my time with boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, cardio, weights, and honestly, anything because now my body can actually handle it. I'm not fucking jacked, and I still love my food, but I don't look like fucking shit anymore. I look normal and healthy, and with that, my mental health has hit new heights, my confidence has skyrocketed, and I finally love being me.
If there’s any advice I have for anyone that lacks self-belief, confidence, or the ability to get things done and increase their productivity and quality of life, follow these footsteps. They weren’t easy, and it’s an ongoing habit, but it’s one that you’ll be forever grateful for having. Start with acknowledging where you are, accept that change is needed, and take it one step at a time. Be patient with yourself, but also be persistent. Find activities that you enjoy and make them part of your life. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small, and remember, every step forward is a step toward a better, healthier you.
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