My Fitness Journey (Pt. II)

Hi angels. Before we geek about fitness stuff, we've got some important things to look over:

- Check out several donation options to support Ukraine here.
​- Support various crucial BLM funding options here.
​- Visit the official Asian American and Pacific Islander philanthropy site here.
- Flint Michigan still needs clean water. Donate here.

Thank you. Onto the blog post.

​Disclaimer: Everyone has different goals. Some of mine are 1. getting stronger and 2. feeling more healthy. Everyone's bodies are different; everyone's desires are different. These are just my thoughts and passions.
​

Hello friends,
It's been an absolutely hot minute since I contributed to this little series on my blog. I first wrote a prologue in December 2019, then a part one in July 2020. Really, Lydia? Nothing in 2021? Well, I can explain.

   It's all about the timeline. You see, when I began my fitness journey, I went to a local gym, I worked as a barista near said gym, and I don't believe Covid-19 had yet hit the U.S. Life was so much more accessible.

   When I wrote Part I, I talked about my fitness interests pre-covid, then my creative tactics to work out while social distancing (i.e. the park became my best friend). Since then, I moved out of that apartment, got a job further away, and procrastinated on finding a gym like my old one, since, well, no one wanted to wear masks.

   However, more recently, with Covid cases settling down a bit, and with taking yet another career move, I finally decided it was time to reclaim control of my wellness, and that includes a few ingredients.
​

1. Changing my Schedule

   One of the most intimidating thoughts to me is the idea of change. And when I left my last job, I was absolutely terrified to begin a new chapter. My hours would be slightly different, I planned to spend more time designing, and I needed to plan out how I would most efficiently spend my time. I needed a routine that made sense. So I, Lydia, a dedicated night shower-er and proud night owl, did the unthinkable. I became a morning person.

   Okay, fine. Maybe I'm being a bit generous when I call myself that. I just mean, my new me time has been in the morning, bright and early, before I head to work. The gym isn't too busy, I have plenty of energy since it's only the start of the day, and I have time to come home and get ready without a rush. And yes, sometimes I still oversleep. But it's been about a month of my new schedule, and overall I'm still doing the damn thing.

   I think the amount of time it takes to form a habit is only relative to however extreme the change is, but this is one that just makes sense. It feels like it's stuck relatively easy, it makes me reflect on the day before I go to work, and I feel more motivated to hydrate and eat well for the remaining hours of the day. Plus, the sleep I get in the evening is incredible. I'm sure a lot of you morning people understand that.
​

2. Gaining a Friendship with Fruits and Veggies

   Shout out to my picky eaters. There have always been a ton of fruits and veggies that I've felt too nervous to try. However, I've found some essentials that have been absolute staples. Strawberries, grapes, strawberries and grapes (a superior duo, honestly), oranges, honeycrisp apples (the juciest ones, of course), lettuce, and spinach.

   I'm the type of person who absolutely needs to prep my fruits and veggies right when I come home from the grocery because I know damn well that I'll forget about them if they aren't prepped. Speaking of which, I need to pause and prep some carrots and grapes for tomorrow.

   Aaaaand done. Phew, saves me a step in the morning.

   Anyways, nutrition has probably been the hardest part of my fitness journey. And I still eat way too much junk food. But I feel better and better as the days pass, knowing I'm at least feeding myself significantly healthier foods than I used to. Improvement is honestly enough of a win to keep me going.
​

3. Knowing When I'm Actually Tired.

   At my last job, I started as a digital print specialist. I operated a large press and was on my feet all day long. And honestly, it was exhausting by the end of the day. I never had the energy to go for a walk because my feet were honestly sore. Once I switched to a desk job, I was able to go out for walks during my lunch breaks, and eventually go back to the gym in the evenings.

   And now, I have another desk job. And despite sitting all day, my eyes feel the strain of the computer. It makes me feel so tired by the time I'm off work, that I always feel so tempted to take a nap. But no. The weather is starting to get nice again, the gym visit I took in the morning didn't quite reach my step count. There are so many factors that make me realize, hey man, you're not always as tired as you think. Step outside, that breeze will wake you up. And yes, this is where it's important to know your body and understand your limits. But when it comes to my sitting for the majority of the day, I know when I should wiggle around outside for a while.

4. Tracking my Numerical Goals

   Fitness, to me, goes beyond the number on the scale. If my weight plateaus, I find myself mentally withering away. I start feeling discouraged, my gym visits dwindle. I start giving up. So when I have additional goals that keep me focused and keep me excited, I'm all in.

   So I introduce you to my iPhone's Notes app. This is the page I refer to every time I hit the gym. Now, I've only gone running a couple of times since breaking my foot, so I don't have any details on my exact mile time. But when it comes to weights, hell yes, I'm going to keep track of that.

   I had a less detailed note when I went to my last gym because there weren't as many machines as there are at my current gym. And with taking almost a year of a pause from actually going to a real life gym, I needed to refer back to those old notes and use them as PRs, because, well, those are the only documented records I have.

   I'm working up to a lot of my goals right now, but it takes time. And even if you don't make yourself a fancy table like this, it's helpful to at least keep track of these weights so you at least remember how heavy to set your weights on the machines.

   As for free weights, I'm still a rookie. I've gone to a couple of gym sessions with my sister, and she has a bit more experience in free weights than I do, so she's shown me a few things that I can remember to do when I'm on my own. But in general, I love learning and keeping track of my progress. It keeps me coming back.
​

5. Just Showing Up

   At my last gym, one of the guys congratulated me every time he saw me there. He always told me that showing up is the hardest part. And at a certain point, it becomes a daily necessity to work out in some way or another. Once it becomes routine, progress starts to show.

Thank you so much for reading. Happy spring!

Keep on grinning!

Lydia