Getting Back into My Fitness Routine After Lockdown

I think that we all agree when I say that the COVID-19 virus has changed 2020 drastically. Unexpectedly, the virus made sure that the entire world closed down, like so, the gyms :(. Now, I do not want to be dramatic, there are far more worse things the corona virus has caused, but it did put my entire life upside down. In December last year, I started going to the gym again. In year(s) earlier, my fitness and sport routine was kind of all over the place after I quit playing field hockey. In these years I have gained weight and didn't think about my health and sports. At the time, I though that I didn't have enough time during the last year of secondary school for sports. I was wrong. 

Since secondary school I have gained weight gradually, I started snacking more, and eating out with friends. But I evened it out with playing hockey and gym classes at school. After I quit the process of gaining weight sped up and left me not feeling good about myself. And so my journey of fitness began. During my gap year I could not commit and kept going to the gym for a few times and then quit for a few months. But last December I finally saw the light after switching gyms. Even though the exercises I did then did not do much for me, I started going regularly for 2 to 3 times a week. Then I switched trainer and this I when everything changed.

The trainer gave me a workout routine for 3 days a week, and this motivated me. I started going 4 to 5 times and this got noticed by him too. He gave me 2 routines to rotate so that I wouldn't train the same muscles every time. I finally started losing weight and I got stronger. But then, the corona virus happened. The gyms closed and I felt defeated. I finally made working out a habit and then the corona virus ruined it for me. I tried working out at home but it wasn't the same. I just really enjoy my time in the gym, zoned off and doing something completely for myself, not to please anyone. 

In the Netherlands, shops, restaurants and gyms, etc. have opened up again. Surprisingly, I picked up going to the gym as if they hadn't closed at all. Continueing with the 2 schedules that were made for me in February. It is funny how I just started again without thinking twice. I now truly enjoy working out and I want my body to get fit and strong. I am not overweight, but I want to lose fat and get more lean and toned. My plan was to get this for summer, but as it is summer and everything is cancelled, this is my plan for these summer months. 

Still, doing strength training at the gym is not for everyone. For a long time, I just thought that it wasn't for me. But, with the right gym and trainer something clicked and I got motivated. Every time I go is motivating to me, but seeing my body already change again is even more exciting. I advise everyone to try something in the area of fitness, it doesn't have to be strength training and to stick with it. Truly, stick with it, give it a month maybe two and if then you still do not like it, you at least gave it a go. I never did that, that is why it took me this long. 

I set myself the goal to reach a weight of 65 kg on my birthday (September 28), I weighed 71 kg on the first of July, so this gives me almost 3 months to lose 6 kg. But more importantly, I want to feel good about myself and of my body, that is my ultimate goal.

Working out consistently and eating healthy takes dedication. I am still working on my eating habits, as I do like snacks (mostly the unhealthy ones ;p). It is a work in progress, do not believe that you have to be perfect from the start. That is just too much to do at once and I can guarantee you that you probably will not keep it up. I started with working out again since July first, I am trying to make my eating habits fit my fitness habits. Because eating unhealthy does not fit a lifestyle where I work out often. It is a 50/50. So by going to the gym more often I want to motivate myself also to eat healthy too. 

But like I said before, it is not possible to live perfectly all the time. I do not want to feel bad about eating something not so healthy, it is all about balance. A Youtuber I watch often called Joe Lee often talks about topics like these. To me, he is very inspiring as he often talks about 'being less shitty' and not being perfect but doing the best you can. This is something I am still figuring out myself, what I see for myself in the future, goals, my lifestyle, etc. 

So, this blog was kind of a ramble and sort of braindump for me. I hope you found it inspiring and maybe you found some motivation to pick up working out again (if you hadn't already of course). Let me know if you want me to write these longer posts more often and if you want me to write about a certain topic. Have a wonderful day guys, see you soon!

Love,

Julia