I used to dream of being a footballer, the dream had started and I was playing… I was the fittest I had ever been… this all came to an end due to peer pressure. When I was younger you couldn’t be different and girls couldn’t do what boys did, girls were doing make up and the boys were fighting and playing sports, so I was convinced to ‘be a girl’ and wish I had decided to do things on my own terms as I never played football again.
My fitness was dropping when I got a job in the Kingfisher Leisure Centre… this was my way back but I hated cardio, I found it repetitive and I wanted to see results quicker so I worked a lot on weights – this was not improving my fitness but it was something I felt comfortable with and growing up I learnt I had to be strong… Whilst I enjoyed this I was not comfortable being in the gym, there was a lot of pressure to do things at other people’s pace and a lot of posers which I hated.. I have joined and cancelled 4 gym memberships as I just couldn’t be happy and think people were watching me or judging my technique.
The career came and I became busy and wrapped up in ‘My future’ I felt I was doing enough with regards to my fitness, I didn’t eat badly and was always on my feet – but social media became an influence on how myself and many other people look at themselves in the mirror and what is ‘The right body’ – Like everyone I tried YouTube videos, workout DVDs, but again it was repetitive and I could make excuses not to do it – then the Coronavirus of 2020 came and we were locked in our houses for 6 weeks – I could see I was putting on weight, this was noticeable in my face and my stomach, I was eating a lot due to boredom and I had to change my lifestyle – I have always been and will always be a confident woman, but this woman, I could tell was disappearing… nothing was working for me, I live alone so didn’t have anyone to motivate me or to train with so I was at a dead end.
I had heard of zoom for conference meetings or catching up with friends but then found out my brother was doing workouts via this portal most days in the week – of course I had to try it … Myself and my mate Lauren decided to be a part of this ‘community’ my Brother had started – Not only did I find this so useful for me, I could go at my own pace, no judgement, no care, it was interactive, fun and feel like I am getting to know the people more and more every day in the group – this them encouraged me to give myself a weekly plan of what to eat and when I would workout.
I have never felt so good about my health and my fittest, I am not there yet but I know that my brother and the community he has created will get me there – During the lockdown being alone it was hard to keep busy and sane but my brother has enabled me to mentally and physically handle this so I will come out the other side looking differently at fitness – everyone has their own way of keeping fit and active and I have found mine.
Thank you from the Humans of HIIT community for sharing your story!
