It's Not All for the Gram

It's not all for "the gram".

At the start of 2020, I decided "my word" for the year was going to be STRONG.

Strong may have different meanings to you, but for me, I was going after determination, agility, power and force. Personality-wise, I may have these qualities -- but the truth is, physically, I felt weak, tired, sluggish.

Late last December, I reached out to my friend Jen from JL Move to inquire about finding this strength again. Jen runs a women's-only fitness establishment in Vaughan. I explained my annoyance and dislike for most exercise classes and work out regimes. I was tired of doing the same thing over and over again, being told to strip away all the food I loved in order to look long and lean and get my body bikini ready.

I'm over being long and lean -- I wanted strong.

Simply put: I wanted someone to challenge me and push me as much as I do in my work, in the gym. And she would have the added task of making me enjoy it. Seems pretty easy, right?!

So for the past 8 weeks, I've been on this strength journey with JL.

And I've told very few people -- until now.

I didn't post about it, share daily updates, ask for accountability. You know why? Because it wasn't for the gram. It was for me. Plus, deep down inside, there was less pressure if I tried to work out (again) and quit (again.)

But you know what? I haven't quit --  in fact, I've enjoyed it so much so, that I now look forward to my sessions twice a week.

Working out with JL has re-ignited a fire that had dimmed inside of me -- I had been overwhelmed (like many people) with messages of diets and training to lose belly fat and daily workouts I knew I wouldn't commit to.

But let me tell you this: I AM strong. My body IS powerful.

In the past 8 weeks, I've lifted weights I never thought I could. I've jumped on boxes, used a skipping rope again for the first time in 30 years, have felt muscles and soreness and tightness.

And I haven't lost one pound.

That is not a failure. My body feels tighter, my clothes fit looser and my mind is clearer. There is much success in finding focus, drive and determination.

I may never be a size 4 or 6 again. That is not my goal. But 8 weeks ago, I never thought I could deadlift 125 pounds on my 38th Birthday, either. Funny, Jen thinks I'll lift way more than that soon enough. That makes me excited. Strong is my goal.

So, welcome to this journey.