My relationship with the gym has been ever-changing and ever-growing, and I thought it would be helpful to recap my journey. I started working out when I was about 14, basically as soon as I was old enough to go to the gym. At the time, I was playing two sports and thought working out would help me grow stronger. My dad encouraged me to start, and we would go together. That’s where it all began.

As a teenage girl figuring things out, body image was always a big deal. It’s one of those things that’s always there, and it can make you feel all sorts of ways. I’ve had a rocky relationship with my body image—still do, to be honest—but I’m working on it and my journey to self-love is an everyday effort. That’s part of why consistency with the gym has been tough for me. My motivation changes constantly as I go through different phases in life. It also I have noticed at least changes throughout my ages it crazy to say this cause I am only 20 but I have felt the different changes and they are drastic. When I was 17 I could stay at the gym for 2-3 hours without even noticing and nowadays I struggle just to make it to a full hour. It’s so odd the way our bodies work. Which then brings me too…

When I was younger, going to the gym felt easier. It was fun and exciting, and I was so  motivated. But as time passed, I went through periods of falling off. When I was 16 , I stopped going entirely. I convinced myself I didn’t need it because I was staying active through other activities. But then I started feeling tired all the time and had zero motivation. Even swimming, which I used to love, left me feeling drained. I realized I felt weak, and something needed to change.

So, I returned to the gym and pushed myself to be consistent. During my senior year of high school, I worked out a lot. But I also struggled with body image. I’d look in the mirror and think I was so much bigger than I actually was. It’s wild how your brain can play tricks on you. Still, working out made me feel better overall. I wasn’t winded walking up stairs or covering long distances. The gym became my one constant, especially since I was sick a lot that year—eye infections every month, you name it. At least the gym gave me a sense of control.

Then came my first year of college. I stopped going to the gym altogether. I was swamped with work and school and couldn’t find the time or energy to fit it into my schedule. Honestly, I didn’t even try. It wasn’t until the summer after I left my first college, Langara, that I decided to start again. I’d dropped out and was spending way too much time at home eating junk food. I knew that wasn’t the answer.

At the start of the summer, I was super consistent with the gym. June and July 2022 were great months for me fitness-wise. But by August, I’d started slipping again. Work took over, and I just couldn’t balance everything. In September, I began attending BCIT, and once again, the gym fell by the wayside. My schedule was so packed that I couldn’t even consider fitting it in. It wasn’t until I became friends with people who genuinely enjoyed working out that my mindset shifted. They showed me that the gym didn’t have to feel like a chore. It could be something you do to feel good and stay healthy.

Working out with friends motivated me, and I started going consistently again. By the following spring and summer, I’d never felt healthier. I also got into my first relationship during that time, and my partner happened to be into fitness too. There’s this stereotype that you gain weight in relationships because you get comfortable, but I think it depends on the person you’re with. My partner’s motivation and focus on health inspired me to stay consistent. He makes sure that we go together at least twice a week and he doesn’t make me feel bad about not going either. However, he knows if I had a tough day to just drag me to the gym because as much as I hate to admit it, it does make me feel a whole lot better.

Right now, though, I’m in a rut. I’m working all the time, going to school every day, and constantly feeling tired. I’ve struggled to find the energy to go to the gym. Still, I’ve made an effort to go at least once or twice a week. It’s not ideal, but it’s something. That small effort reminds me that my passion for fitness is still there, even if it’s lingering in the background for now. It is also still January and I feel as if there are two sides of the coin with this month either you’re incredibly motivated and you’re always putting in the work or your completely burnt out and you take weeks off. I am definitely on the side of taking a break. January is also the kind of month in which you feel everyday. The days don’t fly by as quickly as others do and this is one of the months that just drags on, however we always manage to get through it.

Writing this helps me reflect on how far I’ve come and how much better I feel when I’m consistent. Maybe you can relate to these cycles of going and not going to the gym. One thing I’ve learned is that the gym doesn’t have to be a chore unless you make it one. Finding people who make it fun can make all the difference.

If you’re thinking about starting your gym journey, it doesn’t take much to begin. Even a 30-minute treadmill session or a 45-minute workout can be enough to make you feel accomplished. It’s about starting where you’re at and building from there. You can start your journey at any time. If you’re scared or intimidated, remember: pop in your headphones, lock in, and focus on yourself. At the end of the day, you’re doing it for you and no one else.