A TO H: My fitness Journey
Intro
The journey began when I realised I was unhealthy. I weighed 92.4kg=14.5 st, was on the edge of buying size 20 clothing and knew shit had to change. If I was to gain any more weight I would be at risk of developing high cholesterol, cutting short my life expectancy and making it harder to live for when I get older. It’s been over a year and I now weigh 77.4kg=12st. There are no short cuts, diet pills or magic teas. My fitness journey so far; has had its ups, its potholes and plateaus.
I call it my fitness journey, rather than my weight loss journey because you can lose weight and become unhealthy physically and mentally. I won’t deny at points, I have been motivated by ephemeral things such as the male gaze. But then realised, ultimately no one will ever live in Hillary’s body so I need to do it for me. My Journey is not a sprint but a marathon.
In part 1 of this series, I use the alphabet to help explain what has helped me become more healthy.
A is for Attitude
(8)
Independent, athletic
I been sweating, doing callisthenics
Booty vicious, mind yo business
I been working, working on my fitness
(8) — Fitness by Lizzo
Lizzo’s song fitness was one of the first songs I put in my Phat music playlist, because of the attitude. She acknowledges her needs as the number one priority, two is actively grinding to look after her self and three her journey is her own, not anyone else’s.
The song reminded me I have to be both selfish, focused and forward-thinking to make any success. I have to block time for myself to the gym and not compromise because of what other people’s plans. My decisions today affect my tomorrow, my week ahead, my month, my year, my future.
Create your playlist to motivate and craft your attitude to help sustain on your journey. If you would like some inspiration check out my Phat playlist.
To note: My phat playlist has its name because it’s both a homage to Kimora Lee Simon’s Baby Phat brand. I remember the glamour of the aesthetic and just liked it. Also Phat is slang for excellence — according to urban dictionary
B is for Beginnings
Even when you have the attitude to start on your journey you might feel intimidated by gyms, like me. Gyms spaces especially weight lifting zones are dominated by men. On top of this, you may be intimidated by all the machines, weight, etc. So get informed!
One programme that made me feel confident was weight training programme sponsored by This Girl Can at my university. We had a female trainer and a group of women supporting and learning how to utilise the weight training areas effectively. I applied this information, as well as other classes I attended to my gym routine. Classes add value because of the sense of community and accountability around you. Below this section, I have put a list of resources and communities that can support you on your fitness journey.
Next to Google, Youtube and Podcasts are my favourite resource for research. I love me some Brett Contras to learn how to maximise the gluteus maximus to Rhiannon Lambert’s Food for Thought podcats to learn more about nutrition. Here is a list of resources that can inspire and inform you on your journey:
Communities and Programmes
- Train to Slay/Just Jeen — Jeen has an amazing story, she’s a personal trainer, run’s challenges and professional food preps.
- This Girl Can — Programme encouraging women and girls into sport
- Asra Club — Muslim women running club
Youtubers
- Blogalties — Home workout queen
- Kiera Kashe — break your back and burn calories
- Fitness blender — OG Fitness youtube channel
- Jeff Nippard — Science of weight training
- Hanna Öberg — Queen of the gym
Podcasts (available on Spotify, Apple and….)
- Food for Thought by Nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert
- The Food Medic by Dr Hazel Wallace
Apps
- Nike Training App
- My Fitness Pal
C is for Consistency
Not gonna lie, this one is hard and I feel triggered by what I’m going to say, it’s hard to be consistent. This month, I have been so lazy with training because I have allowed things and other priorities get in the way.
In Church, a pastor gave a sermon about a jar. This jar represents your lifetime, it can either be full of sand or gems such as family, career goals etc. If you don’t place the gems inside the jar before the sand, you will not have enough space for the main things you cherish as the sands of life have taken over. Apply this to your life and your fitness journey.
Tip We love Mondays! One trick is trying to be consistent with training is always train on Mondays. It helps you to build a routine and set the tone for the week. A second trick we also love Sundays. Use Sundays to plan times when you can train for the week using your phone calendar, add reminders and pack your bag for the gym the night before.
D is for Diet
“The kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats.” — Oxford Dictionary
Diet is arguably the most important thing on your fitness journey. If you can’t remember most of this blog, at least remember this section. Achieving a caloric deficit is key to fat loss, but it needs to be done strategically and without sacrificing macronutrient needs.
I highly advocate for MyFitnessPal and also using the premium version. [I used the trial, but haven’t invested in using the full thing, because of money tight so — MyFitnessPal sponsor me :) ] My FitnessPal is a food diary app, that can scan sort codes of food you have eaten, and provide information such as nutrients, calories etc. Once you have input your weight loss/weight gain goal, you can find out the necessary calorie intake for the day and week. I would advocate using this app religiously for a month, so you can get a better understanding of how you eat and knowing what the best foods are for you. The premium version provides goals setting for macronutrients and break down of macronutrient intake.
I have recently transitioned into becoming vegetarian and this diet has helped me to eat more vegetables and be thoughtful with I am eating. I’ve been able to experiment with how I cook by exploring the varieties of vegetables and grains for my meal preps. My previous diet was very refined carb-heavy, which is not conducive to fat loss. I have seen results from the transitions but be cautious. Becoming vegetarian, vegan or going keto will no guarantee a good healthy lifestyle as Oreo’s are vegan and don’t provide much nutritional value.
Meal prep saves you coin and helps to encourage good eating habits. I try to meal prep on Sundays after my food shop. Check out my favourite youtube chef’s big shout out to Rachel Ama and Gaz Oakley, and challenge myself to cook the meals they create. I normally create two options and use leftovers for dinner. So head to your favourite cheap shop and get Tupperware (or alternatively raid your mom’s ice cream-stew containers) and meal prep.
At the same time, somedays we eat shit especially period days. So don’t knock yourself down or become too restrictive. So treat yourself, we only live once.
E is for Emotional eating
I am an emotional eater. Fam, there is something therapeutic about food. When I feel sad that sweet chocolate wipes my tears away.
As I write this I have been eating Cadbury Oreo Bites. :(
As humans, we are not guided by logic but emotions. Emotions lead us then logic justifies our actions. I emotionally eat to feel a void - but truly I become as whole as a glazed doughnut. The sweet sugar rush of refined-carbs but still with a hole in the middle.
Emotional eating gets in the way of my attitude towards my fitness journey and I have to remind myself, investing in healthy eating good food can be beneficial for my mood and mental health than any doughnut can. So rather than relying on food to brighten my day, I need to invest in self-care. I’m less impulsive then I used to but still trying to overcome this bad habit.
I’m on a journey to understand how food affects my mood, this episode of Food For Thought has brought some light if you would like to listen check it out.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1kMOizvM5YdFeHW5jB5N2l?si=IrUpBYF2RxecgJ1bE2bHXw
F is for Friends
This section is dedicated to my friends who have supported and advised on my journey. Friends who have given me recipe ideas to training together in the gym. Thank you.
G is for Gains!
We put on, we take off. No journey is linear.
- Image with gaps
The graph displays the potholes and dips throughout my journey. It’s very easy to be discouraged when you put on weight, but keep pushing. Even when your strength my fail, know that this isn't ending of your journey just a detour.
I remember once being lost with my family in Hyde Park. We were driving at night and couldn’t find the exit. We couldn’t pretend to know where we going, we had to revaluate were and understand how we can get to our destination.
Potholes are Opportunites, not full stops - use them to recalibrate and evaluate.
H is for Holistic
I will never forget the day I bought some stupid exercises equipment. It was a shaker with weights that supposed tone your arms. I bought it because I thought it was a quick fix. But low and behold, it didn’t do shit besides give me arm arch.
On your journey, it's easy to get sapped into marketing that tells you, YOU CAN LOSE FAT IN 30 DAYS! IF YOU SWALLOW THIS PEOPLE, COPY THIS ROUTINE, DRINK THIS JUICE, WEAR THIS MAGICAL BODYSUIT, RUB YOUR HEAD ON A BALLON, NOT WALKING ON THE CRACKS OF THE PAVEMENT.
Like for real, my fitness journey requires investment in my mind, body and soul to be successful. Mind because the engine requires fuel. Body, because of its the outer layer of your car. Soul because it's your engine.
No marketed fitness product can 100% guarantee a long effecting change in my fitness if it doesn’t engage with me holistically. As you have read this article, don’t take each point in isolation, their all interdependent.
I hope I have encouraged you. This is the end of my TEDtalk. look out for part 2 and 3.
