As someone who disliked any strenuous activity growing up, wanted to get skinny to look like a kpop star, starved myself and hated myself for every bite I took. I realize, they were right about working out.

Everyone who is into fitness on the internet are so gung ho for some reason, and I just never understood why. Don’t get me wrong. I tried, I worked out in three month intervals and I kept giving up. I asked myself, maybe I would like a sport that would encourage me to move. So I tried ice skating. I loved ice skating but I did not like the price or the effort it took me to put on my shoes.

Now, I am 30 years old, just becoming obsessed with working out, but I really took my time to understand my own behavior to do it. I am an ABA therapist for a living, and I am getting my masters degree for Behavior Analysis. This means that I am observing and analyzing other people’s behaviors for a living and figuring out the reason for it, and how to change it. That being said, with all the knowledge I learned on observing other people’s behaviors, I learned a bit about my own.

So, what do I know about myself? What are my boundaries and my limits?

If I already dislike working out, how am I going to get myself there?

First, I started off with showing up at the gym. If I showed up at the gym three times a week, I would have accomplished my goal. And showing up included walking on the treadmill for thirty minutes. Everything else I did at the gym was extra credit.

Then, I started running, which was fine, but having to put on shoes was a burden to me. It also only did so much and I was too lazy of a person to figure out workouts on my own, and it started to become stressful and discouraging for me. Granted, it worked but I was not consistent.

Then I tried pilates. Yes, pilates is expensive, and you can do it at home for free, but I loved pilates, pilates was slow, intentional movement, and it strengthened my body to drag less and have more energy, which is amazing. I did not have to wear shoes, but I knew it was quite expensive, so I do pilates 2x a week now (Click here for more about why in class workouts keep you motivated). I loved the fact that someone was telling me what to do and how to do it and how to think. I did not like researching on my own and it made working out a dread. I loved the social pressure I put on myself not to back down.

For me, health is wealth. Health is my future, pilates was my therapy, my physical health, and prevented health bills. It gave me more energy throughout the day, and overall, I am a happier healthier version of myself, so I was willing to pay that price through my limitations.

Then I discovered Hot yoga and hot fusion. Hot fusion is basically cardio and strength workouts in 100 degree heat that incorporates yoga moves as well. I am obsessed with hot yoga and hot fusion, which pairs very well with reformer. Currently I pay 325$ for all my workout classes combined, and you may say that sounds insane. It is insane. If you asked me half a year ago, if I was willing to spend that much money on waking up at 5 am, to take 6 am classes? I would say HELL NO. There is no way. But because I found something within my boundaries and my limits that I enjoy, I am more than willing to pay the price.

Granted, my car payment is low, and I barely eat out or go out, my workouts are my fun days, my rest days are my sad days. Also I don’t shop as much because I am not looking for clothes that make me feel good about myself constantly because I just naturally feel good in the strength my body gained and all that my body has done for me to get to this point.

Working out is not a niche for people who just enjoy it. It has changed my life. My mentality, my persistence, my perspective. I have challenged myself physically, which transformed how I live my daily life, and I have more energy and believe in myself more. I will be healthier and more available to do fun things and have fun because I am strong in my body and I am able to sustain doing fun activities in my life and live a fulfilled life.

Is putting on shoes a silly reason to not go to the gym? Yes, but that was a dread for me. Is driving to the gym, a silly reason? Yes, but with the right motivation, I now get up at 5am, to drive 15 minutes to my hot yoga class, and get there 15 minutes early to soak in the heat. And I am not someone to be that early. Working out is not niche. From someone who hated working out to absolutely loving it. These gym influencers are intense for a reason. They are THRIVING in life because of how strong capable you feel and how you challenge yourself everyday and build character through times when you want to give up. I can’t convince you, but this is my advice on how to get yourself to work out if you really want to.

Find your boundaries. Discover your limits. Be creative within your boundaries and limits, and youll be surprised of how much you can achieve by respecting yourself.

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