How Fitness Changed My Life

We all know that the word fitness usually relates to having a well-toned chest, rock solid abs, chiseled biceps and titanic triceps. But what does fitness really means?  According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, fitness means 

"The quality or state of being fit"

so it doesn't necessarily mean that it's all about physical appearance, it can also be our state of mind our mind, spiritual life and other aspects our lives. I started working out last 2016 and I can say that I learned a lot of things from it. Here are some of them


1) Action speaks louder than words.

A lot of people will tell you "Magdidiet na nga ako eh" or "Next month magpupunta na ko sa gym" but in reality they never did. It will all come down to action, the more you act on it, the more you will see progress.


2) You don't cheat to win.

Kagaya ng mga magjojowa, cheating is a big "no". You can not expect progress when you cheat. You will not achieve your goals when you eat junk foods and fast food all the time. One thing I learned, there is no shortcut to success. Success means pouring your blood, sweat, and tears for the things that you want in life.


3) Consistency and discipline are the keys.

"Sa ikauunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan"

The same thing is also true in the world of fitness. You must be consistent in your routine and be disciplined in everything that you put inside your body. There's a saying that "Abs are made in the kitchen" which I believe is true. When you workout 2 hrs every day and eat 2 kilos of french fries after, don't expect a good result.  "Bahala na si batman" mentality will also not work for you. Laging tatandaan, pag may weights, may date. Just kidding.


4) Time Management.

Since I started working, time is really limited for me. I work 9 hours a day excluding my preparation and travel time. I really need to fix my schedule and think ahead of my plans so  I can maintain my 4 days workout routine per week. I learned the value of time. We cannot turn back the hands of the clock that is why we need to use it wisely. As the saying goes 

"Tomorrow is the only day that appeals to a lazy man"

Value your time. Focus on what you need to do.


5) By helping other people.

We grow not just by ourselves but also by lending a hand to those who are in need. When you go to gym and someone will tell you "Pre, pa-spot naman", don't hesitate, give them a hand. This habit if practiced by many people will be beneficiary for our society. Imagine, if all of us works toward solving the traffic issue in our country, I think it can be done given the fact that there are around 100 million Filipinos living in our country. There’s a line in the Valenzuela Hymn that really strikes  a chord in my heart.

"Tulong, sama-sama, lahat magkaisa"

6) Confidence.

"What you believe has a much greater impact on your life than what anybody else believes" -Joel Osteen 

Look good, feel good. The first day I stepped into the gym, I told myself "magiging kamukha ko si James Reid".

Believe in yourself,  believe that you can achieve things that you want in life. Belief in yourself is the starting point of action. We take action if we believe in something, we don't take someone's advice if we don't believe in them, we don't court someone if we don't have a chance for them. Always remember, what you believe is what you will get.


7) Success does not happen overnight.

The good thing is, it happens every day! Every day you continue to work on yourself. There are some days that you don't want to grind your ass off, some days you'll feel tired and unmotivated but it doesn't mean that you will stop working. When you stop working it means you already gave up your dreams to be one of the best. Being the best is not just a one-time decision, it is a decision that you will make in every single day of your life

8) Patience.

"Slow and steady wins the race."

For the past 10 months, I noticed minimal gains on my body. But that won’t stop me from achieving my goals. I will never stop learning and tweaking new things on my routine. I will keep in mind that “slowly but sure, inch by inch I’m getting stronger”.



9) Can be a way of thanking God for His gift to us.

God has given us this body, He wants us to take care of it and use it for His glory. As stated in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

10) Nutrition.

"Our body uses energy to fuel our muscles. What we eat is what we see in our body. Just like in the Bible when Daniel and his friends are tested to eat healthy foods to those who will eat the King's foods." -Daniel Zagada

Always challenge yourself. Life is full of challenges. And these things make us who we are. This can be applied to our fitness goals. If we stick to the same routine over and over again, stagnancy will occur, just like in building muscles.



Image Credits

• https://greatist.com/sites/default/files/running.jpg
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• http://sourcesofinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/Secret-of-Time-Management.jpg
• https://aos.iacpublishinglabs.com/question/aq/1400px-788px/moral-lesson-story-rabbit-turtle-race_cf23adab692f68cc.jpg?domain=cx.aos.ask.com
• https://www.fitnessblender.com/siteassets/blog/o_541_what-should-i-eat-after-a-workout-best-post-workout-meals-and-snacks.jpg
• http://thepointva.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/lightstock_1645_max_dave_.jpg
• https://cdn-s3.si.com/s3fs-public/styles/marquee_large_2x/public/videos/2157889318001_4961146152001_4961012117001-vs.jpg?itok=OSJjF-lW
• http://theglobalsuccessacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/superhero-kid.jpg
• https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5750d5129f72662d66448028/t/57f7ecc1cd0f68a69b383bf9/1475865805362/Deadlifts.jpg?format=1500w
• https://smittenkitchendotcom.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/easier-french-fries.jpg?w=1200