From Insecurity to Inspiration: My Journey to a Passionate Fitness Lifestyle

I honestly am not exactly sure when my gym journey began. I have always been an athlete, playing sports and trying to compete in anything I can. Although I was always able to keep up, my body did not reflect this. Throughout high school I had insecurities about how I looked, how much I weighed, and was constantly worried about if people could see my nipples through my shirt (I know it’s ridiculous). I was never a runner, never an avid gym goer, all I liked to do was play sports and video games.

My entire life changed when I got to college. I kid you not almost every aspect of my life was flipped upside down for the better. I got to a community where I could thrive, build my faith, and truly work on myself. What helped a lot in the beginning was finding someone to workout with. There was a senior on the floor I lived on named JT. I owe this man a lot. He inspired me to go to the gym every day and I soon fell in love with the grind and the competition within myself. Pushing myself to the limits is something that I have always done, now it is just happening in the gym and physical outlets of life. But for me it wasn’t just about strength training, it was about changing my view of myself. All the insecurities I had were still there while working out. Although I was seeing progress, I knew there could be more.

My brothers have always pushed me to be the best version of myself and I look up to them a lot and they were always better athletes (I think I will win a fight now although I lost all of them as a kid). Growing up I was the only person in the Frances family who did not run but, new year’s resolutions are something that I write and do each year (You can see where this is going). So, in 2022 I challenged myself to run 1,000 miles and go to the gym at least 3 days a week. Let me tell you if you need a challenge this year and need to be pushed out of your comfort zone, try that. It has now been over 2 years since I have been passionately pursuing my unique fitness journey and I am down 25 pounds, feel better than I ever have and have run my first marathon. This story is not supposed to tell you that working out 3+ days a week and running 1,000 miles will fix your problems. There is so much more to my story than just fitness.

Each day not by my will but by God’s, I am able to push my body to the limits. When looking back at how my life took a complete 180 in a single day, I can’t be more grateful than I am. I wish I could share my whole journey with each person reading this because it is so important to recognize that each person will be different from the next. Not all my problems or insecurities were fixed in just a day. It is a constant choice to compete within myself that makes waking up and continuing my fitness journey so special.

SET GOALS:

If you think you can’t do something, then that’s the goal you want to set. For me this was running 1,000 miles while still being active in the gym. I am in my second year of this and am on pace to run 1,500+ while still being consistent in lifting. The reason you set goals that seem hard is because once you break them down into smaller pieces it will give you the reassurance that it can be done. When setting easy goals, you don’t gain anything. Take the risk, what have you been wanting to do for years but have been too scared to commit to. Then break down that huge goal into smaller pieces and work from there.

FULLY COMMIT:

Everyone wants to be the person their friends can count on. If you can’t commit to something you want to do, what does your word mean to someone else? Set your schedule, eat healthier, and make time for recovery. When starting my journey, I had no idea how much time all the little things would take. Don’t underestimate this aspect. It is consuming but it is just as rewarding. When spending so much time pushing yourself it is just as important to take care of yourself, and that takes commitment.

COMMUNITY:

Without friends inviting me to the gym or brothers pushing me to be better, I would never be where I am today. If you are confident in the gym, MAKE OTHERS FEEL CONFIDENT TOO. Invite a friend that has never worked out before. Let others know that you see their progress. Nothing is better than a stranger coming up to you and giving you a compliment. The workout space needs to be more inviting and the only way to do that is to have a community to push one another but also make each other feel welcome. Be the JT for someone else and push others to better themselves!