How often do you go to the gym? How many miles do you run in a week? What is your macro/micro nutrient consumption? How long has it taken you to look the way you do?

These are common questions that I get from those around me. I understand that this comes from curiosity and typically those that pose these questions have expressed an interest in getting fit.  I always hesitate to answer these questions directly because I feel it gives a newbie an overwhelming response. 

I lift 6 days a week, typically for 45 min to 1 hour and 15 minutes. 
I run about 10 miles a week, usually more. 

I generally watch the amount of protein I consume and ensure I have at least 3 meals a day and something green. 

It has taken me 13 years to look the way I do.  

13 years. I am 32 at this very moment in time. That means for about 40% of my life on this planet I have been consistently following a workout schedule and by consistently I mean CONSISTENTLY. I’ve had injuries every now and then from training for marathons or pushing it too hard when I lift, which have slowed me down but never have I taken more than a week off from doing any kind of physical exercise. I have to force myself to take rest days because those are a crucial part of the process. That is where I’m coming from. That is what my mental state is like.

TOO MUCH

Hearing my experience and relationship with physical fitness to someone just starting out is. . . too much. Hashtag team too much.  What I encourage those interested in getting fit is to develop their own personal relationship with the idea of being fit.  Understand that the appearance of those you see on the internet demonstrates a relationship that individual has had with physical activity.  That relationship could include hardships with drugs, alcohol, mental illness, steroids, eating disorders et cetera. Understand that a fitness model you see on Instagram has likely taken years to look that way even if they claim it has not or worse yet, they have taken performance enhancing drugs or human growth hormone. Not to mention that those with access can get professional airbrushing, CGI muscles, and dangerous surgeries.  

CONSUME INTENTIONALLY

Being intentional about your macro or micronutrients may seem like the obvious first step to getting fit but I disagree. The first step is being aware of your media consumption. Being active is a close second. We are influenced by what is around us, by other people’s energy positive or negative, and what we see. Consume media intentionally. If all you see are 8 pack abs, airbrushed models in speedos in Mykonos, you are seeing some fantasy internet person that will likely not relate to your day to day life. Your brain is setting some unattainable standard that will likely not serve you. You have some control over these images that pop into your social media feeds. You have some control over how often you ‘favorite”or idolize faraway attractive men on Scruff, and most importantly you have some control over your mindset. Ask yourself when on the internet, is this serving me?

PAN DE DULCE

Do not compare yourself to others. Do not compare yourself to me. For 40% of my life I’ve been working out consistently and I still struggle with changing some of my not so healthy habits/addictions. For example, it is no secret that I love baked goods.  I can sit and eat a whole pack of cookies in one sitting.  This is not a joke. It all stems from my childhood when in my Mexican household there would always be pan de dulce de la panaderia.  I was a chubby little kid lovin’ my mama’s tortillas and conchas soaked in milk.  I could not only just have one but SEVERAL pieces of bread. I definitely have a sweet tooth that I can never forcefully extract. Instead, I do little things. I don’t fully deprive myself of cookies or baked goods, I am honest with myself and say “Okay Joel, this week you can have 2 packs of cookies but that’s it.” While this may seem excessive to some, it is an improvement from what I normally do which would be closer to a free for all consumption of doughnuts, cakes, Starbucks lemon pound cake, cake shakes, plus a pack of sweets EVERY time I would go into the grocery store.  Sometimes I fail and sometimes I do well.  It is a constant struggle.  But the difference is that I am mindful about my habits and I attempt to change them.  

YOUR FIRST STEP

The first step to getting fit is knowing yourself. Developing a personal intention custom made to fit YOUR life, YOUR habits, YOUR pitfalls, YOUR mini-goals. Do some soul searching to understand WHY you want to get fit and understand that if the only reason is for extrinsic physical gains, the results will only be skin deep.

Pat yourself on the back when you accomplish a small goal and don’t give up when you didn’t quite make it that week, simply modify your goals and try again. Once you have an honest conversation with yourself you can begin making small changes in your life. Re-assess those extrinsic reasons to being physically fit and develop intrinsic reasons to be well. Once you have this mind set, you can begin. Please use this blog and instagram to get tips and motivation, not to compare yourself to me or anyone else on the internet.  You have your own journey to develop. I know you can do it!