WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY IF I COULD RESTART MY FITNESS JOURNEY

What I Would Do Differently If I COULD RESTART MY FITNESS JOURNEY

I have been "into" fitness for a very long time. Growing up, I watched my mom go to the gym every day, and my dad took up running when I was around five. Their commitment left an impression on me, and my own interest started when I was about 14. It began with running and becoming a vegetarian.

I loved running and cardio, but I also lifted weights. However, I didn’t fully understand how to lift weights effectively—not that there’s only one correct way! Starting in high school, I ran, played sports, and dabbled in weightlifting, whether in my school’s gym or at the facility where I did my co-op.

As a kid who was always a bit chubby, my goal was often to lose weight. Throughout high school and my early 20s, I found myself stuck in a cycle of losing and gaining the same 15-20 pounds over and over again.

Now, of course, fitness is not just about losing weight. In fact, it was only when I shifted my focus away from weight loss and wanting to be “skinny” that everything changed.

From 14 to 26: What I Did

  1. Focused solely on losing weight.

  2. Prioritized cardio with just a little weightlifting.

  3. Aimed to eat 1,200 calories a day, thinking less was better.

  4. Binged and drank on weekends, undoing much of my progress.

  5. Obsessed over the number on the scale.

  6. Tried to do it all alone, without seeking proper guidance.

At the time, I didn’t even know that fitness for performance was a thing. It never occurred to me that fitness could mean anything beyond getting skinny or building muscle.

A Shift in Perspective

Let me be clear: There’s nothing wrong with having aesthetic fitness goals. It’s natural to want to look your best, and I fully encourage that. We all deserve to feel confident in our own skin. But here’s the thing: For years, misleading information made many of us believe we had to suffer to achieve those goals.

Now, let’s be real—some workouts definitely feel like suffering. But I’m not talking about the good kind of challenge that pushes you to grow. I’m talking about the harmful suffering: the outdated notion that you need to eat 1,200 calories or less and burn it all off with endless cardio.

The truth? The best way to get in shape is to take care of yourself. Here’s what I wish I’d known back then.

What I Would Do Differently

  1. Set goals around physical performance, not just aesthetics.

  2. Prioritize strength training over cardio.

  3. Eat healthy, balanced meals that fuel my body and build muscle—not starve myself.

  4. Focus on recovery: get adequate sleep, stay hydrated, and allow time for rest.

  5. Cut back on alcohol to support my fitness and health goals.

  6. Educate myself on fitness and body composition, realizing that the number on the scale doesn’t matter. (Spoiler: Most of our “dream bodies” weigh more than we think!)

A New Approach to Fitness

I made these mistakes in my younger years so that you don’t have to. Training to see what your body is capable of is incredibly empowering. Taking care of your body—fueling it, challenging it, and resting it—makes you feel good.

If I could start my fitness journey over, I would focus on building a strong, resilient body and prioritizing long-term health over quick fixes. And guess what? That shift in mindset is what truly transforms both how you look and how you feel.

Take it from me: Take care of your body, and it will take care of you.

Coach Kalie

Sam