How Fitness Can Shape Your Life

Everyone knows that eating healthy and staying active is beneficial for living a long, healthy life. From going to the gym and getting your workout weekly, to eating a high-protein diet, a healthy lifestyle can go a very long way. Living a healthy lifestyle can not only improve your physical health but also your mental health and social well-being. I have experienced changes in my overall health when I started living a healthy lifestyle. These changes don't usually come quickly, but they come at a slow gradual rate. There have also been many testimonies that I have heard where people had overcome addictions to live a healthy lifestyle, and it has always been a very rewarding experience for them.

The purpose of living a healthy lifestyle is to improve your overall quality of life and prevent medical issues that occur as you get older. For example, engaging in any physical activity, whether that's a sport, simply exercising at the gym, or adapting to a healthier diet can make significant improvements in your life. This can include preventing cardiovascular diseases and various forms of cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), incorporating around 150 minutes of moderate physical activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous activities every week can cause significant improvements in your physical health. This will help the body build physical strength and endurance, and enhance the body's efficiency in handling insulin, reducing inflammation, and maintaining a balanced weight.

I will also share how physical fitness has enhanced and even changed my life. For most of my adulthood, I was overweight and did not maintain a healthy diet. My overall quality of life has not been the best, nor has it been easy. In 2020, I made my first attempt at living a healthy lifestyle by changing my diet to mostly high-protein foods and incorporating exercise into my life. Unfortunately, in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the world to shut down, and all kinds of physical activity that I had was gone. I went to the gym four to five days a week before the global shutdown took place. Three years later, in March of 2023, I decided to try again and do my best to have the discipline to live a healthy lifestyle. Luckily, I was able to make a lot of progress and the hard work truly paid off. At my heaviest, I was 220 lbs. Keep in mind, I'm 5'6". After 8 months of hard work and discipline, I was able to lose 70 lbs. and weighed 150 lbs. This was not easy as there were a lot of moments where I made mistakes and had to learn from them. I also learned that living a healthy lifestyle is more of a mental mindset than anything else. You could go to the gym or play a sport professionally, but if you do not have the right mindset, it can be very difficult to live a healthy lifestyle.

I am proud of all the progress I have made, and I have also supported those who are on a similar journey as I was. Educating yourself on your health is important, whether that's physical health or your mental health. Being able to work on yourself and live a better quality of life is extremely rewarding, and although it can take a very long time to achieve this, (from months to possibly years) it is all worth it in the end.