Fitness. Not One Size Fits All…

¨The first time I see a jogger smiling, I'll consider it.¨- Joan Rivers

Ever since I graduated college I wanted to enjoy running long distances. It seemed to have therapeutic qualities but each time I attempted to like it, it didn’t take. I even signed up for a 15K race with my sister-in-law to provide a gentle push into the lifestyle. Leading up to the race, I dreaded my training, the long runs felt like an eternity. Once race day approached and I started running with the fellow attendees, I was drinking the Kool-Aid. I found it so much easier to run alongside others with the same goal but thinking back to the training, it was miserable.

Lately, I have been waking up early before work to slowly but surely build up my endurance and increase my love for running. Some days are harder than others but getting outside in the morning has been a glimmer of excitement in my day. I started with small goals, focusing on running one or two miles at a time while slowly increasing each week. I am currently up to four miles each morning and by the end I feel refreshed and ready for more. Recently, I took a moment to reflect on the different training routines I have tested in the past seven years.

My fitness journey has taken different steps along the way; from being a collegiate athlete at a small Division III college to joining a gym post graduation with my sister-in-law. This was the first time I was working out without having a specific training goal in mind. I had always been striving to be the best on the field or achieve a starting spot in the lineup but after graduation, I was simply working out to stay in shape. It was a confusing time for me in my fitness journey but my sister-in-law introduced me to a small group fitness gym in Homewood, Illinois. Intense Conditioning was exactly what I needed at the time. A community of people that were striving for the same goals and holding me accountable was essential. I fell in love. After a couple years, my time in Illinois was coming to a close and that meant finding a new home within an unknown gym.

A short while later I moved to Dubuque, Iowa and established a love for CrossFit. It all began when I attempted to find a similar ‘Intense Conditioning’ family in Iowa and was referred to a small class that met twice per week doing similar workouts. I quickly fell in love with the group of people I was working out with but I wanted more. The instructor of the class suggested I try CrossFit, since we were training in the same facility and she thought I would fit right in. She was right and I was addicted. I was the strongest I had ever been and loved the community that surrounded me but of course my time in Iowa was also coming to an end. Moving to Wisconsin, I started my search from scratch, yet again. I was trying to find a new home within a gym I knew nothing about. It has always been a bit nerve racking walking into a new gym and not knowing anyone, being the ‘new kid’ all over again. In the end, I found a home for a short while and this is where they pushed me to love running.

I dove into OrangeTheory Fitness in Wisconsin and quickly gained traction in class; I was getting to know each instructor, desk attendant, and class participant in no time. Whenever I join gyms or group fitness classes, I pick a class time and will not stray from the routine. Mostly for the comfortability of knowing the instructor and familiarizing myself with the individuals in class. After some time getting adjusted, it turns into my happy place. With all these experiences, I have one frustration with the group fitness world.

Something I have noticed is that everyone thinks what they are doing is ‘the best thing’. There was passion embedded into each fitness group that created a sense of comradery within the people that surrounded me. Talking amongst other groups of people, involved in different group fitness experiences, there was always a sense of competition within the conversation. But why? Sure, I loved CrossFit but I also loved OrangeTheory. Why do I have to pick just one? The underlying judgement that is present within varying fitness groups goes against the main focus of living a healthy lifestyle. If someone has found joy in CrossFit but doesn’t feel the same about running, they should still be celebrated in the same light across all communities.

I have taken each experience from my fitness journey and combined them to do things that make me feel good. My focus is to lead a healthy lifestyle and find exercise that works best for my body and my mental health. While some people might sneer at OrangeTheory, it led me to my love for running which in all honesty is what kept me from trying it in the first place. “Twenty minutes on the treadmill? That’s not my thing, I’ll stick to lifting weights.” Once I tried it, I was hooked. Yes, I struggled on the treadmill in the beginning but I was able to track my progress and see how far I had come in such a short time.

This post is outside of the realm of what I typically talk about but I couldn’t help but think others have experienced the same thing. Not one experience was better than the other but they all led me to find what I truly enjoy in my fitness journey. This morning I spent an hour walking outside with the dog and I’m perfectly content with that. Finding balance in my routine has been one of the hardest aspects to improve upon but I have learned to listen to my body and give it rest when needed.

Everyone has their own opinion on what is best for their bodies and at times receiving insight can be valuable but it must come from a genuine desire to help others. At times the fitness world is filled with judgement and superiority that creates a negative connotation for others to join when it could be filled with support and curiosity. If you’re an Olympic Lifter and hate CrossFit, ask yourself why you hate it. One of the top athletes in the sport is a professional Olympic Lifter so there must be some merit behind the sport. Or you’re used to heavy lifting and don’t like OrangeTheory, but have you tried it?

I’ve learned to try things. As we all learned as children, don’t judge a book by its cover. That phrase becomes more relevant the older people get. Don’t allow preconceived ideas to flood your mind with doubt or judgement. Give it a try before you decide it’s not for you. I would have never found running if I decided it just wasn’t for me but as I’ve grown, my interests have expanded. The world is filled with too much negativity and judgement as it is, why add more?

“Healthy is an outfit that looks different on everybody.” -Unknown