I Love Being A Personal Trainer — But The Path To Get Here Was NOT Easy

Many years ago, I unintentionally formed the single most important habit in my life. I was 14, and I decided to stop taking the school bus home to sit around and sneak food—instead, I started to take the bus to the gym every afternoon. I started working out almost every day.

As a teenager, I truly struggled with my health, my weight, my appearance, and so many other things. I was overweight, and no one would let me forget it. Doctors, teachers, my parents, and other family members were always worried about me. Other kids were making fun of me. I wasn't comfortable in my own skin, and I wore baggy sweatpants and T-shirts all the time. I was sneaking food, and when someone made me feel worse about it, it would lead me to eat more. When I found fitness, everything turned around for me. All aspects of my life started to change. I found motivation, confidence, strength, friends, and eventually even a career. I found my path.

Fast-forward a few years, and I feel good about where I am. I own a personal training studio with awesome clients, I compete in many different lifting events, and I'm part of an amazing and inclusive fitness community. But getting here took a ton of drive; it took sticking to my best habits and fighting through periods of doubt and loss of motivation, but reaching my goals was a nonnegotiable. Here's what helped.

We all have families, jobs, friends, and other responsibilities that we put first, but the truth is, we can't take care of others unless we take care of ourselves first. I have learned how important it is to make time for me, and I coach my clients to do the same. Eventually making that time and working out becomes a habit. Everyone starts somewhere, but eventually if you can work in three to five times per week to focus on you and exercise, it becomes a normal part of your life.

Personally, I sit down with my calendar every Sunday and schedule my workouts. Putting the time into my calendar keeps me on track and helps me stay the path. Because of the habits that I built early on, working out has become such a normal part of my life that I can do it without thinking about it—like brushing my teeth.

I truly have an amazing job: I get to help people push past their struggles and become stronger, physically and mentally. We all need support, including me, to stay our paths, but getting started, finding the motivation, and being there for ourselves and one another can get us where we want to be.