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I Didn’t Exercise Until I Was 27. Here’s What I Wish I Knew When I Started.
Home » Sweat Often » I Didn’t Exercise Until I Was 27. Here’s What I Wish I Knew When I Started.
By Meg Reichert, MS, CPT, owner of Sage and Thyme Wellness
I spent my childhood doing two things: swimming and singing. But by the time I got to high school and needed to put more time into one, I had to choose. I chose singing.
At the time, it was a simple decision. My friends were there, and I didn’t have to wake up early before school to practice. But looking back, I totally regret it. I nearly failed gym class. I was one of the only girls in the class who couldn’t run a mile in under 12 minutes. Heck, I couldn’t even run a mile. I was a ball of anxiety. I lacked self-esteem. Walking into a gym, I convinced myself everyone was watching me, judging me. So, I didn’t go…until I was 27 years old.
When I turned 27, I had finished grad school and was working full-time at a children’s hospital, interning as a mental health therapist, and studying for my licensing exam. I was also chain-smoking and having panic attacks.
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I knew I had to make a change, so I recruited a friend who showed up at my apartment every morning, pounded on the door, and made me run. I hated every second of it. It took me six weeks to be able to run a mile without walking. I was miserable. And my feet hurt.
But I was still committed to making a change, and eventually, I did. Here are the lessons I learned along the way.
You need to find a workout that you actually like.
I hated running. But when I joined the military-style gym on the ground floor of my building, I really started to thrive. It was a mixture of HITT (high-intensity interval training) and Crossfit. There was enough change during the hour that I didn’t quite feel like I was going to die, and I didn’t get bored.
After a month, I signed up for an unlimited plan, and after six months, I was down 40 pounds and five dress sizes. I wasn’t necessarily exercising for the sake of losing weight, but it was a nice by-product.
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Make fitness a true priority.
Heading to the gym won’t feel natural at first, especially if you’re short on time (who isn’t!?). I certainly felt overwhelmed in those first few months, but being rigid with my schedule helped make the habit stick. I planned out my gym days at the beginning of the week, added them to my planner, and signed up for classes online. I used to think I was too busy to work out. But now I feel like I’m too busy to get sick.
It will get easier.
It turns out, most bodies enjoy movement. And mine is one of them. After exercising consistently for a few weeks, my body began to crave movement. That sore feeling I was getting after a workout, was now happening if I didn’t work out. My legs and back grew tight. I was uncomfortable. If I took a weekend off, my body was ready to get moving on Monday morning.
The gym is more welcoming than you think.
I had built up in my head that the people at the gym were self-centered and judgmental. I know, I sound like a horrible person. I’m not, I promise. I just have some deep-seated insecurities. I was surprised that everyone at my new gym was so welcoming, kind, and friendly. I could ask questions and no one rolled their eyes. If I needed help, I could always ask. Remember: The first step is always the hardest.
It’s never too late to start.
I didn’t start working out until I was 27, and now I’ve been exercising five days a week for six years. I’ve deadlifted over 300 pounds and I’ve ran countless 5Ks and two half-marathons. My new-found love of exercising segued into a passion for nutrition and fueling my body with real food. I quit smoking, my panic attacks stopped, and I currently exercise with some of the most amazing women I know. And yes, it’s actually fun, something I never would have believed when I first embarked on this journey. So, who wants to join me?
(Photos: Shutterstock & Meg Reichert)
The Nutritious Life Editors are a team of healthy lifestyle enthusiasts who not only subscribe to — and live! — the 8 Pillars of a Nutritious Life, but also have access to some of the savviest thought leaders in the health and wellness space — including our founder and resident dietitian, Keri Glassman. From the hottest trends in wellness to the latest medical science, we stay on top of it all in order to deliver the info YOU need to live your most nutritious life.
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