SportsHow I keep fitMy journey to fitness

My journey to fitness

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By EJ Alvin Catan

Growing up, I was what they called suki sa hospital. I remember my parents taking me back and forth to my pediatrician, following my doctors at their clinics or at the hospital. I already got used to syringes, vaccines, antibiotics, and other medicines.

My exposure to this kind of lifestyle instilled in my mind that I was not a normal kid, and I was to be monitored with extra care. My parents always made sure to not push me beyond my limits, and that it was my only option in life — if I wanted to live long. I felt like I was always kept in a “safe space”, with regular checkups, vitamins, etc.

But I also wanted to  experience what kids my age were engaged in. When I entered high school, I joined a handful of extra-curricular like Scouting, and the marching band.

It was in one jamboree when I experienced the tipping point of my health. I just collapsed during formation, and did not recover until a few hours later. My parents had my heart checked when I returned home, along with a lineup of other checkups; yet, my doctors did not find anything “wrong” with me.

I never experienced fainting spells again but had to deal with much worse medical complications. I got hospitalized twice for dengue, my appendix almost blew up and had to be removed, I got a bad case of stomach ulcers, and finally, I was diagnosed with a fatty liver and cross-allergy as a result of all the trauma.

This was my health and well-being, and it was never stable. The medical complications pushed my skin sensitivity to a high level.

In the midst of all these complications, and sensitive immunity, I never allowed it to get in the way of my youth. I chose to be physically active regardless of the difficulty.

In senior high, I joined many school organizations, and met a lot of people, always wearing a smile on my face to mask my vulnerabilities. Then I began working out to make my body stronger.

My journey to fitness started at home with a few push-ups, and other no-equipment exercises. My mother then invited me to a short morning walking routine with her friends. We would walk, jog, and brisk walk about four kilometers.

Whenever I felt a fresh breeze of cool air in Valencia, I knew I made the right choice of getting physical.

Following our usual 5am jogs, I noticed a huge change in my overall health in my everyday life. I started to feel a happier and energetic me — not the usual shy and despondent or lethargic kid.

My mother and I started jogging more regularly by the end of the pandemic, and as the months passed, I found myself gaining more speed.

I realized that I would feel exhilarated whenever I break a sweat. On the side, I also found myself being able to run faster. I was gaining speed that I never imagined I would be able to do.

With each passing day, I found myself watching video content about how physical exercise benefits us. I watched motivational vlogs showing how coaches do their runs, and what inspires them to persevere. I was inspired by all their transformation, and I wanted to do the same for myself. From then on, I had one goal in mind: it was not to be jacked or lean but simply to be physically and functionally fit, and to live a healthy life.

I was aware that the challenges on consistency, proper diet, and progress would prove most difficult. These became my priority, as my goal in exercising is to be fit, and not sickly.

For my first step, I learned to have a goal in mind. I needed  to develop consistency and to be disciplined in my regimen, as I was also well aware of the saying that patience is a virtue. I have learned to appreciate the entire process for me to achieve the desired outcome. So whenever I ran, I would not expect to have a six-pack abs after four weeks. I would just take it as another step closer to achieving what I want to happen.

Another way of ensuring my consistency was to track my progress. When I started, I used a mobile application to track my jogs. Up until today, I’m happy I recorded every run and jog that I made. Tracking progress is key when you want to set goals. “You can’t really know where you are going until you know where you have been.”  — Maya Angelou

The next challenge I faced was proper dieting. When you are a sports enthusiast living in a typical Filipino home, the dining table can be your worst nightmare. Filipino food is not only delicious, it always feels like a crime not to partake of what our loving family members prepared for us to feast on at the table.

So I found a way around that challenge: To be able to remove myself from the temptation of devouring on those high-calorie and fatty foods and sweets, I learned to satisfy my hunger pangs with lean protein — vegetables  and fruits are beneficial for a controlled diet. I base this solely on my experience as I noticed a drastic change in my eating habits when I started to prioritize lean proteins and vegetables.

Scientifically, a healthy diet is one of the foundations of becoming fit. Developing disciplined and healthy eating habits improves overall health and well-being, and results in weight control.

Next is progression. I consider progress as a challenge because exercising can be draining sometimes. It is normal to feel stagnant in our fitness journey. It is when we consider progress as a challenge that we can develop the eagerness to do better, kind of similar to consistency.

I had to learn when to step out of my comfort zone. I learned to push forward with the right exercises. For every five kilometer that I do, there is a 25-km run I must conquer eventually.

Progress and goals go hand in hand. Being able to track my progress is most important to achieving fitness. It was recommended that I only go beyond 10 percent of my capabilities once every two weeks when running. Although it looks small numerically, any amount of development is progress, and should not be invalidated.

Apart from self-discipline, the very supportive role of my parents mattered on top of it all. Knowing that just took the heavy load of the real challenges off my shoulders.

For example, since I’m a full-time student, I’m not able to afford the proper running shoes, or the dri-fit shirts, or the stiff registration fees. Finances aside, a support system can also mean people close to me who listen to my yearnings, and who believe I can achieve it.

For me, these are my parents, and close friends who pursue similar goals,  like Nuria, Thea, and JM. Finding this close bunch to run with has helped us develop the values of accountability and encouragement, and the need for expressing shared experiences and knowledge.

Running friends can suggest proper routes, techniques, and most importantly, can accompany you for purposes of safety.

Although I have never had a certified running coach, I consider my mother as my mentor, as she was the first person who encouraged me to jog, and eventually, run with her.

From 8:30-minute/km. runs into 5:44-minute/km. after two years. From 3Ks to a full marathon/42K. It never started in my favor but I believe that simply showing up, and working hard have helped make a difference.

Last year, I finished my first 24-kilometer run in Cebu, followed by a 22-kilometer run here in Dumaguete. Finally, I conquered this year’s Cebu City Marathon in the full marathon/42-kilometer category.

Since my running journey started two years ago, my mental and physical health have greatly improved. Running has given me another chance, an opportunity to test my limits, and grow better as a person.

So let us celebrate small victories, track the ups and downs of your fitness journey. No dragon is ever too hard to slay. Never let our problems get the best of us. No matter where we are in our fitness journey, let’s not compare ourself to others. As we  run that race, let’s just focus on our self, remembering our personal goals. We don’t need other people’s  permission to break free from  limits that have been imposed on us. We can set ourselves apart from others, and start that walk, jog, or run. The only enemy we truly have is our negative thoughts. From a runner to another, conquer one kilometer at a time.

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Author’s email: [email protected]

 

 

 

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