I haven't been back to the gym in 18 months

February 28th. 2020:

That was the last date that I went to the gym in 2020. I had a goal for 2020: I would lose a lot of weight. I was determined to because I had a lot of things that I wanted to do in 2020:

1. Get ready for “Hot Girl Summer”

2. 4th of July was on Saturday and I wanted to go the beach and wear a nice bathing suit

3. Vacation with friends

4. Halloween was on Saturday and I wanted more than anything to wear a lady Gaga costume from her “Stupid Love” music video.

5. I also had a huge goal where I would walk 10,000 steps a day

The reason for stopping? Covid was in the U.S. and a couple of weeks before that, my family and I were so sick that we actually thought we were dying. So, I stopped going to the gym. 2 weeks later, we were on lock down. I was devastated. I needed the gym badly in order to lose weight. I tried many ways to lose weight, but it was nothing like the gym to make me want to lose weight. I gave up. The only thing that I did was go for a walk. The biggest irony in this whole situation: I actually got very badly from going to the gym. I loved going to the gym but the gym was sick of me so much it literally made me sick.

August 2021

Well, I decided that I would go back to the gym. I was vaccinated and since my niece and nephew were going back to school, I decided to go back to the gym. I was nervous; so was my family. My family worried if I would bring anything back to them, but I took precautions:

1. I wore a mask at the gym at all times

2. I washed the machines before and after I used machines

3. I washed my hands and used hand sanitizer whenever I touched the machine

4. I made sure to keep my distance

I have not been sick at all (knock on wood) and neither has anyone in my family. I have been going to the gym for almost a month and now my results:

1. I LOST 6 POUNDS in… 2 WEEKS! I could not believe it. I was walking more than 10,000 steps a day for 5 days a week, I also measured my cardio vs weights (60% cardio; 40% weights).

2. I have been able to sleep better. I heard that when you are active, your sleep regimen is better.

3. My appetite changed. I was no longer eating unhealthy, I was drinking smoothies/juicing and eating one meal a day. It was enough for me.

4. My clothes are becoming looser

5. My skin is clearer

6. PMS is also a breeze for me too. Since exercising, I do not have pain and really did not need to take any medication

I have the drive again. I feel myself being motivated and the fact that I was losing weight in that matter of time has made me feel so much better. Yet, I am scared as hell. I fear that the gym might go back to being closed down again. I fear that without the gym...I will relapse and gain weight. I need the gym for so many reasons:

1. It is the only way for me to lose weight. I can not lose weight any other way. I have tried

2. It is the only thing that keeps me social. I have friends, but we live a distance from each other.

3. It keeps me mellow and relaxed

Without the gym, I do not recognize myself in a bad way; with the gym, I do not recognize myself...in a good way. Hopefully, the gym can stay open and I can still work on myself.