When I first started working out with a personal trainer, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was an experiment. I was simply trying something new to improve my health, but it had a bigger impact than I expected.
For the first time in my life, I have actually been consistent with my fitness routine. I’ve been training five days a week for over a year now. In that time, my strength and endurance have improved, and I’ve lost more than 20 pounds. I feel pretty good for someone who’s almost 60.
I work out in a group fitness class at 5 AM each weekday. It’s a big gym, and our trainer configures the space differently depending on the workout we’re doing each day. He handles all the details, from choosing the exercises to planning the sets and reps. All you have to do is show up and put in the work.
The classes are challenging. We’re encouraged to push ourselves, but not to the point of injury. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that consistency matters more than intensity.
Change takes time, usually much longer than you expect. If you’re not consistent with your workouts over the long haul, you won’t see much progress. Your fitness routine must be sustainable.
Now that I’m older, my body needs more time to recover. I have to eat well, stay hydrated, and get at least eight hours of quality sleep. Without those basics in place, it becomes much harder to show up at 5 AM.
These days, my focus has shifted from chasing big gains to maintaining the progress I’ve made. I’m learning to listen to my body and adjust when needed. If I can keep showing up, stay consistent, and avoid injury, that feels like success.