As a child, I was heavily involved in team sports.
My parents signed me up for soccer, field hockey, ice hockey, volleyball and basketball.
I continued these sports throughout high school and also joined the track and cross-country teams. I was constantly attending practices, games and tournaments. I was skilled enough in volleyball to continue playing throughout college. The practices, conditioning and physical demands at the collegiate level were intense. I was in peak physical condition and never worried about counting calories. I ate healthy and maintained a good weight and toned muscles. After graduation, I joined the workforce and my lifestyle completely changed. I was suddenly focused on work responsibilities, overtime and potential promotions. For my job, I spend long hours sitting at a desk and staring at a computer monitor. It didn’t take long for me to gain weight and start having some aches and pains. I’d get so sore by the end of the day, that I had trouble sleeping at night. My productivity and mood suffered. I realized that I needed to make some changes. I knew that my health and fitness had to become a priority. It wasn’t easy to get started. Setting an alarm extra early and dragging myself out of bed in the morning was a challenge. However, once I started working out before work, I saw a huge improvement in how I felt. I suddenly had more energy and felt happier. I lost weight and gained strength and stamina. I started sleeping better at night. I now consider my morning workout as part of my daily routine. It’s no different than brushing my teeth or washing my hair. It’s something that is important and necessary to my well-being.