Healthier body, healthier mind
Shudipto Priyodarshan
This is not a piece about exercise tips, healthy diets or which protein shakes are the best. There are articles by far more qualified people than me that you can find online. This is just some random guy telling you about his experience going to the gym.
One pertinent issue plaguing todays youth is obesity. I, too, am overweight. While body shaming is a repulsive thing to do, an unhealthy lifestyle should not be encouraged. I realised quite a while ago that I needed to work on losing weight, but could never muster the willpower to do anything. I made a few weak attempts previously when I tried to walk regularly, but never stuck with it. And until recently, I was too shy and afraid to join the gym.
There are a lot of people who are comfortable with their appearance and do not let it affect their personality or lifestyle. I, for one, am not one of those people. When you are overweight, or in some cases, too skinny, you can suffer from low self-esteem. It can actually prevent you from enjoying life to the fullest, can hold you back from important social experiences. For a long time, this issue haunted me. Therefore, I was grateful to my friend when he finally convinced me to join him in going to the gym.
Going to the gym is a big commitment. And from my personal experience, I can say that it is quite helpful to have a companion alongside you, be that a friend or family member. That way, you are able to help each other stay sincere and motivated when it comes to working out. A major selling factor for me was the convenience of the location. The gym is about a five-minutes walk away from my home, hence, the timing is flexible. What I have come to learn is that the main struggle is actually making the decision to get up from your comfy bed, and drag yourself to the gym. Once you actually get there, the rest is not that tough. Obviously, you cannot suddenly start lifting like (Arnold) Schwarzenegger, but once you get a hang of your routine, it becomes fun. Once the adrenaline starts pumping, you will find yourself pushing the limits of your capabilities.
And let us discuss routines and diets. In the beginning, I mentioned that I am not qualified to give you advice regarding these things, because I am still a novice myself. Despite going to the gym for a while now, I still just sort of wing it. I primarily run on the treadmill, and the rest varies.
Now begs the question, have I actually made any progress if I am still so lax? I cannot say I am a success story, considering I have lost only seven kilograms, but that is still something. There are tangible results. Most of my pants are now looser, and a few shirts, too. When you try out an old piece of clothing, one that you had outgrown, and it finally fits you, that feels like a real accomplishment. I know I have to do much better, but I cannot deny that I have become more confident than before. I am happier. When you are walking out of the gym after a couple of hours of hard work, you feel pumped and excited! Another bad habit that our generation has developed is staying up late, going to the gym can help you regain a healthier schedule.
It does not take a genius to spell out the physical health benefits of going to the gym, hence, I concentrated more on how it develops your mental fortitude. I started university recently, and I can say that I am enjoying life more on account of being less socially awkward. You dont have to be obese or underweight to join the gym, there is always room for improvement when it comes to your health.
