01/25/2021
A short reflection by Steven Keshishian.
Hello
I hope all is well and everyone is staying safe. I decided to open up and talk about training and nutrition mentality. In October of 2018, I decided to change the way I ate and trained. I was fixated with the scale and online programs. It didn't matter if I was losing water weight, fat, or muscle. I wanted the scale to go down. I followed the keto diet and trained 6 times a week. I thought it was the best I could do. I ate strictly, and I definitely didn't enjoy the food. I ran completely on discipline. In retrospect, I would have changed so much. I understand that I learned these lessons I did through doing. I don't mean to discourage anyone who may be starting their own fitness journey. Don't get discouraged when things do not work at first. The journey to establish a healthy mindset and training is not the easiest, but I truly believe it is one of the most rewarding.
Here are a few things I learned that I would like to share.
Bring in foods you love into your plan.
It is not easy eating broccoli and chicken breast every day. I learned how to "remix" food to fit my macro distribution. I found out about sugar-free syrup and light mayo. I was too worried about my diet to try to experiment. It cost me many tasty meals and made my diet harder.
The best workouts are the ones you actually like.
training shouldn't be a drag. It is one of the most enjoyable parts of my day now. I learned to build workouts I enjoy. I used to follow an online template, and I was unhappy with the feeling. I started to build on my training, so I could enjoy what I did.
Try [New] things.
In the fall of 2019 my roommate, and fellow gym employee Rolando, encouraged me to join a dance class. I was hesitant, but we signed up together. A year later, I can say that the class helped forge a better understanding of my own body. I can also balance myself better now!
These are the things I learned. I hope it is helpful, and please feel free to share what you learned in the comment section below.