Top 10 Life Lessons I Learnt From 9 Months in the Gym

Top 10 Life Lessons I Learnt From 9 Months in the Gym

Sujata is fairly new in the fitness world but has become passionate about it now. She now promotes health and fitness in her circle actively.

I have been a regular in the gym and religiously working out for a good 9 months now. All these months have been a physical journey and many emotional journeys and growth as well. Having the opportunity to encounter people from different backgrounds and age groups has also been a refreshing experience. I did miss out on working out for a month and a half because I tested positive for Covid, and I had to be on rest. But irrespective of that, since the time I joined the gym, I have learned some very essential life lessons that will stay with me for a long time to come now.

Of them all, I have listed the top 10 lessons that I picked from the gym culture that has become a part of who I am now.

1. Consistency is the Key

Day in and day out – every day since I joined the gym, I have been working out. I do have a great mentor who makes sure I push my limits every single time. I learned from my everyday work that consistency has been the most important element in my fitness and health journey. I did work out before, but I would stop after a month or so. I tried following the fads like losing weight in 3 months or flat tummy in 15 days kind of ideas but never realized that health and fitness is not a 3-month solution but a consistent long-term effort. This time around, I stuck by consistently and have been able to see the results.

2. Importance of Focus and Discipline

The concept of MMC (Mind – Muscle - Connection) is absolutely on point. Though I have been very disciplined when it came to workouts, focus does shift at times. Due to stress, or workload, or due to lack of sleep, on some days, it would be tough to focus on the workout and build the Mind-Muscle-Connection. And this reflects on the day’s result – the feeling of not working out enough even after doing all the exercises and getting tired much sooner than other days are visible. But, with focus, I have seen my body change over time and have seen faster results. Every time that I lost focus, it was obvious that my workout and results got affected. Within 5 months of everyday workout, I could see visible changes in myself. This made me realize the importance of focus and discipline, and staying put even when we do not feel like it. Applying this to my work and personal life has been life-altering and has helped me in my progress to a great extent.

3. Mentor is the most important Individual in one’s Journey

To my luck, my PT and my fitness mentor have been one of the most sincere and dedicated professionals I have ever come across. I used to be a shy and under wrap kind of a gym member who would usually hide away initially and be just too conscious about every move. But over a few weeks itself, I gained confidence with my workouts. There has never been a lack of motivation from my mentor, which keeps me going every day. I had always been a bit fussy and complained about not doing cardio and only wanting to continue weight training. My PT patiently worked around that and made sure that I complete my cardio drills too, but he also incorporated weights in my cardio training to make sure I complete cardio. And now, I enjoy my cardio days too. He also ensures my focus is on point and never shied away from reminding me that I might lose my focus whenever I get distracted. A mentor who gets you and understands your preferences and works around that, yet makes sure you have fun and do what is necessary for the results is a blessing. This is what makes the journey fruitful, both for the mentor and for the mentee.

4. Results matter, but Process is paramount

When I first started, I did not have a set goal in mind. A friend of mine used to go to the gym that I go to now, so I decided to join her and work out for as long as I could and feel like it. But as I progressed and trained with my PT, in a matter of 5 months, I lost 10 kgs straight. That was an achievement in itself. But what I realized is more than the lost weight. It is the process that made it so much fun to stick around. The process of making progress with increasing my capacity made me happier than the result. I have reached a plateau phase over the last 3 months now. But that has not been able to demotivate me. Since the process has been an essential part of it, I go to the gym and work out without fail.

5. Sets and Reps – Significance of Completing a Task

I did have a habit where I sometimes would start a task and not complete it when it got harder. But after I started training with my mentor, he made sure I completed every repetition and set of the exercises. And now, after more than half a year, it has become my habit, no matter how tired I get.

 My mentor has also gained confidence in me that I would complete the rounds. And this has become a life habit now. I do not take up all the tasks I see anymore, but whatever I do pick up, I make sure I take it to the finish line. No matter how hard it gets, I would make sure to complete the task at hand.

6. Passion develops as we see Progress

Funny how I started with a 2.5kg dumbbell. And that was the first month. And in a matter of just a few months, I could do an 82 kg deadlift. The highest I ever went so far is a 92 kg deadlift. And when it comes to lower body workout, I have managed a 230kg leg press, which just feels amazing!! I am trying to say that when I started in November 2020, I did not have any like or dislike towards the gym. It was a neutral space for me, and I was there because I had a friend and a gym partner. I went there to have fun and would have just stayed in for a few weeks. But slowly, I started to see my progress. I started noticing the strength I was building and the flexibility I was gaining. And now, gyming and working out is a part of my routine and has grown into a passion.

I realized that we do not know what we are interested in, but if we put in the time and effort, we see progress, and we do become passionate about it. As we see ourselves progressing towards the next level, it keeps getting exciting.

7. The Next Level is Always Exciting

In this journey of 9 months in the gym, I have seen progress greatly. I remember when I join the gym. It was the 15th of November 2020. The first day, I was super nervous even though I had a friend for support. I was not sure if I could do any exercise or be able to lift any weight at all. I was not even sure if I would continue it till 3 months. But as I slowly progressed, I was able to do almost all the exercises I was asked by my trainer to do. That was the first level of progress, where I could at least complete all the exercises I was supposed to in the given time slot. The next level of progress came in with the increase in weights I lifted and the increase in repetitions. At present, I am working hard to focus primarily on improving and polishing the techniques, and there has been the introduction of a lot of new exercises of increased difficulty. From not knowing if I would have continued working out for 3 months to being excited about the increasing complexity of the exercises now, I have discovered my passion. I realized that moving up the ladder and conquering the next level of any activity makes us want more of it and keeps us excited about it, which keeps us going.

8. Injuries mean you have been Brave enough

Lifting light weights won’t injure us. Doing basic walks won’t hurt us. Dropping a 2.5 kg dumbbell won’t break our bones. It is only when we level up, we actually get hurt. Dropping a 25kg plate on the feet is painful. Twisting the back while deadlifting 82kg is painful. Doing circuit training is what makes us breathless. It is not the easy stuff that makes us uncomfortable. It is not the lighter things that define us. The heavier weights, complex workouts, and uncomfortable breathless movements injure us and help us grow. I dropped a 25kg plate once on my foot, and I had a swollen foot for 4 days straight. But I showed up every day because I felt I had leveled up, and not showing was not what I wanted to do. I felt super proud and brave to have continued despite the injury. And this prepared me for more such injuries.

9. Environment affects your progress

My first day in the gym was very formal. That was obvious because I was a new member and I had just started. But it was a very positive environment. Slowly, I became friends with the people there, and it became a very friendly, casual setup that I enjoy, which is why I keep returning to the gym every morning. Interacting with other gym members has also been a nice experience. This keeps the entire environment very positive, and the workout becomes fun. There can be some off days. After all, every day is unique in its own ways. And that affects too. But majorly, the gym always has a very positive environment, making the time there enjoyable and the workout fruitful. Any activity to be successfully done requires a positive and pleasant environment.

10. It is Okay sometimes to Break down, But Get Back Up

There have been bad days when my focus is completely lost and no motivation works. On top of that, there would be work stress as well. Moving out of my room gets difficult, and I would not want to interact with anyone. I tend to cut off my friends as well. But when I would still be gyming on those days, that would make people around me angry too. I feel bad being the negative energy, so the easiest way out for me would be to take a few days off. I knew if I continued interacting with people while I was emotionally down, I would ruin good things as well. Not everybody understands. But, once my mind is back on track, I make sure I am back in the gym on time and continue with my routine. It feels even better to regain focus and continue all the workouts at the same pace and strength, making a comeback even stronger. It is okay to break down every once in a while, but the essential part is getting back up and stronger.

These have been some of the life lessons from the gym I learned that have made a life-changing impact. I have become more organized, and my dedication has leveled up. Continuing has become my 2nd nature now, and showing up every day no matter what has just become me. I learned through all these days in the gym that ups and downs and good and bad days are just part and parcel of being in space for long enough as well as life, but the strength lies in showing up and staying put.

I had a habit of always running away over a small tiff or a small issue, but being in the gym and following the disciplined lifestyle made me realize what matters is staying put and continuing no matter what. Waves are part and parcel of everything but what matters is how we deal with them and continue without giving up.