Fitness has been an integral part of my life for the past few years.  I had been active my whole life, but by no means an athlete.  I always had loved how a good workout made me feel. Unfortunately, as a physician, the ongoing demands of the profession often meant that fitness was placed on the backburner. As life got busier and busier, maintaining any semblance of fitness became less and less tenable. There was always some excuse and never enough time.  The emotional demands of work were also wearing on me, and eventually I became determined to find a way to take better care of myself.

I figured the only way to get a regular workout in was to do it in the morning.  For me, this meant getting to the gym by 6am during the work week.  I tried going on my own, but it was so hard to self-motivate.  Plus, I didn’t know what to do besides cardio! I wasn’t seeing any results.  I had been hearing that lifting weights was the way to get strong and toned and I wanted to find an optimal workout that could be part of my daily routine. One that would incorporate a little of everything that I enjoyed about working out.

So I set a goal.  Baby steps…I hired a trainer and started going one morning per week, then eventually twice a week for two years. The workouts were primarily weight training.  I was held accountable for the workouts and this always made me show up.  It was REALLY hard at first, but after a while, it felt so great starting my day with exercise, and I felt that it energized me and fueled me for the entire day. I loved how lifting weights got me stronger too!

Then I discovered Rippedphl through Classpass, and loved the combination of cardio intervals, weight training, and motivational teaching.  Better yet, you had the option to just lift weights, if desired.  Each Rippedphl class was different, challenging, and never easy.  And believe me, I would never push myself on a treadmill like that on my own. I wanted to keep coming back for more.

Shortly thereafter, I became a member at Rippedphl, and I have been hooked ever since.  For the past year and a half, I’ve religiously gone to four or five Rippedphl workouts per week. I sign up ahead of time so that I am accountable for showing up. Being at the early morning workouts during the week has now gradually become a part of my daily routine.  Don’t get me wrong, on some mornings it is TOUGH getting out of bed. But there is never a day that I finish my workout and regret it.  My day is always brighter afterwards and it makes the everyday challenges of life a little easier to deal with.  And after all, why not do something that is good for your body, keeps you fit, and makes you feel great?  It’s a win-win-win.

I have also seen positive changes in my body over time and it is an amazing feeling.  Those positive changes then start trickling into other aspects of life. For example, when I feel energized and healthy, I try to eat healthy.  Then positive changes slowly start to occur at work, in personal relationships, and in mental clarity, etc.  That’s #whyigetripped.

I feel the best I’ve ever felt— and I can’t imagine not having my morning workouts as part of my day.  It started off with a small desire, a goal, and some determination. With little steps and some consistency, I made a significant lifestyle change in a relatively short period of time.  My goal now is to continue prioritizing fitness and wellness, and integrating them into my personal and professional life.  Whatever your end goal may be, if I could do it, you can too!