Wednesday, September 19, 2018

My Fitness Journey -- Part 1

June 12, 2018. I mark the first year of traversing a path that I never thought would be part of my long list of work experiences. This is also the first business venture with my younger brother as my partner in crime. Who would have thought that we would run a fitness gym together? Specially, me?! Whose definition of a workout is either washing the dishes or doing laundry by hand. 

Unimaginable, really! But I have become a fitness trainor first by FATE and later on by FAITH. Cliche as it may sound, but really, everything happens for a reason. 

To narrate the back story would be long and emotionally draining. At the beginning, I felt I've got a lot on my plate. Let's just put it this way -- it's FATE. This is a sample of a situation where the option has no gray area. The number of times I said NO has no match to this destiny that has brought so many lessons and good memories in just a year and so. I call this my Courage Zone even up to this day. But as time passes by, it has become my choice to be where I am now. I have learned to embrace the challenge of doing the unthinkable. 

Just a Speck of History.
A preview of myself during the first few months: 
(1) I was a waiter, waiting for our clients to come and after an hour will hand me over two orange bills hidden in the compartment of their motorcycle. 
(2) I was the official utility person in charge of returning weights to its place, shining the mirrors, general cleaning, and doing the errands.
(3) I was the chat option of a man catching his breath after finishing three sets of bench press. 

Unlike my brother, I literally started from zero. I was so adamant to learn my job description as "Fitness Trainor." I thought being here during my shift would be enough. For months, I was simply a "bantay." Until one day, a young man with explicit fitness goal entered our gym and tweaked my stubborness. Suddenly, I felt I was oblige to mentor. The truth was, I was challenged because he was big boned and had to work some fat off. His arrival caused a stir for me to embrace my new role. It was a wake up call. And so... I researched day and night, I studied and tried the exercises myself. Everytime we would meet, he treated me like a teacher, like a real one. Unknown to my student, I, myself, was just like him -- a novice, a newbie. 

Fast forward, one year after, my student's waist line of 45 inches is now 32 which means a new set of clothes in his closet. But the result didn't come easy for my very first student. I bet a slice of pizza and a stick of barbeque took the backseat in most days. Temptation is strong. Struggle is real. Today, he is my biggest loser who is truly worthy of praise for the patience and perseverance.  Anyone who has witnessed his journey to this dramatic physical change will surely be happy for him. And like this guy, I also got my own transformation stories. I already gave away some of my large size clothes because I've been wearing small to extra small since last year. The better news is, I am healthier. My sinusitis and asthma attack have been limited. I am able to build a nest egg for some pleasure and other important matter rather than a trip to a drugstore.  Yes, I benefited from my student's fitness goal. Not only did I change physically, my mindset has gained so much more. And I am writing this to express my gratitude. I am grateful that fate brought me here and the faith of this young man in me. Sometimes, it takes just one person to trust (or curse) you to make you change your ways. 

God is good (and mysterious). He has given me an opportunity to serve others through a business I once dislike. I was skeptical, but now I am full of faith that I am here for a reason. Because I believe it is God who has put me in my position. Running this business for a year has neither made me (us) live in the lap of luxury nor an expert in this field. Honestly, I/We still have a lot learn. Meanwhile, I will trust the process. Promotion will come in His time. 

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