Small, consistent changes—like showing up regularly—can lead to transformative results.Exercise can improve mental health, boost energy and inspire healthier eating habits.Trying new activities, like boxing, can make fitness fun and help build confidence over time.
On a bleak January day two years ago, I stepped into a gym for the first time in more than a decade. I had zero intention of fulfilling a New Year’s resolution, losing weight or getting in the best shape of my life. But that’s exactly what ended up happening.
I had always been curious about boxing, so I did what plenty of parents do: signed my kid up for a class. Since we were already there, I decided to stick around and try the adult class that followed. I liked it enough to go back, but figured I’d just sign up until the weather was nice enough to do outdoor activities. A few weeks later, my son quit. I didn’t.
I’ve never been much of a gym person. I got into fitness reluctantly, coming from a family where no one played sports. And the only time I’d ever thrown a punch in my life was in college, when my roommates and I did some Tae Bo workouts on tape.
But boxing fascinated me. The workouts were never the same twice, and it wasn’t just about throwing punches (although that was a great stress reliever). You need strength and speed, stamina and footwork.
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The first time I picked up a jump rope, I couldn’t last 30 seconds. I had never done a burpee in my life. I felt so awkward and self-conscious in group classes where everyone else seemed to know what they were doing. I was just trying to avoid knocking myself out with a dumbbell. But I didn’t let my embarrassment get the better of me. I kept reminding myself that’s why I was here. I jumped rope facing a wall with a decal that became my mantra: “In boxing, as in life, defeat is not declared when you get knocked down, but when you fail to get up.”
I was coming off a period of being knocked down. After a bad breakup, I had spent two years feeling depressed and barely leaving my house. But now, I looked forward to going to the gym. I always left feeling better than when I came in—even if I still couldn’t last long on the jump rope. And gradually, almost without noticing, I got better at it. I was lighter on my feet, snapping my punches, and one day, I noticed that my clothes fit looser. I was shocked to realize I had dropped 10 pounds just by showing up to a one-hour class three times a week.
The weather warmed up, but I had no intention of stopping. I was having too much fun—and always had a new goal to work toward. I still remember the first time I was able to crank out 10 pushups in a row. Me! The same girl who could never pass the Presidential Fitness test. I started running on days when we didn’t have class, and before long, I was lapping the guys and killing it at sprints. I even signed up for salsa lessons solely to improve my footwork.
Regular exercise was having an effect on everything in my life. My body craved healthier fuel, so I found myself eating more salads, smoothies and lean protein. When I noticed how even a single night of drinking affected my performance the next day, suddenly I didn’t want wine with dinner. And after living in sweats for almost two years, I treated myself to a wardrobe of fun workout gear that I could coordinate with my boxing gloves.
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Less than a year after I signed up at that gym, I was stronger than I had ever been in my life. I had visible abs for the first time. Defined arms. More energy than I’d had in years. And a vibrant social life with all the fitness-minded friends I’d made along the way. We signed up for races together—and I ran one that had been on my bucket list since I was in college. I’d never been fit enough to try it before, but now, at age 45, I finally was.
There was no mystical secret to my transformation. If you had told me on my first day—when I was struggling to turn a jump rope—that this would be the outcome, I don’t think I would ever have believed it. But just one small change after another added up. So now, whenever I see someone new at the gym who looks intimidated, I make sure to tell them what my coach told me: There’s only one thing you have to do to reach your goal. Show up.
