For the majority of my life, I considered myself an athlete. Having played volleyball since I was 7, intense workouts was the norm. Training 3-4 hours a day, 5 days a week, my body hit a wall and I was making my way into college volleyball, I hurt my back with a herniated disc. That was the end of it. Volleyball was my first love, my life, my identity. Anyone that knows me can attest this.
Losing volleyball was hard on me, emotionally but it was also hard on me physically. For about 11 years of my life, I trained side by side of a trainer and a coach. They told me what to do, how to do, when to push hard and when to relax – Little did I know, I would feel completely ALONE and LOST in a gym months later trying to maintain my level of athleticism. Nutrition was never of too much concern for me; after all, with all the training, I could get by eating semi-healthy but God, did I notice the difference after my volleyball career was over. The months (and years) after my volleyball career have been a learning curve. Learning, executing, failing and trying again – never really finding a REAL health and fitness routine/ balance lifestyle.
Last October, I was tested emotionally and mentally. My brother had a series of health issues and it was affecting me like I’ve never seen before. It wasn’t easy, and it was much worse having him far away (he lives in Colorado). I felt like I couldn’t help him (or myself), I felt on the edge, I felt like I was suffocating, I felt frustrated, sad, angry, hopeless and with a whole lot of negative energy. I started breaking out, eating junk food and drinking waaay to much wine. It wasn’t going well. At all. Until, I checked myself, got strict and decided something needed to change.
I turned to the gym. I felt like the gym could be my hour of calm, my hour of not thinking and just shed away the negativity. It made me feel good, relaxed, happy and with a purpose. I went 6 days a week for 12 weeks. Didn’t matter if it was the Holidays, I made it to the gym. 6 days a week might seem a bit extreme, but it was what I needed at the time. It helped me get back to my roots, helped me feel grounded and most importantly, positive about life. Everything was going to get better. It was just a matter of time.
Things did get better (Thank God!) and I’m still on my fitness journey. Some days are easier, some are harder, but I now know that health and fitness is my thing. It’s my thing for happiness, relaxation and positivity – so I need to work it and keep at it. AND to do that, I wanted to share this story with you to make it official. The next chapter of A Hint of Life, for those that have been with me for a while (and all the new ones!) will be mostly targeted towards my health and fitness journey. Through my blog and this account, I want to MOTIVATE, INSPIRE and hold you ACCOUNTABLE in your own health and fitness journey (whatever that might be).
LET’S DO THIS. I’m here for you. I will be your fitness bestie. Because without Health, we have nothing.
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xo Belen
