When I was 19 years old I was living in Richmond, VA and working part-time as a server in a local restaurant. A nearby gym offered a discounted membership to any of the restaurant staff who were interested. I had never stepped foot in a gym, never lived what I would now consider a healthy lifestyle, and never really thought about it. However, I was always one to jump in and try something new so I decided to check it out. I distinctly remember the day that I first walked into “Wolfgang’s Gym” (doesn’t the name say it all?), and immediately felt that I wanted to be a part of it. The confidence and the determination on people’s faces, not to mention the sculpted bodies, captured my attention. I was in awe. This was a hardcore bodybuilding gym (or at least appeared to me that way), and I was way out of my league, and comfort zone for that matter. But that never stopped me before, so I signed up to see what this gym thing was all about.
It wasn’t as easy, or maybe even as fun, as I perhaps thought it would be. Looking back, not only did I have no idea what I was doing, but I wasn’t even sure why I was doing it. I was 19, pretty content in life, not unhappy about my figure or weight… but something about that initial introduction to the gym fascinated me. It wasn’t until later on that I realized having fitness as part of your life was much more than just having a cute figure or losing weight. I, like a lot of people, had the wrong idea of what being healthy was all about. In the beginning, I spent a whole lot of time doing a whole lot of nothing. Sure I was going through the motions (pushing on machines, walking on a treadmill, or jumping on an elliptical for a few minutes to try and sweat like a crazy person), but I wasn’t understanding the true connection of fitness, mind and body. I remember feeling frustrated at times, but even when I felt unsure about what I was doing, I kept going. Something about me was changing. It wasn’t this WOW physical change, or really even any physical change; that came later when I understood how to eat properly. It was more of a mental change. My energy level increased, my stress decreased, I had more focus, felt stronger, and simply put, was just happier. So, at the age of 19, my fitness journey began.
I started reading a lot on fitness and asking endless questions at the Richmond gym. I think I attended their gym orientation at least 5 times to try and understand the machines. I started educating myself on this world of fitness, and today I am still educating myself on fitness. I always knew that I would eventually catch on. But never did I project, much less think about, that some 20 years down the road I would own a personal training company in Charlotte NC specializing in in-home workouts. I have become a much bigger part of the fitness world than I ever knew possible. I am honored to be a part of my clients’ lives. I appreciate their trust in me to help them continue their daily fitness journey, and yes, it is daily.
Fitness is a decision. It is a commitment. There is no overnight fix. There is no special pill. There is no magical wand. Fitness is a choice. It isn’t perfect, and like everything in life, sometimes we get sidetracked. But I have made the decision and commitment to not only make fitness a part of my life, but to do everything I can to help others lead a healthy life. I understand that it can be hard to get going in the beginning. I understand that you don’t necessarily wake up motivated every morning. Guess what? Neither do I! We are all human, tackling this journey of life with small steps. And if we can add fitness and health to our small steps, then we are on track to feeling better, being happier, and leading more productive lives.
I am 46 and mother of an amazing 23-year old daughter (who is my inspiration for breathing and pretty much every thing else in this world). I have been a dedicated personal trainer for the past 20 years, and am the founder of 4.8.12® Fitness in Charlotte, NC. I am excited as I continue this life journey, walking forward with faith, and putting my trust in God. Please join me on this exciting path to fitness! This is one path you will never regret choosing.
© 2020 Cathy Beasley
