Getting Back in the Gym: My Story

Honestly I won't lie. Getting back in the gym has changed my life in many positive and beneficial ways. 

When I moved to New York City in August of 2020 I didn't really know what to expect. I didn't know anybody in the city and it was the middle of a global pandemic. Unfortunately, this definitely made it much harder to meet people and made it even harder to have any sort of social life outside of work. I experienced all sorts of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, etc. 

I was 19 years old and I was feeling like I was completely alone and doomed in life. I had no one close to me and I was really struggling. I was down bad. I decided it was time for a change.

I started going to therapy and taking anti depressants in the winter in hopes to start feeling like myself again, but unfortunately it didn't really help as much as I wanted it to.

I talked to my parents about it a little bit but they couldn't help much. My father (an avid long time stoolie) informed me that my problems are not real because I am still just a young teenager. He then proceeded to tell me about how he worked 100 hours a week for the last 25 years and that I've got it good and should stop worrying about my mental health because mental health isn't a real thing. 

My mother gave me some sort of "aroma therapy oil" which did nothing. 

I think it was noticeable that I was struggling to those around me and finally someone from the office approached me and gave me advice that would change my life forever.

A friend of mine, Brandon Walker, came up to me and said "Hey champ, you seem down...are you feeling alright?" in his soft souther accent, in which I replied "Oh...hey B Walk...not really...I just haven't been feeling like myself recently." 

Brandon insisted that I try cleaning up my appetite and start hitting the gym daily. "Trust me little bro, it works wonders. You've gotta get in the iron jungle" he said.

I've heard people all my life say that if you want to feel good you need to hit the gym, but for some reason I just always ignored them and never believed them. 

Well I finally decided to go to the gym. I fell in love with the grind instantly. I've been going now for about two months and i'm feeling so much better physically and mentally. I'm addicted to the pump.

Here's a picture I took yesterday right after getting a nasty chest and tricep workout in.

I think the message at the end of the day here is that there's always light at the end of the tunnel. A few months ago I was in the worst shape of my life and hated everything about myself. Fast forward to now and i'm feeling amazing. Stay strong stoolies. Get in the gym.