“My fitness journey began 2 years ago. I was a full time nursing student, heading straight into my third year of university. This girl right here was working two jobs to pay for university, while trying to balance friends, family, and mental health battles. It was the summer before going back into third year that life took a bit of a turn for the worse. I had just gotten out of a bad breakup. I lost almost every close friend I had all at once. I had family members very sick. I had been battling my mental illnesses that disappeared for years, but had resurfaced, putting me on medication to this day. To top it all off, my previous ACL, MCL, and Meniscus tears required reconstruction surgery that summer. My recovery went badly, I wasn’t eating, I wasn’t exercising, I was too broke to go to physio. By the time I could finally walk around again, I was 100lbs at 5’3. I was depressed and anxious all the time. I felt like I had no support and I was going into the most stressful school year to come. Luckily I had a very good friend who was involved in the gym and inspired me to try lifting weights. As a gymnast, I was familiar with class training but never tried solo weight training. However week after week, I fell IN LOVE with the gym. It wasn’t just about gaining some muscle, it was about how it made me FEEL. The gym is an outlet for me. It became a part of my daily routine, which then progressed into healthy eating, and a positive mindset. Having that place to clear my mind, and focus on MYSELF did wonder for my mental health. I also started to gain weight back, and gained energy to focus on friends, family, and my education. I was able to dig myself out of that hole of negativity. Fast forward to today, and I am now a Registered Nurse, I have a great support system, and I can’t thank fitness enough for the opportunities it has provided me with. For anyone that feels like they are in a rut, I am telling you to find that outlet, find that ME time in your life, because once you get that, your body and mind flourish in all other
