I wish someone had told me that going to gym really isn’t a painful exercise

“I wish someone had told me” is a series of posts that feed into our inquisitive nature at CN&CO. Each week we hear from someone in our network about something interesting or surprising that’s recently happened or occurred to them – or lessons they learnt. These blogs are a way to pay it forward and form part of CN&CO’s belief that the world can be a better place – and we all have a responsibility to make it so. This week’s post is by CN&CO’s Jarryd Frey.

I’ve never understood how people could dedicate so much of their personal time to go “gym”. I mean, spending so much time repetitively lifting weights and running in one spot for a few hours doesn’t seem all too riveting, right? Well, this was my original thought and I could never understand how people do this by choice.

We all have that “gym bunny” friend who tends to frustrate everyone as they somehow wake up at 4 in the morning, lift weights for an hour and a half, go to work and still stay awake for the rest of the day? I mean how do they do this, what makes them so different from everyone else? As I recently discovered it’s all about how you perceive the idea of gym. You can either see it as too much effort or you can take it in your stride and make it a part of your daily routine.

To my surprise, one day I woke up and realised that going to the gym was something that really excited me and made me happy. There was no better feeling than the post training endorphins and knowing that what you are doing is all for you. Gym has become an escape for me, after a stressful day at work to a general pick me up. Gym seems to be the one thing that gives me the much needed alone time to stop and reflect; like pushing the reset button.

Although not falling under the category of “gym bunny”, to a certain extent I can be perceived as one to a lot of people (even though I cannot imagine myself being considered as one). Trying to find the motivation to wake up early in the morning to go to the gym has been the biggest challenge for me as I am the furthest thing from a morning person (I’m sure most of us can relate). However gym has become a big part of my life, learning the discipline needed to make this part of my daily routine hasn’t been as challenging as initially expected.

Furthermore, gym has become a massive influence in my life and has taught me so many life skills along the way, from watching what you eat to doing things that you never thought to be possible. Gym is the reason why I am the way I am today.

I really wished someone had told me that gym really does not have to be a burden or something that you despise doing because it requires effort and dedication. More people should have this attitude. No matter where you are on your fitness journey, see it as bettering yourself in more than one way and something that can easily become part of your daily routine.

Put your mind to it and you will be surprised at what you and your body can achieve.