Glad To See You Here!

My journey with working out began when I was in high school, but did not fully develop into a full-time habit or routine until I was in my college career. I have been passionate and mindful of taking care of myself and wanting to moderate my eating habits and daily routines. Initially, working out can be seen as losing weight or getting into shape; while those are important goals to keep in mind, there are a plethora of benefits to consider. Being new to the University of Michigan campus, my routines and everyday life and habits felt completely different. In some ways, it was overwhelming as I was still figuring out my place at school. Dwelling on my worries was not a path that would lead me anywhere hopeful or positive, so going to the gym gave me something to do. I had been going to the gym that summer before college, so it was already something I was incorporating. As I began doing this at school, it helped me to stay motivated and gave me a task to do for the day, along with the busyness of a student. 

 

Throughout my college career, I have been able to learn from others and learn new routines and habits. For example, I used to work out for around 45 minutes to 1 hour and aim to do most, if not all, of the machines in the gym (or at least the ones I was comfortable with using). As I learned from online resources and/or friends and family who were into working out, I made specific days where I would focus on upper body, lower body, cardio, etc. Now, my goals have been more established and a schedule has been made for me to follow; while it does not have to be followed very seriously, it helps to set my goals in mind. With that said, I have a total of 6 potential days in which I go to the gym focusing on different groups (Chest/Shoulders, Biceps and Forearms, Triceps and Back for Upper Body and Glutes/Hamstrings, Calves, Quadriceps, lower back for Lower Body, with Cardio, Stretching, and Abdominal workouts mixed in throughout the days). 

 

Overall, working out has been beneficial to my physical and mental health. I gained more muscle throughout the years and I am at a healthy weight given my age and height. Additionally, it is good for your mind and staying motivated, from what I have noticed. I also think it is important to remember that working out requires balance; just because you are going to the gym does not mean you can eat unhealthy every day. It is okay to be moderating your diet, but it is just as important to be eating healthy and including those into your everyday diet. My health journey has helped me to make healthier choices and has even helped me cut out certain things. I used to love Cherry Pepsi and Sour Patch Kids; I am not saying that I have never eaten or drank it since (that would be a hard task), but I have been able to give it up easier and choose to make healthier choices, such as drinking more water and having healthier snacks before bed. 

 

 

Additionally, I believe there have been spiritual benefits to working out. Faith plays a significant role in my life and I am grateful that I can make these choices. A rather well-known Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 10:31 CSB, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” I think this is an important reminder to treat our bodies with respect, but also glorify God in all that we do. How does this relate to working out? While I need to keep track of my weight, obtain muscle, and grow in strength, I should not try to aim for a perfect appearance or think of myself in a higher way because I look a certain way. While these are goals to keep in mind, they do not have to be the sole reasons for working. Making healthy choices that are good for my own life but can be used to glorify God (taking care of the life he has blessed me with) and being grateful for this opportunity is what I want to keep in mind. 

 

My goal for this website is to show that college students can make healthy choices and stay in a positive mindset. Making good and healthy decisions has made the college journey much different than it could have been. I want to encourage you, whether you are in college or perhaps looking for some words on health and fitness, to be open-minded in making a routine and habit that is good for you. I hope you enjoy reading more content from this website. 

 

And what is an About Me page if it doesn’t include some other fun facts about me? Besides being a student at the University of Michigan, I live in Clarkston, Michigan with my Mom and Dad, my two older brothers Raymond and Tony, with an older sister, Jillian, who lives out of state. Some hobbies (outside of working out) include playing video games, reading, spending time with my family and friends, and watching anything Star Wars.