Starting Your Fitness Journey: My Motivation Behind It

Hi loves! Are you starting your fitness journey? Are you nervous? Excited? Today, I’m going to be sharing my personal story behind my fitness journey. I’ve never really spoken much about it, but I want to be vulnerable with you all and hope to inspire others to believe in themselves and push on.

Everyone has a different reason to be fit whether it’s medical, personal, aesthetics, etc. Mine is a bit of all. Growing up I was always very athletic. I played softball, soccer, cheerleading and was always on the go from practices to games to competitions. My body naturally developed into a more athletic built, I always had muscle tone even if I didn’t particularly work that muscle out. When I moved from New Jersey to Florida, I entered the world of dance. I began to see my body change in shape and then started learning about working out your body and the different types of exercises.

At first, of course, like every young woman, I just wanted to be super skinny. I started going to the gym but realized that really wasn’t for me. I couldn’t go without being stared at consistently or told my form needs help, or some guy attempting to hit on me.

At this point a coworker of mine said I should try a CrossFit gym with her. That was the BEST investment I ever made!!! CrossFit Liger has completely changed my life! I was at a point in my life where I was completely happy with my body and comfortable in my own skin.

Fun in Paradise?

Last year I got very sick from seafood. I was in Puerto Rico and eating at a highly recommended restaurant in San Juan, when I contacted a bacterial strain from a seafood/chicken plate. Didn’t know it at the time, but my life was about to change. After returning home about a week later, I was having muscle spasms and stroke-like symptoms on my right side of my body only.

My parents immediately drove me to the hospital and a MRI scan later, they found something was in my head and I was given forms to sign. The forms were for in case, I didn’t pull through, who could make medical decisions for me. Scariest thing about it all was seeing my parents’ reactions. A young, healthy, fit person, how does this happen?

I was very fortunate to be diagnosed with a bacterial strain in my brain out of other possibilities. I went on antibiotics but when that didn’t work, I was forced into emergency brain surgery to save my life.

Now I will say, God was on my side the whole time, the diagnosis was the best out of all the possibilities out there, the surgery was a super easy surgery as far as brain surgeries go, and the recovery process wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been. I had no pain at all afterward. I truly have to thank all three of my doctors for working so hard to save my life.

This incident cause me to stay in the hospital for about a week, but the staff was amazing. My parents and close friends who knew about what happened, were there every day. I was so blessed to have them all there and thankful as well.

Aftermath

After my surgery, the doctors could never pinpoint the exact bacteria that entered my body, so I was put on an 8-week antibiotic program as a precaution. I had to get a pick line attached to my heart to receive daily antibiotics and have weekly blood drawn to check my progress. With this I couldn’t work, drive, workout or even really leave my house.

I remember due to the surgery; I couldn’t even walk without a walker in the beginning. Relearning how to walk, go up stairs, stand, my whole right side had to relearn these basic daily functions. This is where I started to gain weight. I couldn’t work out and wasn’t necessarily on a good diet. I gain about 10-15 pounds during this time.

It took me about 4 months to get medically cleared to start doing basic workouts. I was only allowed to walk, run, warm up on the elliptical. Nothing to what my body was used to prior. It was even a struggle to get back on the dance floor. I would notice that my body was being pushed too hard and I would get dizzy very easily. Eventually I stopped dancing.

I went on a couple of trips since being cleared and two of them were Colorado and Paris. Both were major personal tests for me to see if I could push my body to do some extensive walking. I came back from both trips so drained but I accomplished them with no setbacks.  Small win in my book!

Back in the Swing of Things

After my trip to Paris earlier this year, I went in for a final checkup with my neurosurgeon, who told me the best news I could have ever gotten. I completely healed perfectly. They were all impressed with my recovery process due to the magnitude of the surgery. I wasn’t going to let this hold me back in any way. I started to go back to my CrossFit classes.

At first, I was scared. I didn’t know where I would stand according to the demanding workouts or if I could even finish the workout. Worse, I thought I might not ever be able to work out as rigorous and demanding of a workout that CrossFit is. All my coaches told me to go slow and were always there monitoring me and making sure I was okay and not light-headed.

After a couple of months, I eventually got my groove back. It was hard don’t get me wrong. Some workouts I would feel so dizzy I needed a moment to regain myself and some were such a breeze. I had to be patient with myself, which if you know me patience is what I lack. Ha-ha!

My Journey

Fitness to me means strength, perseverance. I didn’t think I could get back to where I was before but I’m slowly getting there. Fitness to me means pushing your body further than you thought possible for yourself in a healthy way. Of course, I look at the Camille Leblanc and Rich Froning’s of the world and know I’m not on their level yet, but one day who knows? I strive to get better every day!

Whether it means getting through the workout and not feeling nauseous afterward or moving to a heavier weight. Going from 5 pound weights to 10 was such an accomplishment for me because I just proved I could get stronger. I thought I couldn’t do it, but my body did it. It was always a mental battle for me.

Deadlifting 130 lbs. was another accomplishment! Month by month I started to regain my muscle and strength. I did BeachBody’s Insanity prior to my surgery and honestly I wasn’t dying after the workouts, now after my surgery, it wasn’t as easy, but I finished it. Another small win for me! Starting your fitness journey is just that start it. Yoga is your favorite, do harder poses. Boxing, get with a trainer and kick butt!

Next Steps

The next part of my journey is learning to meal prep, cook, and what to eat. I always struggled with food, I wouldn’t eat much at all, maybe a full meal a day then a snack. But I wasn’t eating properly for my body, I wasn’t giving it the nutrition it needed to be successful. I almost had everything taken from me, being given another chance, I want to give my body the best it can have. 

Plus, when I travel and can’t get into my box, Crossfit has the Wodify App that shows you the Workout of the Day on your phone. Which is amazing because I’m leaving for New York on Thursday and can still workout at the local gym or hotel gym and not have to think about a workout to do.

I’m so happy to finally share my story with others. Starting your fitness journey can be scary, nerve wreaking, but know I’m here in your corner. I’ll help you through any adversity you feel is holding you back from not only being happy in your skin. One thing I’ve truly learned is to be happy in your skin and if you’re not, why not change it in a healthy way? I’m on that journey right now.

As I’ve grown and the more classes I take at Crossfit Liger, I now can plan my own workouts to burn and target what I need. Today I did my workout in the park in front of my neighborhood. The weather was perfect so I couldn’t resist. Starting your fitness journey, don’t stress everyone had to start before they became beasts. believe in yourself.

I’m excited for this next chapter of my life! My health, my goals and my determination! But I’m more excited to help you, to show you my motivation behind the workouts. Starting your fitness journey doesn’t have to be intimidating or lonely, grab a friend, push yourselves together.

XOXO

Karen Giuliana