Why I Started My Fitness Transformation Journey
I hit my highest weight of 272 pounds, and honestly, I felt like a blob. Sluggish, heavy, uncomfortable in my own skin. The weight gain didn’t happen overnight—it was a combination of stress, a bad breakup, and losing multiple jobs since the pandemic. Your girl was down BAD. I was drinking, eating everything in sight, and partying like crazy. And while I love a good turn-up, the way I was living wasn’t doing my body any favors.
There was a moment when I saw a picture of myself and barely recognized me. My face looked puffy (lowkey thought I had a moon face), and I just felt like I was taking up too much space in every picture. I know body image can be a tough subject, so if this is triggering, feel free to skip ahead. But I want to be real—these were my raw thoughts, and this is my personal fitness transformation journey, so I have to tell it how it was.
Then, I started a new job where I was constantly preaching to students about discipline, consistency, and doing the hard things even when they don’t feel like it. And that’s when it hit me: I was NOT living that truth.
How was I supposed to tell them to push themselves and go after what they wanted in life when I wasn’t even doing it myself? I felt like a fraud. So I made a choice—I was going to practice what I preached. I signed up for a gym membership and started figuring out how to eat in a way that supported my body, not worked against it.
If you are interested in learning more about the Nerdy Babe lifestyle and the different ways I grew my confidence outside of fitness, check out Confidence Through Self-Acceptance: The Nerdy Babe Lifestyle.
Trying Different Workouts & Finding What Works
When I started, I had no idea what I was doing. I watched a ton of workout videos, followed influencer routines, and tried a little bit of everything. Some of it stuck, some of it didn’t.
For example, step-ups? Love them in theory, hate them in practice. Amazing for the glutes, but I always felt silly doing them. Kickbacks? Same thing. I just wasn’t feeling them. And that’s okay! Not every workout is for everyone. Social media will have you thinking that if you’re not doing this specific glute workout, you won’t get results, but that’s just not true. There are so many exercises that target the same muscles—you just have to find the ones that feel good and work for you.
I also realized I didn’t care about training arms. I know, a controversial take. But instead of dedicating an entire day to arm workouts, I train back, and as a byproduct, my arms are getting toned naturally.
Then there’s cardio. I tried incline walking and the StairMaster because everyone swore they were the best for glute gains. And they were fine, but they weren’t my favorite. Instead, I fell in love with interval running using a 5K training app. Not only did it help shape my legs and glutes, but it also made me feel powerful.
Realizing I Had Goals Beyond Just Losing Weight
At first, I was all about dropping pounds. I wanted to see that number on the scale go down, period. But once I got into fitness, I realized I had other goals:
- I wanted to lose back fat
- I wanted to build projection in my booty
- I wanted to run without stopping
- I wanted to meet like-minded people who enjoyed fitness
I joined a run club, and it changed everything. Not only was it a fun way to stay active, but it introduced me to an entire community of people with fitness goals. I went from someone who avoided running to actually enjoying it (I know, I’m shocked too).
Also, I am all about balance, and while I take my fitness goals very seriously, I also have other hobbies that help to balance me out. I enjoy these hobbies on my rest days. Quick Plug: I have a post titled, How Hobbies Boost Self-Esteem: Embracing Passions for Personal Growth, that talks more about the benefit of having hobbies in general. I also have a post about the importance of rest days, titled The Importance of Rest Days in Fitness, check it out!
Using ChatGPT & Social Media as My Personal Trainer
Instead of hiring a trainer, I use ChatGPT to help me curate my workouts based on my goals, what I enjoy, and how much time I have. I also watch TikToks to check my form—yes, I’m that person at the gym looking up videos mid-workout. And guess what? It’s not embarrassing!
Progress isn’t just about how much weight you lift; it’s about perfecting your form. Lower your brightness if you have to, but do what you gotta do to get those gains.
Setting Goals to Stay Motivated
One thing I’ve learned: motivation isn’t enough. It fades. Discipline and systems are what keep me going. Here’s how I set myself up for success:
- I go to a gym that feels aesthetic & welcoming (vibes matter!)
- I curate my gym playlist so every song HITS
- I do workouts I actually enjoy
- If I don’t feel like going inside, I still drive to the gym (eventually, I’ll go in)
- I watch fitness TikToks & YouTube for inspiration
- I pack my gym bag & lunch the night before
- I keep my headphones charged (nothing ruins a workout like dead headphones)
Going to the gym isn’t just about going to the gym. It’s about setting up systems that make it easy to show up. I have a post all about 6 Effective Strategies to Stay Motivated on Your Fitness Journey that will help give you the tools needed to stay consistent.
Goal Setting: What You Can and Can’t Control
A big part of staying consistent is understanding that not all goals are in your control. You need two types of goals:
- Goals you can control: These are the things you have direct power over—like how many times you go to the gym, how much protein you eat, the exercises you do, or how much water you drink.
- Goals you can’t control: These are outcomes that depend on multiple factors—like how fast you lose weight, how quickly you see muscle definition, or the number on the scale.
Both types of goals are important. If you only focus on things you can’t control, you’ll get discouraged when progress slows. But if you track things within your power, you’ll always have something to celebrate, even when the scale isn’t moving.
For example, I track my progress using weight, photos, and how my clothes fit. But I also track how many times I showed up at the gym and whether I hit my protein intake for the day. This way, even if my weight isn’t changing, I can still see that I’m making progress.
How I Got Started With My Fitness Transformation Journey
I originally started by journaling my progress. I didn’t know it at the time, but being so intentional and writing down my thoughts was super beneficial to me. It was a digital journal I made on my iPad, and while I don’t use it anymore, it was crucial to start. I added in different sections—one for just starting out and my thoughts, another for progress pics, another for recipes, and another for weekly updates.
Then I went on TDEE Calculator to determine how many calories I should consume. Pro tip: Always enter your current fitness level, not the one you want to be at. It gave me a breakdown of how many calories and grams of protein I needed daily.
I chose to go the body recomp route, meaning I was aiming to lose fat and build muscle simultaneously. FYI: This is a slow process. If you want faster results, pick one—either cut to lose fat or bulk to gain muscle. Body recomposition requires finding a delicate balance since fat loss requires a calorie deficit while muscle gain requires a surplus. Doing both at the same time takes patience, and as a newbie, you’re also learning your eating habits and gym routines. If you go this route, expect it to take at least 1-2 years of consistency.
Taking It Step by Step
I have so many fitness aspirations, but I realize I need to take this step by step. The first step for me was getting my body snatched and being able to keep up with the people at my run club. However, who knows? Eventually, I may want to run a marathon, get abs, or even do a split. With fitness, the bar is always moving, and there are so many ways to stay motivated. There are so many different aspects you can jump into, which keeps things fresh and exciting.
My Gym Routine
I now work out four times a week, blending strength training with running.
Monday & Thursday – Lower Body + Abs
- Hip Thrusts – 4×8-12 (Targets: Glutes, Hamstrings)
- Sumo Squats – 3×8-12 (Targets: Glutes, Inner Thighs, Quads)
- Bulgarian Split Squats – 3×10 per leg (Targets: Quads, Glutes, Hamstrings)
- Good Mornings – 3×10-12 (Targets: Hamstrings, Lower Back, Glutes)
- Curtsy RDLs – 3×10-12 (Targets: Upper Glutes, Hamstrings)
- Core: Russian Twists, Plank Holds, In & Outs (Targets: Obliques, Core Stability)
Tuesday & Friday – Upper Body + Running
- Assisted Pull-Ups – 3×6-10 (Targets: Upper Back, Lats, Biceps)
- Lat Pulldowns – 4×8-12 (Targets: Lats, Upper Back, Biceps)
- Chest Press – 3×10-12 (Targets: Chest, Shoulders, Triceps)
- Mid Rows (Cable or Machine) – 3×10 (Targets: Middle Back, Rear Delts, Biceps)
- Face Pulls – 3×12-15 (Targets: Rear Delts, Upper Traps, Rotator Cuff)
- Cable Rope Pulldown – 3×12-15 (Targets: Triceps)
Running: Couch to 5K training intervals. I run usually at a 1.5 incline at a 2.5 walking pace and 4.0-.5 speed. I don’t track my heart rate during these runs. It’s for speed and fun.
Saturday – Run Club
- Goal: Run at a steady pace & build endurance, I try to keep my heart at a zone 2 rate/low zone 3. I run 3 miles, and currently, I do a run/walk interval. Whatever my interval is on the 5k app, I do for my long run and just pace myself. (Targets: Cardiovascular health, Leg Strength, Mental Endurance)
Wednesday & Sunday – Recovery & Rest
Now this is my routine however, you should do the routine that works best for your fitness goals and needs.
You should stick with your routine for at least 8 weeks to see if it’s working or not. Then switch things out slowly and tweak it to better meet your needs.
The Reality of Fitness Timelines
I’ve lost 40 pounds in 6 months, but I’m nowhere near done with my fitness transformation journey. Losing weight is one thing, but building muscle in the right places? That takes TIME. And if you’re tall like me, it takes even longer to see muscle definition.
Social media will make you think body transformations happen in 5 months, but real progress varies. Some people take 6 months, some take 2 years. One influencer I admire took 5 years to get where she is now. Fitness isn’t about how fast you can lose weight—it’s about building a lifestyle you can maintain.
Also, I have to emphasize The Importance of Rest Days in Fitness! You must give your body time to recover and recoup as you undergo this major transformation. Your body will be under a lot of stress and that requires rest. It will not happen overnight, and that’s okay!
Final Thoughts
If you’re on your fitness transformation journey, take it one step at a time. Set up systems, find workouts you love, and don’t compare your timeline to anyone else’s. Your body is unique, and your transformation will happen at its own pace.
Happy Growing Nerdy Babes!
Stay strong, stay consistent, and keep pushing forward. Happy growing, Nerdy Babes! ✨💖
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