I’ve been struggling lately — with everything — and it’s taken a real toll on me both physically and emotionally.

Toward the end of summer, I made the decision to part ways with my personal trainer. He was an online coach, and I realized we weren’t aligned. What I needed most was motivation, engagement, and accountability, and that piece just wasn’t there anymore.

Between a busy summer and fall filled with personal and work travel, my routine slipped — and so did my motivation.

I shifted my focus almost entirely to running and stopped lifting heavy, and honestly… I became miserable.

My weight crept up, my nutrition was atrocious, and I constantly felt blah, bloated, and unlike myself. I could feel myself heading into a downward spiral and, at one point, I was ready to give up on everything I had worked so hard for over the last few years.

I tried to make strength training work around my running plan. I told myself to trust the process and go with the flow. But after about a month — and skipping the strength portion of workouts more times than I’d like to admit — I hit a breaking point.

Enough was enough.

I realized I needed to go back to lifting heavy and following a structured program that felt familiar and empowering. I’m happy to say I’m now starting week three of that new program, and I finally feel like me again.

My body is sore in the best possible way — that deep, satisfying soreness that comes from pushing real weight. My body feels strong, capable, and like it belongs to me again.

One thing I’ve learned about myself over the years is that accountability is everything. I thrive when someone is keeping me motivated and expecting me to show up.

Instead of hiring another trainer — especially since I already have the tools and knowledge to build my own workouts — I decided to do something a little unconventional. I reached out on Reddit, of all places, looking for accountability partners.

Surely I wasn’t the only one who needed that extra push.

I found two incredible people who were looking for the same thing: consistency, motivation, and conversations about lifting, progressive overload, and getting stronger. Having people who get it — who understand the language and the feelings that come with training — has made all the difference.

Because of them, I’m getting up and going to the gym on mornings when I’d much rather stay in bed where it’s warm. I show up because they’re relying on me — and in turn, I’m helping keep them motivated too.

What started as accountability has turned into friendship, and I truly hope these are long-term connections built around fitness, growth, and becoming the best versions of ourselves.

All of this is to say:
If you’ve fallen off the fitness path, you can get back on. It’s never too late to restart, recalibrate, and reconnect with yourself.

Life has finally settled a bit, and I’m hopeful this means I can get back to writing again. If my journey helps inspire even one person to get back in the saddle, then sharing this was worth it.Reclaiming My Strength (and My Sanity)