“Strength training isn’t a race to the finish line; it’s a constant push to improve yourself every single day.”
Kelly Gandhi Gahr, as told to Andi Breitowich
During the lockdown period, my daily activities came to a complete stop. Besides taking short walks with my family members, there wasn’t much else I could do. Small things such as drinking red wine and snacking became a usual thing for me as well. I was aware that these changes affected my lifestyle significantly; however, it was not possible to change anything.
This trend persisted for quite some time; however, by 2022, when I was 51 years old, I realized that I had to change something in my lifestyle. Before the changes happened, I used to lead an active lifestyle; now, I have gained additional weight and lost some muscle mass. It was quite hard for me to get back to my previous condition since I had no idea how to start.
While browsing through social media, I saw one girl sharing her fitness journey and the results she obtained due to a strict programme. This experience influenced me in a good way. So, I applied to the same program myself. Once I was accepted, I did my best to follow all recommendations.
Although I never paid much attention to my nutrition and did not try to strengthen my muscles before, I remained consistent. My primary focus was making sure that I consumed the recommended amount of protein and going to the gym. Usually, I attended my workouts nearly every day. Moreover, I tried to do some cardio exercises in addition to strength training.
In order to maintain consistency, I kept close contact with my coach, discussing my progress and setting new goals. This factor played a significant role since the first few weeks proved to be challenging.
Everything took some time, but gradually things started to work out for me. Not only did I feel better physically but also, I liked that I have something to do and follow. Having lived for so long without any structure, it was great to realize that I have goals again.
During a year, I managed to achieve considerable progress. However, things went differently soon.
My doctors noticed that the benign tumor located near my vocal cord started growing, so I was to undergo surgery. However, I remained calm as my prior experiences taught me that being physically fit helped recover faster.
As expected, I had to spend some time in the hospital following surgery; however, my recovery rate proved to be fast, so I could return home faster than expected. It took me some time to recover completely, although I believe that it was easier because of my fitness.
It took me about two months until I was allowed to train after surgery. I still did not have a lot of energy to lift weights, but together with my coach and doctor’s assistance, I resumed my training routine slowly.
Firstly, I performed some exercises using light weights, doing it several times a week. It required some time, but slowly but surely, my physical form improved. After some time, I was able to train again, lifting heavier objects and performing new sets of exercises. In addition, after some time, I reached my previous performance and even surpassed my achievements.
Currently, having trained for two years and a half, I go to the gym five days a week and train muscles. My sessions consist of upper- and lower-body workouts, which involve different exercises performed with different numbers of repetitions depending on the load.
Three factors behind my progress
Support was vital
Without a doubt, a major contribution to my training success was provided by my coach. He was especially helpful while recovering after the surgery since he supported me.
Also, belonging to a supportive community of people who shared the same interest in fitness made a big difference for me, providing a boost whenever I felt discouraged. Moreover, during the whole period, I had the support of my beloved ones.
Showing gratitude is essential
Although mindset plays an essential role for anyone who wants to become stronger, expressing gratitude helped me see the bigger picture. Learning to appreciate the abilities of my body helps me realize that despite certain difficulties, I have achieved much.
Everyday struggles are inevitable; however, focusing on even small victories makes me shift attention from obstacles and frustrations to progress.
Nonlinearity of progress
Probably, one of the most important things I have learned during the years of training is nonlinearity of development. It is not possible to expect continuous progress; there may be moments when you achieve nothing.
During my recovery period, just a small walk seemed like an important achievement; nevertheless, these small things accumulated and resulted in significant improvements.
