It was mid-pandemic, and life as I knew it was rapidly changing. I had been digging myself out of a rut of negativity, trying to find some clarity and direction. My job was in the midst of a major shift. The company was downsizing and relocating the warehouse over 50 miles away. This change meant a grueling two-hour earlier commute. Then came the offer of a severance package, and I realized I was ready for something new, something different. I took it without hesitation, feeling an immense sense of relief and excitement for change.

With a few months of pay and plenty of idle time ahead of me, I found myself at a crossroads. I had been ‘chunky’ for most of my life. Now, with no job tying me down, I was free to explore my creativity like never before. The law of attraction became my obsession, and I poured myself into it. I stayed up all night making music, doing sidewalk art, drawing, painting—anything that allowed me to express myself. It was the most creative period of my life, but ironically, it also led me to my heaviest weight ever.

For years, I dreamed of becoming a rapper, and with this newfound freedom, I finally put out a few songs. But reality hit hard. I knew nothing about marketing, and I quickly realized that the music industry wasn’t what I imagined it to be. I loved making music, but selling it? That was a different story altogether. The passion started to fizzle, and I found myself facing reality once again – I needed to find a job.

Despite everything, I wasn’t desperate. In fact, I was more confident than ever. With years of warehouse experience, I knew finding a job wouldn’t be a challenge. This time, I was determined to find a role that suited my life. It had to fit around my family’s needs. I set my intention clearly: I wanted a warehouse job with the perfect shift. And wouldn’t you know it? In just a few days, the perfect opportunity appeared, almost as if the universe had answered my call. I went to the interview and was hired almost immediately.

My last job was in a warehouse. It was mostly about sitting around and waiting for bells or buzzers to signal when to pull an order. It was routine, with more downtime than movement. But this new job was the complete opposite. The ad mentioned ‘standing all day.’ What it should have said was, ‘Can you handle moving, dragging, lifting, and carrying things up and down, all day, every day?’ The warehouse was enormous. I stood on my feet from the moment I arrived. I remained standing until the moment I left.

It was tough at first, but there was something about constantly being in motion that I actually began to enjoy. The days flew by, and despite the physical demands, I started to feel more alive and energized. After a few weeks, I noticed I was losing weight. It wasn’t from any conscious effort on my part. It was simply the result of being so active all day. That’s when my interest in fitness began to grow. I realized that I could lose weight without even trying. Imagine what could happen if I put some intention behind it.

I started exploring fitness content on YouTube. I also explored content on social media. In both places, I kept hearing about the ‘10,000 steps a day’ challenge. There were countless stories and transformations from people who claimed they lost weight just by walking. That was all the motivation I needed. I bought a decent pair of walking shoes, grabbed a step counter, and became the neighborhood walker. It felt empowering to see my step count rise every day, and I quickly made hitting 10,000 steps a habit. The weight kept coming off, and I felt like I was finally in control of my health. But then, I hit my first plateau – that inevitable point where progress slows, and the real work begins.

So I kept researching. It became pretty clear I needed to learn about calories. Basically, I needed to understand how they count the food you eat and the energy you burn. I found out that lifting weights helps you burn more calories. Resistance training continues to burn calories even when you’re not working out. Plus, it helps you keep your muscle. I grabbed a pair of 25 lb dumbbells. Then, I looked up a simple push-pull-legs routine to mix in with my walking.

The next step was figuring out how many calories I was actually eating. I tracked my meals for a few days and found out I was putting away about 3,600 calories a day! I used to think you could just work out and eat whatever you wanted. It turns out that only works up to a point. That point was my plateau.

Around this time, I also took a closer look at my fitness scale. It always said I was overweight, but I never paid much attention to the actual weight ranges for my height. Instead, I picked a goal weight. I believed this goal would make me look and feel my best. Then I went over to calculator.net to figure out how many calories I should be eating. I was honest about my activity level. It calculated that I needed to aim for about 2,400 calories a day.

I didn’t jump on any strict diet. Instead, I just started cutting out the empty calories. I swapped regular sodas for zero-calorie options. I cut back on condiments. Dropping the mayo saved me nearly 200 calories per sandwich! I also started saying no to sides like chips and fries. After making those small changes, the scale started moving again. It felt good to see progress, and I knew I was onto something.”

Consistency has never really been a problem for me when it’s something I’m into. I’ll admit, I have an addictive personality, so when I’m in, I’m all the way in. As I kept learning, I started diving into macros. I realized I needed to up my protein. I needed to get more veggies in and drink way more water. I even started taking vitamins. One of the biggest game-changers was learning how to cook. I learned how to season my food. I got really into it.

I found out that if you cook for yourself, you can actually eat a lot more food. Vegetables are low in calories, and lean protein usually isn’t that high either. The reason restaurant food tastes so good is because they load it up with butter, oils, and extra stuff. Once I started cooking my own meals, I noticed I felt better during my workouts and even on rest days. Plus, the best part? I still had plenty of room in my calories to enjoy some candy whenever I wanted.

I came up with a few simple rules for tracking calories that made things easier for me. First, if a restaurant doesn’t have the calories listed on the menu, I just won’t eat there. If I’m checking nutrition labels, I add an extra 10% to the total calories. I do this just to be safe. Then, I round up. It keeps things simple and helps me stay on track. Staying under 2,400 calories became second nature. I was locked in, and in about six months, the transformation really started to show. I loved everything about the process, and I just never stopped. Now, my body keeps getting better, and it’s all because I found a way to make it work for me.

As I kept going, fitness quickly became more than just a means to lose weight. It became a lifestyle. The more I learned and saw progress, the more I enjoyed the process. What started out as a way to shed a few pounds turned into something I actually looked forward to. I walked, lifted weights, and cooked my own meals. All of this became second nature. I enjoyed doing these activities every day.

Fitness wasn’t just about looking better anymore; it was about feeling better, inside and out. I noticed my energy levels were higher, I was sleeping better, and even my mood was more balanced. I was constantly moving forward, and that momentum felt incredible. And the best part? I didn’t feel restricted. I wasn’t forcing myself to follow a strict diet or workout routine. I found balance. I could still enjoy treats, still live my life, and still see the results.

At some point, I realized this wasn’t just a phase. I wasn’t doing this just to hit a goal and stop. I had built habits that I actually liked, and I knew I was in it for the long run. This was my lifestyle now, and it felt effortless because I had made it fun, simple, and sustainable.

I was looking and feeling amazing—like, younger, even. People at work noticed. My friends also noticed. They began asking me what I was doing. They wanted to know how I did it. I explained everything I learned from YouTube. It was profound because everything I tried worked. The funny thing was, people were still skeptical. That’s when I decided to get my personal trainer certification.

I worked through the personal training course. I realized that most of the lessons I learned on YouTube were legit. Going through the science behind everything just validated what I had already experienced. It gave me even more confidence that I could really help people. I could assist anyone who wanted to simplify fitness like I did. So I kept learning and learning, all while still working out, maintaining my progress, and setting new goals. I started pushing myself to increase my steps, burn more calories, and consistently practice progressive overload with my weights.

Eventually, I went from walking to running. My body adapted and changed, and I was doing things I couldn’t even imagine when I was 80 pounds heavier. I even joined a fitness app, built up a decent following, and started sharing motivational stories and pictures. It was exciting to break things down for people and explain the thoughts behind the process.

I kept studying the law of attraction alongside everything else. The more I dug into it, the more I realized how perfectly it fit with fitness. Master your thought process like you would master fitness fundamentals. Once you understand both, you feel like you can tackle any goal.

Fitness doesn’t have to be complicated. If there’s one thing I want you to take away from my journey, it’s this. It doesn’t have to be restrictive. It’s about finding what works for you, enjoying the process, and making it a part of your lifestyle. I started out just wanting to lose a little weight. Along the way, I fell in love with the journey. And here’s the thing—it all happened after I turned 40. So, if you’re thinking it’s too late or doubting whether you can make a change, trust me, you absolutely can.

Fitness becomes enjoyable and sustainable when it is fun. It doesn’t feel like a chore. It turns into something you look forward to and enhances your life. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve hit a plateau, know that progress is always possible. It’s not about perfection; it’s about consistency and making small, meaningful changes that add up over time. You don’t need gimmicks or shortcuts. You already have everything you need to succeed.

Focus on mastering your mindset, set your goals, and take it one step at a time. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish when you just keep showing up for yourself. Remember, this is your journey—no matter your age. Embrace it, enjoy it, and make it your own.