YFH Member Insight: Fitness, Stress Relief, and Anxiety Management with Danielle
Hi Everyone! Brace yourselves, this is not your typical fitness blog. My disclaimer is that I am speaking from my personal experience- I am not an expert and I cannot emphasize this enough! What works for me may not necessarily work for you, but I hope this helps inspire and motivate, or at least make you chuckle. Two years ago I accidentally fell into my “fitness journey”. I was 275 pounds and never stepped foot into a gym. The idea of working out was terrifying and the thought of profusely sweating, thoroughly grossed me out. I had just left an incredibly stressful work environment and while I was super excited to start working at Georgetown (Go Hoyas!), I desperately did not want to carry the stress and anxiety from my last job into this one. Stress relief and anxiety management was and still is my primary goal, weight loss was a happy accident. I just knew if I was going to give 100% in my new role, then I could not carry the stress any longer.
My sister suggested, then dragged me to her kickboxing gym to try it out. After the first class I was hooked! I was incredibly surprised how great it felt to punch and kick things. I literally could feel the stress leaving my body. I found that I was going to classes 3-4 times a week and this went on for a little over a year! In addition, I was walking more and drinking more water – anyone who walks across the Key Bridge to get to campus knows what I’m talking about! I ditched drinking soda and eating fast food; but don’t let this fool you, I refuse to deny any of my cravings- I still get down with brownies, tacos, pizza, and the occasional drinks over happy hour.
Over the past two years, I’ve lost 100lbs and went from a size 22 to a size 12. My sister marvels over how I can eat whatever I want and continue to shed the pounds. Here’s my secret! While I am fully aware that my eating habits have not changed much, I am much more conscious about my food intake and I weigh that against my activity level. So, on days when all I want to eat are potato chips and chocolate, I’ll still eat it, but I’ll also put in the time at Yates. I look at my meals a week at a time and figure out where I can cheat or treat and where I need to tighten the belt, no pun intended. And if I’m cheating or treating, then I make sure to increase my activity levels. After my kickboxing membership expired, I was struggling to find a new place to de-stress. I wanted to lift heavy things, run fast, and forget all the drama that we tend to carry with us.
Thankfully, the Angels at Yates welcomed me into their home! Now I attend Spin class 3 times a week and absolutely love it! After a morning jam packed with meetings, I take my lunch hour over at Yates and leave all my stress and anxiety in the group fitness classes. The instructors are wonderful, encouraging, and they really do get to know you! So long story short, take deep breath, get a drink of water, and find something that helps you de-stress. And just know, you got this!
To learn more about our Group Fitness program and classes, please visit: https://recreation.georgetown.edu/programs/group-fitness/
We’d love to meet you! Our Group Fitness classes are free to all Yates members starting May 28 through June 3 for our PROMO Week. Come join us for a fun, energetic time!
————————————–
This blog post was written to provide educational information only. This article should not be used as a substitute or a replacement for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have questions or concerns about your personal health, you should always consult with your physician. It is recommended that you consult with your physician or health care professional before beginning any fitness regimen to determine if it is suitable for your needs. The use of any information provided by this article is solely at your risk.