Today we continue our conversations with people who are the bright spots in fitness that have come a long way to improve their mental and physical health. Joining us for this episode is Carla as we discuss the importance of nutrition, having the proper mindset, and knowing your own body to make your workouts better.
When it comes to her current fitness, Carla is doing anything and everything! Although there is a limitation by not being able to go to the gym during lockdown, Carla is maintaining structure in her fitness routine. Every day she gets up and puts on her workout clothes and shoes. That way, she is setup for success.
Carla’s goal has been to become fitter; not just physically, but mentally as well. Cardio workouts have helped as an anxiety release, and incorporating weight and resistance training have helped her build strength. An important realization for Carla was just how big of a part nutrition plays in your overall health in addition to exercise. Once she started tracking and monitoring her macros, she realized that you don’t have to come from a place of deprivation, you just need balance.
Structure has always been a part of Carla’s life, but not necessarily in a way that was beneficial. Once she became a wife and mother, she found her time was structured around others needs and her own needs were sidelined. Now, Carla is taking the time to focus on herself and prioritizing what makes her feel energized.
Before having a family, Carla was always interested in fitness. An outdoorsy child, she was on her high school swim team and took part in gymnastics. Although she carried on her fitness journey after having her children, it became increasingly difficult to maintain her energy and motivation. That all changed a year or so ago when she realized she needed to do something differently. She was putting on weight that she could not shift as easily as she used to, and as she started menopause, the changes in her body meant what she was doing was no longer working for her.
Hormonal changes and more inactivity left Carla irritable and prone to outbursts. She began tracking her food and eventually came to Mauro for personal training. There was no specific trigger to her mindset change, she just knew she needed to do something to counter the negative effects of menopause.
As her fitness journey has continued, Carla has also learned the importance of not over-exerting yourself. In February, Carla incurred a full rupture of her Achilles tendon. The most important thing during recovery was to keep it simple when coming back to fitness. She also took up journaling and meditation.
To end today’s episode, Carla leaves us with advice for anyone who may be struggling to keep up their own fitness journey. Remember to be gentle with yourself. Have confidence in yourself and your ability to reach your goals. Your health is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Take small steps and remember not to over complicate things. Keep it simple!