I started bodybuilding because I wanted to pay more attention to my overall health, and I like the idea of growing and getting bigger. It’s more discipline than motivation after a certain point. With motivation, a lot of it is that you have to like what you do, and how you’re doing it. But it takes a lot of discipline. Going when you don’t want to, going when you’re tired, going when you’re busy, going even if you can’t have a full workout — even if it’s just a 20 or 30 minutes instead of an hour.

Currently, I work out at 24 Hour Fitness on Auto Mall. I used to work out at two or three other gyms, but those didn’t really work out for me since the equipment they had wasn’t perfect. But no equipment is ever perfect at any gym. 24 Hour is a commercial gym, so they have all the basic level equipment. They are missing some of the equipment that I would prefer, and for the equipment they do have, not all of it is flexible to a specific person. Even if you can adjust it, depending on whether you’re shorter or taller, it isn’t very comfortable but still does the job. 

My training schedule can vary depending on the month. Right now I’m on a hybrid split, where I’m doing push, pull, legs, and then I take a rest day. Then I’ll do upper, lower, and then a rest day again. I go by that schedule, not by days of the week. So on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I might do push, pull, legs, and then take a rest day on Thursday, but if I can’t work out on Friday because of school or work, I’ll start upper on Saturday and do lower on Sunday. I’m taking two AP classes along with Anatomy and Physiology, so I adjust my split depending on how much school work I have left, and I also keep in mind how tired I am. I usually still go when I’m tired, but if I’m way too fatigued where it’s dangerous to work out with heavy weight on top of me, then I won’t go.

I also have to adapt based on my jobs. I work at Olive Garden and a little league. Over the summer, I also work as a lifeguard and swim instructor. So I have to keep all of those in check, going in when I can. 

It all goes back to discipline. Working out more consistently and being disciplined when it comes to bodybuilding transfers over to the rest of my life, in terms of studying and school work. I enjoy the process of bodybuilding, because it gives me a physical outlet to relieve stress and balance my thoughts. When I’m working out, I get into a space where I can kind of just turn my brain off and do the sets and reps, not having to think much about it. I’ve found a whole community as well. You and others at the gym are both working out, bettering yourselves, so you share that common ground. I’ve made a lot more friends at the gym than I have in high school. If I ever have a bad day, I can look forward to working out.