#MattsStory: Small Victories help me to keep going!

For the month of April, we asked Shelley and Matt to write about their small victories since they have started with us. We wanted to know what they have been noticing about themselves, what has changed, and how they have been feeling since embarking on this health and wellness journey.
Here what Matt has to say about small victories:

Well first off, I will say that after 5 months of being in this program that my life as I once knew it, has changed! I have noticed some subtle and some not so subtle changes during my time here. “WOW!” Is really what comes to mind when I think of some of the changes that I have seen! WILCOX is definitely a body shaping and life changing facility!

I remember asking right after I first started working out, “Is this ever going to get easier?” and the answer from my trainer was “No, if it did we would not be doing our job. We just make it tougher, make you stronger.” Well that certainly has happened! Since becoming stronger I have been adding more reps into my warm up - instead of 10, I do 20 on some of the exercises and my time on the elliptical has improved. I also find that the sit-ups that were once extremely hard to do at first are becoming easier to do than before, and I can do more!

Over the past 5 months, I have met a few goals and experienced a few victories. For me what worked was setting smaller goals and work toward reaching them in a time frame that I set. Now these goals might seem small to some people but to me they were HUGE. These were goals that I was never able to be consistent with, like making sure I get  to the gym when I am supposed to so I can get my workout in and eat better. But I have been able to do that and keep up with it and to me that is a huge victory! I find my energy is up and I look forward to going to the gym, and no longer dread it. That is a win-win for me.

Another small victory for me is that my belt is now almost all the way tightened to the last hole! That is a far better place to be than where I once was… on the second or third hole from the other end!

One of the biggest victories that I have noticed is that my physical stamina has come a long way! Granted I am still winded and sweating my butt off every time I leave a workout session. But I noticed I am getting more and more reps in and choosing to reach for the heavier weights to challenge myself. I leave WILCOX with a sense of accomplishment and I know I am getting stronger! I also feel that things are improving in other parts of my life as well, outside of the gym. I notice that I am standing longer than I have in the past without my legs getting sore and I’m moving a lot more at work and at home.

Selfie in my car after a workout. Feels great to sweat hard!

The best victory of all though is my change in my mindset. Just knowing that I am doing this and I plan to keep on going is huge for me. I will not quit. My peers at the gym and my trainers will not let me and I will not let them down!! What a great family I have found here; owners, trainers, and all the amazing people I workout with have been a part of my victories! When you workout and eat healthy, you can get in better shape and get more ‘wealthy’ with your experiences with family and friends, and that is a huge victory!