My First Gym Experience

In 2013 at nearly 400lbs I decided to go for a trial at World Health gym in Northeast Calgary.  I was terrified but I did it anyway.

I was about twenty minutes into a brisk walk on a treadmill and nervously looking around.  In my head everyone was looking and me and laughing and a few times I almost just hit the emergancy stop and leave but I kept going.

Two guys were on elipticals behind me and I heard them laughing to each other.  I heard one of them say "OMG look at that guys neck it looks like a package of sausages"

I was filled with rage and stopped the treadmill.   I walked up to him and said "Do you wanna repeat that?" they both just stared at me and said nothing.   I went and packed up my stuff and just left.  

I didn't step back into a gym until 2018 when I got a flyer in the mail to try Fit4less.  I brought my headphones and drowned everything and everyone out but I survived and started to go three times a week. When I hit my goal of losing 100lbs I went on to the Calgary Roast & Toast page and shared my story.  

I sent out a "Thank You" to those two guys who lived rent free in my head for years, I thanked them for the extra motivation but also encouraged people to "Just Be Kind" when they see someone struggling at a gym.

After sharing this story the owners of Southpaw Family Fitness reached out to me and said "Come see us, we're a family here" at first I thought it was just fluff but I went in to give it a try. 

On the first day I met Steve Clagget (A Gold Glove pro boxer) he came up to me and said "You got this champ" and I was blown away.  The staff, the members everyone were so welcoming and I felt like I had found my home.   They gave me a one year membership there and free training and they truely changed my life. 

I have since moved out of the city but am still close friends with a lot of the trainers and members thre and they are truly genuine.

I learned so much in my  year there and continue boxing to this day.  I have now dropped almost 170lbs over all and every time I'm hitting a heavy bag I think about those two guys and their laughing at me.

I had posted this story a few times and said "Wouldn't I love to spar with those guys" a former MMA fighter responded to me and said "You've already knocked them out" 

My biggest tip to anyone trying out a gym for the first time is "Use Your Music" bring some ear phones, make a playlist of your favourite songs and just escape.   Everyone there had a "First Time" and had to start somewhere.

Here's a story I did with CTV Calgary's Darrel Janz for his Inspired Albertan Segment.

Never Give Up!