From Struggles to Strength: My Health & Fitness Story
By @MidyReyes
My health and fitness journey began in an unexpected way, right after I graduated high school (which feels like ages ago!). Instead of diving straight into college, I decided to take a semester off to work full-time at the factory where my mom worked. During that time, I developed a passionate obsession with fitness, inspired by the iconic “Abs and Buns of Steel” lady, Tammilee Webb. She was my idol, and I dreamed of achieving the perfect body, just like hers. I invested in the workout tapes, joined the local gym, and even rollerbladed my way there, which now seems like quite the trek!
I was determined to achieve the perfect body, so I dove into research and devoured books on fitness and nutrition. At that time, the Atkins diet was gaining popularity, and I decided to put my newfound knowledge to the test by helping my little sister, who had always struggled with her weight. She was about to enter her senior year of high school and was on summer break, so I taught her the basics of the low-carb, high-fat Atkins diet. To my amazement, she lost an incredible 80 pounds over the summer. When she returned to school, her peers hardly recognized her—her transformation was that dramatic. I just wish I had taken before and after photos! I felt an immense sense of pride in helping her regain her self-confidence.
I didn’t realize how passionate I was about health and fitness at the time; I saw it merely as a hobby and a way to stay in shape. If I had known how much I truly loved it, I might have pursued a major in physical therapy or occupational therapy. As my junior year approached, I felt the pressure to choose a major to stay on track for graduation. I ended up selecting psychology, simply because I enjoyed my psychology class in high school. In truth, I was just going through the motions to make my dad proud, feeling completely lost and lacking guidance on what direction to take.
As time went on, I tried to inspire my family and friends to embrace exercise, but not everyone shared my enthusiasm. Don’t get me wrong—I’ve had my share of setbacks, but I managed to stay fit and never became overweight. I seemed to have a fast metabolism, which allowed me to indulge in less-than-healthy foods without significant weight gain, though I was definitely more active than they were. One Christmas, my family gifted me an ab roller, and I was thrilled! Since childhood, I’ve always been competitive, playing on a volleyball team from the age of seven and loving physical training in school. Those early experiences shaped my passion for fitness.
After graduating college, I took a job at a daycare center in Washington State, where my ex-husband was stationed. While it wasn’t my dream job, I enjoyed working with the kids, which kept me active and less sedentary.
Over the years, I found ways to stay active, especially after my three pregnancies. I always made time for walks and managed to bounce back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Of all my pregnancies, my last one was when I got back in shape the quickest. When I returned to work, my coworkers were amazed that I looked like I hadn’t been pregnant just four months prior. Incorporating some light jogging helped speed up my progress. Once I healed from my C-section, I added aerobics classes and eventually weight training, which I fell in love with. My then-husband shared this passion, and we worked out together five to six days a week while our boys played in the kidz club. I achieved the best shape of my life and felt strong, confident, and vibrant.
Being healthy and fit is far more beneficial than most people realize. Initially, I loved fitness for the way it sculpted my body, but as I’ve navigated life’s challenges—financial struggles, loss, and divorce—I’ve come to understand that the real benefits of healthy eating and exercise go beyond the physical. The greatest advantage is the positive impact on brain health: improved memory, mood, focus, and reduced anxiety. There’s no pill that can deliver these benefits.
A pivotal moment for me came later in life when I found myself in my 40s starting over with zero dollars and questioning if I would ever retire. I got scammed in the Bitcoin space, which sparked my curiosity about what this Bitcoin thing was all about. From there, I went down the rabbit hole, and through the ups and downs, I developed a strong conviction that Bitcoin was exactly what I needed. I’m incredibly grateful for the lessons I’ve learned each day and the amazing people in my Stackchain family. We may have our differences, but at the end of the day, we believe in Bitcoin, which I see as real money—not inflationary fiat.
If you ever find yourself facing tough times, don’t give up; keep moving. Stopping is the worst thing you can do. Push through it and surround yourself with supportive people who won’t let you quit. I believe we’re all here for a reason, and for me, one of those reasons is to help others lead healthy lives. Our quality of life improves immensely when we prioritize our physical and mental well-being. “Don’t quit; get fit.” — MidyFit
Note from Stackchain Magazine: No Bitcoin (or inferior monies) were exchanged for this article. This article was written by MidyReyes, a passionate Bitcoin enthusiast and active member of Stackchain community. You can find Midy on X @MidyReyes on Nostr mustardcat6@primal.net. If you’d like to send Midy some 丰 for the article you can do so via LNURL mustardcat6@primal.net