At the beginning of 2023, unlike other years, I decided I wasn’t going to make any resolutions, and physical exercise was one of those I wasn’t planning on adding to my list.
However, I was tired of being unfit and made a mental decision to start working out, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I went to a few gyms, but my financial situation wasn’t sustainable.
Shortly after, I chanced on an awareness campaign on Twitter that was being organized by a gentleman called Joseph Beyanga from my former church. I decided to take the plunge and participate.
I ended up walking the craziest distance I have ever attempted with a bunch of cool people in the Joe Walker Community. We walked a distance of 250 km from Kampala to Mbale town under the theme, “Too Young To Die.”
The walk took us six days, starting on February 6, 2023. This for me wasn’t about raising awareness about the increasing road crashes in the country and how Ugandans can avoid them; it was about adopting a healthy lifestyle so that I don’t die young due to avoidable circumstances.
It gave me a great sense of achievement and inspired me to keep walking to stay fit. My mentor had challenged me to pick one thing that I would win at to change the rest of my life. Taking up the walking challenge was a step of faith, which ended up creating a daily walking routine. I have taken daily morning and evening walks since I returned from the Mbale road trip. The daily walks have made me feel better physically and, as a bonus, enabled me to cut on my transport costs to and from work.
The benefits are both physical, spiritual, and financial. I get to listen to 3 hours of sermons and 3 hours of audiobooks. If you see me smiling and seemingly having a conversation with myself, don’t assume I’m getting kukus. I am just a happier young woman harnessing the benefits of the new-found joy of physical and mental exercise.
I won’t pretend to be a fitness specialist now that I am up and about, but perhaps a tip or two could motivate someone out there who has been trying to get fit and things don’t seem to work out. Don’t give up! Keep at it. Your body will eventually respond to your will.
I have been able to get going because I have been intentional about changing my lifestyle. Maybe your thing is not walking to keep fit. Try learning a new sport that you find enjoyable, fun, and sustainable. Try to be comfortable in the physical engagement that you decide on; get the right shoes and clothes. Celebrate little successes; keep a log of your workout. There are apps that will help you track your distance, time, and calories burned, among others, which makes it easy to track and celebrate your progress.
Approach the workouts as a fun activity as opposed to a rigorous exercise regime. Think of it as having a date with yourself; prioritize your health, but don’t forget to have fun while at it. Someone recently asked me how I keep motivated. I ensure that I have a variety of routes to keep walking fun; I try out different routes. Try not to take the same route all the time, and remember to enjoy the sights and sounds along the way. Keep your mind and body curious by being aware of your surroundings. Additionally, it is very important that you schedule specific times for your workouts around your daily routines.
The other aspect that has helped me keep the momentum going is having accountability groups. I belong to Activate Uganda, and one of the rules is that every day you must walk at least 3 kilometers, rain or shine. This keeps me on my toes, and I have had to walk morning and evening to be sure I meet the target.
The Joe Walker Community also challenges us to have monthly targets. This month’s target is 350 km, up from 312 km that I achieved in May 2023. Hanging around people who make me feel capable of reaching my goals while challenging me at the same time has been helpful.
No amount of success can be complete without a healthy body. If you are in your 40s like me, the window for a healthy body keeps tightening with each added year. No matter what age you are, begin now, one step at a time. What we sow is what we reap. An active body is a healthy future body, and vice versa. What we saw in the body today is what we will reap in the future. Begin today, before it’s too late! You can borrow what has worked for me or keep searching for what will work for you. No matter the case, don’t quit. A future healthy body is counting on an active body today!
