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“Thankfully, I have never had any major injuries or chronic ailments. However, I do have PCOS due to insulin resistance, so this meant that it was important for me to have proper insulin intake prior to a workout so I don’t have spikes or drops that could affect my ability to continue a workout. High cortisol levels — AKA your stress hormone — can also negatively affect my PCOS, so when it comes to my workout routine, I had to make sure I was incorporating low cortisol exercises, such as slow inclining walking, as opposed to high-intensity exercises like HIIT or spin cycling.”

“My biggest obstacle when starting was working around my busy schedule. Having full 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. days, I knew I was not going to want to extend my day by working out at night. As a morning person, I found that waking up extra early before class and work was the optimal time for me to fit a good workout in. My evaluation has also helped me create workouts that I knew I could achieve in the one-hour-and-a-half block I created for myself each morning.”

“One weekend, I was determined to write down a routine to follow every week to achieve my fitness goals. [...] It has been over four months now since I started this routine. It has been really rewarding as I can see myself getting fitter and stronger. I've been able to do intermediate-level boulder problems which I could only dream of six months ago. I've also noticed that having a set routine has improved my overall mood and focus at work. I feel a lot less lethargic in the afternoon and my sleep hygiene seems to have improved.”