The Fitness Rebellion™

People always like to use the analogy of hitting “rock bottom” before they make significant changes in their lives. Someone may be addicted to drugs and wanting a change. Others find religion when they don’t like the direction their life is going. I’ve never liked the analogy of rock bottom. You don’t have to hit rock bottom to be drowning, you only have to sink below the surface. That’s where I was with my personal health before I found a gym and made a conscious decision to change my lifestyle.

My name is Josh Kitchell. I own Anytime Fitness in beautiful Grand Haven Michigan. I was very athletic and active as a young person—right up to college. As is the case for many 18 year olds, once I got into college and entered “the real world,” I completely lost all sense of regard for my own personal health. I was your typical freshman, easily packing on “the freshman 15. Unlike most, that’s all the weight I gained. I never really ate too terribly bad, and I didn’t party. I just never thought working out was as important as passing exams or spending time with my girlfriend. Unfortunately, as the years passed exams turned into deadlines for work, and my girlfriend turned into a wife. Ironically, my wife is the one who finally got me into the gym.

My wife Jodie won a three-month membership to our local Anytime Fitness through a raffle at her workplace. She was an avid runner, while I was an avid “not-do-too-much-work-that-I-don’t-have-to” kind of guy. Jodie gave me her new membership pass, and that’s when my life really started to change.

As I mentioned earlier, I was never extremely overweight. I just didn’t have the energy or stamina to play with my kids or join my buddies for a pick-up game of football, let alone feel comfortable taking my shirt off on the beach. After I started working out, my passion for being physically fit and healthy not only for myself, but also for my family, started growing exponentially.  That freshman 15 came right off. I quickly became a better father to my children, and an immensely better husband to my wife (not only around the house, but in the bedroom, too!)

It’s sometimes difficult for us to understand the importance of staying active and trying to live a healthy lifestyle. I had to realize sometimes it’s not just about me, but also the people in my life that I love and who love me back. Working out sucks, but not being the best possible husband and father I can be sucks way more!

Submitted by Fitness Rebel Josh Kitchell