Women of Fitness: Paola C.

My name is Paola Campos. Iโ€™m 17, and I started coming to the gym/W3 when I was around 14 years old. It has definitely been a journey for me. I came to the gym wanting to lose weight. When I was younger and when I was first starting, I wasnโ€™t in the best place mentally and physically. I would come and workout and not eat right. About a year ago I really started to focus on myself and started to put myself first. By putting myself first, I started eating right, coming to the gym more often and got more involved in the training and started to see results. This time I wasnโ€™t focused on losing weight but was focused on making myself happy. It was really a self love journey where I learned how to love myself and how to not let others push me down regardless of what they say about me. ย 

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What changed or shifted? I just got up one day and was like Iโ€™m tired of this. You donโ€™t really notice your motivation for things until one day you start and continue with itโ€ฆ I pushed myself because I reminded myself that working out and eating right are the best thing for me and itโ€™s for my health. I didnโ€™t allow negative thoughts like โ€œoh I want to lose weightโ€ because I want to be prettier. I got all of that out of my head because itโ€™s not a healthy mentality to have. ย 

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How do you feel now? I feel great and amazing, and Iโ€™m a much happier person than I was 2-3 years ago. I feel stronger than ever. I think itโ€™s just a little more confidence now. ย 

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Whatโ€™s your favorite part about coming to the gym? Doing anything with weights- itโ€™s just fun! Iโ€™m so ready to lift up that weight and do any type of exercise- swings, rows.. Itโ€™s fun. I enjoy it. Itโ€™s not a chore. I have motivation to come and get it done. ย 

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Favorite exercise โ€“ battle ropes- little waves even though itโ€™s tiring, I like it! ย 

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Outside of the gym– Iโ€™m a senior in high school. I am focusing on school and graduating. I help out at my church and volunteer and sing in the church choir. I do band, so sometimes I have practices or school events that I play at. ย 

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Outside of school, I like to hang out with friends and love the outdoors. Camping or biking or just walking around. ย 

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What do you want to do after you graduate high school? Go to college, study, have a career in somethingโ€ฆ just not sure 100% what it is yet. I want to major in sociology- something where I can help and inspire others. Itโ€™s something that Iโ€™ve always wanted to do. ย 

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Fav subject at school– math. It comes more naturally to me. Give me a problem, and Iโ€™ll solve it! ย 

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The reason why I workout is it helps with my mental health. I see the difference when I workout and when I donโ€™t on those days that I do/donโ€™t. I feel so much better on days when I workout. It goes for every body- everyone should take 30 minutes out of the day. Even if itโ€™s not an intense workout- just going for a walk or something- it helps a lot with your mental health, and itโ€™s for my betterment. I know that at the end of the day, anything I put my mind to, itโ€™s going to be possible. I reached a goal and I have another goal to reach, and I know that eventually I will achieve it. I know that if I can do it, others can do it, too.ย ย