My name is Paola Campos. I’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 wasn’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 wasn’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.
What changed or shifted? I just got up one day and was like I’m tired of this. You don’t really notice your motivation for things until one day you start and continue with it… I pushed myself because I reminded myself that working out and eating right are the best thing for me and it’s for my health. I didn’t allow negative thoughts like “oh I want to lose weight” because I want to be prettier. I got all of that out of my head because it’s not a healthy mentality to have.
How do you feel now? I feel great and amazing, and I’m a much happier person than I was 2-3 years ago. I feel stronger than ever. I think it’s just a little more confidence now.
What’s your favorite part about coming to the gym? Doing anything with weights- it’s just fun! I’m so ready to lift up that weight and do any type of exercise- swings, rows.. It’s fun. I enjoy it. It’s not a chore. I have motivation to come and get it done.
Favorite exercise – battle ropes- little waves even though it’s tiring, I like it!
Outside of the gym– I’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.
Outside of school, I like to hang out with friends and love the outdoors. Camping or biking or just walking around.
What do you want to do after you graduate high school? Go to college, study, have a career in something… just not sure 100% what it is yet. I want to major in sociology- something where I can help and inspire others. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do.
Fav subject at school– math. It comes more naturally to me. Give me a problem, and I’ll solve it!
The reason why I workout is it helps with my mental health. I see the difference when I workout and when I don’t on those days that I do/don’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 it’s not an intense workout- just going for a walk or something- it helps a lot with your mental health, and it’s for my betterment. I know that at the end of the day, anything I put my mind to, it’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.
