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Eating healthy and working out is hard enough, and when you add a global pandemic to the mix, it can feel almost impossible. However, one Bloomington man managed to make the best out of a bad situation and used the extra time to continue achieving his fitness goals.
Edwin Lamb started his fitness journey in 2018 after a health scare on a work trip. As a man in his early 30s, it was a wake-up call that inspired him to alter his lifestyle.
“As you get into your 30s you kind of realize that, 'Hey I’m not getting any younger,' you start looking at the long view,” said Lamb. “I want to be able to be active in my 40s, 50s, and 60s, maybe even longer.”
By the time the quarantine hit, he had lost 20 pounds, but the new normal didn’t make it easy for him to stay motivated and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
“It was more mentally challenging than I thought it was going to be,” said Lamb. “There were times where you don't want to do anything and just watch Netflix during the quarantine; it’s also a lot easier to snack when you’re at home.”
Lamb said developing a routine is key when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle change, and adapting to the new normal was difficult.
“The routine was I went to work, came home, and immediately went to the gym,” said Lamb. “Working from home you don’t have that break. You’re already home, which makes it so easy to not put on a workout video or go out for that three-mile run.”
Despite the challenges, Lamb managed to keep the weight off and continued to progress, losing an extra five pounds.
“There are definitely days where mentally you are just done, but I just really wanted to see how far I could push my body,” said Lamb. “There’s definitely times you have to remind yourself that you’re not doing this not just for 10 weeks, but this is the start of a lifelong thing.”
The favorite part of his health journey was learning about how to properly fuel his body and make smart food decisions through his class at Farrell’s gym in Bloomington.
“They just teach you to make better food decisions, to really cut out sugar and put good food in your body,” said Lamb.
Asked what he would tell others who want to pursue a healthier lifestyle, Lamb wants to remind people that no one’s journey is the same, and that’s OK.
“If you don’t think you can do it, you really can. Don’t worry about what other people are doing or what they look like. Everyone’s body types are different,” said Lamb. “Don’t be intimidated or let others intimidate you. It’s about your health. You can do it all in baby steps. You don’t need to take it all on at once.”
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