Let me just say this: I hated PE class growing up.
I was always the kid picked last. I dreaded team games and especially loathed running laps around the gym. The whole thing felt like a giant spotlight on what I couldn’t do, not what I could. So, if you’re someone who’s carrying a little gym-related baggage into adulthood, I see you. You’re not alone.
And yet—here I am. A personal trainer. A group fitness instructor. A person who loves movement. So what changed?
It wasn’t PE.
It was Turbo Jam® and Turbo Fire® (shoutout to Chalene Johnson). I popped in an at-home DVD, kicked and punched in my dorm’s common area, and for the first time ever I thought, “Wait… this feels kinda good.”
Later I found a live class version (Turbo Kick® LIVE) and stepped into a room full of people moving together, and suddenly fitness didn’t feel like punishment. It felt like power.
So if you’re coming back to the gym after a long break—or just trying to figure out where to start—here’s what I want you to know:
1. Start with the schedule, not the sweat.
Instead of going all-in right away, just look at your week.
Where can movement realistically fit? Can you do one class this week? A short walk on two mornings?
It doesn’t have to be everything, all at once. Build it into your routine like a standing coffee date—consistent, low-pressure, and something you eventually look forward to.
2. Try it. Then decide.
Not every workout is going to be your thing—and that’s okay.
Give a new class or training format one honest try.
If you love it? Plug it into next week’s calendar and keep the momentum.
If you hated every second of it? Don’t go back! (Seriously. Life’s too short.) Try something else. That “I can do this” moment is out there for everyone—you just have to find your version of it.
3. Start small. Then build.
It’s tempting to think you have to go five days a week or nothing at all. But consistency always beats intensity.
Start with what feels doable. 10-minute walks. 20-minute strength sessions. One class a week.
Every rep, step, and stretch counts.
4. Let form > ego.
Returning after time off? Let go of how strong/fast/flexible you used to be.
Focus on how you move now. Good form, smart pacing, and injury prevention will get you further than jumping into beast mode too soon.
And hey—working with a personal trainer (hi, I know one!) is a great way to ease in with confidence.
5. Your workout, your rules.
Fitness isn’t about being “the best” in the room—it’s about showing up for yourself.
Try a class. Press play on that online workout. Grab a friend and hit the trail.
Maybe you’ll find your own “Turbo Jam moment”—the one that changes how you feel about moving your body.
Final thought:
You don’t need to “bounce back.” You’re not behind. You’re just someone showing up, trying something, and giving it a shot.
That matters.
That counts.
And if you’re looking for a place to start—or come back to—I’ll be right here, cheering you on and ready to help.
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