I never considered myself as having an invisible disability with my diagnosis of "Generalised Anxiety Disorder", but when you frame it in the fitness sense, you're too anxious to go to a gym, going to classes was an awkward thing to avoid, and I didn't like going for walks on my own. Even though I live in a fairly rural location, I was brought up in the suburbs of a city, so going out alone just didn't seem "worth the risk"
Yet in the present day, I've done 39 parkruns to date, I LEAD local walks for both business and leisure, and if I had the time and space I'd confidently attend a class of yoga or pilates too.
But what happened? How did I manage to change the whole mindset and overcome the anxiety?
I was mum to a toddler. I had zero confidence, and no motivation to actually "do stuff". I lost myself completely in 2019 and ended up in hospital. After refusing an operation and promising to change my lifestyle, I was essentially "scared" into changing.
In October 2019, a game called "Ring Fit Adventure" came out for Nintendo Switch.
It was a no brainer to me, and it marketed itself as a more longterm fitness plan. It was exactly what I needed.
By January 2020, I'd lost that two stone I needed to lose, and almost got to my target weight during lockdown.
Consistency was key. By January I'd completed the main story in the game, but I was able to create custom lists with advice from a personal trainer on youtube who specialised in Fitness games.
When lockdown eased off, I was more free so I started to overcome the anxiety disorder, and started socialising/networking a lot more. Now we're in 2024, I'm not where I want to be weight-wise, but the difference is I found my confidence for the first time.
So I may not be anywhere near my "target" weight, but I'm known for my choice of leggings locally, and as a piano tutor I create a fun and alternative vibe which is helped by my sense of "Style"
And this Saturday I'll be taking my Nintendo Switch to a Yoga Festival and giving the expanded version of this story.
I've been working towards this for half the year, and I know my story will inspire everyone that exercise can be more accessible than you might think!
I knew about the fitness games because I founded Nintendo North Wales in 2012. I collected fitness games since the Wii days, but none of them stuck like Ring Fit Adventure did! Establish a routine, then you won't need to find the motivation to do something, you just do it!
