I feel like I’ve sort of come full circle in my fitness journey, but yet, I’ve done more than come full circle.

I started working out, at home, awkwardly and privately, to some VHS tapes I bought (I feel like I’m dating myself there by saying that). I progressed from there to printouts from magazines like Women’s Health, before finally being able to afford a gym membership.

Now that I’m no longer a gym patron, I’m back to working out in my home. Certainly things this time around are a lot different. I have a lot more knowledge, I have become a trainer, I actually have weights (because I can actually lift them now).

I don’t need the VHS’ (or DVDs) anymore. I still thumb through fitness magazines a lot, reading the stories, checking out the workouts they publish. I browse around on BodyBuilding.com a lot still.

But my goals have also changed. When I started out in my bedroom the summer after I graduated high school in ’02, I just wanted to stay active. I wanted to tone up just a little. Over those first few years of working out, even after I bought my gym membership, that goal held intact. I started running more and a new goal was added, to start running races. Improve my time. Improve my endurance.

Then the muscle bug came. I wanted shape on me. The only way I’d get that was to put on some muscle, start carving my body.

Then I became a powerlifting monster. Setting PR after PR with my squats, deads and benches. My body was carved by everything I did. I was looking lean, mean and athletic.

So hey, why not try to cut up and lean out a little more, maybe do a competition? New goal!

Right now, my goal is to just stay healthy, active and moving during the last few weeks of pregnancy (that’s right, it’s coming closer and closer!). I have the weights and tools I need at home to continue doing so. Beyond pregnancy, once I get going again… I’ve got some ideas in mind, but nothing is cemented yet. Will it be run more? Be faster? Or lift heavier than ever? Or compete?

You’ll all just have to wait and see what I decide to do once that time comes. I think I’ll title the tale “Stories From the Fit Garage”