“I've always been into physical activities ever since I was a kid. I loved trying new sporty hobbies and exploring different ways to stay active. But it wasn't until my teenage years that I discovered my love for swimming and running. I even participated in some running competitions throughout the years.
When I was between the ages of 15 to 18, I fell in love with ballroom dancing. It was a lot of fun and a great way to stay active. I also started working out with fitness videos on a regular basis.
Fast forward to my training to become an anesthetic nurse, during our health weeks in school, we had to choose an exercise for the next five weeks. The options were running, swimming, yoga, volleyball, and Freeletics.
I had never heard of Freeletics before, so I decided to try something new. Our teacher started us off with the Aphrodite workout on the first day and finished with Burpee Frog Jumps on the last day. He gave us the full experience, and even though it was tough, I loved giving it my all and feeling exhausted but satisfied after each workout.
After those five weeks, I didn't want to miss that feeling of pushing myself to the limit. It was something that other workouts I had done before couldn't give me anymore. I also noticed some changes in my conditioning and I wanted to improve even further.
One of the things I loved about Freeletics was that it was so easy to do. All you had to do was put on some workout clothes, roll out that workout mat, and press start. You don't have to go to the gym or fight bad weather outside. You can literally do it anywhere. Just your own body weight is enough to have a great workout. Freeletics also made me more ambitious. I wanted to get better, perfect my technique, and beat my personal best times on each journey.
I have also been constantly battling with good nutrition. I mean, everybody knows that nutrition is important for a fit and healthy body and also for results. But how many of us are good at working out on a regular basis but not able to maintain a healthy diet?! That was definitely my experience.
In the summer of 2022, I saw an advertisement for the Freeletics Bootcamp, and I thought, “Why not?,” so I signed up and was accepted a few weeks later.
I was a little skeptical about the Freeletics Bootcamp in the beginning because I had never really trained with weights before. I always have some difficulties with change in the beginning. But I trusted the trainers and the process and learned not to be skeptical of trying something new.
The Freeletics Bootcamp helped me flip the switch because, for the first time, I actually felt a difference by sticking to my training and maintaining a healthy diet and saw actual amazing results.
Seeing these results helped me overcome the battle with nutrition and low motivation. Of course, the first weeks were always the hardest ones because I had to push myself out of my comfort zone and battle with change. I felt like it wasn't working and I wanted to give up. But I had to push through those first weeks, and once I saw and felt the change, I kept pushing myself.
Having the other Bootcamp Free Athletes really helped me overcome the feeling of giving up. The feeling of not being alone and battling through it together always kept me going. Also, reminding myself that the pain and struggle are only temporary, and if I push through it, there will be a great reward, and I get to grow and be proud of myself.
Training with Freeletics helped me to develop a routine. Especially in the beginning, when there was a lot of change happening, it was good to have something so regular every other day. It also helped a lot when I was frustrated or stressed. I could put all of those feelings into the workout and get rid of them. I always felt better after working out and left the gym with a smile on my face.
My advice to anyone out there unsure if they want to make a change: Just start! No more excuses or “what ifs”!
It doesn’t matter what fitness level or body shape you start with. You can only improve from the point you started. If you need motivation and don’t feel like you can keep it up alone, find yourself a group of people with similar goals. I had that experience myself, and it’s amazing how others can motivate and push you! Start today and fall in love with the process.”
Does Lea's story inspire you? Do you have a story to inspire others? Share it on the Freeletics forum, or just connect with other Free Athletes!
