I would describe my experience with working out as "spotty" to put it lightly. I've always been into the idea of working out. Bodybuilding is a particular special interest of mine and has been for many years (appreciation of the aesthetics and all that). I got into working out properly during my undergrad and got into doing it consistently around 2018/2019. Of course, we all know what happened in 2020 which made going to the gym a bit more dicey, so I fell off hard when that happened. Then between 2021/2022 around the end of my master's program I had some major life events occur which caused me to fall off even harder. So, cut to me- worst shape of my life; can't climb stairs without getting winded and living off of Totino's Party Pizzas (TM). After starting my PhD program in 2023, I decided it had gone far enough. I spent the entirety of 2024 getting my diet back on track, since that was really the root of my issue. Now, in the big 2025 and finally having my eating habits on lock, I decided to get back into the gym and be more serious about it than I've ever been. I've been going to the gym consistently since February (with the exception of September where I fell off the wagon a bit but SHHHHHHHHH) and I feel the best I've ever felt in my life.
NOTE: I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON DIET, EXERCISE, OR ANYTHING OF THE SORT. I AM STUDYING FOR A PHD, NOT AN MD. DO NOT TAKE MY WORD AS ANY KIND OF ADVICE AND/OR GUIDANCE ON THESE MATTERS!!!!!!