Relationship With Training (Part 2)
Ages 17-22: America! My Descent From Stardom
My parents brought me to NYC when I was 17. Being separated from my friends and my girlfriend and dealing with all the new changes in life, I felt lonely and overwhelmed.
Thankfully, I had three older cousins in the US, which helped make this transition a bit easier.
One of them was the first person who introduced me to weight training and ignited the spark for me to begin the next phase of my training journey.
While adapting to American life was challenging, I found my anchor in physical training.
The iron was my constant companion, offering both physical growth and emotional stability during these uncertain times.
Everywhere I looked, from the billboards in Soho to the TV screen, the lean, muscular physique was all the hype, and that was part of my motivation.
I yearned to fit in, to be American, to be desired, and to be a better athlete.
After settling into high school in Queens, I started weight training regularly during gym classes, alternating with some pick-up basketball games. Naturally, bodybuilding became my new obsession. I loved the sensation of cold steel iron coursing through my veins, and the fire inside me welcomed any adversaries that came along the way.
During this period, I was absorbing knowledge like a sponge, from watching football players leg pressing over 500 lbs to reading Flex magazine at the local 7-Eleven religiously.
I wrote my own programming, tested it out, and asked my cousin questions, repeatedly for years.
A year later, I joined Power House gym in Queens, trained with a couple of friends regularly, and even ran into LL Cool J once. I went from 120 lbs to 135 lbs in less than two years, but I was far from being satisfied with my physique.
Discipline was never an issue, but self-judgment was.
“Too small and too weak”, whispered by my inner voice. My childhood insecurity only amplified.
With a gym being available to me on college campus, I spent 4 years to continue weight training consistently, 5 to 7 days a week. Like my childhood playground, this gym was the place where I connected with many fellow students and some became long term friends later.
During these four years, I built myself the reputation being the strong, little guy on campus. The external validation I received in the gym boosted my self-confidence back up.
I finally started to feel like I fit into part of the American culture.
Ages 23-27: From A Career On Wall Street To Health & Fitness
Transitioning from being a college student to working in corporate America, it didn’t change my training schedule all that much. At this point, I was training to maintain my physique and athleticism. I was more focused on my job, but the gym was still a sanctuary. It was my safe space. However, training alone in the new gym felt different without my college friends.
I craved friendly competition and a community.
When I expressed this to my cousin, he suggested I try Crossfit. Immediately after our conversation, I started watching footage of Crossfit training and the Fittest Man on Earth competition. I felt alive watching the hard workouts these men and women endured. Within days, I started my Crossfit training journey.
I found a place where I felt alive, contrary to the feeling being fitted in a cubicle, while my body was rotting away.
In less than a couple years of consistent, grueling training, I reached a new athletic peak.
Just when I was feeling exhilarated with this newfound passion, I received an unexpected message to inform me that someone very close to me passed away in a car accident in Hong Kong.
My heart was torn into pieces and my world had turned upside down.
I didn’t know what I should do at the time. The only thing I could think of was wanting my life to be “normal”, so I went to the gym. As soon as I stepped in the gym, I channeled all my emotions and uncomfortable feelings into the assault bike.
I wanted to feel my burning lungs and every ounce of pain in my body.
The physical exhaustion and pain surely felt better than feeling sadness, anger, and grief.
After-all, physical training was my antidote to emotional pain. The gym was my safe space.
After spending the next few months contemplating my life, I decided to switch careers.
I wanted to make impact with my work and have more autonomy in my life.
I trusted my gut feeling and started an exit plan.
And everything went as planned—I worked part time as a personal trainer, built up my clientele, while kept working full-time in finance for 6 months.
I also enrolled in a graduate program to study Chinese Medicine.
Training evolved from self-indulgence in knowledge and athletic performance to sharing with others, and possibly saving lives.
It became a tool for connection and empowerment, and my goal became simply to share my passion for health & fitness with as many people as possible.
Ages 28- Present: Navigating My Path And Finding Home
This last decade was a period of exploration, learning, growth, and reflection, both personally and professionally.
My relationship with training has gone through a roller coaster ride:
From being competitive to indifferent;
From body-image insecurity to confidence;
From self-judgment to self-acceptance;
From immersing in different fitness communities to discovering the power of solitude;
From fixating on goals to embracing the process;
Many parts of me have died, transformed, and been reborn.
While I am still navigating my path and finding truth in my heart, I’ve learned that the journey itself is the destination.
Home is where mind and body find rest – that is our true sanctuary.
I encourage you to be kind to yourself, explore your current beliefs on training, health, and life.
Listen to and follow your heart to act on whatever serves your life’s purposes.
Thank you for reading and I am grateful that our paths have crossed.
Please share this with a friend.
Additional Resources
New YouTube video is here, please subscribe to the channel if you enjoy the content.
1:1 Online Coaching Programs (Live)
You and I will work together on your health and fitness goals throughout the program.
If you put in all the work as assigned for 30 days and still feel unsatisfied with the coaching program, you will receive 100% of your money back, including the initial consultation’s fee.
Schedule you consultation session here.
For In-Person sessions, you can schedule an appointment with me in NYC or in Beacon.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Best,
Anthony
Licensed Acupuncturist | Holistic Personal Trainer & Health Coach
Here are 5 ways I can help you
15 minutes Complimentary Session here
Online Coaching here
One-On-One Session (NYC / Beacon) here
Newsletter / Blog here
YouTube Channel here
www.anthonywongwellness.com
LEGAL DISCLAIMERS: This is NOT medical advice, nor can I give you medical advice. I AM NOT YOUR DOCTOR. This article does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Anthony Wong and you. Everything here is for general informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing medical advice. Information in this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and it should not be used to self-diagnose nor should it substitute for a medical exam, treatment, diagnosis, and prescription or other recommendations by a professional medical doctor. You should not make any changes in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician. Always seek the advice of physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice from health care professionals for any medical condition.