The Raw Truth: What I Wish Everyone Knew Before Starting Their Fitness Journey.
Starting your fitness journey? San Pedro personal trainer Andrew Mejia gives you the unfiltered truth about what to really expect. Save yourself time, frustration, and avoid quitting.
You’re here. You’ve made the decision. You’re ready to change your life.
Hell yeah. I love to see it.
But before you lace up those new shoes and go all-in, we need to have a real talk. Most people start this journey with a head full of dreams and a phone full of Instagram inspiration… but zero idea about the actual reality of building a body and a lifestyle that lasts.
They quit not because they’re weak, but because they’re unprepared for the truth.
I don’t want that to be you. So here’s what I wish every single person knew before they took their first step into the gym.
1. It’s Not a Sprint. It’s a Freaking Marathon.
You didn’t get out of shape in 6 weeks, and you’re not getting back in shape in 6 weeks. The biggest killer of progress is the expectation of overnight success. You’re going to have great weeks and you’re going to have weeks where life gets in the way. The goal isn’t to be perfect; it’s to be consistent over the long haul. This is a forever thing, not a 12-week crash course.
2. You Have to Fall in Love with the Grind.
If you’re only doing this for the six-pack, you will quit. The result isn’t the reward—the process is. You have to find a way to enjoy the feeling of lifting something heavy. To appreciate the mental clarity after a hard sweat. To take pride in the simple act of showing up for yourself when no one is watching. The daily work is the point. The physique is just a side effect.
3. Nutrition is 90% of the Battle. Maybe More.
I can’t out-train your diet. You can’t out-train your diet. No one can. You can kill yourself in the gym for an hour and wipe out all that progress with one bad meal. This is the hardest pill for people to swallow. The gym is the fun part. The real work happens in the kitchen, at the grocery store, and when you’re saying "no thanks" to the second drink. Master your nutrition, or you’re just spinning your wheels.
4. It’s Supposed to Be Hard. That’s the Point.
It’s not supposed to be easy. You’re supposed to be uncomfortable. You’re supposed to be sore. You’re supposed to have days where you stare at the barbell and want to walk away. That discomfort is the signal that you’re growing. That’s where the change happens. Don’t run from it. Lean into it. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.
5. Your Scale is a Liar.
Throw that thing out. Or at least, stop worshipping it. Your weight will fluctuate daily based on water, sodium, stress, and a hundred other factors. If you let a number on a scale dictate your mood and self-worth, you are setting yourself up for a world of pain. Better metrics? How your clothes fit. How much energy you have. How you’re lifting heavier. Progress pictures. Trust how you feel, not a random number.
6. You Don’t Need a Perfect Plan. You Need to Start.
People get paralyzed looking for the "perfect" workout program or the "perfect" diet. They research themselves into a standstill. The best plan is the one you will actually DO. Consistency with a decent plan will always beat perfection with a plan you hate. Start. Today. Right now. Adjust as you go.
The Bottom Line:
This journey is about so much more than fitness. It’s about building discipline. It’s about self-respect. It’s about proving to yourself that you can do hard things.
It won’t be easy. But I can promise you this: it will be worth it.
You have everything you need right now to take the first step. Stop waiting for the "right time." The right time is today.
Let's get to work.
- Andrew Mejia
Feeling fired up but want a guide who’s been there? Let’s build a plan that embraces the grind and gets you real, lasting results.
