'Fitness saved me.' Competition show players share their health journeys

"Fitness saved me," says Quinton, a professional Twitch streamer and player on CBC competition series, Canada's Ultimate Challenge, "my love for gaming kept me inside. I'd fuel myself with large amounts of junk food; cookies, pastries, chips, soda." Quinton was feeling defeated by his couch potato lifestyle. One day after high school, he attempted one of his first workouts. "I felt lightheaded, went to the changeroom, blacked out, hit my face on the corner of a bench on the way down and woke up covered in blood. After that day, I refused to ever be like that again." 

It's hard to imagine that the buff, confident man we see on TV today was once a chubby, insecure teen, "My health journey began and I started to learn how to be healthy and be proud of my body. It's changed my life and I can't imagine a life where it's not a part of my day-to-day."

Competition show players say exercise is their secret to good physical and mental health

In Canada's Ultimate Challenge, Quinton and 19 other diverse and fit Canadians travel the country to compete in 16 awe-inspiring challenges that test their physical, mental and teamwork capabilities. 

Like Quinton, many of the players participating in the show also had stories of how fitness played an integral role in helping them overcome life's hurdles. 

Angel was a competitive boxer until she became trapped in a cycle of addiction. "Even when I was deep in the struggle and felt completely worthless and defeated, I was able to hang on by reminding myself of the things that I missed in my life, what I wanted to get back, and envisioning the person that I could be," she says, "strong, healthy, powerful, and living a life that could set a positive example for others." 

"When I came out and had to leave the home I grew up in and then was diagnosed with cancer, I felt like my entire world was crumbling," remembers Paul, now a transit worker from Vancouver. "The only steady thing I had in my life was focussing on my health and fitness. I honestly believe the drive and determination I learned through my fitness journey is what got me through that very dark period." 

"Building a consistent fitness routine allowed me to build confidence in my body, changed how I saw myself and helped me recover from my eating disorders and body dysmorphia," says Jac, a tiny but mighty wellness coach from Vancouver who lives with depression. "Working out consistently got me out of bed, gave me a routine, increased my energy levels and helped me with my brain fog."

The benefits of exercise are well documented; it reduces the risk of depression, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and many cancers. And yet, fewer than one in four Canadians meet the current guidelines for physical activity. 

Exercise can make you happy too

"It's often the best part of my day and whether it's just a quick lift or a spin class or a 90-minute yoga session, giving yourself that time, setting it aside to focus on you and your health is so mentally and emotionally beneficial," says Paul, "the dopamine and serotonin that comes with exercising is something that I honestly don't know if I could live without."  

"I feel much more alert, clear-headed, and happy when I exercise," agrees Angel, "I am also more inclined to make better food choices, as the nutrients that fuel my workouts cannot come from fast food."

And, they say, the benefits of exercise are a lifelong investment. "I don't struggle carrying groceries or chasing my dogs around. I'm not huffing and puffing walking up the stairs," says Jac, "it's about living a long, healthy life where you're able to move functionally without pain or discomfort."

Players give advice on how to make fitness a part of your life

The hardest part is often getting started. 

"Just do it," says Angel, "don't wait for the 'right time' to start because there isn't one." "Motivation often comes with action," agrees Jac, "to set myself up for success, I make a plan, I lay out my gym clothes for the morning and play some tunes and hype myself up!"

Whether it's walking, running, swimming, dancing, rock climbing or yoga find something you enjoy doing and stick with it. "Start slow and work your way up. Change comes from small daily choices over a long period of time!" says Quinton.

Create realistic goals recommends Jac, "Fitness is not all or nothing, it's about finding a balance and living a life that is enjoyable, sustainable and doesn't feel restrictive."

According to Paul, the rest should be easy. "The daily practice of setting aside time to focus on yourself physically and mentally is self-love that is essential to success in life, love, health and happiness."