If you’re an avid fitness enthusiast, chances are you’ve been on quite the journey in your quest to live an active lifestyle. Over time, you’ve probably noticed some pretty major changes in yourself, both physically and mentally. If you ever find yourself wondering if anyone else would be interested in hearing about these physical and mental changes, it might be time to write your own fitness memoir!

Who you are

You’re a memoir writer. With every story you tell, you’re simply trying to share your truth and inspire people who might be struggling with similar issues. Over time, your stories become a record of your growth and how far you’ve come. Maybe you don’t love every chapter in your own life story, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth sharing.

Who you were

To write your fitness memoir journey, you first need to consider who you were before you started your journey. What was your health like? How did you feel about yourself physically? You may want to think back on that time period and write down some notes or look at old photos. I’ve noticed that it’s a lot easier for me to remember how I felt than it is for me to recall what specific foods I ate on a particular day.

Who you want to be

As you consider why you want to write your fitness memoir, start by thinking about who you want to be—not who others may have told you that you are, but instead, think about what kind of role model and inspiration you would like to become. You should also think about how much honesty and transparency (to yourself) will factor into your autobiography journey.

How you got there

Before you start writing your fitness memoir, it’s a good idea to write out how you got to where you are. Did you find something that works for you (running, gym, dance class) and stick with it? Did a health problem get your attention and lead you down a new path? Maybe there was an epiphany moment or maybe exercise just became part of your lifestyle one day. What were some of the challenges along the way?

What went wrong (if anything!)

One of my biggest challenges in writing my memoir was getting past my own self-doubt. It’s not that I doubted what I had written—I knew it was a good story! But I would doubt myself and think, This isn’t good enough. My previous attempts at writing fiction left me with so much more confidence and experience, but when I wrote my memoir, every day felt like an uphill battle where something always seemed to get in my way.

Your future self

If you’re just getting started on your fitness journey, keep a log of how your workouts progress. You might only be able to complete half a workout at first, but over time you’ll notice that you can do more and more each week. You should also track all your meals so that you can see if any specific food is causing an allergic reaction or an increase in muscle soreness.

Conclusion:

Writing a memoir is a deeply personal process and it’s important that you don’t rush through it. No one can write your story but you or you can hire a memoir writer for editing and proofreading, so take time to relive moments in your life, reflect on them and decide how you want others to see them. Good luck!