PET Task Reflection
I always been into fitness. In high school back in 2020-2022, I used to
weightlift and stuff myself with tons of carbs and protein - I was eating 4-5
large meals a day and would feel like throwing up after every meal. Fast
forward to current day, and I have adapted a more balanced and healthy
outlook towards diet and exercise. Movement is essential to our daily lives
and health - and lack of use of our muscles and joints lead to their advanced
deterioration. The same applies to food and nutrition - what we eat and take
in nutrition-wise affects our body and its processes. This is our fuel - our
source of life. Starting the first few weeks was extremely difficult for me. I
had just moved to a new country and was unfit and stressed due to a few
dozen factors such as the school workload and adjusting to a new routine. I
felt like throwing up after most intensive workouts for the first 2 weeks, and
was eating at odd hours of the day. As time progressed, I got increasingly
better performance and my appetite and mood improved, as well as stress
levels. This was a gradual change and not a sudden one. Doing the hard
thing such as exercising was and still is extremely hard to start in the
moment, but the feeling of euphoria afterwards remains unmatched.
Confidence and self esteem also slowly rose, as confidence in yourself to
consistently show up and do these hard things is extremely self-assuring and
confidence in your body’s ability to adapt and see how it grows stronger has
a huge impact on your overall self-esteem. It also became slightly easier to
deal with and process stress or specific stressful moments/days due to
workload or other events.
I was able to reach some of my 8 week baseline test goals, but not
others. However, overall cardiovascular health has improved drastically and
running 1 km to and from my workout has become easier. I was able to hit all
but the leg raise goal and missed my plank goal by a few seconds. The most
progress happened in the first few weeks between week 2 and 5 or 6,
wherein my body was forced to adapt to intensive training it had not
experienced in a while.
My short-term fitness goals, like reaching 30 push-ups, 10 pull-ups, a 1-
minute plank, 18 leg raises, and 30 squats, are focused on building strength,
endurance, and control over my body. These goals target key muscle groups
—upper body, core, and lower body—and will help me establish a solid
foundation of overall fitness. As I progress to more challenging targets—40
push-ups, 15 pull-ups, a 2:30-minute plank, 25 leg raises, and 60 squats—I’ll
push my limits and improve my strength and endurance. Achieving these
goals will make everyday activities easier and also prepare me for more
difficult physical challenges, such as running long distances or lifting heavier
weights.
These short-term goals are closely connected to my long-term aim of
achieving peak health. I want to improve my overall fitness by working on
my cardiovascular health, strength, flexibility, and mobility. Exercises like
planks and leg raises, which strengthen my core, will help reduce the risk of
back pain and joint problems as I get older. By building a strong core, I’ll
improve my posture and protect myself from injuries, which is especially
important as I continue to age and stay active.
Reaching these short-term milestones will also set me up for success in
the long run. The strength and endurance I’m building now will help prevent
common health issues, like muscle loss or joint pain, that tend to develop
with age. These goals are steps toward my lifelong goal of maintaining peak
health, ensuring I stay strong, active, and pain-free for many years. By
sticking to these goals and continually improving my fitness, I’m building a
foundation for a healthy and active future.