I can run again

By Noel Galon de Leon

After two whole months of dedication, sweat, and the occasional dramatic grunt at the gym, I finally got my reward. No, not a trophy, not a six-pack (yet), but something even better, I can finally run again. Without gasping for air. Without feeling like I need to lie down and make peace with the universe after ten steps. This is a big deal. See, I’ve been religiously going to the gym every day, following every single instruction from Coach Dawn, even the ones I wish I could conveniently forget. From squats to salads, from cardio to controlled cravings, I stuck to it. It wasn’t easy. I mean, eating clean and waking up early to work out when you could just… not? That takes commitment.

You know what’s funny? Most people didn’t know that earlier this year, on my first day back at the gym, at a different gym, mind you, I fainted. Yep. Straight up collapsed like a badly written love story. Humiliating? Absolutely. Motivating? Weirdly, yes. That incident scared me enough to find a gym and a community that actually fits my schedule, energy, and vibe.

And boy, did I find the right one. I tried to keep it lowkey, but the word is out, this gym has now become the place to be in Iloilo. Especially for folks my age and even the younger crowd. It’s not just the facilities or the machines (although, let’s be real, those help), it’s how the coaches treat you like an actual human being, not just another sweaty blob in gym wear.

What have I learned in two months with Coach Dawn? Surprisingly simple truths, but powerful ones:

1. Everything is connected. Exercise means nothing without a proper diet. Diet means nothing if you don’t sleep well. Sleep means nothing if your mind is all over the place.
2. Discipline and dedication beat motivation every time. Motivation is cute, but discipline gets things done.

Now, let’s be real. For someone like me, your classic lower-middle-class survivor, going to the gym every day, sticking to a strict diet, and buying supplements like BCAA and creatine is not cheap. Health has a price tag. But there are ways to be smart about it. Coach Dawn’s diet plan, thankfully, is both realistic and sustainable. I’m not eating unicorn meat or imported air-fried kale.

Her approach? Stick to what’s local, available, and affordable. For us Ilonggos, that’s laswa, our beloved mixed vegetable soup. Honestly, I could eat that every day and not complain. Add some fish or chicken breast, and voila, a meal fit for a comeback story.

Now let’s bust some myths. The so-called “cheat day”? Total scam. What we should have is a cheat meal. Singular. One. Uno. Not a whole day of eating like you’ve just escaped from a sugarless cave. It’s about balance, not punishment or indulgence.

Then there’s sleep. Oh, the underrated MVP. This is where the body heals, recovers, and prepares for another round of torture, I mean training. But I get it, in our country, especially for the working class, getting enough sleep feels like a luxury. A privilege. Many of my former gym buddies have dropped out after just a month because night shifts and life obligations got in the way. No shame there, just reality.

Coach Dawn says sustainability is about what’s accessible, realistic, and local. Not fancy. Not Instagrammable. Just honest, good food. Laswa, again, saves the day.

But here’s the ultimate truth I’ve discovered, your coach can only do so much. You can have the best workout program, the best diet, the best gym, but if you don’t believe in yourself, if you don’t stay committed to your goals, it’s not going to stick.

And yes, someday soon, I’ll taste cake again. I’ll dip my spoon into ice cream. I might even flirt with a cup of milk tea. But only a portion! I’m not about to abandon my laswa. That’s my happy meal, my daily partner in this fitness journey.

Anyway, before I turn this into a TED Talk, I’m taking a break. Rest days are sacred, too. They’re not laziness; they’re strategy.

So, for now, it’s bye-bye. Catch me next time, probably jogging around, eating laswa, or dreaming about ice cream (in moderation).

***

Noel Galon de Leon is a writer and educator at University of the Philippines Visayas, where he teaches in both the Division of Professional Education and U.P. High School in Iloilo. He serves as an Executive Council Member of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts-National Committee on Literary Arts.