My Decision to Make it Count
“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you” – Derek Jeter.
Hi, I’m well known by my nickname T.J. (real name Taja) and as you can see an avid Yankees fan! This is a quote that has guided me not just in sports but in every aspect of life. It makes it even sweeter that it hails from my favorite athlete of all time, Derek Jeter, short stop for the New York Yankees. I have always been called “little, small, or tiny” throughout my youth, but I decided my size did not have to define me. From the moment I became active as a young child, I made the decision to make it count, every practice, every game and now every rep in the gym!
I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Finance and Master of Science in Leadership (Focus in Sustainable Business Administration) both from Trine University. Now at 24 years old, I’ve settled into an awesome career at FedEx and life with my fiancé, soon to be husband in 4 months (who is on his own fitness journey)!
I fell in love with lifting heavy weights in high school when I took Strengthening and Conditioning as an elective course and I’ve never looked back. Every day of the work week you can find me at the gym lifting at 4:30 am, usually doing a combination of Musclepharm and Fitmiss workouts. If I’m not focusing on those I’m earning fuel with the Nike Training Club app (the greatest workout app ever invented). As a public service announcement, “Don’t put me down for cardio!”, as best said by Fat Amy on the movie Pitch Perfect…no really, don’t put me down for cardio because I will not do it! I even own a shirt that says “Running Sucks”!
My first obsession may be fitness but it’s closely rivaled by my obsession for all things Nike (plus the New York Yankees, University of Michigan Wolverines and Indianapolis Colts sports teams). Whether it is clothes, shoes, accessories, does not matter…if it is Nike, I am all about it (even a tattoo I will debut soon). Even in my wedding on December 6th, 2014 (to the most amazing man and supporter ever, Shawn Keasal) the entire wedding party will sport Nike Flyknit 4.0 Free Runs and Nike Air Max Theas!!!
I’ve never thought of myself as a “fitspiration” until people began commenting on my instagram and twitter accounts after posting workout pictures. But knowing that one of my endless gym selfies (and trust me I take a lot of them) inspires someone to get up and make the change for a healthier and more fit life brings a lot of meaning to those grueling days in the gym. Not everyone has the same journey but we all have the same goal, to love the body we see every day in the mirror. Remember, there is no excuse for you to not enjoy the body you want because all it takes is one choice every day. Every single day, make it count! JUST DO IT! (told you, obsessed!)
IF YOU’RE CURIOUS ABOUT ME, MY WORK OUTS AND see my Nike addiction continue to grow, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM!
