Body Fit: Not just make me fit, but also make me lit

What started as a free workout became a game-changer. Body Fit gave me energy, discipline, and a campus crew that made uni life brighter.

If you told me back in my first semester that one of my best university memories would come from sweating in the Sports Hall at 12pm, I’d laugh. Me? The girl who barely managed mornings without coffee, felt tired all day, and was constantly drowning in deadlines? Not a chance.

But somehow, that’s exactly what happened.

It all started after countless invites from my clubmates saying, “Hey, let’s try Body Fit this week. It’s free!” It was just one of the many fitness classes RMIT offers every semester - nothing too serious, just a quick workout and a chance to hang out. But one week turned into the next, and somehow two semesters slipped by. That’s when I realised Body Fit wasn’t just about getting stronger. It became a small habit that quietly reshaped my routines, my friendships, and the way I saw myself on campus.

From skipping breakfast to showing up for myself

Before Body Fit, I was that type of student who lived on instant noodles, stayed up way too late, and called “sleeping at 2am” a healthy night. My only real cardio was running between classes. Mornings started with a tired body and a racing mind, and by noon, I was already drained.

Then came my first Body Fit class, and it humbled me fast. Ten minutes into warm-up, I was out of breath while everyone else still looked fresh. Our coach, Mr. Sơn, grinned and said, “You can’t stop until your teammate finishes”. Funny at first, until it wasn’t. That day taught me something important: my bad routines were catching up. I had no energy, no discipline, and no real care for my body.

I knew I couldn’t survive the next session the same way. Slowly, I made small but important changes - eating a proper breakfast before class, sleeping earlier, and planning my day around those 12pm workouts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Those tiny adjustments soon turned into a new rhythm, one that gave me more energy, focus, and even joy in daily life.

What started as training my body quietly became something bigger: it taught me to finally show up for myself.

Sweat, struggles, and team spirit

But to be real, Body Fit is tough. Burpees, squats, planks… sometimes it felt like a boot camp disguised as a free fitness class. Some days I walked in confidence and walked out questioning my life choices.

Yet it wasn’t the workout that kept me coming back - it was the people. We sweated together, counted down the last seconds, and hyped each other up in the Teams chat afterward. “My legs are gone.” “Same.” “See you next week?” Somehow, the answer was always yes.

And then there was Mr. Sơn - the coach everyone has a love-hate relationship with. He pushed us, caught anyone slacking, and somehow knew exactly when we were about to give up. But he was also the first to clap, laugh, and remind us how far we’d come.

Even more than him, it was the support from friends around me that made showing up easier. Seeing classmates struggle just as loudly, cheering each other on, joking about sore legs afterward - it made consistency feel natural and discipline feel less like a chore. After class, we’d collapse on the floor, laughing about how sore we’d be tomorrow, sometimes go for lunch, sometimes just sit there catching our breath. In those sweaty, messy, shared moments, I realized I wasn’t doing it alone. That support gave me courage, and slowly, it helped me push a little further each session.

Turning sweat into self-discovery

In that rhythm of shared effort and encouragement, I started noticing changes in myself. Body Fit didn’t just shape my routine - it reshaped my mindset. I used to think university growth only came from classes, grades, and career prep - the “serious stuff”. But Body Fit showed me that personal growth often starts with small, unplanned things you say yes to. Showing up consistently, leaning on the support around me, and pushing myself bit by bit became a habit.

Through each session, I learned discipline in a way textbooks couldn’t teach. I realised motivation isn’t what gets you to the gym - it’s consistency. You won’t always feel like showing up, but when you do, that’s when you truly grow.

Gradually, that consistency became resilience, shaping how I approached other parts of my life. I became more focused in class, more confident in group projects, and more patient with myself. Every tough session taught me that setbacks aren’t failures - they’re just pauses before progress. Whenever I couldn’t nail a move or felt too tired to keep going, I learned to breathe, reset, and try again. That simple habit in the Sports Hall slowly became the way I handled challenges outside of it too.

Bit by bit, the small habit of showing up turned into real changes. I stopped leaving assignments to the last minute. I studied and worked more efficiently, without constant stress. My lifestyle became healthier: better sleep, better meals, and real breaks that actually recharged me. Progress didn’t come from doing everything perfectly - it came from showing up, again and again. And that mindset made all the difference.

The little thing that changed everything

Now, two semesters later, I still show up to the Sport Hall every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at noon. Not because I have to, but because I want to. It’s become more than a workout; it’s a reminder that growth isn’t always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it’s in the quiet victories: waking up early, pushing through one more set, or simply showing up even when you don’t feel like it.

Looking back, it dawned on me that Body Fit didn’t just make me fit. It made me lit - not in the trendy sense, but in the way that means alive. It reignited a part of me that was too tired and too caught up in deadlines to enjoy life.

And that’s what university is really about: the little things that end up shaping the version of you who’s stronger, happier, and more grounded.

So, if you ever feel stuck or overwhelmed, maybe start small. Try one class. One stretch. One step toward something new. Because sometimes, that’s all it takes to turn your “fit” into something truly “lit”.

Story: Ngo Tu Ngoc, a Bachelor of Professional Communication student. This article does not reflect the views of RMIT Vietnam as an institution.

01 December 2025

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