Rock Climbing for the First Time Since Childhood (After Major Weight Loss)

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This video documents my first time rock climbing since childhood — something I never thought I’d be able to do again after years of weight gain. After losing a significant amount of weight, I finally felt confident enough to try climbing again, even though I’m still far from a “typical climber” at around 190 lbs.

I visited Climb So iLL in St. Louis, forgot all my camera gear, and still decided to climb anyway — so this session is filmed entirely on my phone. What started as a casual experiment quickly turned into a humbling, motivating, and emotional experience. From struggling on the angled training wall, to experimenting on the auto-belay routes, to pushing myself on the bouldering wall, this video is about showing up even when you feel out of place.

What you’ll see and learn in this video:
Why the angled wall humbled me immediately (and why it’s amazing for grip & technique)
Why grip strength from lifting does NOT automatically carry over to climbing

The value of starting workouts with your least-favorite auxiliary work
A scary but rewarding “leap of faith” moment on an overhang
Why bouldering is intimidating — but one of the best ways to learn and grow

A deeper lesson that didn’t fully make it into the video:
When I moved over to the bouldering wall, I was honestly overwhelmed. Even though the routes are shorter and closer to the ground, you’re not tied in — and that alone can mess with your head. On top of that, I didn’t know the etiquette, the rules, or where I belonged.
As someone with ADHD and social anxiety, moments like this can feel paralyzing. Your brain starts firing off worst-case scenarios:
What if I fall? What if I hurt myself? What if I hurt someone else? What if I look stupid? What if I’m doing something wrong and don’t know it?
For a neurodivergent brain, those thoughts don’t just pass — they stack, spiral, and hit all at once. I almost talked myself out of bouldering entirely.
Then a guy came up, started a normal conversation, and answered a few questions without judgment. That small act of kindness changed everything. It pulled me out of my head, helped me feel welcome, and gave me the confidence to try something new that I ended up loving.
That man will probably never know how much his kindness mattered — but it mattered a lot. And it reminded me that you never know what someone is carrying beneath the surface. Approaching people with curiosity, patience, and kindness can genuinely change someone’s day — or even their trajectory.

Perfection isn’t attainable. But perfect effort is.
Don’t be afraid to try new things.
Don’t be afraid to be the beginner.
And don’t be afraid to be the kind stranger — it matters more than you think.

💬 Question for you: What’s something you’ve been wanting to try, but anxiety or self-doubt has been holding you back from starting?

#rockclimbing #weightlossjourney #adhdfitness #neurodivergent #fitnessmotivation #tryingnewthings #selfimprovement