Having the desire to improve your body, to change the way you look, and fighting every day against the shame of taking your shirt off in front of other people…
Laughing at the comments people make because, in the end, they make you laugh and you also joke about everything, but when you’re alone, you realize that you want to change that.
That you want to get better.
Since I was a kid, I grew up with pectus excavatum and, being so skinny, it became more noticeable over time or at least that’s how it felt to me.
I don’t remember when or how I first thought the gym could change me, but one day I went alone to the neighbourhood gym.
No idea what to do, no internet to look up routines, just watching what others were doing.
That’s how I started searching for the results I wanted so badly.
I was 16 or 17.
At the same time, parties started, nightlife, endless weekends.
Another battle: starting over every week.
Many weeks, even months, without training.
Then suddenly motivated again.
I never really had a training partner.
Rarely went with someone.
But every weekend, I was out with more than ten people.
Years went by like this.
Seeing small changes in my body, gaining a bit of strength…
but something was missing.
The motivation was there, but I couldn’t find that spark that passion.
Until one day, someone invited me to a CrossFit class.
I went without knowing anything.
I got tired fast, felt slow… but the next day, I went again.
And that’s where everything started.
I fell in love with it.
I began fighting now also against my lung capacity.
Because of my chest structure, I would get tired quickly, always stepping aside.
But I kept thinking:
“I want to do that exercise. I want to be good at that one.”
And little by little, I stopped obsessing over fixing just my chest.
I became passionate about improving my performance.
About being more explosive.
About learning more.
I started running.
I remember my first 5K:
I finished destroyed and walked a lot of it, but I learned.
Nothing is easy.
I fell many times.
I went home frustrated because I couldn’t lift the weight I wanted, because an exercise wouldn’t come out with good technique…
But the next day, I’d wake up with that voice in my head:
“TODAY YES. TODAY I’LL DO IT. WATCH ME.”
I learned to find different paths, to analyse my mistakes, to see where I was strong.
To improve the small things so I could shine in the big ones.
And to have patience. A lot of it.
The CrossFit environment grabbed me so much that one day I decided to train without a sweater.
To feel free, confident.
Without fear of being judged.
This is me.
I have nothing to hide.
I kept training every week, improving skills and strength…
and yes, still waiting for the weekend to go partying.
But life brings its blows, and I realized I had to step away from that.
Another battle: resisting invitations, comments, and being firm with what I wanted.
I discovered I could be better.
That if I dedicated myself, it became easier.
I ran, trained at home, gave everything I had in the box.
One day, I saw the opportunity and turned my passion into a business.
With little experience, but all the drive in the world.
With my philosophy: learn, progress, avoid the potholes, and keep going.
A friend and I opened a CrossFit gym.
It was a boom from day one.
And that’s when I truly fell in love with the fitness world.
It wasn’t just my battle anymore, it was seeing the battles of others.
Understanding their fears, their processes.
I saw how some people adapted easily… and others preferred not to come back.
I learned that supporting them, showing them that they can, changes everything.
Showing them through my own example that with consistency, discipline, intensity, desire, and patience, results DO come.
Today… I don’t know which day I quit alcohol.
I don’t know which day I gave myself entirely to training.
But I do remember my first muscle up.
Months trying in every possible way.
Until one day I looked at the bar and yelled:
“HEY! WATCH HOW I DO MUSCLE UPS!”
And I did it.
That’s when my confidence grew.
I ran half-marathons in different cities, in different countries.
Today I still want to improve my pectus excavatum.
I analyse myself every day.
But I understood that this is who I am.
I love myself as I am.
I admire myself as I am.
Today I continue with the same passion to grow, to improve.
Every day I fight against fatigue so I don’t stop training.
And all this path led me to who I am today:
Jotik Serje – Fitness Coach.
Dedicated to helping every person who trains with me achieve their goals.
Focused on finding the path that works for them so they can bring out their best strength, their best skills.
Showing them that with character, attitude, and believing in yourself above everything,
you’re going to make it.
I’m ready to support you when you make the decision to fight for your goals.
If you have an idea, a story, or would like to contribute to the EZ Blog, leave me a message here and I’ll get back to you.