Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son Joseph Baena is opening up about his fitness journey- one rep at a time. Baena, 27, is not just following in his father’s footsteps but carving out his own path and fitness journey. In a refreshing and heartfelt Instagram reel, Baena opened up about his struggles in school and how one choice changed his life.

In his post, the aspiring actor proudly reflected on his journey and how it gave him the purpose to find his comfort sport: swimming. Talking about his journey, the fitness model candidly shared, “People sometimes forget that I used to be chubby in high school. I got cut from my basketball and soccer teams because I couldn’t keep up with the other kids.”

Baena, who was chubby in high school, has come a long way to become a fitness model and actor. But this journey wasn’t easy. In his reel, Baena jokingly admitted how he got cut from the basketball tryouts and how swimming helped him, as it didn’t have tryouts. “Swim didn’t have tryouts, thankfully and completely changed my life forever,” Baena shared.

However, this experience didn’t discourage him but gave him the motivation to move towards something greater than himself. He got up and found a new sport that helped him overcome his weight issues and gave him a path that changed his life.

The reel also encapsulates the internal tug-of-war that Baena often faces, with the reel showcasing Baena collapsing on the couch; however, a snapshot of his younger “chubby” self jolts him upright and into action (not missing the workout session).

While this reel is a hilarious motivation for many, it also reflects Joseph’s journey that gave him purpose, a sense of self-worth and most of all, discipline. In his concluding thoughts, Baena said, “Everyone starts somewhere, but starting is the most important.”

For Baena, swimming wasn’t merely a sport to try; it was the activity that gave him a sense of belonging and something that made him feel good about himself. Baena quoted swimming as, “Swimming was my introduction to Fitness and training.”

Swimming is an excellent sport that not only works in shaping your body but also your mind. It is good for improving your stamina as well as the ability to survive the currents of water. According to swimming is an ultimate sport that deserves a place in your workout routine, especially if you’re looking to start your weight management journey.

Swimming can definitely aid in weight loss when combined with a caloric deficit through balanced nutrition (whole foods rich in fibre, proteins, healthy fats, and ample water), advised Coach Varnit.

As per Coach Varnit, "It can be practised and learned by anyone. It helps build endurance, reduces the risk of diseases and manages stress as well."

Who Should Avoid Swimming?

If you have uncontrolled hypertension, unstable heart conditions, or epilepsy, take medical clearance first, or consult a medical professional before proceeding," advised Coach Varnit.

Swimming is a great full-body workout and can be the ultimate initial step to counter obsesity or even build endurance and increase stamina. Morever, swimming is also a relaxing expericece that can be practised after a hectic days as a way to de-stress from the day's tensions. So, maybe its time to put the swim cap on and dive into the pool!