By Darius Orpilla

My goal was to lose weight and get healthy. I wanted to be more active and take better care of myself. But I also had a bigger dream. I wanted to encourage others to live a healthy life, too. That is why I hope to become a fitness influencer one day. The workout videos I make are helping me work toward that goal.

First, I focused on my own health. I began by changing the way I ate. I added more fruits and vegetables to my diet. I also got a membership at the YMCA to begin my fitness journey. To keep myself on track, I used an app called Calorie AI. It helped me track what I was eating and how much I was exercising. It was a really helpful tool.

Early in 2026, I joined Community Development Services and shared my idea about making workout videos with my support staff. They believed in me and helped me get started, so I began filming myself working out. Then, I used Canva and CapCut to edit my videos. My family at home was also a big support. Knowing I had people behind me made a real difference.

The hardest parts were staying motivated every single day. Eating healthy takes a lot of self-control. There were also days when I felt tired and did not feel like going to work out. But I kept pushing through.

When I finished my very first video and posted it on my YouTube channel, I felt so happy. I was proud of myself, and I could see the results of all my hard work. I was feeling healthier and stronger, and knowing that my videos could help others learn how to stay active made it even more special.

This goal taught me that, with the right support and a lot of determination, I can accomplish things I once thought were out of reach. I dreamed it, I worked for it, and now I am achieving it—and I cannot wait to see what comes next.