Friday, April 11, 2014

Continuing to be Tedious

As the title suggests, I will bang on about fitness stuff again. This is my second week of completed gym sessions and my last with my Personal Trainer (PT) for four weeks. Of all of the decisions I've made recently, this is the one I am exceptionally pleased about. Or should I say a doubly good one?

The gym is brilliant. I love it's shabbiness. It's functional only; with an emphasis on weights and strength training. There are nods to cardio and floor work in the back with a handful of machines, but that's pretty much it. You want shiny machines, tvs to watch, magazines to read? You're in the wrong place. 

My PT is fantastic. The programme he developed for me is perfect in that it's challenging, addresses my weakness and builds on my strengths. In the past two weeks I've seen some brilliant improvements. Mind you, I look on every extra rep, every added 0.25kg as a brilliant improvement. 

Working out at home to the DVDs did exactly what I hoped they'd do: they built my confidence and brought up my fitness level to the point where I felt comfortable taking it further. What they couldn't do was correct my form. I knew I wanted to increase the weights, but I wasn't happy doing so without a better idea of form. I am doing everything possible to avoid injury. I felt if I went out and bought heavier weights I would be at risk. Perhaps I was a bit overly-cautious, but I would rather take it more slowly and anchor in the fitness habit properly so I continue to feel excited and motivated about exercising.

What I wasn't prepared for was the increase in my appetite. I'd heard about the need for protein after a workout, but mostly dismissed that as just manly men hype....until at 10.30am on Monday I would have killed for a whole roasted chicken. On Wednesday, I had a funny turn and it was suggested I really need to eat before my workout. I have no wish to throw up on the gym floor. That would just be embarrassing. It was good advice because this morning I had my mid-morning smoothie first thing instead and no wobblies. Please don't laugh, but I'm looking into protein shakes to boost my mid-morning smoothie to deal with the sudden carnivorous urges. 

Next week, I start Gym/Run/Rest rotations. I'm really excited about getting back out there to pound the pavement. I've missed the running. Again, deciding not to run while I got to grips with the new strength routine was a good one. I am grudgingly following Dave's advice to start with this routine rather than go straight into running and gym on alternate days with a rest on Sundays.

Last blog post, I talked about the added extra of confidence I've gained by doing the strength training. During the weekend, I realised something else.

The last 6 months have been the most consistently stressful, and in parts, distressing period of time I've experienced pretty much since my dad died nearly four years ago. In this time, I have gone from working out irregularly to working out pretty much 3-4 times a week, if not 5-6 times some weeks. This year, I started running, then joined a gym and started lifting weights. My working hours have increased to the point where it's rare that I leave the office before 6pm; my workload has multiplied like bunny rabbits on viagra and I've gone to anyone who would listen and demanded more responsibility. I haven't taken many sick days at all, despite the winter bugs and more importantly, and this is the point of it all - I am not depressed

I am not dragging my arse behind me trying to get things done at home or at work. I am out of bed in the mornings and after an hour of Pink Fluffy Dressing Gown, coffee and Facebook, I am out of my chair doing stuff. On my days off, I don't nap in the afternoon any more as standard. When I come home in the evenings, I'm still doing what needs to be done. My housework is no longer a chore I have to work up to. Don't get me wrong, I'm still knackered, but gone are the days when I'd crawl through the door and have a microwave meal because it was the only thing I could manage to do.

This is quite a scary revelation for me. For the past 43 years, I thought I had problems with my energy levels, problems with mental health. It turns out there's nothing wrong with my energy levels or my mental health - I just wasn't fit enough to live

All this time wasted.

Well, not much can be done about the past and dwelling on that isn't going to help me continue to move forward well. For the next 43 years, I now know the key to feeling good and doing more is about focusing on keeping fit and being well in myself. The more I move, the better I feel, the more I do. I am the kind of person who totally digs on the concept of 'more', so I'm going to stick with this and see where it leads.

10 comments:

  1. That is AMAZING. I'm so happy and pleased for you! I also noted a distinct lack of 'sinusitis' posts this year. Go back and look at where you were and what you were talking about a couple of years ago. Look at you now! You genuinely inspire me, girl.

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    1. Thank you so much my lovely. You're absolutely right, although I might have the sniffles, no sinus infections (yet) this year. Let's keep our fingers crossed then.

      And you inspire me to add a tsp of BADASS in my morning coffee. Look up awesome in any dictionary and your picture is right there.

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  2. Well, you look bloody fantastic, darling!

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    1. Thank you Z! I'm not feeling too bad all things considering.

      It was so good to see you today. I really need a dose of your good sense and practicality.

      You inspire me to never give up. xxx

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  3. Well, well, well, I can't believe I'm reading this! Is this the same Rosemarie who'd lounge in her pink fluffy dressing gown on the weekends? Who would have thought?! I'm SO GLAD you are realizing ALL of the benefits of working out/fitness! I wish more people who are on anti-depressants would just GET UP AND MOVE and throw their pill bottles away. And you are finding that you DO have more energy because when you work out, you actually are creating energy! Endorphins are released to make working out FEEL GOOD! This post is all about everything I've been feeling for the three years since I started working out again. As you know from my post the other day, I've had SO MANY set backs, but I keep on going. It can be frustrating to reach a level in my fitness and weight and to have to backslide due to health issues (like recently) but I just keep going, knowing that in a short amount of time, I will see a difference and get my energy back. I go and think, "Man, this is hard." and then one day, BAM, it happens and I think, "I CAN do this!" And the thing is, that when you work out, you not only look good from the outside but are achieving amazing things with your body on the inside. WELL DONE YOU, ROSEMARIE!!! Keep going! xoxoxo

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    1. I know. I'm still in shock. The stuff that comes out of my mouth these days: wow, I'd like to do a triathlon one day! It's just nuts.

      I think what changed it for me was thinking about these things in the longer term. I'm not exercising for Now, I'm exercising forever. That's the difference.

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  4. I am very happy to see you have an epiphany about your life! It's amazing the things you learn about yourself when you dare to try new things and push yourself forward to meet and exceed your goals.

    I totally agree about how working out makes you not only stronger and healthier, but it really does help you de-stress and build up more energy. It really helps you focus and think in new ways to tackle new challenges.

    I am really glad to see you take control of life and do the things that are making you happy and more fulfilled. I am enjoying reading about your progress and the wonderful journey to finding and expressing your inner strength and confidence! You are definitely growing and blossoming in amazing new ways!

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    1. Thank you darling. It feels like it's been a heck of a long time coming.

      But hey, this is all a journey and I've only been able to do what I could do.

      I hope I'm on the right track, but this certainly has made a huge difference to me.

      Thank you for sticking with me! xxx

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  5. Wowsers Roses, this is an amazing success story. And my knees ached just reading it. Hats off to you, Indigo x

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    1. Bless your heart - but success makes it sound like I'm getting somewhere. In actual fact, I've only just got off my bum. I'll be a success story next year when I run the Norwich Half Marathon!

      As for aching knees...I sprained mine quite badly and thought I'd never be able to do half the stuff I've been doing recently. It turns out I just needed to build more muscle to support my knees. Though, I suspect it will be better for me in the longer run to do more off-road running...

      xxx

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