Looking Forwards, Looking Fit

"Don't waste your time looking back you're not going that way." Ragnar Lothbrok

You guessed it! I've started going back to the gym over the last few weeks or so. I've had several weeks when my physical health has suffered quite a bit, especially my gut. I've been bloating quite badly and I'm not sure why. Its made me very self conscious about my appearance and has put me off going to the gym because I've felt uncomfortable about being bloated, as its quite obvious due to wearing tight gym clothes, and exercise isn't easy because my middle hurts when I move. Over the last few days I've been pushing myself to go to the gym despite the discomfort (which has eased up quite a bit). Its been really good and I've really enjoyed the exercise. It's helped clear my head and I've been able to improve my distance ever so slightly, time wise. I'm really looking forwards to continuing to go every day, with one or two rest days a week as I don't want to damage my body with the high levels of exercise I'm doing. I do want to still want to do that half marathon in a few months time.

I'm feeling a lot more comfortable in my skin with my appearance. My clothing size has dropped quite a bit since I started this journey of weight loss and now I want to get toned, and feel all the more comfortable and happy with my appearance. I want to be happy with the way I look when the summer comes. I was partially through my weight loss journey last year and I'm hoping to have hit my target by the summer because I want to be able to be proud of all the work I've do to get to where I want to be. I'm looking forwards to being able to wear smaller sizes and all those beautiful summer clothes. I'm also looking forwards to being able to buy a new smaller swimsuit. That's what I'm looking forwards to. I'm not allowing myself to do that until I've hit target. Its part of the reason why I'm going to the gym regularly because I know that exercise will help my body get toned so that when I do buy that new swimsuit I'm proud of the body I know I'll have worked so hard to get. Its a pretty good incentive, like running in that half marathon in May.

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Current Long Run Statistics.

Distance: 4.82 miles (7.76 kilometres)

Time: 45 minutes

Notes: I've been running on the treadmill, and have been doing the full 45 minutes without stopping. This is a very big deal for me because very often I'd hit pause, both my workout and my Fitbit, which doesn't effect my workout but its in my head because I knew I could do it but felt like I was cheating myself. I'm also planning to go for long runs on the road once the weather warms up. I can't bring myself to run outdoors because of the cold and the wet. It's why I'm looking forwards to the spring's warmth. 

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I've also been shaking things up a bit as well, when I go to the gym, as I've been using the cross trainer, once to twice a week, to make sure that I'm avoiding damaging my joints due to putting too much stress and strain on them due to the long runs (as seen above). I can feel my joints are slightly stiffer after my long work outs, especially when I'm bending down to pick up glasses, at work, from the lower shelves. I am much lighter than when I first went into bar work, which makes my job a lot easier than it used to be as I have to be on my feet for longer hours (often around eight hours, five days a week). I'm enjoying my work a lot more now I'm a lot healthier than I was and I can feel it. I feel good. I feel the ache in my from the workouts and its a rewarding feeling! Its also addictive feeling and I'm planning to head to the gym whenever I can.

Having the gym less than five minutes away has blown all my excuses away. I don't have any excuses as to why I can't go to the gym, especially as my gym is always open. I've been really late at night and I've been in the mornings. I've been working my gym sessions around my work schedules so if I start at 15:00 (3 pm), then I'll go in the mornings, and if I'm working 12:00-20:00 shift (12:00 to 8 pm) then I'll go afterwards. I wouldn't be able to enjoy my gym session if I go before the afternoon shift because I'd have to deal with something of a time crunch. I enjoy going to the gym quite a lot! It helps me clear my mind, which has helped my mental health. I'll write another post about that at some point over the next few weeks.

Here's to a new me!