get in shape

I am definitely in shape :-) I’m going to keep going with my exercise routine under the “stay healthy” goal until I get the urge to take this further, perhaps with another 5k or a 10k if my joints will take it. This is the first time in my life I think I’ve ever been completely comfortable with my body. Big big self-cheer for that.

Why? I’m afraid I’ll lapse and stop thinking about it and I’ll just flob back to the shape I was two years ago, like pulling the cord on a life-jacket. Get a grip!

And they fit nicely :-) so this goal is almost there. My body-shape is different, there is no doubt. The reason I haven’t crossed it of is I still don’t feel I’m in a sustainable habit of exercise. There are too many times when I get 2/3 sessions in in a week and the following week I get a virus, like my immune system is shot because I’m overdoing it.

This week I’m continuing to scale back the weights to puny levels, going back to walking/running, but putting more time into my core through Pilates. I’m thinking if I get my back strong, I’ll sleep better, I’ll recover more quickly and I’ll be on my way…

So I’m keeping this one alive for another week or two. If it’s not a sustainable shape-change then for me it doesn’t count.

Yesterday I tried running with my new trainers and stuck to core work – I laid off the weights. That has definitely eased the all-body ache, so the next step is to add the weights a couple at a time and see which ones are hurting my back (if any now that my trainers are renewed). I bet the lateral row was tipping me over the edge. We’ll see – the scientific method in action!

Bought some new running shoes to see if that helps with the post-session aches in my lower back. The woman who served me also videoed my running-style to check my pronation and told me to do more work on my core.

So my current plan (until I think of a better one) is to do more core work in my Pilates routine, and hope these new shoes take some of the jar out of my running.

I’m still going to the gym at least twice a week, I’m definitely stronger (when I’m not aching!)... has my body shape changed? I wish I’d measured myself at the start of all this :-) ah, who cares, am I in shape yet?

I have more energy, I am healthy and injury-free. My shoulders, chest, back and arms are slightly more defined. My stomach is a little flatter. My clothes fit me nicely.

I still feel tired and grumpy for a few days after I train, as if I’m over-doing it – I’d like to nail that. Once I can train 2/3 times a week and feel energised for it instead of drained I will mark this as done. I hope this is possible – I don’t want to spend the rest of my life aching.

I’ll give this another few weeks.

This week I’m trying to go to the gym 3 times – Sunday morning, Tuesday evening, Thursday evening. I’m eating more protein than I usually would think to – a 4oz steak, a tin of salmon, a couple of portions of butterbeans. I also went slower and easier in the sessions so far. The ache is definitely less and I was able to go Sun/Tue. Let’s see if I’m okay for Thursday!

Is… am I overdoing it with the weights? If I work my muscles to exhaustion and do each machine once, why is it it takes 3-4 days to recover? Should I push myself to go 3x per week, or wait until the pain goes and continue with twice a week?

Or do a little less with the weights and go 3 times a week without so much muscle soreness?

Am I just a wimp about this?!

My shoulders and back are shaping up, my legs are stronger than ever, it’s only my gut that needs flattening :-) That might be as much to do with my diet as an exercise routine. My clothes are fitting me much better and I’ve got loads more energy.

When will this be finished? I think I said in the Spring when I can buy summer clothes in my new shape and they fit me well.

Perhaps another month? Around my birthday? Spring is when exactly?

After my little experiment, I felt ready to commit to £33/month for membership of our local leisure centre. I did use the gym at least twice a week for more than a month, so I am serious this time.

One of the pluses I hadn’t foreseen with this is I can now go more often and do less, if that is what I want to do. Before I felt I had to “get my money’s worth” since it was pay-as-you-go. If I want a little swim now, I can. If I want to swim for 15 minutes, then got to the gym, I can.

The first session back after nearly two weeks off over the holiday was hard. A lot of fun though, and I felt great during the workout, and afterwards. Today I ache.