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Thursday 26 September 2013

Being shredded

I'm not a natural exerciser. I never have been. I enjoyed team sports when I was younger, and I love swimming. Doing laps, though, or running around in a circle has always seemed pointless to me. I can walk for hours exploring, taking pictures, trying to get to the top of that hill over there to see what's on the other side. But physical activity for no other reason than to get hot and sweaty has never appealed to me.

I know it's very good for you. I know that it can not only prolong your life, but it makes it healthier, too. I know I want to lose a few kilo's (only a very few, mind) and want to gain muscle mass in order to look toned and the only way I can do it is by diet and exercise. Every evening when I get home from work, my brain ignores these facts and screams "BUT I DON'T WANT TO" at me. 

It's very, very hard to fight your brain. 

I've done couch to 5k. I want to get out running again, as I can't afford gym membership right now and I honest to goodness hate the sterile environment. I like feeling the wind and rain on my skin. You just don't get that in a gym. I come home with the intention of running, and my brain always wins the fight - it doesn't want to run, it has spend all day out the house and now it's back in the house, it wants to stay in now. Thank you. 

So, I'm fighting back. I bought Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred a few months ago, and was getting pretty far with it. My brain still wasn't happy, but it couldn't fight against the fact that we're not leaving the house any more. Plus it's less than half an hour.

Then we moved. And I didn't have the time to exercise (packing and unpacking) and then I had no space to do exercise. So, I stopped. However, I'm tired of not wearing jeans because my tree trunk thighs don't like being enclosed in fabric right now. I'm sick of seeing my once gorgeous arms all big and what not. So the bedroom has been moved around, and there is now space to exercise. 

I did workout one of the DVD today. I have lost so much fitness in the last two and a half months. It shocked me how difficult I found it, compared to last time. The great thing I found last time was that that feeling reduces as you do the workouts each day. I think I eventually even managed a couple of proper press ups last time. You're supposed to do it for 30 days in a row to get the benefit, so, here goes. At the end of those 30 days, where hopefully exercise will have become a habit, I hope to reintroduce running into my routine. 

To keep me motivated, I'm going to post the pictures I took of myself in a sports bikini before I last started 30 Day Shred. If you're not keen on seeing pictures of my wibbly bottom (encased in bikini shorts, I promise!), then feel free not to look. This is for me. As a reminder. To keep me going. Once upon a time, not so very long ago, I had a flat stomach and thighs that didn't rub when I walked. Slowly, but surely, I will get these things once more. 

I've included a picture of my face, because there's the slightest double chin that appears sometimes when I smile.
 I will get there in the end. The only thing that's been stopping me so far is myself. Nothing is going to change if I don't make it change. So...here goes!


10 comments:

  1. Erm I think you look pretty awesome in that. Just sayin. :)

    x

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    1. Ah, thanks, but I need a little less extra padding and a bit more muscle. I can feel the muscle in my legs, I just can't see it right now!

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  2. That does not look like a double chin. You look great. But good luck exercising to feel better and fitter, they are good reasons! Xxx

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    1. I think it's because I'm comparing my chin to the chin I had a few years ago. Perhaps I should just accept that I''m getting older and this may be one of the side effects?

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  3. Good luck Crysta! Think of how wonderful you'll feel come Christmas in a classic LBD. I'm not a natural exerciser too so I know the struggle involved. (Though your pictures look fab and healthy) x

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    1. I've just realised that this year I actually do have something I can dress up for at Christmas! I'm also hoping that I'll look a bit better in the team photo this year, too. I don't feel unhealthy as such, just that I'd like to be a bit healthier, if that makes sense.

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  4. I'm 100% with you, despite being a 'sporty' person I'm totally not up for exercise just for the sake of it, even classes. I love my rugby and zumba but I do those because I want to not because I feel I have to if that makes sense.

    I've got a target for losing the baby weight though so I'll be following you on the crusade to tone up, we can cheer each other on :) xx

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    1. It does make sense, I think I'd enjoy classes if I went with someone as it would have a social aspect to it as well.

      I'll be happy to cheer you on! It feels slightly less painful to exercise if I know others are doing it too.

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  5. You shame me, I feel exactly the same way towards exercise. The only difference is I make no effort at all to do any. My intentions once I move which is only about a month and a half away is to get my bicycle back. I used it every day at uni, it was my only transport, even to the clubs! Next place I live is going to be in cycling distance of work.

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    1. Well, I've been complaining long enough, it's about time I did something. You work such long hours, I can't imagine where you'd find the time to exercise!

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