Getting Fit (Week 1: It’s Addictive)
This is part of my getting fit series, so if you haven’t read the introductory post I advise you do so now.
One week has passed since I hired a personal trainer, yet it somehow feels like the longest 7 days of my life. Would it sound absurd to say I am already addicted to the idea of getting fit? No, not the idea as that implies I’m doing nothing about it, but the whole act of starting my day with the knowledge I’ll be including (at least) an hour of exercise is such a great, therefore addictive, feeling.
My week’s fitness regime:
- Sunday — Fitness test with personal trainer. Conclusion? Sucky upper body strength, but good lower body strength. This came as a surprise to me as I figured my upper body has benefited the most from drumming.
- Monday — 60 minute walk, relatively easy going because of the amount of pain I awoke in from my fitness test.
- Tuesday — 30 minute run with a friend around Greenock’s Battery Park and half of the esplanade. Includes sprinting.
- Wednesday — 5 mile walk around The Cut with a friend. I think this took us between 90 to 120 minutes. It isn’t something I’d do on my own, so it’s been good to rope in friends for some company.
- Thursday: Day of rest.
- Friday: Aerobics session with personal trainer. Running up and down a set of very steep stairs, of which there were many. This included doing it backwards and sideways to target all leg muscles. Brutal.
- Saturday: Day of rest.
- Sunday: An hours worth of gardening as well as some casual walking. Fairly easygoing because day two of intense pain from Friday’s aerobic session has firmly set in.
It’s obviously too soon to notice much change from a physical perspective, but mentally I can already feel a big difference. My attitude is a lot more positive because I’m actively changing something important in my life. I feel more confident and my perception towards food is beginning to alter. Suddenly I’ve mustered up some willpower to avoid bad foods — possibly because I’m thinking “Is this really worth the extra work I’ll have to put in tomorrow?”. I guess I’m essentially weighing food and exercise up. My sleeping pattern has been hugely affected. While I’m going to bed later and finding it difficult to switch off, I’m waking upa lot earlier without any fatigue. All in all some very positive changes thus far.
I admit there have been a few days where it’s been a challenge slotting in the time for fitness, but if you really want to make something happen, you will. Take right now, for example, it’s 6.30 AM and I have a busy day of work ahead as well as an evening eaten up by band practice. So I’m going to take my 60 minutes of exercise now and power on with my day.
