The fitness obsession part deux, the TMI post.

It's been a bit more than a month and a half since I've posted about my desire for a healthier lifestyle. Inspired by my friend Linda, I thought I would also do an update with far too much information. But as I'm a dude, I can completely outgross her!

A month and a half ago, I set myself two main short term goals : Energy levels and better sleep. Well one out of two ain't bad. My energy levels are definitely up, but I'm not sleeping any better. However, it's not so much of a problem, now that I've moved, my commute is a lot less gruelling, I have plenty of time to rest.


Also, one thing I was looking for when I started, were results. On that front, I have not been disappointed.


On average, I have been to the gym about 4 times a week. I started really brightly, after the first couple of weeks ramping up exercising, I was full or energy, and for two weeks running, even went 5 times a week and that was simply too much (“I am Hulk! I am power! I am... Ouchhh!”), I nearly hurt myself (I had sore knees and I took that as a sign I was getting close to injury. Also, I have been told I got the wrong shoes for running. After I went to a sports shop and specifically asked for running shoes. Sports Direct in Burnham, you suck hard). So I went back to 3 or 4 times a week (I try to go every other day) and got into a pretty good rhythm. I mix cardio and weight training, and I have also had quite a few sessions with a personal trainer (highly recommended by the way, once you've found one you get along with).


“Tell us about the results, then!” Ok, ok, hold your horses! I can't tell you whether I've lost weight or not, as I'm not interested in the weight itself, or how it fluctuates. (I did weigh myself once, out of curiosity, and was surprised to find out that I weigh a lot less than I thought. Always a nice surprise). What I'm after is a general feeling, I know what my body looks and feels like, so it's quite easy to notice the differences. So yes, I am thinner. The first sign was that my clothes were feeling looser. That's a good sign, right? The first bulge to start going was the beer belly. It is now a lot flatter than before (picture available on request). Now I think the fat loss is more general, bar a few trouble area, as even my shirts are too big for me now (I have always bought my shirts too big in the false hope it might hide the bulges, but now I have even more space. Give it a couple of months and I will properly look like Charlie Chaplin). So yes, there is fat loss, but there is also a build up of muscles, believe it or not. Yes, there's muscle under the moobs! (picture available on request). As I've been working mainly on muscle build up in the upper body (at my age, and having sported a fine pair of moobs for at least 15 years, losing weight means it goes saggy. Picture available on request) to try and replace fat with something better. There is even some definition starting to show. My lower abs, where the beer belly used to be, is beginning to show the classic V shape, you know, the one pointing to the good stuff? (picture available on request). I haven't seen that for a good, oh, 20 years.


So far, I'm pretty happy with the results. Of course, it's only the start. There is still plenty of work to be done, I have only started a month and a half ago after all (I'm looking at you, love handles. You may have resisted so far, but this is WAR! Picture available on request). What really satisfies me is that I have not become obsessed with it. I genuinely like going to the gym. I feel very good afterwards. It fits into my new, healthier lifestyle. I still have a few things to change on the lifestyle front, but so far I have adapted very well to it. And that's the important thing. I have found a lifestyle that works for me. My previous one, as fun as it was, was the reason why I got overweight and unfit in the first place, so it had to change. I don't want short term results, I want lifelong health. And I feel I'm nearly there! I can look forward to the next few months and I can't wait to see how my body evolves. It might be wishful thinking, but I notice improvements weekly now.


And that's something which also helps with other areas in my life. Achieving something makes me want to achieve more, to know that I can work hard to get the results I want at the gym, convince me that I can do the same out of the gym. So I can look forward to the next few months for more than just health.


For anybody who would like to try, and I can not recommend it enough, this has to be the only advice I can give : Find something that works for you.


Oh, and a word of friendly advice : Don't fart in the sauna. I nearly choked in there. The other guys were not too impressed either (scratch and sniff available on request).