Doing What I Have to Do..

The start of a new day here on the Northumberland coast.

  

This was the sight that greeted me when I arrived at 5:45am on the first morning of my Fitness Camp with trainer Dean Coulson and the rest of the group. I was really up for it and as I am an early riser, was the perfect time of day for me to exercise...no excuses.

Not sure what was going to happen.  I'd mentally prepared myself for a run around the sand dunes - my worst nightmare. I find running really hard work, always have but know how it feels to be able to run reasonably comfortably having been forced to get to that stage in preparation for my Navy Leadership Course back in the late 80's. Back then I could run a few miles and not need paramedics on standby at the end of it with a cylinder of oxygen to revive me and it also meant a pay rise, so there was a pretty tasty carrot dangling in front of me as I lumbered along the pavements, counting lamp posts to keep me from dying of boredom. Running is boring, wherever it is.

So I was pleasantly surprised when we gathered around the wooden seating area right on the beachfront, and proceeded to warm up doing a bit of stretching and jumping. It was a little chilly but very invigorating to see the sun slowly rise up from the sea and start to warm up the cold damp flagstones we were using as our gym.

I really don't dislike most exercise once I get into the swing of it.  I'd rather not have to struggle through sit ups and ab things...my abs were removed while having two caesareans many years ago so I do my best to reach double figures.  Leg and arm exercises are a doddle in comparison, probably all the strength work I did during my Karate year is responsible, or maybe its just the sheer size of them.

Anyway, I was getting into the zone, breathless, thirsty and admittedly feeling just a little nauseous once or twice and really felt I was pushing myself for the first time in ages. Then it was all over and we did the cool down... the fastest 45 mins I've ever known.   Don't tell Dean, but I was a little disappointed to be finished, I had at least another 15 minutes in me but since people had to get home and ready for work I just had to settle for the 45 mins and 10 min motivational talk afterwards.

Initially I felt great, then not so great and by lunchtime my body had gone into shock and was doing it's best to tell me that it didn't like what I'd made it do that morning...like a whining child being forced to go round the shops. By night time I was exhausted. I had a hot bath to ease my now aching muscles but I couldn't get to bed quick enough, all the time dreading the usual pain of walking downstairs.

Surprisingly, I woke up feeling bright and chirpy, not aching as much as I'd expected and felt good.  I was even looking forward to the next session the following day. Weird eh? All I had to do was start eating the healthy way Dean asks us to, to ensure we give ourselves the best chance of getting fit, and slim and ultimately healthier.  That's the hard part for me.  Oh to have a live in chef so that I just decide what I want, they make it, plated it up and I eat it. I'd look like a million dollars if that was the case. 

Unfortunately my family don't appreciate a fruit bowl or plate of salad. They want pizza and pasta and takeaways and ready meals or bacon butties and roast dinners so my meals have to be prepared just for me. We had relatives staying in the area for a couple of weeks so were with them for a few meals, it's hard not to over indulge and eat socially - especially when you enjoy nothing more than a meal out and chance to have a good chat with friends and family.

It made me realise though that yes I want to be healthier, fitter and slimmer but I also want to be happy and enjoy my food.  If that means I compromise on the healthy diet, but continue to exercise and do more fitness then that's the way I will do it.  I have cut right down on coffee, only have a small amount of skimmed milk, use coconut milk on cereal and in smoothies. I eat lots more fruit and vegetables and have cut right down on bread and pasta. I now take several vitamin supplements and do my best to drink an awful lot of water.  So if I do go out to eat and fancy a dessert then I'm going to have one and enjoy it.

It's now week four. I've lost weight, inches and feel much more energised.  I've signed up for another month and am planning to do the Newcastle Stampede in October.  By Christmas I will be the slimmer, fitter healthier person I want to be.