The Early 'Morning' Watch
Wednesday, 0300h and the familiar sound of my wake up alarm roused me from my shortened slumber. The 'Morning' watch lasts from 0400-0800h, and as a result I knew I'd be missing my early wake up workout. I threw in extra effort yesterday and planned to do the same this evening. However, my wake up was still with much gusto. I got up, dressed and made myself a nice cup of strong tea. I smashed down a thermogenic and a bowl of gluten free cereal. A small breakie at this early time, was all I needed... The watch was another educational and beneficial experience, that allowed me to broaden my engineering experience - a taste of what I'll be doing in the near future.
Sadly, by 0600h I was so hungry that before I'd realised it, and without thinking too hard upon it, I ate the breakfast that came to our watch. It was a bacon and egg roll with melted cheese. The roll was not gluten free, and I felt yucky for the rest of today...with fresh mouth ulcers and a swollen gut in tow... I look back a little embarrassed at my hunger....and subsequent emotions that always come with being hungry. Winnie says I get "Hangry" when I don't eat, or don't eat well, or when I don't get yummy sweet treats...perhaps she's right - I have been on edge all day and feeling less than perfect because of my slip-up.... I will however, detox tonight and onwards until my stomach pains subside. Everyday, we each learn something new about our bodies... Today, I realised that I can slip on my gluten free journey - glutard diets are not easy, especially in a job where all of your food is provided - and that I really cannot afford to do so. I will remain better in control of my hunger in future.
Feel The Burn!
Train hard or don't train at all - that's my new mantra for gym time. I headed to the gym after class today, set for a big chest workout. I was aiming for 60minutes of full on, pump. I started on the bench, really pushing myself today, I worked the flat, inclined and declined benches with wide and narrow grip. I tweaked the chest muscles with a pyramid style set for each, going from light to heavy to light, with reps going from high to low to high. This took about 5 minutes per grip style, for each bench type. My chest was pretty pumped and I decided to do a quick set of dumbbell flyes, on the inclined bench. After a short wait for the pec-deck, where I squeezed out a couple sets of chest press machine, I was working the pectoral muscles to a point of pleasurable/agonising burn! Love it!
After I jumped on the cable cross over machine and worked a low, medium, high cross-over pectoral squeeze-burn. This was low weight, low reps (8 reps) to tweak those muscle fibres. It was interesting to see that my body is starting to change - I could see my chest muscles (before this week I had never noticed this)...perhaps I'm starting to sculpt / turn some of the old fat into fit!
It got me to thinking during this set and my abdominal workout, that before today I had been training to try and create habits, make changes and start building my own confidence. Today, however, I realised a few things.... I'll discuss in just a second, but first. I finished my workout and dived into the pool. Swimming 500m, alternating freestyle with breast stroke on a length by length basis, for 15 minutes of solid cardio to finish.
My Thoughts
I realised that I'd taken a few more steps than I had previously thought. I had made a plan, made myself accountable for achieving my goals (this blog is evidence of that), and I had put them into action. So, that made me realise that if by doing those simple steps, and by repeating them day in, day out I've been reprogramming my body. I've challenged my mind, my emotions and my body. I have learnt that consistency (thanks to @mishbridges) is really the answer. To set and maintain routine, you need to be disciplined. You need to apply controls and measures to make sure you don't cheat - use your friends, write a blog and grow a conscience. I also realised that in doing all these things I've made myself a new lifestyle, and its starting to work. Seeing small changes makes you feel good. I've started standing taller, my shirts feel a little looser, my trousers feel less pinching around my hips and gut. I'm taking care of myself better, I try to sleep earlier, I try to eat well (sometimes I slip - I am human after all), but most of all I'm seeing that I'm being very habitual about these things. I'm just out there enjoying my new lifestyle, enjoying the sensations that come as daily rewards for my hard work. These rewards give me a new found confidence about my body, my presence and best of all my health. I feel stronger, I feel less soft and squishy, I feel more alert, less achy and less hunched over. I feel like I'm shaving years off of my age, keeping up with people 10 years younger and enjoying the pace!
Small steps. I was once told that its the "smallest things that can make the biggest difference" - in my case, the small things constitute tightening my belt, or less belly rolls as I sit down, or my muscles looking and feeling firmer. The big difference is the way that effects my emotions, the way I conduct myself and so much more. If the last 37 days has given me nothing else, I'm so glad I've found my toes again! The view from up top was getting lonely!
Some small improvements, big on confidence boosting!
Motivation to keep training, pushing and being strict with myself is getting easier with results - plus something Michelle Bridges said when I met her at Filex a few weeks ago, really, really run home.
"...Make the choice, before the choice is removed from you..."
At so many times in my life, I could've chosen to stop eating so much bread, donuts, cakes, yummy pasta and pizza...I didn't know about Gluten Intolerance, or Coeliac Disease, but even if I had known I would have been one of those people who ignores it and says "that's not me". It brought a tear to my eye and choked me up when Michelle said this, because that's my lot. No more gluten, no yummy foods or easy fill me ups...Now my choice has been removed. Very simple, very stupid to ignore the symptoms for so long! Now, because I'm acutely aware that my "intolerance" and "hypersensitivity" could get worse, leading to full blown Coeliac (since I test positive for the gene) I have NO choice but to be healthy. You don't see me complaining (too much) about being healthy, except when I want cakes or pasta that I can't have :) but I'm using this knowledge and the hard hitting words of Michelle Bridges to keep me on track.
It's not easy, there will always be neigh sayers, people who mock you or those who just don't understand; but focus, determination and inner spirit help me along - plus my Wifey really can make some yummy gluten free treats! I sense a care parcel should come soon...hint hint?
So, here we are. 37 days down, and 58 days until I go on my honeymoon with Winnie. I have my goals. Now I have a deadline. Boo-Ya!
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