Slowly but surely

Sunset at Prospect Park on Tuesday

Anticipation. [An-tis-uh-pey-shuh n]. Noun. There are different meanings for this word, but for the last week, all of these have been going through my mind and the feeling grew bigger and bigger until yesterday 7pm and I stepped on the scale again. 115.0 kg. The number had gone down from last week, but only 0.6kg. Not that motivating. But we took the measurements too. Those were really nice. We usually take them every three weeks, so that is one reason that the numbers drop is good.

1.        The act of anticipating or the state of being anticipated.
2.        Realization in advance; foretaste.
3.        Expectation or hope.
4.        Previous notion; slight previous impression.

Sometimes when looking in the mirror, I believe that I can see the change, but my brain tries to tell me that it’s not right, you’re really not getting thin or skinny or fit, you’re not losing weight, it’s just your imagination or wishful thinking. That is the biggest reason I do not own a scale. I would be going on it way too much, maybe every morning, wanting to see change, especially with a diet like this. But it’s not good for me. Trying to concentrate on the light feeling, fitting in the clothes that did not fit me before, because that has happened already with a pair of jeans and a dress.

When doing a lifestyle change, brains are the hardest muscle to train. Everything between your ears might be fighting the change, make you think about all the things you think you want, but really don’t. Like especially when it’s certain time, you think you’re hungry, but you’re not. It’s just the cravings shouting, wanting sugar and everything that is bad for you.

Yesterday after the weigh in I felt like going to Sainsbury’s, buy some small cakes, biscuits, cookies and sweets. Just because I did not meet my weekly goal. My brains tried to tell me that, because I failed, I should comfort myself with something that would give me a sugar high. Have done it so many times in the future. Eating for the problems I have, eating when celebrating, eating when sad, eating when mad, just eating when anything good or bad happens to me. Yesterday the same thing almost happened. But it did not. Went home, messaged with my sister, changed clothes and started walking towards the gym. In the pouring rain. So many times when walking there I thought about taking the bus there or completely just skipping the gym. But I did not.

I was almost soaked when arriving to the gym, but had change pair of pants, changed them on and started my routine. It went well, felt great doing it, next week I have to add little more weight on some parts, because it felt too easy for me. Same time I was at the gym, there two guys going bench pressing and biceps and two girls first on treadmill and stationary bikes. It was little cliché that the guys concentrated only on their upper body, same thing that they did on Monday when I was there. Hopefully they do not forget leg days. Insert laugh here. The girls were quite cliché too. Seen them there before, just doing cardio. I don’t have the right to judge anybody but myself, but when seeing them just doing cardio, in quite slow pace, I felt like going to talk with them, asking about their goals, why they are going to the gym. I know that I’m no personal trainer or have so much information about the subject, but I know some. Maybe one day I’ll go and ask if they want any help, but now I’ll just concentrate on getting myself into awesome shape.

After my gym session, I walked home and it was not raining anymore. All the disappointment that I felt towards the weigh in scales melted away at the gym and that is the biggest reason I could go there every day. Even left my phone home, had some really awesome me time without any technology and did not miss it. You should try it too. Put your phone on flight mode for certain amount of time, just doing something that does not include technology.

Now I’m trying not to think about the weight that is not going down as fast I would like it to and concentrate more on feeling good and going to the gym. Maybe even volunteering on something. I’ll never know what might happen when I really start doing things and not just thinking about doing them.

Everyday Minerals Makeup Brushes

 I also ordered some Everyday Mineral makeup brushes from eBay, posting about them on weekend and some of my makeup habits, skin conditions and other stuff.

A gym story

It’s the beginning of August and you decide to do something that you’ve been thinking already for a long time, joining a gym. Already thinking about all the things you’re going to do there, losing weight, getting really fit and enjoying the feeling of your body. Then comes the first problem, you don’t have any good clothes to use so buying cute fitness clothes is next on the agenda.

Picture from We Heart It

When shopping, you really cannot fit in the cutest outfits, but you find something that fits you, does not look like something your grandma would use and doesn’t cost a fortune. You can also check out some good quality shoes for the gym, there is no point of going there without the right tools. Also before going to the gym, you have to check that there no unwanted hairs on your legs or armpits. There could be handsome guys at the gym and you want to give the best impression.

Picture from We Heart It

So now you have the membership, the clothes and no unwanted hairs. You really would like to go there with a friend, but none of your friends have the incline to join. So alone you must go. Of course today is Monday, a good day to start something new. You’ll even go on the same day, full of enthusiasm and these pictures of yourself when you’re going to be fit.

You start with a warm up on treadmill, walking okay pace for about ten minutes and now you’re ready for the actual training. There lies another problem. You have no slightest idea what to do. Yes, you want flat stomach, nice arms and a nice looking arse. Then you do little bit of this, little bit of that, looking fearfully when the huge guys there lift humongous weights and all the females seems to be in their top shape. You feel like you don’t belong.

Picture from We Heart It

You’ll continue going to the gym, doing something small and trying really to get in better shape, but your motivation starts to fade, you’re not going to the gym anymore, but you still have the membership. You continue paying, saying to yourself “one day I’ll go there again and I succeed”. So you continue living your life, partying normally, eating unhealthy foods and with no exercise at all.

Picture from We Heart It

One year after you bought your gym membership, you’ll remember having, after going through your account. You have been paying for it for a year, but you still look the same. Nothing has changed. You belong to a gym, but do not go there. You’re waiting for the morning you wake up and something magical is going to happen and you feel motivated to change your life, again. But you will be waiting for that a long time, because it does not magically happen. The change comes from within, you have to want the change to happen, you have to work for the change and motivate yourself even it’s raining cats and dogs, your trainers have dust on them and you just don’t have the energy after work.

Picture from We Heart It

Because think of the results you could be showing, if you would have stayed committed to going to the gym. Asked help from a personal trainer or somebody who goes there a lot, changed your eating habits, but mostly believed that you can do it. You would completely look like a different person. A person full of confidence, even if not in goal weight, but working towards it. The motivation sticking by making it a habit. Every, day, week, month. You can do it.

You can do it and so can I.

The joy of movement

Finally I have started exercising more. Walking those 15 000 steps per day is really good, but there are still so many other things that can be done. Like going to the gym. I'm starting it easy and trying to go at least three times per week, hopefully seeing some changes in my muscles. I really have this nightmare about saggy skin after losing weight. So more movement to me.

One thing that is different on weekends, I do not get my daily steps so easily. On a normal working day the amount of steps is over 8000 after coming home, maybe more. But today I went for a 8.5km walk so that I'll get enough steps. I could train on a treadmill at the gym, but sometimes that is boring.

Before going to the gym, I needed some kind of plan, so not just going there and doing little bit this and that like I did on Thursday. When you have a good plan, it's easier and faster to go there. Many people say that they go to the gym three times per week, but actually doing something there? There is this web page that has lot's of good advices, different blogs, recipes, articles about sports and so much more. Here is a link, if you want to check it out; Gains.

The plan that I got from their site and I'm using at the moment, is called Hot Mama Fat Burn. It is a plan for those, who want to lose at least 10% of their weight. It also has two different options, plan 1 is three times per week and plan 2 three to six time per week, but you can also do it eight times in two weeks. I chose that, because there is so much to lose and I want to see results in my body.

Today's work out was concentrating on legs and shoulders and looked like this:

Warm up - walking to the gym 30min

First round - 15-12-10-8-6-3
Squat
Dumbell Thrusters
Deadlift

Second round - 15-12-10-8-6-3
Lateral raise side
Lateral raise bent over
Calf raise

Third round - 15-12-10-8-6-3
Sumo Squat
Lateral raise front
Lunges

Cool down - walking back home 30min and stretching.

The numbers mean that I do the exercises on first round first fifteen times, then twelve, ten, eight, six and last three. After doing that, I'll continue to the second round. The point is that you do not have any pauses between. I was quite done afterwards, but still feeling so good. I only used 2kg dumbbell, because I'm in really bad shape, but when I'm getting stronger, I'll move to bigger weights. Tomorrow I'm doing chest and biceps.