Hate To Exercise

Sunday 8 – November 2021

I know I have written about forming habits and exercise before. I have also written about hating exercise (because I do), and there are several diary entries recalling how much I surprised myself by actually doing exercise of my own free will and even enjoying it.

Here’s a snapshot of just a couple LOL:

So tonight, whilst sitting down to pen another entry I had a thought – I wouldn’t call it an epiphany, but definitely a bit of a thought, bit of a realisation………

Have I organically formed a habit around exercise without realising it?

In the last month alone I’ve had 15 various exercise sessions already, and November isn’t over for a couple of days yet. What’s more I actually enjoyed some of it – even the running. How? When did that happen?

I mean, I ain’t gonna count my chickens yet, but…… these are good signs. In fact these are very good signs, and today I finally went for a run after the disaster of 2 weeks ago. It was only a short one 3.5 kms, but I’m happy with that. Did a little Stray Kids fuelled dance off session beforehand to warm up the muscles and then a little run. Then in the evening, a 6.5kms walk, just so I could get my 14k steps in, and because I felt that having not done my usual 4.2kms run I needed to supplement.

To top of it off, I have finally shifted that 4lb of the 6lb I gained this year ( or 2 out of 3kgs – depending which metrics you use). Exercise and food, exercise and food.

Ooh, it’s 9pm, chocolate biscuit time……….

Sometime in November 2021. OK, clearly it’s been a busy and eventful month.

Started November challenge. Failed November challenge. Mental head started to spiral out of control. Didn’t realise.

In among all of this, I’ve picked up running. Or as you recall from an earlier entry, my version of running called jog-a-walk-a-run. (JAWAR – LOL)

I have been slowly improving my stats on the 4.2kms run around the estate. Dropped my time from 41 minutes to 33 (don’t you dare diss me, if you’re a regular runner – I’m still getting into this, ok!) So yes, down to just under 33 minutes, my oxygen level intake is improving, my stride, my overall fitness, are all improving, if the Huawei watch is to be believed.

Anyhow, after hurting my legs the other night, running has been off the table for nearly a week. And now it’s cold. However, I seem to be determined and dare I say it disciplined recently. Since the meltdown, I’ve been out, walking every single day.

But this, this running session was 48 hours before meltdown. Saturday, spent the day with girlfriends – shopping. So already walked around 10k steps.

Then about 8pm I decide I need a walk, as you do. I did the 4.2km loop around – walking not running, but it wasn’t enough.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t breathe physically; but I just felt like I couldn’t get enough air in my lungs. I get that from time to time. No matter how much I breathe, I just can’t get a breath. It probably doesn’t make sense, but it’s the best I can do at explaining that feeling.

So I carried on, I kept on walking – Run Forset Run, or walk me, walk.

By the time I was done, I’ve done 12kms and it was well after 10pm. I still felt like I didn’t have enough air in my lungs, but at that point I was just tired, and it was more the physical tiredness that propelled me to go home, rather than anything else.

I’m not entirely sure what got into me, other than having the time and being better organised. When I told my friend M recently that I’ve taken up running on more regular basis, she nearly fell of her chair. To be honest, she’s no less surprised than I am.

So, yeah, that’s the latest on the exercise.

Oh yeah, and in the process – through hard work, let’s admit the truth here – finally shifted 2lb of the recent weight gain.

Right, it’s 6pm now. Time for a walk I think. Still not up to running, but I can do a couple of loops around the estate.

See ya.

Habits 2.0

Run Forest, Run