Hate To Exercise

February 7th (actually posting April 4th LOL)

So I promised myself, that when I get 10 likes on my last report, I’ll post the next blog. I just got 10 likes, so have to stick to my own rules, no?

It is (was) a Sunday morning – pouring with rain, I’ve stayed up till 4am watching some stupid drama on YouTube. Actually it’s not stupid – it’s all helping with my Mandarin practice, so there.

More to the point – I bet you’re wondering what’s this title all about? Go on give it a guess. Let’s see if you’re right, or what has your mind been turning too. LOL. I feel like turning into one of those TikTok folks asking for likes and comments on their post – you know, comment on what you think this post is about, before you get through the next few sentences – let’s see if you were right. No, you don’t have to. It’s just that I’ve ended up with 65 followers of this little non-Health, non-Exercise diary of mine – and it feels weird (well, it was 65 in Feb, it’s more than a 100 now – wow). Feel like I want to engage with you folks. On a serious(ish) note, if these posts provide you with some entertainment, maybe an odd snippet of education, or help with your own challenges – enjoy.

So – Open Wide – wait for it, wait for it……….LOL. As mentioned, about a hundred times, me = not an exercise person, and this year (2021) I’ve struggled getting back into the routines and regimes of 2020. I had hope that 9/10 months being good have helped me to develop a habit – but no such luck. I arrived in 2021 slimmer, fitter, more toned, probably healthier – and determined to continue the journey. The thing is – the spirit is willing, the body less so. I’ve managed to squeeze some exercise out of me in Jan, but not what it should have been.

February hasn’t started off much better. In my quest to get my mojo back I’ve been searching and incorporating other ideas into my days to get moving. I’m absolutely determined (well kinda), to lose the next few pounds and get to my next goal – 79kgs. If you saw my post on Recap – you’ll see what I mean, and it’s not that far to go. What’s more frustrating, is that clearly I know I can do it – I mean I’ve done it already – I spent 10 months watching my food without being stupid and denying myself, exercising regularly without hating it toooooooo much. There’s absolutely no reason why I can’t do it again. And this time round I’m only looking for 3kgs. It’s lazy, it’s what it is.

In this last week, in my quest to get more exercise and keep toning those muscles as I try to lose weight, and also to add some flexibility (or perhaps regain some, after years spent sitting on my bottom behind an office desk) I’ve started splits training !!!!! Yep, splits training. My friends think I’m crazy.

I’ve never been able to do a split in my life, not even in my younger days when I was bit more flexible. I’m not even entirely sure what got me into this idea now, but there it is – I’ve decided I will learn / condition my body through exercise and stretching to be able to do a full split – both front and side splits. As a result of this new fad in my non-exercise life, I have found myself over the last week doing all sorts of weird and funny moves around the house – exaggerating my stride; extending my legs onto high surfaces like chair backs, tables and ladders; and of course stretching my legs into the splits positions for few minutes at a time; sitting on the floor legs-akimbo (where does that phrase come from), seeing how far they’ll open. LOL.

Incredibly after only one week of training I find that my splits position is already increasing, i.e. I’ve gained more flexibility in my legs whilst I’m still not quite able to sit lower to the ground. I’m not there yet, I reckon I have several weeks of training to go, before I’ll be able to do a full front split (particularly considering my lazy attitude). I think the side-splits will come even later. I find that position more uncomfortable on my right hip – and I really don’t want to injure myself, break something and put something completely out of action. I do intend to persevere though. I’m finding another small issue with the splits though – whilst it’s getting easier to get into position – getting out of it, that’s another bag of tricks altogether. Possibly some you-tube videos on gymnastics are required to get some tips on that manoeuvre. After all it would be quite funny if I got into a split, then got stuck cause I couldn’t get out of it. Imagine that phone-call to 999. Seriously, if anyone reading this does have any good tips or youtube exercise vids on how to get out of splits position, let me know. I need all the help I can get.

So there is it – Open Wide – me doing the splits. LOL

And if you’re looking for a tune to go with that – try this one on Spotify: Open Wide by Marika Hackman (bit mellow grungy)

January 31st 2021

Sunday morning – last day of the month – HIIT completed. That takes my HIIT sessions for the month up to 3.5 (+ 10k walks & 1 Dance workout). I don’t know what possessed me – boredom probably, after a week-off stuck at home in the same four walls I’ve been stuck for weeks – this is supposed to be my holiday week. Yes I know I managed to get away earlier in January, but that now feels so far away and so overshadowed by the weeks – neigh – months of being stuck in the same four walls, I’ve forgotten about it already. Man I love to whinge.

The point is………the point is, I did a HIIT session, of my own volition, without my girlfriends for company, on a Sunday morning. And……..it felt kinda nice, in a really weird way; quite satisfactory.

Tomorrow is February first – supposedly no more exercise holiday – but back to 3 sessions per week, and for the month of Feb calorie counting. I want to get to my next weight-loss goal. It’s only 3kgs that I that I want to shed. That little number will take me below the horrid 80kgs mark. I’ve been averaging a loss of about 1.5kgs a month last year – so in theory by the end of March I should hit it. But last year, I was much stricter with both the exercise and the food. This year – I don’t know yet. However, I’m going to take this morning as a good sign. I can do this – HIITS, walks, Dance-outs and few reasonable meals. I have got to get under 80. I didn’t think I would ever get under 90, but I did it. The only thing that might stop me from getting under 80 – well, it’s me. Right, I’m determined. Let’s see how this pans out.

Fingers crossed