Friday 23 March 2012

The gym

As 2012 hit my ability to exercise increased, before Christmas I was unable to do much because I had an operation on both my feet so could just about walk let alone exercise! 
It was very hard for me because I am someone who likes going to the gym and I could do nothing for about 3 months. 
I had the normal worries that girls get about putting on weight because for at least 4 years I have been going to the gym, whether consistently or not, so having 3 months not being able to go was a bit nerve racking as I wasn't sure how much weight I would put on without the gym. Luckily for me it was only about 3 pounds, it was just more the ability and fitness I actually missed.
Anyway, I think it is because of this lack of anything that people have noticed how much I now get down the gym. It isn't new, I always used to go but now I am being more consistent about when I go and it is more important to me now to try and get down there as much as I can when I can. 
I am lucky to have a gym at work and work in a role where I can get down to the gym on my lunch break and at the end of the day. I have classes that I attend weekly and find it very frustrating when I have to miss them. 
People think I am obsessed because by Wednesday I have usually been to the gym 5 times. Twice Monday, twice Tuesday, once Wednesday. I totally get that seems excessive BUT my argument is this - on a Thursday I am in London so cannot get to the gym, on Friday I am usually busy because of the Thursday out of the office so I go once maybe. The weekend is normally written off with other things so technically I actually only work out 5-6 times a week. Fairly average. 
I am not obsessed. I know it probably seems like I am, and I do feel horrid if I miss a class and can't get down as much as I would like but there are various reasons for this. 
1 - I suffer from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and going to the gym really helps my stomach problems, which at the moment I have every day. 
2 - I get very tired and going to the gym in the afternoon really perks me up for the rest of the day and gives me an energy boost.
3 - I am a bad sleeper and the gym wears me out so that by bed time I am tired. I sleep better. 
4 - The gym makes me feel good, I can eat what I want and I don't put on weight, I keep myself to a size I am happy with and I don't worry about if I go out for dinner and have a lot of food. 

I would expect most gym goers have similar reasons for going, about feeling good and about being able to enjoy food? If I have a dirty pudding for dinner and I know I am going to a class the next day I don't worry or get paranoid about getting fat. But maybe I would feel bad if I wasn't exercising and then I wouldn't be enjoying my food - which would be the end of me as food is the best thing ever.... 

Anyway my moto when it comes to the gym is 'You will regret it more if you don't' - this is what I say to people if they say 'should I go to the gym tonight?'. I don't know many people to go to the gym and come out saying 'I wish I hadn't gone' but I know most people who don't bother going regret that decision. 

Not everyone is like me, I totally get that and I don't judge people for not getting down the gym. I do ask this of everyone I know that is a little concerned about my 'obsession'. Please don't worry, I don't skip meals, I don't starve myself, I don't go to the gym and work out to the point of exhaustion and I don't exercise every day. Every girl wants to feel happy with their body and I am just making sure I am the happiest I can be without surgery! (a whole other convo - not that I am planning to have surgery by the way) :)

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