The Blog

 It is so hard to get back into the “groove” after a long lay off! But last week, I decided enough was enough, and that I had to throw myself at weight training once again. I needed to get my fat ass out of my chair and back into the weight lifting mood. When I was in the routine of training every day, I didn’t need the motivation. In fact, the thought of not working out was extremely frustrating to me, and I was always upset when I didn’t have time to get on the bench and lift the weights. But ever since my eye surgery, I’ve been trying to psyche myself to get back into that routine, but I needed that kick-in-the-pants to get me moving. There’s always an excuse not to work out… always the nagging doubt in your mind that you’re not ready, that you won’t be able to handle it. Yet you also know you’ll feel so much better once you have.

As a fitness instructor and lifestyle coach I know that losing weight isn’t as complicated as everyone makes it seem. You just eat less and move more. And really, getting back into shape is just as easy. It’s all about moving again and pushing past the feelings of, “I can’t do it,” or “I don’t feel like doing it.” It’s hard at first, but then it’s so rewarding.

And soon enough, it becomes routine and then you can’t imagine not doing it. I can’t wait for that day.

So I am back into the gym and trying to get re-motivated. I started by doing a couple of sessions by myself in the gym and trying to just get myself back into the routine of actually just doing it. I found my workout more difficult than it had been when I was doing it regularly, just like anyone going back to training, and just like someone doing it for the first time. What I have achieved during each workout since getting back has been a real bonus and gives me a bit of a boost! However, I do pay for it in the following days, as I really ache from it – I think I might have pushed it a little bit too hard, or is my age just catching up on me.

The first training session will live in my memory for some time to come. So I had on my workout gear entered the gym, dreaming of how much I was going to press in my head, and wondering if I’d make a total fool of myself. I couldn’t wait to get in there and get started, yea right. It doesn’t help when you own the gym, and you have beasted most of the members in there at one time or other in a personal training session. Oh how they’d love to see me stuck under the bar unable to lift it of me.

I jumped on the treadmill 20 minutes of interval training – walking at 5km/h for 30 seconds, jogging at 7.5 km/h then running at 10km/h to get the blood flowing and my body warm and loose. After that I stepped over to the weights section, loosened up a bit with some stretches, and then went straight to the smith machine and loaded up my first plates on each side, jumped underneath that bar and started to chest press.

I have the knowledge due to my profession. Now I just have to use it. A young lad in my gym, not trying to embarrass you Mr Ryan Ridley, has been a real motivator for me. He threw the gauntlet down at me, questioned my desires and ability, and has now become a truly brilliant workout partner. So if you find yourself reading this from your facebook addiction, thank you Ryan.