So, I think I am healthy, I am not obese, well maybe I carry a few extra pounds but hey what you expect when you get over 40 as our metabolism slows down.
In fact, since I had cancer two years ago, I have changed my lifestyle and whereas I still go out, I don’t drink like I did, in fact at the moment, I am almost dry.
I walk, at least 3 or 4 days a week and I can walk up to 4 or so miles but that doesn’t make me fit. I play tennis for a couple of hours a week but again that doesn’t mean I am using all the right muscles.
I put it down to one of the joys of being 48 years old, menopause and then add tamoxifen which I have for another 8 years and you have a middle age spread, swelling thanks to removal of some of my lymph nodes and as a result I don’t always feel great. By that I mean, I don’t always fit into my dresses and tops which can be somewhat depressing.
So, I decided about two months ago, it was time to take this in hand and change my mind set. I tried a slender tone after my Manual Lymphatic Drainage therapist left the hospital but that wasn’t going to make a huge difference. So, I joined Isagenix and combine some of their products into my lifestyle and certainly have seen a difference. But then, two weeks ago I was in my local Sainsbury’s and bumped into Basil, who was my personal trainer from David Lloyd over 15 years ago and I realised this was a sign. A sign to what you may ask? ‘BOOT CAMP’.
On Tuesday morning at 8.15am, I was undergoing my first session in the garden and oh dear lord I am unfit.
Ok, I had a frozen shoulder as a result of my breast cancer and the lymph nodes being removed and maybe not doing all the exercises. But, my motto is ‘no pain no gain’ and I will get back all the movement and I will wake up my shoulders etc. and as a result my posture will improve as I have overcompensated using other parts of my upper body.
Then, came the abdominal exercises and umm, what can I say other than – OMG. I have now found my pelvic and stomach muscles again and it has been laziness on my part so watch this space. I now walk along the street pulling in my stomach and clenching my bum!
My legs which I thought to be a power house, well it was a question of stretching and opening up the glutes and all of this was in the comfort of my garden.
I have signed up to three months and so I hope the sun continues to shine and my aim is to feeling good about myself resulting in kicking the middle spread into touch.
Now that I have chosen to take on this challenge I need to ensure it is a ‘fun’ journey otherwise will I last …. watch this space.
Event Management Consultant and Fundraiser 