It’s been some time since my Hyprr Fitmas post. Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day and a couple of holidays have passed since I’ve shared my thoughts, progress and reviews. I have been extremely busy working on a few projects. More on that soon but one aims to raise millions of pounds for marine conservation charities via NFTS, while another will be rewarding people for being good. Yes, being a do-gooder can be rewarding in many ways.
But back to my fitness.
Fitmas was a relative success. I lost about 14 lbs and have managed to keep it off. I didn’t lose much more (ok, any more) in the first few months of 2022 but neither did I gain weight.
Part of the reason has been trips to Paris, Naples and Rome, where carbs were consumed in quantity and where Peroni beer has never tasted so good.
Then there was my motivatio, or rather lack of it.
The projects that I am working on and for are amazing; the people I work with are awesome. But truth be told, I was doing too much and subsequently not giving everything and anything my all.
In stepped Leylne (more on this in a later blog) colleague Benedikt Oehmen who offered to provide some coaching and over the last couple of months we have been having weekly sessions. He helped me reflect on what drives me forward, what holds me back and what gets in my way.
And the answer to all of these is ME. However, it’s also me, and some tools suggested by Bene, who held the solutions and I’ve made some changes.
- Less time on social media (much less)
- More time with family (not enough)
- Earlier to bed and earlier to rise
- More reading
- Daily physical activity
- Less negative self talk
I also looked at everything I was involved in. NFT projects, social impact projects, festivals, and sports promotion. I reflected on what mattered most to me and what brought me the most joy and two things stood out. I wasn’t moving enough and I wasn’t promoting sports enough. They go hand in hand.
However, there was the small matter of my knees. No longer my good and bad knees. Now, just my osteoarthritic knees. Walking is painful and although surgery has been mentioned, I feel far too young to follow this path so soon.
Instead, I have been focusing on reducing the load my knees are carrying (yes, losing fat), strengthening the muscles around my knee and on getting back onto my bike and back into the swimming pool
The pounds are again starting to drop, my cycle commutes are becoming easier and, as a family, we are starting to go out on longer rides at the weekends. Teresa wants a new bike as her current bike is about 11 years old and I want a new bike because of the n (bikes you currently own) +1 rule. Although I will probably donate a few bikes to Bike for Good in Glasgow
I also joined a gym, Pace Health Club, with a swiming pool. I looked out my trunks and my swimming goggles and set my alarm for 7am. More importantly, I got out of bed when that alarm went off and I went for a swim. I hadn’t previously been in a pool in three years but with my shoulder fully healed and with the country opening up (I’m still wearing a mask…not in the pool), a return to an old but treasured role has reignited my desire to swim.
For I am once again an ambassador for Swimathon, the annual swimming event for everyone that raises much needed funds for Cancer Research and Marie Curie.
Swimathon 22 takes place in swimming pools across the UK between Friday 6 – Sunday 8 May 2022, with the more flexible My Swimathon (kinda swim as you go) version taking place between Friday 29 April and Sunday 15 May 2022.
It’s free to all participants who raise more £50 via Justgiving and normally £14 per person, regardless of distance.
However, as a Swimathon ambassador, I am able to offer a 50% discount to all registrations made between now and April 13th 2022.
Simply register and use the code SMSWIM22 to activate your discount.
I’m really enjoying my time in the pool. At 8am, it is usually just me and my thoughts. I’ve yet to decide on my Swimaton distance. My ego says 4 or 5k as I am now a relatively competent swimmer having been coached by not one but four Olympians, but after two years of being relatively inactive I have to be realistic. 1.5k or 5k over multiple visits might be a more sensible decision. I’ll swim 1000 metres in the next week or so and see how I feel. All I know is that it feels great being back. Not only is my fitness improving but my confidence is also returning.
I might never run again but that doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy other activities.
I’m Howmanymiles and I am a swimmer. Come swim with me and others during Swimathon.
