It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day…and I’m feeling good.
Great, in fact, as today marks the day that I returned to the living world. and took a step (only a small one, mind you) out of the virtual world. I have been hiding behind a screen for several months and while I have genuine reasons for making a disappearance act, it has not been fun and it has impacted on my physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
If you have caught a brief glimpse of me out and about and seen me smile, you possibly do not know how much of an effort both required and you might have noticed that neither me nor my smile hung around for long, although please also realise that it was most likely YOU that made me smile and the thought of seeing YOU that got me out of the house.
Things and people that make me smile
Circumstances have made undertaking anything seem impossible (I do HATE how some fitness professionals look down upon people’s excuses or “excuses” as they call them). However, I do need to look at how I can make the best of my current situation and with light breaking through the dark clouds, it is time to move on and it is time to move more.
My fears have not gone, but they have lessened. My shame of gaining weight no longer matters as I have to improve my health and I cannot continue to hide behind a screen or express my thoughts via a keyboard (ironic that I am blogging about this).
I will make coffee/tea/water dates and I will catch up with friends. I have lost many friends over the past year and while I am saddened to see people move on, I also realise that I am lucky to have many people who have stuck by me (yes, YOU). Over the next few weeks and months, I will spend more and more hours out of the house; I will go for massages; get my eyes checked (my vision is still impaired by optical neuritis) and who knows, I might go and volunteer as Great Run Local or even parkrun (the latter earns me three Vitality points, but the former has a special place in my heart) while I build up the confidence to run again.
Good to be back
And I will make the gym my happy place (or one of them, at least) for today was the start of something else. It was the day that I returned to Glasgow Club and specifically Bellahouston Sports Centre, where I have fond memories of playing badminton with half the Nine in a Row Rangers team (ok, maybe just eight of them); discovering the joys of circuit class (Monday Night Circuits is legendary) and competing in my first triathlon.
Glasgow Club have kindly given me a membership to help rekindle my love for fitness and to also help encourage others to follow my progress and hopefully also in my footsteps.
So Bellahouston, I’m back!
To keep on track, I would love for you to help keep me accountable by following and commenting on my progress updates while it would be wonderful to have the odd (both in number and nature) friend join me for a gym date.
For the record, here are my readings from today’s measurements. I will update weekly and will happily take a kick on the backside for every week that I do not improve.
| Body Weight | 119kg |
| Body Fat Mass | 41.8kg |
| Body Fat Percentage | 35.1% |
| Muscle Mass | 73.4kg |
| BMI | 39.8 |
In fact, I will take it a stage further to show how determined I am. I will donate a pair of running shoes to the brilliant campaign by Migo Sports for each week (over the next eight) that I do not progress. That is right, I will give away my beloved running shoes. That is how confident (or deluded) I am.
Hopefully, you will join me (shoe donation is optional) or least help keep me on my toes (and my toes in shoes).
It is good to be back.
5 comments
[…] Journey […]
Congratulations on the first day of the rest of your life, Stephen. This post is super inspirational because it’s about getting on with it. I don’t know what you’ve been through recently, but I am 100% behind your decision to make a change.
And hey, you might even get me back to Glasgow Club too – circuits, you say?
Lis / last year’s girl x
Aw, thanks Lisa. It has been a tough year, but things are improving. The Monday Night Circuits is legendary and the new gym in Bellahousten is on a par with or even better than the other 96 gyms that I am a member of in Glasgow
Just started reading your blog! Don’t ever give up or let the fears/clouds beat you.
You’ve been strong enough to come this far and there’s always going to tough times – it’s how you bounce back that matters!
Good Luck with the rest of your journey.
Louise / 100daystoahealthierme
Aw, Louise. That is so kind of you to say. There is so much that we can achieve in 100 days, so here is to both our successes