Ten random things to know if you're taking up regular exercise

I'm sure some of this stuff you have seen before - but if it helps for it to come from a very regular girl just trying to get fitter rather than a hot shot fitness expert then at least that's something. Here are some things I think are good to know if you are taking up regular exercise. And some Bridget Jones pictures just for good measure.

1. You can both push yourself AND know your limits.

It's a fine art, it really is. I would love to do 10k runs three to four times a week, but my dodgy joints mean I simply cannot. But that’s not to say that soon I won’t be able to do 10k twice a week! I just need to work up to that, slowly. It’s when you push yourself too hard that you end up giving up completely. I know this because I myself in the past have gone in to regimes full throttle, failed quickly, and then cried and ate ice cream.

This time is different. I have eased myself in –setting myself realistic goals, and then as soon as that goal is achieved I bump it up a notch, but only a little. Just a little bit further or faster, just one more set of reps. This feeling of moving forward is its own reward.

And if right now running for five minutes is your limit? That’s fine!! Never be ashamed of something like that – as long as you are working hard you will reap the benefits. Once upon a time I couldn't do a single push up – my limit was one. But I kept trying and now I can do about fifteen to twenty. That’s still not a lot, but it’s fifteen times more than I could do before, and I know that I am pushing myself as hard as I can and that’s all that matters.

2. Don’t make excuses - Push through the pain.

Unless you’re actually injured, pain is not an excuse to just not exercise at all. During week one my muscles were aching a lot – so each day I worked around that and found something I could do. Leg’s hurting? Let’s focus on abs today then. Abs now hurt? Ok, hard-core run then. And if EVERYTHING hurts – go for a gentle jog and do some stretches – it won’t kill you and will probably help ease you out a bit. Once you have pushed through the pain you will find you can suddenly perform a lot better than before. If you give up, that won’t happen.

3. You will never be so clean in your life.

Ok you might be very clean already, so maybe this would make little difference – but I was generally the person who just kind of let the shower water wash over me with a bit of soap and not much effort. Now, because I need to scrub the sweat out of my pores to avoid the dreaded back acne that most runners get, I have become a full on exfoliating machine in the shower! And of course I need to shower every day now, so my skin has never been so smooth and polished. It’s quite nice really, I can see why grooming appeals so much!

4. Your appetite will change.

Of course it will, you are giving your metabolism a massive kick up the arse. If you’re trying to lose a lot of weight then you gotta watch out for this, it’s all too easy to replace the fat you’ve worked so hard to burn. If not, I say go with your gut and top up those calories – just try and do it with good healthy foods and you can’t really go wrong (I think I’m pushing ten fruit/veg portions a day at the moment!)

5. Your body will change, but not necessarily the way you want it to.

I dream of perfect slim thighs that most trousers will just slide over. That is the ultimate fantasy for me. When I started this challenge I thought ‘I don’t need to lose any more from my torso, so my legs will start slimming down soon’ – nope. I have continued to shrink in the parts that I thought were pretty slim already, and my thighs have stubbornly remained. I am now a slightly smaller boobed, skinny armed, chunky thighed individual – which I did not hope for really. I am eating enough to maintain my weight, so maybe with some work my thighs will take a slightly better shape, but get smaller? Probably not gonna happen. But you know what? I’m ok with this, because….

6. More importantly your attitude to your body will change.

Once upon a time ‘diet and exercise’ was simply something I would do to get thin. I changed that when I gave up sugar – yes I did get slimmer but the amazing feeling I got from being sugar free was the real reward. The same applies here. Slimmer thighs? Pfffft. My legs are strong, they can take me places, they can run lovely long distances, they can sprint. They are perfect as they are. The stronger I get, the better I feel – and the way I look really does rank second. Also, the more you exercise, the more you realise your body IS YOU. You are not a separate entity from your body. So when you say ‘I hate my body’ you are really just saying ‘I hate me’ and that is not healthy. The more you nurture, care for and respect your body the more you will come to love it. It’s the only one you’ve got, so yes, love your body. LOVE IT LIKE THESE TWO LOVE EACH OTHER.

7. You will need to do a lot of clothes washing.

I am burning through pants and socks. Seriously. Because, you know, you don’t wanna put those back on... Just beware of this one because I nearly ran out and had to wear the back up pants (we all have them). I know it seems stupid, but it’s valid.

8. You really can make time for exercise.

I've made the ‘I don’t have time’ excuse so many times in my life – and yet I still managed to watch a fair amount of TV. Seriously. Just do it. And if you choose not to do it, be realistic and say ‘I just don’t feel like it today’ – don’t lie and say you don’t have time. Because I bet most of the time you do. One tip I would give is get it done first thing in the morning, and then it’s done. I know if I had planned evening work outs I would be forgoing them for spontaneous social events, so just do it in the morning and then you can’t back out. 

9. Stretching works!

No really! It does! It just works reeeeeeeeeally slowly. But honestly one day you can just suddenly do something you couldn’t do before and it’s like ‘when did this happen?’ and then it feels great. Just persevere with it.

10. You get out what you put in.

Sometimes I put on my Zumba dvds, I do the moves, I get a fairly good work out and then it’s done. Other times I really go for it, really trying on the extensions, adding power and attitude to the dance moves, and squeezing my muscles with all my might on the toning exercises, and I come out of the same work out dvd completely dripping. It feels good. I forgive myself for the days I don’t try all that hard, but I also aim to always put in 100% because I know I will get so much more from it that way. It’s more fun too. 

So, in short: exercise is good. Love yourself. And if all else fails watch Bridget Jones and have a really good giggle.

Ten days to go!