It's good to get back.............

Have I been away, you may ask? No, not since October. However, I might as well have been.

Before my trip to Florida with my eldest son I had started working with a personal trainer, Eric. He devised a great programme for me and I was following it through regularly. This was possibly to do with the fact that the weeks were fairly quiet in the mornings, so I could go down to our local gym, which is less than five minutes walk away, five times a week. Once a week he would put me through my paces and I could feel my body changing, as well as being able to see the difference. My fitness level improved too. Much to my chagrin, however, although I eat pretty healthily, I didn't lose a great deal of weight, but that's an ongoing issue!

Well, since coming back from the States, my fitness routine has been shot to pieces! I caught a nasty bug on my return which meant I was feverish and wanting to sleep all the time. (Not like me at all! I like my bed, but hate to sleep anytime other than at night.) It took quite a few weeks for me to start feeling even vaguely like myself, and although I tried to keep up with my programme, to start with I was just too sick. Then when the intention was to return to my regime everything else took over. The children were off school, I had to attend meetings and then the gym was closed while some building work was done! I could feel all my good work unravelling itself......

The worst thing is that Eric has designed me a programme to do at home as well, and I just couldn't find the enthusiasm to do it. There is also the thing of having so many other things to do in the house (I also work from home too!), as well as that psychological boost that I get from actually going to the gym. I now know all the staff and can have a good chat with them, as well as feeling brilliant when I've finished a session there. I can really concentrate on what I am doing, rather than putting pressure on myself to be doing some research or writing or marketing or washing or ironing or, even worse, some housekeeping!

Well, today was the day they re-opened after the temporary closure and I was down there for a Body Conditioning Class that I really enjoy, but can't always get to. It was tough! Lots of squats and lunges, as well as press-ups and abdominal exercises. I shall really ache tomorrow! It will be worth it though. I was tired but glowing when I left. I often write about how exercise can help to lift your mood, as 'happy' chemicals are realeased in the brain, and I can attest to that myself. I always feel better after a session at the gym or an exercise class, even if sometimes I only have time to do a bit of my programme.

I am back at the gym tomorrow to have a session with Eric, and I will have to confess to my lack of application, but I can feel that something has switched inside me, and I am ready to go at it all over again.