Today I want to write about exercise.
A year ago, I hardly moved on a daily basis.
I was lucky if I got 1000 steps in every day.
I live at home so my mom would bring me dinner, while I was in my chair working or playing my computer.
I would only ever get up from my chair if I was going to the bathroom or in the kitchen to get myself coffee.
I had lived liked this for years, and been content living this way, since playing online games had brought me so much joy over the years.
But one day I found myself going to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee, and I suddenly felt a lot of pain in my ankles.
I sat down and looked at my ankles in horror.
They has swelled to almost double size, and the pain I felt was from my sucks cutting into my skin.
I was scared.
What was causing this amount of swelling?
Was it something serious?
I went to my doctor and he told me that it was because of my very sedentary life.
I knew I had to change something and fast or I would be at the risk of getting diabetes.
I was overweight since I ate more then I burned in energy.
But how did I change?
I was so used to this lifestyle.
I had tried before to do a bit of exercise at home, but it had never stuck.
I didn’t really enjoy exercising.
At that point I still had a lot of fear of going to the gym or getting my heartbeat up.
In my past it used to trigger my past when my heartbeat went up.
I would get flashes of events that I had tried so hard to forget and I would often start hyperventilating, so I knew if I had to start exercising, I would have to start slow, and do it carefully.
So, I started doing some research.
And while browsing through video after video on you tube, I found him.
The creator that would start my whole journey of getting fit again.
Getfitwithrick his channel was called.
And it was a mix of walking on the spot and a bit of dance moves combined.
I attempted to do one of his videos that was 10 minutes long, and just after 5 minutes I found myself panting for breath.
I was shocked of how little I could do, how quickly I got tired, but that just made me more dedicated to keep trying
So next day I clicked on the same video and did 5 minutes again.
Next day a little bit more
Until one week after I got through the video.
10 minutes before I found myself too exhausted.
I was over the moon.
It had worked.
I was doing something right.
I set myself a goal that day, to increase my step count every month.
And with baby steps I increased my step counter from 2000 a day to 5000 to slowly getting to 7500 and then one day 4 months after I decide to increase this to 10000 steps.
I had bought myself a smartwatch for the first time, and I found a sense of joy and excitement of tracking my steps every day.
Over the next 4 months I found myself happier and more fit. It had greatly improved my body and mental health.
GetfitwithRick:
I watched his videos religiously every day and did one exercise every day.
His videos where simple to follow, but also a lot of fun.
This creator had this positive energy to him that I often found myself smiling and laughing at times, watching his videos.
He managed to make exercising fun, and I don’t think I would have gotten this far in my fitness and health journey if it wasn’t for his videos.
I’m still surprised that I feel this way after so many years of disliking exercising.
Walking on the spot at home to music might seem simple, but it worked.
I found that my fitness level increase month by month.
I could suddenly walk further, do a 40 minute video without panting for my breath.
Today I’m doing his 12-week challenge, where I work on getting some of my muscles stronger.
I even do some of his dumbbell and abs workouts, and I enjoy the feeling of getting stronger every day.
The Gym:
After a few months of walking my daily steps, I wanted to increase my fitness level more.
I wanted to start working my muscles.
I found that after years of not being able to do this, I could now run, but I still couldn’t carry heavy shopping bags, or bend down to touch my feet, and I wanted to be able to do this. I wanted to eventually get fit enough so I was able to do push ups.
I had a friend who went to the gym almost every day.
So, I decided to overcome my fear of exercise, and attempt to start going to the gym myself.
With his help I suddenly found myself one day at the gym and loving every second of it.
I worked my muscles like I had never done before, and I loved the feeling it gave me after.
Next day I woke up with DOMS – Delayed onset muscle soreness.
A term I had never heard of before, until I felt it myself.
My entire body was sore, but not in a bad way, in a way where I knew it was working.
I was getting stronger.
And just a few times in the gym, I felt it too.
I could lift more and do more sets.
Today I’m working myself up to do a fitness challenge soon in the gym.
Called the Baby Groot challenge, and I’m exited by this.
My Mental Health:
When I first started walking at home to get fit with rick, one month later I discovered that my mental health improve greatly.
I felt happier than I had felt in years.
I felt energy rushing through my body like never before.
I never felt exhausted throughout the day like I had been before.
The biggest change I noticed was when I was walking down the street, I no longer had this lazy slouch in my steps, I was walking with confidence and strength.
And my friends would comment on this walk style often.
I felt more confident and stronger.
The feeling when I noticed I was able to run was amazing.
The adrenaline pumping through my body, the wind in my hair, it was intoxicating.
I knew I was starting to get addicted to exercising.
And this surprised me.
I had gone from hating it, to loving it.
I had overcome my fear of exercising.
I no longer found myself hyperventilating, and the flashes from my past never came up.
Instead, I was left with a feeling that I could do anything.
I have always loved dancing but I would be panting for breath after just one song, months after I started on my step journey I one day went to an EDM festival with a friend, and I found myself that evening on the dance floor for 2 hours straight, dancing like I had never done before, and I never felt tired or out of breath, but enjoyed the feeling of dancing to the beat and having the music vibrate through my body with every step I took.
Today…
I’ve come to realise that exercising is part of my life now.
Doing my daily 10000 steps and doing my workouts and home or at the gym.
Is something I can’t live without anymore.
The impact it had on my mental health and overall health were so great that in ways it made me feel a sense of strength that I never knew I could feel.
The confidence it gave me.
The happiness I feel when I exercise.
The energy It gives me through out a long day.
If I feel a bit tired throughout my day, I do what I call a healthy snack.
I get up and do a workout of 10 minutes and after I feel more energized and happier.
I also do this if I need inspiration.
Inspiration to write my blog or just need to think about something.
I practise mindfulness when I need it by going for a walk, if I feel my thoughts are too invasive.
For me to it all started with curiosity, and a wish for change.
It started with me watching a you tube video, and I will always feel grateful towards the creator of the video.
Getfitwithrick managed to show me that exercising can be fun and easy for everyone to do.
My mom who is 70 years old is now watching the videos with me and exercising next to me in the living room.
And she loves every second of the workouts.
My desire to keep building up my strength is what drives me forward to continue, and the joy I feel throughout my day.
No longer are the days of living a sedentary life.
My advice to you…
If you find yourself living a sedentary life but with a wish to change this.
Find a way to exercise that makes you smile.
Something that makes you enjoy the process.
I learned that changing a habit into a lifestyle, you have to find a joy in doing it, otherwise its hard to keep up.
It has to feel rewarding.
For me it made me happier and feel stronger, and that was reason enough to continue.
There are so many creators on you tube that are very talented, and they all exercise in different ways.
I have a few creators that I like, but my favourite videos are getfitwithricks, because I love his energy and the simple but fun workouts he does.
So, find a workout that works for you.
Try it for a month if you don’t feel its rewarding keep looking.
Write down reasons you want to exercise.
I found that this helped me greatly, it helped me start my journey.
I didn’t want to feel I couldn’t go for walks without feeling excruciating pain in my ankles with every step I took, this was my motivation to start.
What’s yours?
I hope you have a great day and enjoy the start of the new year ❤
MissFaylyn out…
Missfaylyn 