Joining the gym

Before I had kids I was skinny, I was a size 8 and then after having my first son I was a size 16. Since then I have gone up a bit and then down a bit but always ended around a 16.

I’m ok with this, I know I’m not skinny but I think I look alright! I have curves and boobs and hips and though I do still have the odd down moment, usually when shopping for clothes, I’m not desperately unhappy with my weight or figure.

However, since the op I have realised that I probably take my body for granted and don’t take care of it as much as I should. Though I do think about diet and love to cook, I don’t always eat as healthily as I could and my post surgery enforced diet with barely any fruit and veg hasn’t helped at all.

It has been almost 8 weeks since the operation and now is the time to start building my strength back up so I’m joining the gym. I’m a bit scared, the gym is obviously not my natural habitat but after all I have been through I think I owe it to myself to look after my body. I have five sessions with a personal trainer so I can be sure I’m doing the right exercises to aid recovery rather than do any damage to myself!

Timm and I are going for a family membership so we can both get fit and encourage the kids to do so too. We’re planning a weekly swimming session with the kids and then I’m going for a mix of gym sessions and classes. There’s aqua classes, low impact classes, yoga and Pilates for me to start with to ease me in and not be too much on my scar and stoma.

My eldest will also be able to use the gym which is a good way to encourage exercise and caring for his body from a young age. Despite being thin and having an athletic build, he dislikes group sports but does enjoy the gym at school and has weights in his room so it will be nice for him to get used to that environment from his youth.

My friend was telling me about her lifestyle changes in diet and exercise and how it’s changed her attitude so much. She feels strong and in control and I must admit to feeling a little jealous! So I’m joining the gym crowd, I’m taking control of the situation and have to make time for myself.

Whether I decide to keep the bag or to have the pouch surgery, I will have to have at least one more surgery and so I want to make sure that I’m the fittest I can be to face this. Recovering from surgery is bloody hard work! So I need to give myself the best fighting chance of coming out of all future ops strong and well.

It’s too easy to make excuses. I don’t have time. I can’t afford it. It’s too difficult. But in reality if you really want to do it, then you have to make yourself try, you have to make time. If you can’t care for your own health and body, no one else is going to!

As a fully paid up member of the excuses club, I know them all. But in reality it comes down to a desire to start getting healthy, will power to keep going and hard work. There’s a quote I saw that said “no matter how slow you are moving, you are lapping the people on the coach” So I’m going to start, slowly at first but hopefully in a few months Ill be feeling stronger, fitter and healthier than ever!

So wish me luck!

Sam xx