Monday 27 July 2015

The Happy Drug

I'm back from a lovely weekend away in the countryside. Lots of sea air, chilling out, cooking good food and perhaps drinking a little bit too much red wine.

I know I've over indulged in sugar and booze but I'm back on my hot water and lemon and heading for a workout after work (I couldn't quite get out of bed this morning after a long journey home last night!)  I'm actually excited to go to the gym. I haven't been since Wednesday as I had a long weekend. I'm anxious to get back and get the endorphins flowing through my body.

I'm now one of those people who get anxious if I know I can't get to the gym the amount of times I would like to each week. I know it can only be a good thing as it has kept me loyal to the weights and cross trainer, and I haven't had a major gym absence since I started going in December.

This has made me realise something about exercise and why it can be SO addictive. Along with my body becoming healthier, my mind is too.

My anxiety issues have switched to being worried about not being able to work out instead of worrying about what people think when they look at me.

 
 
I prefer to workout on my own than in classes at the moment. For me working out is my 'me time'. It's the time where I have experienced the most zen-like experiences. I guess it has become my form of meditation where I am completely in the present, not thinking about the past or future, but concentrating on being able to lift that weight or run as fast as I can for 30 seconds, and then feel the adrenalin through my body once I have conquered my little challenges.
 
In our busy world of work, family commitments and socialising, it can be easy to forget to be happy with what you have in the present instead of constantly looking for the next best thing.
 
My friends recently had a discussion about who was the most happy in our group. I personally don't think you can easily quantify happiness. Everyone has gone through different life experiences and have personal aspirations in life. I can say I am happy, and one of the happiest times of my day, is leaving the gym after a cold shower!
 
I am going through one of the happiest periods of my life. I am nearly free from the prison of insecurities I felt throughout my younger years of being very overweight and I am celebrating what I have in the present. A healthier mind and body, and so much I want to do now I am more confident and content within myself.
 
Here are a few recent happy moments in 2015...
 
 
 
 

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