NSV - Mirror mirror on the wall

Craighbruce

When I tried to kick myself in the butt on 8th January this year after the scales told me how overweight I was (96.7kg/213lbs) I wasn't very flexible, fit or healthy. I was 10kg heavier than I had been telling myself I was (knowing I was overweight) and ignoring most of the signs of how unfit I had become...e.g. shortness of breath after minimal effort. I had a BMI of 30.6

I pulled out my running kit and got back into it pretty quickly, running in some freezing conditions and in absolute darkness during January along the river bank. My confidence increased and I started running with Vibram Fivefingers and in the process of running 65km per week (i was up to this by April) managed to injure my foot to such an extent that I was walking after 14km of a 15km run...and then 8km of a 10km run...so I stopped running for a bit.

As I've put my name in for the London Marathon ballot and have a 10km run on 8th July I wanted to make sure I didn't let myself go completely while still giving my foot enough recovery time...so I signed up to a £10 for 3 sessions deal at my local Bikram yoga centre. I've just completed my 10th consecutive day of taking a 90min class and thanks to the mirrors in the class can report two NSVs that I'm very pleased with:
- when relaxed (i.e. no belly sucking) I can make out my abs...just a light V for now, but they are there! Not sure I've ever seen them before!
- when standing up and doing stretches to the side I no longer see rolls of fat sitting on top of each other, just some minor wrinkles and healthy glowing skin

I would recommend Bikram as an additional/alternative exercise for anyone who may have reached a plateau, has an injury or wants to add some tone - my local class couldnt be friendlier regardless of size, ability or coordination and balance. It's a great experience and unlike overdoing things at the gym hasn't ever left me incapacitated or aching the day after!

All that sweating and replacement of water has got to be a good thing too...and I swear the various contortions get your various digestive processes working better too!

I'm off to look at myself in the mirror some more as inspiration for that final few kgs I want to lose...I'm down 16.7kg/36.8lbs since January...or almost 20% of my starting weight (BMI now 25.3) and feel so much better for it. I was recently inspired by the saying 'You'll never regret going for a run...but you'll regret not going'