Challenging a comfort zone with a comfort zone...

Ok.  This blog has been on my mind for a while.  So much so that it's been sat in 'draft' format for a number of weeks...  Some of the images here, posted along with my ramblings, I have held onto.  I don't know why really.  I like them.  But I have been nervous to share.

I enjoy a good ol' selfie, but these somehow feel different.  I felt more exposed and vulnerable.  That's crazy really because they portray a part of me that has become a norm in my life.  A part that I'm actually very proud of.  That's my personal health and fitness journey.

I go the gym fairly often now.  I'm there at least 3 or 4 times a week - I'm a class bunny.  I hop around various classes - and like many aspects of my life and me,  I don't fit into one exercise box.  I love Zumba and Clubbercise, really enjoy Yoga, I have recently discovered that I quite like a Spin class, Free Weights and Kettlebells are fun and (as you can see from the pics) I throw myself into a bit of Boxercise too.  

This journey began almost 5 years ago.  My youngest was coming up to his first birthday and I wasn't quite the heaviest I'd ever been, but I wasn't too far off.  I'm not going to include 'the number', that's irrelevant, all that matters is that I wasn't happy with how I felt.  My family matter and I wanted to be the best version of me that I could be for them.  I wanted to be a healthy parent.  In body and mind.

I'd suffered earlier in my life with a lot of anxiety and depression. I continued to suffer after the birth of my eldest and medicated my way through my second pregnancy too.  By the time I had my youngest I was pill free, but finding it difficult to maintain a good hormone balance to keep me on the straight and narrow.  I had, between baby 2 and baby 3 focussed a huge amount on eating healthily and making time for me - that had been working, slowly, but was working.

So in spring 2012 I signed my brood up for a family membership at the gym, got the MyFitnessPal app on my phone and basically haven't looked back!  As time went by I found myself again.  The gym was (and still very much is) my 'me' time.  I love it.  It's funny because my younger self would NEVER have imagined that I would fall for the gym as much as I have.  It's now my lifesaver.  My husband and I were even having a conversation last night about how I can tell when my mood is dropping or I'm going through an anxious 'moment' - it usually coincides with a drop in my exercise, for whatever reason.  I do still get anxious over stuff - I feel that's normal, just a part of me and I cope now.  But when I first signed on the gym dotted line, little did I know just how much this would mean for me mentally.

The images that follow mean a lot to me I guess - they're now just 'a woman in gym gear'.  They're a representation of my growth.  My journey to health and the continual path I try to follow to keep myself the best version of myself I can be - for myself and everyone who means anything to me.

EDIT: I really should say a huge thank you to the instructors and friends from both the gyms I have been a member of and my running pals too.  So (and I hope I don't miss anyone out!) Village leisure and running: June, Sarah, Mark, Antny, Steph, Kirsty, Helen and Faith.  Invigor8 gyms: Kirsty, Andi, Helen, Barb, Dave, Kirsten, Sophie, Su, Jules, Lisa, Toni...  I think that's everyone!  You guys push me when I don't want to be pushed and have grown to become friends of mine.  I couldn't thank you enough.  And also my husband - your support is the most incredible gift I could wish for.  I love you!


I'll stop babbling now though and post the pics.  Thanks for reading this far peeps.

Best wishes,

x Fleur x

(PS - the trick to seeing better quality versions of the images is to click on them... Cheers loves!)