Train to Focus. Focus to Train.

IT has been almost two months since I started working out. I just want to share my experience about the whole thing. I think it might change your thinking and perhaps, you can too, start to exercise.

I think many of you should know from my FB posts that I have been hitting the gym like almost everyday. It has become more a ritual to me now. I feel restless if I skipped training. To be very frank, I have exceeded my own expectations on keeping up with this sustained intensity so far.

Well, it all begun when I tagged along when my wife went to the Fitness First to sign up membership since her company has some tie-up with the gym. I always wanted to join one but never got down to doing it as I thought that I lack the discipline to train. I used to be quite fit in my younger days (who isn't?) as I was really active. But as we grow older, we are bogged down with our day jobs and other commitments, exercise is the last thing we want to do after a hard day at work. It didn't help either when I ruptured my anterior cruciate ligament more than a year ago. Although recovery was speedy, that knee is never the same again.

And what woke me up from my slumber was when I looked at myself in the mirror one day. I almost had a heart attack. Years of neglect and time has not been kind to my body. This hobby of mine has mostly confined me to the workshop as I work feverishly to contain the never-ending projects and "side-quests". I did mentioned about getting burnt out finally after more than 10 years and it was scary. Suddenly, the only thing you love is "lost" and there is nothing else you look forward to. I wanted to quit the hobby for good. But I know that was not the solution. I was just finding an excuse to beat a hasty retreat. I thought of all the late nights, the sweat and the (occasional blood bath), I know this is what I live for.

Oh well, I guess I just need to take a break, re-focus, re-calibrate the things in my life.

And SO, I jumped at the opportunity to train in a gym. Obviously, it's something really new to me. So there's a lot of things to learn. That will keep me distracted for awhile.This renewed sense of purpose propelled me forward. It's like I'm given a new lease of life, of which I gratefully accepted. I totally embraced it with my whole being. I train like six days a week. I train in the morning and jog and walk on alternate nights. I squeeze in some exercises whenever I have those little pockets of free time in between. Push ups here, crunches there and even performing squats when I'm waiting for the lifts!

It wasn't easy right from the start, especially when you have to make drastic changes to your lifestyle immediately. I adjusted my schedule and did away with some bad habits. I started cutting down on my carbs intake and that cleaned up my gut a lot. And after so many years, I started to sleep early. No more gunpla till early mornings and no more Red Bulls for breakfast.

Just one week into the regime, I am already noticing changes in my body. I feel so much better and healthier. Now, my stomach is not bloated anymore. No more sleepwalking and zombie stares. Within a month, my weight dropped to 75 kg from 85 kg. The weight loss eases the strain on my right knee and lower back. However, I sustained some injuries (in particularly my wrists) at the gym due to poor form and improper use of the equipment. It was a steep learning curve indeed. It doesn't help when you are SO eager to try everything as well. My main aim was to trim down. If I can get some muscles growing on my skinny frame, it's a bonus no doubt! I realize that like building muscles is actually harder than losing weight! Well, I shed some fat around the waist and my pants are pretty loose now. It's a nice problem to have nonetheless!

Right now, I am feeling really good amid the soreness. And I feel that I am acclimating for the second phase of my hobby life! Oh yeah! I can feel it and it's like everything is slowly picking itself up and falling into the right places. All I need to do now is focus and slowly eases into it.

Timing is everything, when you're ready, you will know it.