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April summary/May Goals

Well amazingly another Month has flown by so bloody quick! I hate the feeling of evaluating what I have done in the last Month and realizing it wasn't that much, I feel like I have wasted time seeing as it has gone so quick! They say once you past the age of 21 the rest of your life goes by like lightning and I think that stands true!
Time really does fly!
Well April wasn't so much of a waste of time in my eyes. I feel like I have achieved quite a lot that will help me make May an even better month. 

I have learnt an awful lot where fitness/weights is concerned (Thanks to Ryan and the endless time I have been spending in the gym). I seem to have learnt a lot about different muscle groups and how to perform different exercises. I have spent days in the gym forcing myself to perform exercises I don't like or would rather not be doing as I know this will benefit me in the long run - RUNNING for example. I think it is a big step for a lazy person like me to get out of my comfort zone and push myself harder than I would normally just because I now know this will help me improve.

I started April thinking I will not run unless made to and now (thanks to Ryans encouragement) am using running as a way to improve fitness and lose fat. Before I used to think you run until you become a runner or run until you start to like it. I don't think I will ever like it but I understand now that if I want to lose fat and become FIT I do need to incorporate running into my training. Also not to keep the same tempo, keep increasing speed/time.  

I have started using a journal to log my workouts each day and this has helped encourage me to increase my weights or change workouts. Before I used to do what I felt like and again, what was 'comfortable' now I go to the gym with a workout in mind and I stick to it because I have a standard I need to reach and feel I will not fall below that with the benchmark my 'journal' sets.


An example of increases since the beginning of April to now are as follows;
Db bench press was 6kg now 10 kg
Skull crushers was 8kg now 10kg
Machine back extension was 35kg now 45kg
Leg press was 60kg now 70kg
Leg curl/extension was 30kg now 35kg
Bicep curl was 6kg now 10kg

Although in the grand scheme of things it isn't a huge increase but if I hadn't started recording where I was I would probably still be sticking to the comfortable weight instead of saying 'look I have been at this weight for 3 weeks now, give the next weight up a go'.

My diet is a completely different story. I have been way too relaxed where that is concerned and it shows! So that is something I hope to improve next month. It really does prove to me 20% exercise 80% diet or whatever its supposed to be!


Other things I achieved in April 2013 - I got employee of the Month, went to lunch with the Ambassador of Germany (business convention - not a date haha). 

Went to Bath for the first time and had a fab day with the girls for Toris birthday. 


Tackled the Raven bike trail in Brechfa - Not my favourite but a real accomplishment. Some fantastic sections there, shame its so far apart though!


Had a great day on the bike to Cardiff bay via the Taff trail with Ryan - turned into a lift home with his dad due to me snapping the valve off the Boardmen.

Went to my first ever Point to Point day with the girls, another first I didn't even know what it was! Had a really good time and will be sure to go again if the invite arises.

May starts tomorrow and I am feeling very optimistic! The lighter evenings have already aided my mood and motivation. I just really need to focus on my clean eating for the next 4 weeks so I will hopeful have something positive to say about it this time next month. I am going to keep doing what I am doing in the gym but make sure I incorporate more running sessions into each training day. I need to make a long run (5k) a week compulsory and get the speed up on my faster runs. Ryan has already set me a goal for under 3.5 minutes for my 800m. At the moment I am doing 3.58 so that looks achievable! 

BRING ON MAY BABY!



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