To say that small changes happen over a short period of time to make for bigger changes over a longer period of time couldn’t be truer for me. I have begun this journey with the view to do it for the for the next 8 months and onwards from that too. My ultimate goal (to have a Muay Thai fight) is set to take place in 8 months’ time but my overall goal of becoming ‘healthier’ and looking after my mental health and well-being, is a life-long goal that I am going to inevitably turn Fat Lad to Fighter in to.
This week has been very much adapting to what is now. Eating at specified times, exercising more, engaging with people on social media. Stopping smoking!! All big changes that can take people years to do. I’m an all or nothing kind of guy and I throw myself completely in at the deep end and live life to the extremes. I have periods of time where I am almost manic in my presence, totally hyper and up a height but then other times I am quite withdrawn and quiet.
All down to the nature of being a very extrovert person. All of these things I have come to realise over this past week and really having to tune in to what my body wants is something that I have always struggled with. I have had ups and downs this week but overall, it has been hugely positive. I am feeling much clearer about myself and feeling as though this mammoth task of becoming a fighter is actually achievable.
I am just taking it step by step at the moment. For now, my goal is to concentrate on getting my weight down and getting active again. Because being active and getting my body used to moving again is important to then be able to fine-tune my Muay Thai skill set further down the line. It is amazing to have a support network around me and be able to turn to them when I feel as though I am struggling. My wife, Lee (Axon), my Muay Thai coaches, my friends and everyone who is supporting me through social media.
Tonight (Sunday 15th April) I went for a run. I hadn’t done any fitness at all today, but my dad came up to see the kids and we went to the park and I was running around after them in there for a bit, however, I didn’t actually do any proper fitness. Raising the heart rate, getting sweaty, challenging and pushing myself mentally to achieve something. So, at 10 pm after the kids were down and I was settling for the night, I looked at my apple watch and saw that my rings weren’t closed and wanted to get them done.
I shaved a minute off my time. A whole minute! I couldn’t believe it. I could tell even when out on the run that I felt better, fitter almost. I had tunes blasting in my Air Pods and just dug in deep. I posted on my Insta how I felt shortly after it and I were on such a high. I messaged Lee Axon and various other people to let them know. I’m looking forward to this week coming. I have all of my food in, my weeks exercises planned. I even have a day to get up at 5.30am and go do some cardio in a park that’s not too far away.
I have set my alarm so many times to get up and go for a run or do something early before work, but I always snooze it. Now I have someone/something to keep me accountable I will do it. It’s funny how our brains work and will only work to an accountability. Working toward this goal for me will give me direction, a purpose to keep writing, to keep documenting the journey and sharing my success and failures with everyone will keep my motivation up. Hopefully, avoiding or at least reducing the amount of downtime that I need.
I know that rest is important, I wrote a blog post some time ago about how important sleep was and Lee had said to me how important it was going to be that I got the right amount of rest when training really begins to pick up in its intensity. But I really am a night owl. I guess that is the curse of the creative mind that I have but I will have to put something in place where I am able to catch up with things (sleep and rest) at some point during the day.
I love writing in this style, thank you for reading my ramblings. As the fog clears and my mind creates a direction in which the writing will take, it will hopefully become more engaging but, for now, it feels good to get free flow writing and sharing my thoughts.
Wrapping things up, this week has been good. Positive. Seeing the feedback from people is encouraging and I am very much looking forward to seeing and feeling the benefits of what I am doing. I already am in some ways, but I mean, truly feeling different in myself and my body. I know that is all down to patience and playing the long game of which, I really am in for. Please check out Fat Lad to Fighter on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. You will be able to keep up with my daily postings about what I am up to.
I have created a structure to the posts that will be going out and that will be starting the week after next after I have got two weeks banked and can really hone in on what content will be most engaging for you all. I’m feeling great. I wish you the very best in the coming week. Let me know how you guys are feeling, reach out on social and say hello. Fat lad to Fighter is here. Currently still a fat lad but with hard work and determination, the fighter in me isn’t too far away!
Finally, thank you to the people who are making this journey possible, Spoonhead Nutrition, T4 Training and Northern Kings. I couldn’t do this without you guys. You are all a part of something that will stay with me for the rest of my life and with the relationships we are building I hope that we will become friends for life. Links to them and their profiles are below, check them out. They are fantastic at what they do!
Spoonhead Nutrition
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpoonHeadNutrition/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spoonheadnutrition/
T4 Training
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/T4PersonalTraining/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/t4_training/
Website: http://t4training.co.uk/
Northern Kings
Website: http://northernkings.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northernkings/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northern_kings_gym/
