Embedding new habits: an update on my health journey

Last year I wrote about my health journey; at the time I was a year into new exercise and eating habits. I thought it was about time I shared an update! It might be of interest to some of you, and will also help me with accountability as I’m going to share my lessons learned and goals for future!

Exercise

I’m still seeing my PT Joe, The Plant PT, at Glasgow Fitness gym. That’s now been 21 months of consistent training; I am soooo much fitter than I was at the start and have more energy too. I’ve also nearly lost 2 stone in weight. If I pluck up the courage, I’ll maybe share some of the before and after photos (it’s quite the transformation!!).

I’m still really enjoying boxing, and there is now a women’s boxing class at the gym on a Friday evening which I try and get along to.

I’ve also started Muay Thai lessons with my daughter with another of the trainers at the gym. I do really enjoy the kicking!!

My daughter and I have also started joint tennis lessons, which is good fun.

Oh, and I’ve been to a few yoga classes too - Hot Yoga Glasgow in Battlefield and Hotpod Yoga in town. Something that would probably be good for me if I can get along more regularly.

So overall I’m a lot more active than I have been in a long while.

One thing that I haven’t kept up with is the running. It’s been a little sporadic, but what hasn’t helped is a recent hamstring injury which has meant for the last 10 weeks or so I’ve been taking things easy. I’ve been resting, stretching, doing my home sauna blanket and have had a few sports massages but it’s still a little niggly. So I’m off to a physio this week to see if they can help.

Nutrition and healthy eating

I struggle with eating healthily. I go through fits and bursts where I eat well, and then slip into unhealthy habits. Too much sugar being the main culprit.

I had been trying a gluten and dairy free diet, but it’s really hard to stick with - especially if eating out - I was finding that places had GF options, and DF options, but finding something that was GF and DF was more problematic. I know that I work best with an all or nothing mindset. I struggle with moderation. This was the case with alcohol, and I’m now over 5 years alcohol-free - so I know I can do it if I really try. So I think if I want to pursue a GF/DF diet, then I need to go all-in. What’s difficult is deciding if it’s worth it; I’m not actually sure that the benefits I had were enough to warrant the additional cost/effort of the diet. I might try again, and experiment one last time before I make up my mind!

I’ve tried various different meal prep services, and recipe boxes. The current one I’m using is Planthood (get £15 off using this link), and I did also like Stocked (I’ve a few of their block packets in my freezer, and they’re super handy; get £10 off with this link). I’m just not a fan of cooking, and so if there are services like this that I can use, I’m all for it.

Supplements and gut health

I’ve been working through some of the supplement protocols that Clare at Tingle & Glow had outlined for me.

In addition to the protocols Clare created for me, I’m taking a protein supplement, and collagen too (both from Will Powders, get 15% off using this link). And I’ve recently purchased a new gut health prebiotic which I’m going to introduce. Oh, and I also have my Dream Magic Superfood Powders that I take.

I’m still trying to work on my gut health through nutrition too, as well as the supplements. I get Hip Pop kombucha on subscription and have kefir most days too (I try to have kraut and kimchi, but don’t love the taste of these).

I had a colonoscopy for my Crohn’s Disease at the end of last year, and I do still have active inflammation but there is no significant difference between this scope and the one I had 5 years ago. So I’m taking that as a positive.

Goals for the future

In terms of fitness and nutrition goals, here are my thoughts:

• Next year I’m going to do Hyrox as a duo, so I want to start training for this now.

• I want to get back into running again (will be needed for Hyrox), so will see what the physio says this week and keep my fingers crossed that I can do so soon! It’s my aim to get back to 2 x run each week.

• In addition to the boxing, tennis and running - I think I do need to add in something for flexibility. Will aim to get to yoga more often.

• I’m going to try again with GF/DF diet and see if it does make a difference. I think it’s easier to do this in the summer when I can eat lots of lovely big salads.

• I want to complete the supplement protocols that Clare created for me, and continue to focus on my gut health.

Let me know if you’ve any questions in the comments. Happy to share more.

Home sauna blanket with Evie!!