re: The Fitness Thread !
My story is like this.
Throughout my childhood I've been very active. Always a little plump, but nothing dangerous. I was a professional roller skater and so fitness was always very good. Did that for close to 8-9 years. I gave it up when I was about 14 or 15. Then didnt do anything for about one year. Then started swimming when I was 15. In my 10th standard. Every morning 45 mins. 6-7 in the morning even through winter months.
Since I was still a 'kid' never bothered about diet. But my parents never let me go overboard as well. Outside food once in a way. Still no chocolates or anything.
Once I started swimming, it was awesome. I was still plump, but I was fit, enjoyed swimming and life was beautiful. Then in my 2nd PUC, my swimming went for a toss. Tuitions, etc took up most of my life. Fitness went for a 6. After my 2nd PUC exams(12th exams but under State Board) and my CET, I joined a gym. Was about 84 kgs and my height was about 5'10. Not too bad, but wanted to regain my lost fitness and tone up my body.
Went for about one and a half years till Oct 2005. At that time, I was the fittest I've ever been in my life. I didnt focus on any one exercise, but I could do about 25x2 Push ups. Hated chin ups and so never did that
I could lift a lot of weights. Dont remember how much exactly though. I could run an average of 2.75 kms in 15 mins on the treadmill. My record though was 2.86. Gym was mornings. Swimming was evenings.
I used to swim for about one hour non stop. No breaks after every length or anything. My record was 1 km of swimming in 37 mins. I used to take an average of 39-40 mins for 1 km. The next 20 mins was much slower as a sort of cooling down. While my weight had remained more or less constant, my fitness had increased considerably and my body was much more toned. I had become quite muscular.
Then in 2005 Oct I met with an accident and broke my right leg and left hand. Was bed ridden for 3 months. Even after that, could just manage to limp around. Gym and everything was out of the question.
I started gym in about April of 2006. Painful process. I had to regain my fitness and what was worse was that my left hand was very weak and my right leg was killing me. Started getting fitter when I had to undergo another surgery in Jul 2006 to remove the screws that were inserted in my knee.
Once that happened, all exercise went for a toss again till about October. Started gym in October. By this time, I had out on a lot of weight.
In Nov 2006, we went to Malaysia for a holiday. Did a LOT of walking there. As it turns out, I walked too much and too briskly. Had a stress fracture in my left leg. It's more minor than a hairline fracture. The bone hadnt really broken, but there was a tiny crack. It supposedly happens a lot for soldiers in the army due to the marching they do with their boots, etc...
So, another 3 months wasted in terms of fitness.
In 2007, I started gym again but not swimming as the club where I used to go had closed the pool for renovations.
Anyway, 2 and a half years later, I'm still the same. I got so demotivated after everything that happened the past 1-2 years that I kinda never put my heart and soul into my fitness. Actually, I didnt concentrate on weight loss. My fitness is still pretty damn good. But nowhere close to what it was in 2005.
It's only recently(the last 3 months) that I'm making a serious effort. I'm trying to play Tennis as and when possible and *trying* to control my diet as well.
Let's see how it goes. Nothing's impossible.