Fitness Journey - Day 1

My real fitness journey began in September 2012 when I made a  decision to put a bar on my increasing weight. At that time I was 73Kgs (161 pounds) and I actually did not feel I was so bulky then as I do today. Then why did I start my journey? Frankly, I can't find an answer to that. What I can recall is that I was quite happy when I completed my 30 minutes walk in the closed space of my house. I did not go out to a park or to the terrace, I just walked from last room to the entrance of the house. Different way exercise, isn't it? It was not fancy but it was 'my way'. From that day onward I walked - 30 min, 40 min, 50 min and then 60 min :) I came to that there was a recycled exercising bicycle at my grandparent's house and the next day it was in my room. There was also an old, roughly 13 years old, jogger gathering dust in the store room at my place. Those two machines became my evil friends. :-D They tired my while I benefited from that tiredness. What followed was weight loss while I was having fun testing my will power :-D After that I have been continuously trying, by keeping at walking regime, improving on my diet, adopting healthy habits, joining gym, etc. to get closer to that perfect health and shape.

Today, I am starting an online journal to keep a record of the new episode in this fitness journey of mine. I joined a gym again to try Bodyweight workouts for toning purpose. I will be writing about my experience in the gym for the day, achievements, failures, lessons learnt, friends made (mostly machines it will be :-D ), unexpected incidents, etc. I think have given enough background about the intentions behind this blog post, and ones that will follow, so I will move on to my today's experience.

I believe that your real intentions are put to test every time you want to do something important in your life. I say this because just when I decided that today will be my first day at gym it gets cold and it starts to drizzle right before the time when I am about to start for the gym. I HAVE TO GO! NO EXCUSES, PLEASE. Thats what I said to myself and set out. My first day at any place is, if not weird, at least is a little strange because I take time to settle into the environment. I need to connect to the place. I dislike crowded spaces, and that is the reason I chose a timing when the gym had only 6 people, 3 of which were trainers. My trainer is a lady who herself had a stupendous fitness journey. From 93 kg she came down to something in 50s. That's inspiring for me :-) 

Workout time - I began with normal stretching and a cardio session. Everything was fine  during this time as it was not very new to me. Soon I began the other training session. I had completed only 1 circuit and was at the last exercise to complete my second one when I realized I was not well. :-O I felt a bit dizzy and the trainer saw that. What next? I wasted some 15 minutes just sitting/laying on the bench. :-| I was not there for doing that. I had to get back to my feet and punch that weakness to march to the glory for finishing the workout. And I got up to finish what I started. Its alright to be knocked down but what matters is getting up after the blow. To conquer the self is the greatest victory. I have a lot of weaknesses but I know I have the strength too within me to overcome those weaknesses. I completed my day's workout and walked out of the gym with feeling of having achieved something. 

Wrapping up with a hope that tomorrow will be another success story :-)

Fitness Quote - Don't wish for it, work for it.

Thought Again

Today, life feels like a dream of my sleeping soul who is trying to awake itself from this slumber and find its way back home. - Arpna

Connection

Imagine lying down on a beach on a cool day, looking up at a clear sky. Your soul is as pure as that sky. I am always delighted when I look up, and what makes my heart jump is the vastness of the blue expanse above. If you can feel the oneness with this sky you can feel how magnificent your own spirit is. Our inner being is as beautiful as the nature around you, as mystic as the universe, free as the moving air, and as powerful as the running water. If we try to feel this then we may realize that our soul is connected to God through all ways yet the soul might feel itself far from him. Every time the soul wakes up from it's worldly sleep he seeks his creator's love. In those brief moments the soul wants to be at his feet, kneeling down and feeling the peace in its heart. I believe our life is to serve God's purpose, and one of God's purposes is to send love to all the souls that have come down to this world. You see someone smiling at you, feel it as God sent smile. Someone shows love to you, feel it as God's own love sent to you. We all are his instrument, as well as the other people around us. We will always have at least one companion, God, to call our own whether we are in a crowd or standing alone. So if you ever, my buddy soul ;-) , feel left alone and want to return to him then remember that all the love you have in this life is sent by him. He is always by your side. Enjoy your time here because you will have to return one day. At the end you will be with him :-)

On Silence

Lying on the bed and turned to my left, I was staring at my brother on the opposite sofa busy with his tablet phone. He looked at me to show me something and I did not respond. Something inside kept me silent and I kept staring at him in his eyes... These are such moments when I am hit with profound wisdom. Not kidding! In silence I have come to discover some philosophies about which I had never read before. Earlier, on a couple of occasions when anything like this happened I shared it with one of my friends, who later sent me some quotes containing the lines similar to the thoughts I shared with her. I believe it to be wisdom because these realizations help me be a better person. Some I recorded, some I shared with friends and some I just lived. . . 

Eyes are windows to the soul, whoever said that said it right, and soul belongs to the universe, if you know what I mean? :-) The universe is almost silent. Silence is a characteristic of the magnificent universe, and I believe the soul is no different than the universe. The quality of being silent is essential to realize that you have a soul in you, and to realize that there is soul in the person next to you too. You are not just an earthly being, you are more than that, something as vast and as beautiful as the universe itself. We need silence to let every spirit exist peacefully. Silence is the language of the universe and it is also the language of your inner being. 

Now I am thinking that being still and quiet is something you are taught in meditation as well. I must admit I have my own free ways to do things, and I guess it was nothing but a strong moment of meditation for me that brought me to the significance of silence. I enjoy these a lot, and at times I think of it as revising (sudden realizations) the lessons that I learnt in my past lives. I have something more to write but will do that in next blog.

A to Z challenge

Finally, I have registered for the April's A to Z challenge. Last year I landed on their page all by chance while I was surfing for the sites for one of my college assignments. A friend of mine took part in it then and I was quite excited about the event to find so many people writing at the same time. Isn't it like bring the world together? United We Stand Bloggers :-) I am a part of that community too this year. Though I have my final exams in April but I am going to give it a shot and try to survive this challenge. 

Just participation is not what I am aiming at. Did I tell you I wish to write a book? Oh yeah! Nothing special in that? I know, but it is like I have some talent for writing (at least I think that) and I am sure it is for some purpose :-) So, to explore what I am suppose to do with this small gift of words I have to start somewhere, and what place can be better than A to Z Challenge? (ok! at least I can't think of any :-P ).

Now, what next? 

 A journey of thousand miles starts with a single step.

Not all have the same talent, 

But everybody gets an opportunity to develop it.

                                                         -    (unknown) 

This is one of the 'Thought of the day' that I spoke in the morning assembly, during school time, in ninth class. I loved the quote and recite it every time I have to start something new :-) The first step has been taken, the next thing is, I guess, is to persist with this desire to write. I am sure I am going to fall out of this run but I am ready to get up every time I will fall.

We all have something that we want to start, like to start learning how to sing, to dance, an instrument or anything like that. I have a long list which includes hitting the gym, starting my guitar classes again, to learn roller skating, to learn hip hop and break dance, to learn horse riding, to brush my writing skills, to name a few :-) Many of us fail to take the first step. It is same as the concept of 'friction'. When you need to get a stationary body in motion you face the maximum resistance and need to put great effort, but try pushing a moving object and all you might need would be a push with the little finger ;-) . So, if you wish get serious about a hobby then take the first step. Still not motivated enough? What can I say now! Just know this, there are millions of babies out there taking there first  step and trying to walk, while you are just sitting and thinking :) . I like a line in of those TV commercials:

"Thinking is such a waste of time" 

and this was what my English teacher used to say, actually he copied the NIKE's tag line,

 " JUST DO IT! ". 

:-D So, get started today buddy!

Back to me and the challenge. I have finally started working at one of my hobbies :-) Wish me luck for the challenge (and my exams too :-P), and Good Luck to the fellow A2Zeders. 

Thumbs Up guys! :-D

Ek Ehsaas...

Ek nazar dekhun toh sab kuch hai
Aur dusri hi nazar kuch bhi mera nahi
Ek nazar dekhun toh sabhi hain yahan
Aur dusri hi nazar koi bhi mera nahi
Sab kuch hai mera hissa

Aur mai hun hissa sabka
Phir bhi MAI kuch nahi hun
Jo hai woh sabhi hai Uska...

                                           -Arpna :-)

A Thought.

Life ain't about crying over the lack of best resources, it is about making the most of all the resources YOU have. Thus, life is not about reaching the top of the world, it is about reaching the top of YOUR OWN world. :-)

Arpna

posted from Bloggeroid

Barfi (movie)

One word to describe the movie Barfi - Innocent. 
Happiness lies in the small things, and happiness also lies in expressing your feelings openly :) Many times we are paralyzed at those critical moments of life when we have to take a decision. Causes of such an attack? Its the conflict between the heart, that seeks happiness, and the mind, that seeks security. A choice that we all have to make at some point in our life, and in many cases the sense of security triumphs. But are we really secure at any time in our life, even while you are reading this status? :) I don't want to mention what can happen. Just have the courage to choose happiness over security. ;) :) 

Cheers!!!

Thought Again

Will power is your tool to control your body and not letting your body control you. - Arpna.

A thought.

Mortals believe and compliment what they can recreate and prove.
Immortals believe and compliment that which cannot be proved and recreated. - Arpna :-)