Let's See What This Body Can Do... :D

[tse]

So. I've just arrived in a new country and feel like it's time for a change. I'm in my third year at university and am in France on an ERASMUS exchange. I've always loved sports, and tried my hand at bodybuilding during my first year and didn't do badly at all, but lost the routine when exam times hit and never really found it again. During my second year I joined the Officer Training Corps which is probably the best thing I've done so far, and allowed me to push myself further physically and mentally than ever before.

Arriving in France for the year is like being in my first year again, I don't have too much work to do and the gym is 2 minutes away, plus I paid 15 euros to do as many sports as I want. Being a bit of a sports fanatic I've taken up swimming and rock climbing, but I also run in my spare time too. And of course there are the weights :P

I plan on doing two 2 hour long swim lessons, 1-2 2 hour rock climbing sessions, 4 runs between 3-8 miles, and three weights sessions of 45-60 mins each per week. But I haven't yet received my timetable for the year so can't schedule it all/ see if it fits. And obviously my diet will need to be in check...I've made both training and diet schedules since I find I work much better if I have it written down in front of me - I'll get these posted up as soon as I've decided on them.

And I'll get some photos up too, I know I'm not going to like what i see which is why I'm slightly hesitant, but I want this SO much. My goal right now is to have changed as much as possible by my 21st birthday, when I'll be returning to the UK to celebrate, and want to have achieved something memorable by then...and that's the 5th of January so I need to work pretty fast!

I did one session of rock climbing and three gym sessions last week, along with a few gentle runs. Unfortunately I was perhaps a little over-enthusiastic and can not (still) barely walk after my leg routine. It's actually much harder than I thought getting back into the gym after absolutely no training. It must have been about 6 months now and I do NOT feel good for it. My parents moved to Spain and I didn't have the money to pay 60 euros a month for the gym, so I swam a bit but nothing too strenuous. It's also difficult getting back into running, which I'm keeping up for the summer when I'll hopefully be attending a military summer camp. I'm also hoping to get my PTI qualification from the army, which is another reason I'd like to be as fit as possible. But seriously! My legs are really aching a lot, I used to lift a lot more (I feel so weak!) and recover on the same day, whereas now it's been 3 days and I still have to lower myself into chairs, and feel like quite frankly I'm taking a big risk everytime I walk down the stairs as my legs could buckle at any point.

Anyway I'll leave it there, and sort out these progress pictures. Oh I would also like to compete if at all possible, in figure first but then fitness depending on how well I do.

Feel free to leave comments/ advice (I'm really going to need it...!)

Thanks for reading!