Day 40 : "Rewired"

40 days - 40 visits to the gym!

One of the things that I've always thought makes trying to give up nice food, nice wine and vegging out (especially on a Friday night!) isn't so much the act of eating, drinking or doing those things.  It's the association of those types of things with pleasure which is hardwired into many of our brains during our earlier years.  Just the thought of doing those things fires synapses in the brain, which release pleasurable feelings.  Which usually override any feelings of guilt.

I've read before about 're-wiring' your brain, but never thought I'd do it.  But I'm beginning to think, by following this strict regime day-in, day-out, that I may be getting there - almost like brainwashing myself.

Driving home from Basingstoke this evening, I have to admit to getting that 'Friday feeling', which I've not really had for the last 2-3 weeks.  I was feeling a bit tired, and for the first time in a while was not looking forward to going to the gym.  And when I stopped at a petrol station to get fuel I actually eyed up the evil Ginsters - again, for the first time in a while -  thinking how great one would taste.

When I got back in my car and continued heading for Swindon, I began thinking how nice it would be to just veg out on the sofa for the evening, doing nothing but drinking a bottle of wine and eating crap. I didn't actually think I would - I've come to far to slip now - but the fantasy was there.  And the more I thought about it, the more I began to dread going to the gym.

Then something strange happened.

I had Radio 1 on, and a dance tune came on.  Pre-challenge, this would have heightened my 'Friday feeling'; I'd have imagined being in a club or at a party, and my brain would have automatically started to crave a beer and to just enjoy all the self-indulgent delights a weekend has to offer.

But tonight, it made me imagine working out in the gym.

There's usually dance music playing in my gym, so over the last six weeks this must have subtly rewired my brain - to the extent that it seems that I now 'automatically' associate dance music with working out, rather than with weekend indulgence.

And within seconds, I was back in the zone, and looking forward to getting into the gym.  You could have waved a Steak Bake under my nose, and I wouldn't have batted an eyelid.

So I enjoyed a Friday night back, forearms and stomach workout, followed by 30 minutes on the exercise bike.


My diet today has consisted of:

- Breakfast:  An apple and a banana;
- Lunch:  Some turkey breast and two apples;
- Dinner:  Two pickled eggs, two tins of mackerel, and a few nuts & raisins.


Tomorrow, I'm off to buy a new suit for work.  My current ones are hanging off me: I look like I'm wearing a sack, and I'm having to gather the waists of my trousers in with my belt.  When I got in from work yesterday, I literally took my trousers off without undoing the clasp or zip!