Fitness & Building My Strength

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(Leggings – Exact, Top – Exact, Shoes – Exact)

This is a different type of post and one you haven’t seen before. I’ve done a few posts over the last 6 months or so about healthy eating and lifestyle changes, but one of the things I adopted as well was fitness. I’ve had a lot of issues with my joints and muscles in the past (not something I’ve really gone into on here) and part of my physiotherapists recommendation was muscle strengthening to help make my joints stronger. I used to be extremely active and addicted to fitness when I was younger, I would spend entire days outside, sometimes playing 3 hour football matches with friends and doing athletics, but unfortunately all that changed when I was 13/14 when I got a chronic illness. I’ve always kept that side of me quiet as it’s not something I wanted to be judged on as sympathy votes are not my thing, so I like to try and make it on my own. However, the illness has played more than a huge role in my life and it made my joints and muscles extremely weak, so that’s why I now love to try and strengthen them.

I started out lightly just doing my exercises without any weight and on a minimal amount, even using my exercise bike (recommended again) and slowly it’s been helping me. I was then able to start doing my routine with a 0.5kg weight, and now I can use a 1kg weight for my movements. I do find that heavy sometimes on days I’m not doing too well, but I know it takes time to properly strengthen up your muscles to help improve your stability. You may think that my biceps are large and it looks like I lift weights properly, but I honestly don’t. I have muscular arms and thighs as part of my genetics and from the fact that I did gym and activities which made them grow as a kid, so they haven’t really ever shrank. Despite them looking bigger, they are not strong in the slightest because of my joint issues so I am hoping over time it will all fix up!

So, what routine do I do? I do reps of squats, lunges, bicep curls, arm raises, shoulder lifts and tricep toning. I also use my exercise bike lightly when I can, I try to strengthen my core with a different and easier ways of doing sit ups (as I can’t have pressure on my head) and I do various movements to tone my butt. I try to do my routine about 2-3 times a week and I do enjoy it as I can feel it helping and working. I think health and fitness is extremely important as without it, you can’t function correctly as you aren’t getting enough nutrition into your cells for optimal brain and bodily functioning as well not keeping your heart, lungs and general organs healthy. It’s a huge part of my life now and as I get better, I know I need it more to help me improve.

My outfit that I am wearing here is from Sweaty Betty. I’ve got the Level Workout Leggings in grey with the workout top in red. I love their workout clothes as they are so soft, comfortable and stretchy, plus they don’t seem to stretch out so it’s no wonder everyone adores them as well. For my shoes, I just wear a pair of my New Balance trainers which I got a month or more ago. When I feel ready as well, I’ve thought about joining some of their fitness classes that they hold. Have any of you been to one?

On a side note, if you would like to know more about my illness and what I have been through growing up in my teenage years, I would be happy to share that with you now as my blog is over 4 years old, if it’s definitely something you would like to read. I know that I belong to the fashion bloggers side of the blogosphere, but since I do class this as my personal blog, I think sharing with you that side of me as well will be a nice change. I do enjoy doing different posts like this and I would love to know your thoughts on them too. I do remember that you liked my initial one on getting healthy. Comment and let me know!

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Written by Lorna Burford

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32 Comments

  1. David
    November 18, 2014 / 6:48 pm

    Awsome Lorna! This i love, your ass in some months will look f*ckin insane! 🙂

    • Lorna
      Author
      November 18, 2014 / 6:56 pm

      I thought you thought that already lol, ha ha 😀

  2. David
    November 18, 2014 / 7:11 pm

    Well I do, and that will be my answer ass well If you ask me to merry you ^^ butt it will be more insane! 🙂

    • Lorna
      Author
      November 18, 2014 / 9:01 pm

      Thank you!

  3. Susie
    November 18, 2014 / 10:01 pm

    Hi Lorna, you look great! I would be very interested in reading about your illness. I too have joint issues, and an auto immune disease, so I know what it’s like to live with chronic health problems. Fitness has always been a big part of my life and I know it helps tremendously. As always, you and your outfits, are always an inspiration

    • Lorna
      Author
      November 18, 2014 / 10:03 pm

      Thank you very much Susie! I’m sorry you suffer with something chronic too 🙁 I know how auto immune diseases can be, do you have to take steroids? If more people would definitely like to hear about it, then I will share it with you all 🙂

    • Lorna
      Author
      November 18, 2014 / 10:24 pm

      Thank you, yeah it does really help!

  4. Susie
    November 18, 2014 / 11:24 pm

    No steroids…I have hashimoto’s disease-affects the thyroid. I have symptoms related to it. Glad to know excercises really helps you also.

    • Lorna
      Author
      November 19, 2014 / 12:25 am

      Oh, well that is good you don’t need steroids, they are horrible. I’m glad you are managing ok!

  5. Michael
    November 18, 2014 / 11:28 pm

    W O W…!!!

    • Lorna
      Author
      November 19, 2014 / 12:26 am

      Thank you!

    • Lorna
      Author
      November 19, 2014 / 11:37 am

      Thank you Claire!

  6. November 19, 2014 / 6:11 am

    Such an interesting essay. I have often found it odd how guarded people are with challenges they face. I am laid pretty open on my blog mostly because I know my stories and experiences are in now way unique to me. And it is always my hope someone will see what I go through/have gone through and maybe feel a little less alone in whatever they are dealing with in their lives. So, for that reason I certainly vote yes to you sharing more. This is your blog, not a fashion blog you are the star of. You own it and the more “you” it is the more successful it will be 🙂 Now, as for the outfit, I sort of have a thing for exercise wear so these shots were very welcome! You chose a great outfit and it really does look like it would be comfortable to work out in as well. Of course that amazing butt shot totally did it for me tonight, dear! I really appreciate you including that with your other shots. They are all very lovely and wow, but that one made my night fantastic 🙂

    http://downwithpants1969.blogspot.com/

    • Lorna
      Author
      November 19, 2014 / 11:42 am

      Don’t get me wrong, I’m not guarded because I’m ashamed or because I feel like it makes me less of a person, the only reason I haven’t shared it up until now is because I wanted my blog to be a happy, carefree one and a place people feel comfortable and happy to come to. As well as not wanting to have things happen due to sympathy votes as I like to try and make things on my own, but if it’s something you want to hear about, I would be happy to share it 🙂 Thank you! 🙂

  7. Davis
    November 19, 2014 / 11:57 am

    My favorite post ever! I know you used to hate working out! I also know you have made numerous changes to your life and your likes over te years! Inspire others lorna, that’s what life is about! Keep making yourself better and keep changing for you and your future! I’m so proud of you and honored to be your bestie! Thanks for your support!

    • Lorna
      Author
      November 19, 2014 / 12:42 pm

      Thank you so much! That’s really kind of you Davis!

  8. Sophie
    November 19, 2014 / 2:25 pm

    This is great! Great post!

    • Lorna
      Author
      November 19, 2014 / 2:26 pm

      Thank you!!

  9. ali
    November 19, 2014 / 7:46 pm

    Wow, amazing look Lorna, that sports gear is really flattering x

    • Lorna
      Author
      November 19, 2014 / 7:57 pm

      Thank you ali!

  10. Jen
    November 21, 2014 / 11:18 am

    Good for you, Lorna! I’m wondering what the docs say about swimming for fitness – good workout without too much stress on the body generally. Do they recommend it? Can be so relaxing as well! All the best to you, enjoy feeling stronger every day!

    • Lorna
      Author
      November 21, 2014 / 11:34 am

      Thank you so much! Yeah they recommend swimming, but I can’t do swimming as I’m allergic to chlorine and I can’t really swim well, I have a fear of deep water so I wont get in lol.

  11. Beth
    November 25, 2014 / 2:24 pm

    You look fab hun!

    • Lorna
      Author
      November 25, 2014 / 2:24 pm

      Thank you!

  12. Ricky
    February 12, 2015 / 7:47 pm

    Dear Lorna,
    In my opinion, this is the hottest post ever!!!
    In general, I really love your blog. Mostly because you’re sooooo gorgeous wearing your tight skinny jeans.
    (maybe because of my jeans-fettish 😉

    Keep doing what you’re doing, darling!
    Luv u!

    Greetz, Ricky

    • Lorna
      Author
      February 12, 2015 / 8:40 pm

      Thank you Ricky 🙂 I don’t think you have commented before so it’s nice to read new ones!

  13. Simon
    February 19, 2015 / 9:33 pm

    You look wonderful, but good to see you do a bit of exercise. We all need to… I’d love to see another set of photos in sports kit; it will definitely show off your amazing body x

    • Lorna
      Author
      February 19, 2015 / 9:58 pm

      Ha ha, we will see!

Thanks for your comments =) I read & reply every one =)