So I've had the day from hell today.
My train from Rugeley got delayed by 40 minutes, meaning I wasn't going to make my PT session! Prior to this, I didn't get a very good sleep; 5 hours at most. I don't know what it was, my stomach hasn't been right lately, so I was in a little pain throughout the early hours of the morning.
I apologized to Dan (PT), and in the end he only did about 20 minutes to half an hour with me. In a way, I partly think that my train getting delayed happened for a reason; I haven't had much energy today, my balance and posture have been poor...
However, I have learnt some new techniques that could help me tone more! I usually lift quite heavy with my legs, and Dan suggested that instead of lifting heavy and doing reps of 10, I should lift fairly light starting with 40 reps. I tried this, and wow.
Lets just say, I could really feel the burn. Dan was right of course.
He then went through 3 sets of leg, abs and arms exercises with 30 second breaks in between. I thought I was dying!
I was sweating, shaking and... Failing.
Because I'm not use to doing these types of exercises, I did find them really hard; nevertheless Dan did reassure me that this was only my first time. True, I guess.
I'm not giving up without a fight.
I will post some progress photos over the weekend.
Ciao for now.

I haven't been feeling quite well today. I attended University, and as soon as I finished I started getting palpitations and feeling sick; regardless I still attended the gym.
I can't just skip gym, because I'm not feeling great. I haven't missed a session since I started (16th January).
It was a decent workout, I still did everything I usually did; but didn't go as hard on the abs.
On the plus side, I got some new dri fit pants!

Makes a change to have a bit of colour to them!
I've also purchased some new sports socks, and I need to eventually buy another water flask for my protein shakes.

I'm glad I'm doing this; keeping fit.
I've learnt that it's not just how you look that matters, it's how healthy you are that really counts.
Don't get me wrong- I'd love to have a great body, but we're never happy anyway. Are we?
We always have something to moan about, and for once in my life I'm just going to be grateful for what I DO have.
There's always somebody worse off than you...
Motto of the day.

The weather is getting so much nicer lately, and it's making me even more happy. It makes me think if my body will be any different for the summer; I really hope it is.
Today, I'm going to the gym later than usual because I want to say goodbye to my uncle; he leaves to go back to Australia tonight, and it will be the last time I see him for at least another good few years.
Again, it will be the same routine like I have been doing the past 6 weeks; it will eventually change, but that won't be until a good few months.
I'm not one to post images online of my body, but it is a project in progress in where I will need to record changes and set more and more aims for myself and my body.
Today, I posted an image to Instagram of how I look today; initially I didn't want to do this, because I'm not happy with the way that I look yet, but to my surprise people were 'liking' it. 

I had a decent workout; managed to burn 165 cals through doing my cardio, and got all of my weights done. I upped my weight on the lateral pull down, and upped my reps per set on my abdominal twists which I was pleased with.
I'm really looking forward to dinner! It's a toss up between a ham and egg omelette, or a chicken curry! Yummy.

It's been a few days since I last spoke, but my weekends and Mondays are rest days for me; this could eventually change, but until I complete Semester 2 it will stay the same.
Today was another good day for legs, I did my usual but I upped the weight for my calf raises from 79kg to 86kg which I was happy with.
The area of the gym in which I work on my legs was rather quiet today, which was great for me; I prefer it when there are less people- It means I don't have to wait around for weights.
I wanted to up the weight for my lunges to 10kg in each hand, but the weights were nowhere to be seen which was annoying, but Friday can bring it! I wanna show my PT that I can work hard on my legs. No pressure.
I had to halve my cardio time today, because I wanted to get back to my Nans on time to see my uncle who has came over to visit from Australia- Means extra work tomorrow!
I had my protein shake straight after my workout today for the first time; can't really say I felt any different, but I'm sure in time it will take it's tole.
For the past 5-6 weeks, I have been using an app called 'My Fitness Pal', I have used it before when I was trying to lose weight, but this time I'm using it just to keep my eye on the carbs, proteins and fats I'm taking in.

I have my standard 3 meals a day- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, and on every 2nd hour in between these I will have a piece of fruit or cottage cheese; this is helping my metabolism stay at a good pace, and burning foods more regularly.
Breakfast- x2 weetabix, banana and milk.
Lunch- whole meal bread and protein filling (chicken, turkey, tuna, salmon, egg, etc.) and a cereal bar.
Dinner- protein (meats, fish, eggs, etc.), fibre (beans, vegetables, etc.) and carbs (sweet/ normal potatoes, bread, etc.)
This is me below a month in training, tomorrow I will post an image of what I'm like now (2 weeks later)

Hey!
I didn't have chance to post again yesterday- busy busy busy.
I did get chance to write up my weekly routine for you however:

• Tuesday- Leg day:
  Lunges- 4 sets/15 reps of 8kg
  Barbell squats- 4 sets/10 reps of 25kg
  Deadlift- 4 sets/10 reps of 30kg
  Seated calf press- 4 sets/12 reps of 73kg
  Hip abduction- 4 sets/10 reps of 35kg
  Leg press- 4 sets/10 reps of 59kg/66kg
  Hamstring raises- 4 sets/ 10 reps of 23kg
  Leg extension- 4 sets/10 reps of 29kg
  Cardio:
  Rowing machine- 10 mins.
  Cross trainer- 10 mins.
• Wednesday- Abs, back, shoulders:
  Abdominal crunches- 4 sets/12 reps of 23kg
  Back press- 4 sets/ 12 reps of 59kg
  Abdominal twists- 4 sets/20 reps of 4kg (medicine ball)
  Lat pull down- 4 sets/10 reps of 23kg
  Shoulder extension- 4 sets/10 reps of 18kg
  Chest press- 3 sets/10 reps of 11/18kg
  Rowing machine- 10 mins.
  Cross trainer- 10 mins.
• Thursday- Abs, back, shoulders: Same as Wednesday.
• Friday- Leg day: Same as Tuesday.

The sun is shining again, and I'm getting ready to head to the gym again.
Yesterday was okay- yes, okay.
I wasn't lifting as much as I thought I'd be with the chest and shoulder press; this is making me aim to get my arms stronger than what they are. I don't necessarily want them to look muscly, but I would like them to look toned and just to simply up my strength.
One good thing came out of yesterday; I found my protein bars!

I'm doing the same exercises today, so it can get slightly repetitive on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; I'm definitely more passionate about my leg days in comparison!
At least I'll have a protein bar after my workout to keep me going...
Later, I will post my workout schedules for each day along with the reps and sets I achieve.
Ciao for now!   

Sooo, yesterday was leg day.
For the first time, I didn't feel tired and exhausted like I do throughout any workout.
I didn't walk down the stairs weird, or try and sit down on a toilet seat as fast as I could.
Today, I would usually be in pain. My legs would usually ache with every step I take, but today is different.
Whether it's my body getting use to all of the exercises that I'm doing; I'm not sure. 
It could also be the healthy food that I'm eating; my protein intake is definitely giving me more energy!

However, this is making me want to step up my game; if I don't feel pain, I'm not working hard enough.
No pain, no gain right?
Today, I'll be attending the gym around midday for an hour working on my abs and shoulders. I do this on Tuesdays, and Wednesdays (I try and leave the biggest gap between my leg days).
Today is going to be a good day- The sun is shining, and I'm ready to give it my all.

An addiction/obsession to exercise and bodybuilding.

My names Aimee Dcaccia, a second year university photography student and this is a blog to record my exercise and bodybuilding progress from now (mid February) up until May.

I am currently working my way through the contemporary project that has to be completed for then.

Last semester, I explored the subject of 'Addiction'; which covered what and why we feel the way we do as to whatever we 'need' to do to make us feel happy.

Exercise and bodybuilding interests me, along with the people that I have worked with to produce the results of imagery for my final work. 

Before I started up this project, I had no real interest into 'bodybuilding', and had 'little time' for much exercise. I was lazy, and would make excuses as to why I couldn't or what I had to do instead.

However, it has been a month and a day today that I have been attending 'thegym' in Birmingham four times a week, where I complete two hours of lifting weights and two hours of cardiovascular.

You could say I'm being obsessive with the way in which I look, or that I'm addicted to doing this now. The answer- I couldn't tell you.

I do know that I would be annoyed at myself now if I didn't complete this each week and that the people around me majorly influence me. One being my boyfriend.
However in the six months that we have been together, I haven't always been interested in 'bodybuilding' for me.

If anything, I use to find it hard to understand why Matt had to complete this mundane routine each week. I think I finally understand now.
It was a day after my 20th Birthday that I started (16th January), where I would only do an hour of cardio each time. I needed confidence to start lifting weights; I didn't want to look like an idiot in front of experienced people there.

I remember the first day, I was so frustrated that I hadn't done what I set out to do that I cried. Pathetic right?

This new lifestyle meant something to me. I cared. I wanted to be determined; feel stronger; have will power. Do something for myself.
Is it for myself though? Or do I care too much about what people around me think about me?
A month on, and I'm proving all of these.

From this day forward, I will upload a post everyday telling you what workouts I am doing, how I'm feeling, what I'm eating accompanied with an image.

Peace.

Contact sheet of my first shoot.