Happy & Healthy
5X STRUGGLES WHEN YOU GO THROUGH LIFE AS A DIEHARD ATHLETE
The (almost) unanimous good intention in the editorial office: exercise more. Just not Sporty Spice herself. Because I shouted very loudly at lunch yesterday: ‘Guys, I've decided to exercise a little less.’ One almost choked on a pickle and the other nearly wet her pants. But really, friends, I'm going to try it. Pro-be-ren. At the moment, I get up five days a week at 7:00 AM at the gym, resulting in me collapsing on the couch after work on Friday, and no, not from alcohol. And Friday nights are not meant for that if you're single in Amsterdam. And don't think that I use the weekend to rest and stand on the tables in the pub. No, then the Vondelpark calls.
As a happy & healthy spring-in-the-field (the term fitgirl I no longer use and I'm still looking for an alternative, who oh who?) you do encounter some struggles Do you recognize them too?
1. Hunger, always hunger
You've just finished your shake, and you're already looking for something to put in your mouth. Hunger, all day hunger. Your own fault, if you're already throwing weights around early in the morning, you'll feel it all day. My bags are always stocked with protein bars and bags of nuts, just in case. A pot of yogurt? Easily in one go.
2. Sleep
The necessary hours of sleep are almost as important as the training itself. And so grandma goes to bed every night at 9:30 PM to at least get nine hours of sleep. Because that alarm, it goes off at 6:30 AM. But also planning a day when you don't get out of bed at 6:30 AM and just skip a day at the gym is very important. Now that all sounds quite logical, but in practice, as an enthusiastic athlete, it's quite difficult to take your rest. I'm speaking for myself here, because I regularly have an inner struggle. In the editorial office, they think I'm crazy for being eager to hang out with weights at 6:30 AM. But I'm just a much nicer person when I've been able to let loose early in the evening. And then I can nicely collapse on the couch with my love. Uhhh book, I mean, book.
“No, then the Vondelpark calls.”
3. No alcohol
Thank goodness I wasn't born with a corkscrew in my hand. I love a good glass of Chardonnay, don't get me wrong. But I can also enjoy myself very well without it. I'd rather have two glasses of my favorite than eight glasses of headache wine at the pub. At parties, I'm at the front handing out the GTs, but I never stumble out. And that sometimes raises question marks with people. ‘Oh Simoon, just join in’ or: ‘Here, have another one.’ But first of all, I just don't like to drink, and secondly, I just want to step out of bed fit the next day. Because that hangover later hits me twice as hard. And honestly, I can have a great time without dancing tipsy on the table. That works just fine sober... (moeha).
4. Being social
You probably know the term ‘FOGO’, or Fear of Going Out. Making choices to live healthily is of course okay, but keeping yourself away from social events is not the intention. Many women are afraid of losing control over their eating or afraid that they won't be fit enough to exercise the next day. I used to be like that too, but fortunately, I've now found a perfect balance. At the moment, I'm planning a Truffle Tuesday-dinner together with my lovely colleagues. You wouldn't want to miss that, would you? Then just an extra celery stick tomorrow, okay...
5. Vacation
‘Look, how cool, in Paris you can now exercise on the Seine,’ I shout to Adeline. ‘Uh yeah, very cool, Simoon. But uh, when I go to Paris, I'm going for a cream-filled éclair and to stand romantically under the Eiffel Tower, not to do pull-ups on the Seine.’ Okay, feel the distance. So I want to go to Paris NOW, because I would love to do those pull-ups while sailing through Paris. Yep, I choose my hotel based on the gym. And if that gym isn't there, then I make sure I'm at least in a running-friendly environment.
