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Russell joins the Gym
21-May-2007
It was never going to happen. I vowed it would never happen. I hate gyms: you pay money to do exercise you ought to be doing as part of your daily life. You have to look at bodies as appalling as your own, or - worse - bodies in much better shape, and their owners' smug smiles.
But the onset of sleep apnoea means I have to lose some weight. Like 95% of the western world I'm clinically obese, which means I'm suffering from what we used to call 'middle-aged spread.' Righto. Best do it, then. I'd do it by working around the garden - we have a large garden, with serious work needing doing - but tendonitis in both elbows means that's out. So it's off to the gym.
Early in the morning, of course. In disguise.
Comments
You think you hate gyms. Ha, you know nothing of such hate. Of course you know what shape I'm in, so perhaps I'd better not laugh. You could go down the route of buying your own equipment and then you would just have your family laughing at you.
Laugh away, Ross. Actually, I do have equipment here, a treadmill and weights. Trouble is, I also have a fridge. Three times a week at the Uni gym will do it, early enough in the morning that none of my students will be there.
At least, that's the intention. I'll still love myself if this comes to nothing.
I puzzled the consultant though. I might be 'obese' but I'm actually quite fit. He did treadmill tests on me and couldn't make my heart rate go over 90 bpm. Heh, he thought the machine was broken and so shifted me to another one. I have to admit they got me with the rowing machine; that puffed me out.
At least, that's the intention. I'll still love myself if this comes to nothing.
I puzzled the consultant though. I might be 'obese' but I'm actually quite fit. He did treadmill tests on me and couldn't make my heart rate go over 90 bpm. Heh, he thought the machine was broken and so shifted me to another one. I have to admit they got me with the rowing machine; that puffed me out.
Hey Russell was that you I saw on the way to the gym the other morning disguised as a Hobbit??
As long as the gyms don't invade my pub I'll tolerate their existance
Damn, Linda, I'll have to find a different disguise. Pixie? Dwarf? Gnome?
When you started walking we viewed The Calf. Does this new form of exercise mean we should be scared?
You should be petrified.
I too hate the gym, the only reason I actually go is because my 3 year old daughter loves playing at the creche and nags me even more than my husband. Plus there is a certain amount of satisfaction in being able to say "yes, yes I did!!" when one of my family or friends sneeringly (word??) asks whether I actually went... :-).
Hi Russ,
I hate gyms too. I'd rather play sport to get fit, but my 40+ year old knees are buggered from football (the real kind - Aussie Rules).
I joined the 'Million Dollar Body' bag work out program at the local Taekwondo place (I figure I'm up to about $68.35 by now). It's a lot more fun than a regular gym program.
After a long day dealing with the academics in the Business faculty there's nothing better.
I hate gyms too. I'd rather play sport to get fit, but my 40+ year old knees are buggered from football (the real kind - Aussie Rules).
I joined the 'Million Dollar Body' bag work out program at the local Taekwondo place (I figure I'm up to about $68.35 by now). It's a lot more fun than a regular gym program.
After a long day dealing with the academics in the Business faculty there's nothing better.
Russell, read Gillian's blog...
Thats good news about being published in Greece. Shame it isn't soon or I could have bought you back a copy.
antio
antio
Why should he read my blog? Should I be scared?
I take that back. I read my own blog :). I thought something odd and new had happened while I was offline :).
Expect a new post regarding the map soon. I was going to do it tonight, but my virus won't go away, so I'm giving it a romantic evening in bed.
Expect a new post regarding the map soon. I was going to do it tonight, but my virus won't go away, so I'm giving it a romantic evening in bed.
I love the gym, but don't go because I can't get my moneysworth yet. Pout. I am currently ellipticalling my way through The West Wing.
I can't wait to see the new and improved Russell. Roll on Conflux!
Sleep apnoea's no joke, map-boy. Very relieved you're taking it seriously!
I can't wait to see the new and improved Russell. Roll on Conflux!
Sleep apnoea's no joke, map-boy. Very relieved you're taking it seriously!
I have it on very good authority that Russell has in fact not yet attended the gym.......and may not be either......
Not much of a secret keeper, are you Linda. I'm busy getting my draft finished. We'll see after that. I do have a treadmill at home.
You're using writing as a treadmill? Does this mean you lose weight between the ears?
Gee Gillian, you had me worried there for a minute...I was starting to think that just because I followed the link to your blog and you mentioned Russell didn't necessarily mean that you were the same Gillian in both places... Although, sometimes the things that come out of Canberra can seem as though it is a town operating in an alternate universe to the rest of Australia ;-).
Speaking of treadmills, the best thing about them is that, with a bit of concentration, you can read a book and exercise at the same time - time not wasted!!
Speaking of treadmills, the best thing about them is that, with a bit of concentration, you can read a book and exercise at the same time - time not wasted!!
Russell needs one where he can write and tread. So do I, if it comes to that.
Have you ever thought of dictating your books? Transcribing between the huff and puff of exercising might be difficult, though!!
A voice activated computer would be handy, sort of like the one Lincoln Rhyme has in the Jeffery Deaver novels. You could just talk out loud non stop Russell and have all your thoughts recorded
That's the kind of technology that could get a boy into a great deal of trouble...
Right, off to the Coromandel for the weekend. Play nicely!
You expect us to change our regular behaviour just because you're off to the Coromandel?
Russell, come back from holidays, I'm going into withdrawal without intelligent blog discussion (yes, I do mean this one....!!)
We could have played evilly without him instead of waiting for him to come home, Jo. That would have given him something to come home to sort out, which would have been fun.
Maybe next time...
Maybe next time...
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