I must admit I hate exercise. Apart from cycling, perhaps. We have cycled from Munich to the Czech border and back in two weeks a few years ago. But where we live now is at the top of a 12 km long uphill climb of about 500 meters and when we first moved here, we soon realized that a bike ride that ends with a long haul up a steep hill just isn’t fun, so we don’t actually go for many rides these days either.
However, this article in today’s Independent makes me think I should follow my sister’s example (she joined a sports club and works out pretty well every day, with a personal trainer). Here a sample from the article:
“Challenging exercise is the closest thing to an anti-ageing pill for everyone, not just for athletes and health nuts,” say the celebrity trainers Tim Bean and Anne Lang, authors of Turn Back Your Age Clock (Hamlyn, £12.99), to be published this month.The emphasis here is on “challenging” – a stroll in the park won’t do. You have to work your muscles to the limit, exercising harder and faster to make your body perspire and your heart race, within an aerobic training zone that’s between 60 and 80 per cent of your maximum heart rate (your age subtracted from 220)…
Aggh… sounds quite unpleasant. But unfortunately most things that are good for you are.
They suggest four ways to exercise – jogging, power walking, skipping and bicycling. The first two are definitely out as long as the temperature here remains at -10°C and lower. This morning we had between -11° and -13° depending on which thermometer you chose to believe. But skipping might be a way to get started and at a comfortable temperature, indoors.
After many years of “laughing” at those that go to “fitness centres” we have started ourselves – and its doing us good.
Despite (or because of?) often going for long walks & jogging sessions I have had back trouble which got worse to state that it was embaressing. After being checked out at doctors & having physio my wife gave us both for my birthday a 1-month trial at local fitness centre.
We enjoyed this so much that we joined on a “morning & weekend” contract. Suits my Work-From-Home fine. Two mornings a week is equiv to the time I spent driving to & from work. We also occasionally go at weekend.
Result is that I can do “things” that I could not do 6 months ago & anticipate being fitter for the next gliding season. My wife is finding it easier to jump onto the horse when she goes riding once a week.
We have to take care of ourselves!
Hi,
Well I hadn’t done any exercise since leaving school, but as you know, I love the gym. I hate jogging and cycling, but in the gym there is such a wide variety of activities. most gyms over here open from 6.30 am until 11.00 pm, so I’m sure you could fit in 2 or 3 sessions a week! They also say that swimming is a good form of exercise – gentle on the joints but good cardio vascular exercise.
I only see the personal trainer once a week, but they really motivate you and expand your range of exercises. Some people just see them for 10 sessions so that they can be shown what exercises to do and then carry on on their own for a few months before having another session with them to go on to more advanced exercises. But because I am a bit on the lazy side, I see someone weekly to keep me on top form. My GP is thrilled with the effect on my physical health (better control of diabetes, blood pressure etc.) that she is always saying how it is important that I carry on with it. Even the kidney specialist agreed!
My personal trainer has even told me that I can now do things that clients half my age can’t do! So go for it!
The latest fitness craze takes people to Miss Sporty in Oberursel.
Some acquaintances go there on a regular basis and really like it. The hours of operation though are not good for working people (they close early, half day Saturday only, closed on Sundays, the usual…)
I have never been to a fitness club. I use my own weight – as nature has intended it – to perform all kinds of acts: housework, running two flights between private quarters and work place, going most places on foot, lifting big glasses of beer to my mouth, etc.
But who knows – I might join the official workout force sooner or later…:))