May
18
2008

The life and times of a reticent gym-goer

My younger sister has spent years telling me that exercise is good for you. My mother’s answer to all problems, e.g. “I have a headache”, “I have backache”, “I am tired”, is that you need to get some exercise. Now I am starting to think there may be some truth in their comments. Throughout school I have hated most exercise. I loved walking, gymnastics and trampolining, but things like netball, hockey and running were, in my mind, very unnecessary to my life.

About 5 years ago I started doing Pilates. Initially I started doing it because I had a bad back, but I also found that it helped with my hyper-flexibility, improved muscle-tone and was relaxing. I love Pilates… it has been pretty life-changing for how I feel about myself. Then I started swimming and did that 4 or so times a week and that also helped to improve my fitness, but I started getting bored.

At Christmas I made the decision to start going to the gym. I have always been a passionate anti-gymer, but I decided something had to be done about my weight. So, since January I have been going to the gym at least 4 times a week as well as doing Pilates and I have lost 1st 3lbs. Whilst I can’t say that I love it, I have certainly found it to be mood-altering and on Thursday I was in the foulest of all foul moods (I made Robert Mugabe look reasonable) but an hour in the gym (plus a glass of wine and a chocolate muffin – ooops!!!) seemed to help my mood, and even my bad head-space. The other plus side is that not only have I lost weight, but I have lost about 3 inches off my waist and several inches off other parts of my large body. Who knows, one day I might be wafer thin!!

Written by Anna Williams in: Uncategorized | Tags: , , ,

11 Comments »

  • Tractor Girl

    Well done on the positive effects and what you’ve lost. Think you can quite happily allow yourself wine and muffins.

    Comment | May 18, 2008
  • Es

    I totally and completly agree with you. I’m also on a weight loss mission at the moment (when you met me I had just got inside the BMI ‘normal’ range, but I’ve lost about 1.5 stones). I find excercise so so good. As I can’t want far (and definatly not run) I have to be creative – swimming and cycling (recumbent tricycling, specifically) are my things. The last two months I’ve not been able to do either, and I have noticed it’s effected my mood and my sleep. It’s like I feel wired … I want to go burn it all off. So yeah, I know what you mean. Keep it up.

    p.s. I am with you on the hockey and netball – there is never an excuse for any kind of team sports 😉 I hate em, always have, always will. I’m a solitary excercise sort of girl.

    Comment | May 18, 2008
  • Es

    That was clearly supposed to say ‘walk’.

    Comment | May 18, 2008
  • Auntie Doris

    Apart from walking and doing pilates classes I definitely prefer to exercise alone. As long as I can put the headphones on and watch the tv or listen to music I am fine 🙂

    Es, I dream of a normal BMI!

    Comment | May 18, 2008
  • Es

    You’ll get there if you continue to enjoy excercise. The problem is when if you hate it but feel like you ought to do it. I am quite pleased to be normal again, if for no other reason than my GP might get off my back.

    Comment | May 18, 2008
  • Auntie Doris

    Whilst I don’t love it, I find myself quite enjoying it every now and then. That is a bit of a shock. I keep changing my programmes around to keep interested in it.

    Comment | May 18, 2008
  • Ooh, well done you. Not just on the weightloss but on discovering the joy of exercise.

    I’m the opposite of you and ES though – I enjoy team/group exercise much more than solitary.

    Comment | May 19, 2008
  • Jack the Lass

    Yes, well done. Looking forward to seeing the new slimline you soon!

    I stood on the scales this morning and seem to have lost a few pounds this last week, so I’m pleased about that. But I think it’s due to not having a chocolate machine outside the bedroom door while I’m down here with the outlaws – come next week when I’m back at uni the choc machine may prove too much of a temptation again!

    Comment | May 19, 2008
  • Auntie Doris

    For some reason I started wondering why you had a chocolate machine outside your bedroom door at home. Then I re-read what you had written and it made more sense!!

    Comment | May 19, 2008
  • JennyAnn

    I also thought you were talking about a chocolate machine outside your bedroom door – I think this is a fab idea.

    Auntie – I am a bigger girl too and they only sport I liked at school was trampolining: anything that fun can’t possibly be fun 😀

    I started the year determined to deal with the weight thing, having put (about) a stone on after giving up smoking. Its may and i’m still procrastinating about starting exercise.

    So, in conclusion… You’ve inspired me to get going, and as you seem to like/hate the exercise I like/hate , I might give pilates a go 😀

    Comment | May 19, 2008
  • Auntie Doris

    oooo I loved trampolining too!!

    JennyAnn… at least you have managed to give up smoking. I haven’t even managed that yet!

    Comment | May 19, 2008

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