No gym, no problem!
I thought I would be able to keep up my fitness despite not going to the gym (gyms are closed).
I thought wrong.
I planned to do my usual squats and other circuit training at home. Three months passed with average daily activity of less than 2000 steps. Sometimes hundreds!
One day, I overindulged myself into a gout. I kid you not. Yes, from a day of too many chocolate bars, and barely moving, my left foot swelled to the size of a Hobbit’s (more on this later…)
Couldn’t walk. Couldn’t drive.
Fast forward a month. I run for 10 minutes without stopping, and my lungs burn like they never did before. I had to stop and rest, fighting back coughing fits.
The run scared me. I have been in excellent shape since 2014. Although I don’t run outdoors often, I used to do enough cardio and strength training to run a 5k under 28 minutes, impromptu.
Now I find myself gasping for air, not able to breathe. I exhaust from a fast walk uphill.
Seriously? After six years of consistent fitness, I am reduced to this? How am I supposed to outrun the corona or zombies if World War Z were to strike?
I was embarrassed with myself. For letting myself go. For neglecting once again the most important person in my life: me.
So I decided to invest in my greatest asset and bought a rowing machine: concept2 model D, world’s most popular model. I have used this brand for 20 years, and it always gives me the best workout.
Surprisingly, it arrived three days later, and I have completed 5 workouts, 3 in a row as of tonight.
I love the way my body glides across the rail as my arms extend, and I gulp for air before my body glides again. My goal this week is 15 minutes or 3km.
I have done this thrice. Two more days to go before accomplishing week 1’s goal of getting back to shape.
Well done me.