Friday, December 05, 2008

Observations of a 5-day gym n00b

It has been a while since I made any decent, relevant update on this little corner. Not that there was a dearth of material to write about and get off my chest. More that such exercises have harmed others more than they have helped me in the past. So I bite back on the impulse for any more soul searching and stick to these "observations", if I might call them that.

An ever expanding waist line and the crushing desperation of not doing anything worthwhile with my life has led me to decide that about an hour manipulating unfriendly equipment inside an air-conditioned room is the way to go about things.

Its been 5 days since I began on this little gig. I mostly do Aerobics only, concentrating almost exclusively on the Elliptical Trainer which is like a treadmill and an exercycle rolled into one. For someone of my size and weakness in the knees, this is probably the best option that will help burn some weight off without busting a kneecap.

I average about 30 minutes a day on the trot and about 3.3 miles at a time. Not bad considering that I am going from 0 minutes a day and about 0 miles at a time.

What have I learnt in these 5 days? For someone who has nothing and no one to care about and take care of, this is the one tiny opportunity to take care of myself. If only for 30 minutes at a time.

However the nihilistic streak in me does not acknowledge this as being something good for myself. I look at them as 30 minute exercises of self destruction and more importantly the subsequent reward of salvation and redemption. Fleeting as it feels, its worth it when you get there.

The French have a poetic choice of words when describing an orgasm. They call it "La Petit Mort" or The Little Death. Without any associated weird sexual imagery let me just say that this comes close.

Having seen this and felt that, I believe its important to push yourself a little bit more and little bit harder the next time because, even as cliched as it sounds, that which doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. As a newbie I am calling out to a veteran to share his experiences. "Phobos" I am talking to you...